Van Oekel's Discohoek -- VPRO (Dutch TV) 1974
This
bizarre appearance on Dutch television miming Upon the My-Oh-My has
had many of us fans baffled for years.
But at long last I have been sent an explanation of what is going on which has helped make sense of the programme.
So a big thank you to André Nieuwlaat for providing the explanation ... and a transcript of the show.
The show was called Van Oekel's Discohoek (Van Oekel's Disco Corner), which was broadcast weekly on the Dutch VPRO channel (http://www.vpro.nl). This show was complete anarchy - a complete disrespect to all guests! The hosts were ridiculing their guests, talking about them as they were performing. In fact it was a a parody on Dutch tv music shows in which all guests were treated like gods almost.
The
show was produced by a Dutch artist / comedian called Wim T. Schippers,
which accounts for the chaotic events during the show, and it was hosted
by Sjef van Oekel (artist's name of Dolf Brouwers: the fat guy wearing
the glasses), and ir. Van der Pik (translates roughly as engineer Cock).
The entire show (30 minutes), in which the Captain was a guest, can be viewed online! (streaming video) at : http://geschiedenis.vpro.nl/gids/2006week10/. All you have to do is click on ''Van Oekel's Discohoek'' under the heading Video, and there you are ! pretty good quality too.
Transcript of the segment with Captain Beefheart:-
[A girl singer is performing accompanied by an organist]
[Enter Sjef van Oekel and Captain Beefheart]
Van Oekel : Evert, wat is dat nou weer? Het staat helemaal niet in
mijn papieren. Wegwezen allemaal !
(= Evert, what the hell is going on? None of this is in my script. Clear
off, all of you !}
[music stops abruptly]
O,
dag juffrouw ! Van Oekel is de naam. Kom er gezellig bij, reeds ! Want
kijk eens wie ik hier meegenomen heb - de wereldberoemde Kapitein Beefsteak
! Dit was zo maar een grapje tussendoor, want in werkelijkheid heet
hij Don van Vliet. Is gewoon een Nederlandse afstammeling, zich noemende
Kapitein Beefheart. Ik zou zeggen: begin maar op te treden, want we
zijn achter op ons schema. Congratulations, Kapitein Beefheart. Muziek
!
{= Oh, hello miss ! Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Van Oekel.
Why don't you stick around? Because look who I brought with me: the
world famous Captain Beefsteak ! Well, I'm only making a little fun,
because his real name is actually Don van Vliet. He happens to have
Dutch ancestors, and he calls himself Captain Beefheart. Well, I suggest
you start your performance now, because we are running behind schedule.
Congratulations, Captain Beefheart. Start the music !)
[angrily
addressing the guy playing the organ]
Zeg, wilt u daarmee ophouden misschien ?!
(= Would you mind stopping that ?!)
[as Upon The My-Oh-My sets in, Van Oekel addresses the Captain:]
Go your gang ! Allez votre corridor ! [= mock English / French,
a literal translation of the Dutch expression 'Ga je gang' = Go ahead]
[The Captain performs Upon The My-Oh-My]
Van
Oekel:
En dan is hier uw beker, voor uw progressieve success. Wat een succes
! - Ik zal toch niet teveel gezegd hebben ?
(= I hereby present to you this cup, for your progressive success. What
a great success ! - Oh dear, I hope I didn't say anything wrong ?)
[Beefheart goes over to the organist, and asks him:]
Can you play Yesterday?
Organist : I can try.
Captain : Thank you.
[The organist plays a verse of Yesterday and Beefheart
whistles along with him]
[The Captain leaves the set under thunderous canned applause]
