Performed by: Lenny Kuhr
Music by: Lenny Kuhr
Lyrics by: David Hartsema
Conductor: Frans de Kok
Language: Dutch
Placing: 1st (18 points)
Other versions: Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian

"De troubadour" ("The troubadour"), sung in Dutch by Lenny Kuhr representing the Netherlands, was – together with "Boom Bang-a-Bang", "Un jour, un enfant", and "Vivo cantando" from, respectively, the United Kingdom, France, and Spain – one of the four winners of the Eurovision Song Contest 1969.

In a ballad inspired both musically and lyrically by folk-song traditions, Kuhr sings about a troubadour of the Middle Ages, describing the impact the music has on his audiences. Kuhr also recorded the song in English (as "The troubadour"), French ("Le troubadour"), German ("Der troubadour"), Italian ("Un canta storie") and Spanish ("El trovador"). The 1969 Contest was controversially held in Madrid, Spain during Francisco Franco's dictatorship; 5 years after the Contest, Kuhr also recorded the song with revised Dutch lyrics, then retitled "De generaal" ("The general"), which was a homage to the Dutch national soccer coach Rinus Michels, who was called "De Generaal" by the players of the Dutch team.

The song was performed eighth on the night, following the United Kingdom's Lulu with "Boom Bang-a-Bang" and preceding Sweden's Tommy Körberg with "Judy, min vän". By the close of voting, it had received 18 points, placing it equal first in a field of 16. The Netherlands thus achieved the rare feat of going from (equal) last to (equal) first in the space of one year.

In 1967, Lenny started a singing career in the Netherlands, performing songs in the French chanson tradition. In 1969, she represented the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest with her composition "De troubadour" (lyrics by David Hartsema; orchestra conducted by Franz de Kok). She was one of the four winners that year.

In the early seventies, Kuhr was more successful in France than in her home country. She topped the French charts in 1972 with the song "Jesus Christo" and performed in the shows of Georges Brassens.

In 1980, had her biggest hit in the Netherlands: "Visite", a song she performed together with the French group Les Poppys. She has been releasing records ever since, though without major chart success.

In 1982, Kuhr hosted the Nationaal Songfestival, the Dutch national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Kuhr was one of the artists who recorded the song "Shalom from Holland" (written by Simon Hammelburg and Ron Klipstein) as a token of solidarity to the Israeli people, threatened by missiles from Iraq, during the Gulf War in 1991.

Lyrics:

De troubadour

Hij zat zo boordevol muziek
Hij zong voor groot en klein publiek
Hij maakte blij melancholiek
De troubadour

Voor ridders in de Hoge Zaal
Zong hij in stoere, sterke taal
Een lang en bloederig verhaal
De troubadour

Maar ook het werkvolk uit de schuur
Hoorde zijn lied vol avontuur
Hoorde bij 't nacht'lijk keukenvuur
De troubadour, de troubadour

En in de herberg van de stad
Zong hij een drinklied op 't nat
Voor wie nog staan kon en wie zat
De troubadour, de troubadour

La lalala lala lajlala lajlala...

Hij zong in kloosters stil zijn lied
Van een mirakel dat geschiedt
Ook als geen mens het wonder ziet
De troubadour

Van vrouwen in fluweel of grijs
Zong hij de harten van de wijs
Zijn liefdeslied ging mee op reis
De troubadour

Hij zong voor boeren op 't land
Een kerelslied van eigen hand
Hij was van elke rang en stand
De troubadour, de troubadour

Zo zong hij heel zijn leven lang
Zijn eigen lied, zijn eigen zang
Toch gaat de dood gewoon zijn gang
De troubadour, de troubadour

Toen werd het stil, het lied was uit
Enkel wat modder tot besluit
Maar wie getroost werd door zijn lied
Vergeet hem niet

Want hij zat zo boordevol muziek
Hij zong voor groot en klein publiek
Hij maakte blij melancholiek
De troubadour

Oh oh... la lalala lala lajlala lajlala...



English:

The troubadour

He was bursting with music
He sang for large and small public
He changed happiness to melancholy
The troubadour

For knights in the Knight's Hall
He sang in tough, strong language
A long and bloody story
The troubadour

But also the workmen in the barn
Heard his song full of adventure
Heard nearby the nightly kitchenfire
The troubadour, the troubadour

And in the inn of the city
He sang a drinking song on the dampness
For those who could still stand and those who sat
The troubadour, the troubadour

La lalala lala lailala lailala...
La lala lailala la...
La lalala lala lailala lailala...
La lala lailala la...

He silently sung his song in monestries
About a miracle that occurs
Even if nobody sees the wonder
The troubadour

Women dressed in velvet or grey
Whose hearts he sang into confusion
His love song was brought along on trips
The troubadour

He sang for farmers on the land
A fellow song he wrote himself
He was from all walks of life
The troubadour, the troubadour

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