Kerstsingle

In the summer of 2012, Rotterdam-based Peter van Drunen initiated a plan to start a band with (former-)homeless musicians, in order to create a Christmas-hitsingle. He asked Anouk Kool and Ronald Kool to write a Christmas song, which would eventually be ‘Uninvited’. Together with Hans Kempen, Marc Berg, Jan Gerssen, Marieke van Abswoude and Quintis Ristie, the three of them organized an audition for several (former-)homeless musicians. A compilation of these auditions can be viewed here.

The band One Gift derived from these auditions; there were only 6 weeks ( i.e. 5 rehearsal moments) to practice ‘Uninvited’. The promotional film can be viewed here (NL) and here (ENG).
Michel van Schie recorded, produced and mixed the single. Rob van Pelt shot and edited the music video.
They launched the single on December 6th 2012 in Hilversum, The Netherlands. At that day they were playing live on a Dutch radioshow ‘Evers Staat op‘ and on the Dutch tv-show ‘Tijd Voor Max’.
‘Uninvited’ never reached the top of the charts, but it was an amazing experience for all of us!! Especially because everyone contributed voluntarily.
‘Uninvited’ – Credits

Drums: Waldo Landburg
Bass: Derrick Koulen
Percussion: Madlania Maduro
Lead vocals: Jerrel Wong-A-Liem & Rachel Drooduin
Acoustic guitar: John Kepel
Electric guitar: Cornelis Meijer
Tubular bells: Kalulu Elizabeth

Piano: Ronald Kool
Cello: Maarten Vos
Violin: Intan Werry
Trombone/tuba: Louk Boudesteijn
Horn: Cleo Simons
Saxophone: Guido Nijs
Trumpet: Jan van Duikeren

Music: Anouk Kool & Ronald Kool
Lyrics: Anouk Kool

Produced by: Michel van Schie, Anouk Kool & Ronald Kool
Horn- and stringarrangement: Ronald Kool
Mixed & Mastered: Michel van Schie
Recorded at the Michel van Schie Studio, Rotterdam

‘Uninvited’ is about being confronted with loneliness. Loneliness is something that affects many people every day. But in the month of December, when being together and togetherness are most important, being alone is an inescapable fact. “Christmas turns its back on me”: the Christmas celebration and in broader sense what Christmas is about, does not apply to me. But there is hope. No one is lonely alone; many go through the same thing during December, whatever the story behind it may be. What if we get together and raise our glass to next year. New times are dawning. Let’s make sure we will be “invited” in the years to come!

‘Uninvited’ (© MEGAKOOL, 2012)

Late in the afternoon
Darkness falls too soon
The freezing cold hits my face
Makes me forget summer’s embrace

Uninvited
Alone on this track
Uninvited
Christmas turns its back on me

People with bags full of presents
Confront me with the absence of
The ones I love and those
Who shine up above

Uninvited
Alone on this track
Uninvited
Christmas turns its back
Uninvited
Uninvited
Uninvited
Christmas turns its back on me

Why don’t we open up the bottle
And drink to another year
We shall open the throttle
And get into gear

Let’s close the books we’ve read
Deflower a blank page
Let’s never ever forget
The power of starting a new age

Why don’t we open up the bottle
And drink to another year
We shall open the throttle
And get into gear

Let’s close the books we’ve read
Deflower a blank page
Let’s never ever forget
The power of starting a new age

Let’s never ever forget
The power of starting a new age