The song “zu alt?” is a philosophical question about life. It is based on a poem penned by the Dutch poet Drieck van Wissen (Poet of Vaderland). “Until now, nobody in Germany has known these texts and the songs based on them,” says Anton.
Many concertgoers left the PS.Halle in Einbeck on Thursday deeply moved and touched. The reason: Anton van Doornmalen and his band of professional musicians. This time, the children's choir of the Evangelical Lutheran congregation in Einbeck was also involved under the direction of Katorin Ulrike Hastedt.
Funny, serious and touching
A concert by Anton van Doornmalen and his band is just what the soul needs at the moment. Pure joy in music, the lightness of life, and all for a good cause. Under the title “Journey”, Anton has now played to an audience of around 300 in the PS.Speicher in a charity concert organized by KWS.
Jane Duinmaijer-Fidelis builds a bridge
The US trade journal "Seed World" has published a portrait of Anton. In the portrait, the journal focuses on the connection between music and vegetable seeds. The text is entitled "Singing for the Seed Industry".
The new song "We are one" sound like an anthem. It was presented by singer Anton van Doornmalen to mark the 100th anniversary of Rijk Zwaan.
"For me, the whole Rijk Zwaan feeling is captured in these three minutes," says the singer, who recorded the song together with the European Pop Orchestra. You can find the song here on YouTube.
Anton van Doornmalen has always been someone who connects. With "We are one", he has now created the perfect song to do just that. It is the anthem for the 100th anniversary of the Rijk Zwaan company. He is chairman of the supervisory board, co-owner and former director of the company.
Anton played “a musical ode to cooperation in the seed sector” at the welcome party of the ISF Congress in Rotterdam.
After a day full of work, sessions and presentations, it was time for music at the ISF Congress in Rotterdam. And on stage was Anton van Doornmalen, co-owner and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Rijk Zwaan.
The performance was received with enthusiasm by his colleagues in the sector. Especially from the other family seed companies East-West Seeds, Takii Seeds and Sakata, to whom he dedicated a song. The performance was a wonderful end to an inspiring day!
Anton van Doornmalen and his band performed at the World Seed Congress in Rotterdam (28.05.2024). It was a very special performance for the Dutch singersongwriter - and not just because the concert took place on the former passenger ship SS Rotterdam. The ship is a former Holland-America Line vessel in the port of Rotterdam.
Who doesn't know the song “The Boxer” by Paul Simon? The song is part of pop music history. Anton van Doornmalen has written a new song for the well-known melody. The new song is simply called “ISF” - fitting for the World Seed Congress taking place from May 27 to 29 in Rotterdam. You can download the song here for free. Just click here.
We are just seedsmen and our story is seldom told.
Anton van Doornmalen is here to tell exactly these stories. With a guitar, a melting voice and a lot of feelings. Vegetable seeds and music – these are the topics that drive Anton. The long player “Seed Songs” combines both things. Anton currently serves as chairman of the company's supervisory board.
At the ISF Congress in Rotterdam, the “Seed Songs” are clearly in the creative center of Anton´s music. If you would like to have the CD "Seed songs", just send us an email (medien@avdmusic.com) and then transfer 15 euros to the Sibusiso account (Iban: NL73 RABO0385812167) Afterwards we will send the CD to your adress.
A special year is just around the corner for Anton. Two concerts in Germany have already been confirmed. On Friday, April 19, Anton will perform in the Kuniberthalle in Werl-Büderich (Kreis Soest). Admission is at 7 pm, the concert starts half an hour later.
Dany Vera is a very popular singer-songwriter, and not just in the Netherlands.
His hit "Rollercoaster" is also playing up and down on German radio stations. Anton´s German song "Dort, wo du bist" is based on this song.
Anton van Doornmalen actually composed it for a golden wedding that had to be canceled due to the pandemic. The song is aimed at all people with long-term relationships. And as we all know, things go up and down - like on a rollercoaster.
Anton wrote the song "See the Whole World Different" over 15 years ago. The song fits perfectly with his new overall theme: Journey.
"Now is the time to see the world differently," the singer said during the second digital concert in December. The song reads, "What you see is hostility, no humanity." If you want to change the world, you have to act, is the credo.
As concerns music, the famous Beatles are among Anton's greatest role models. This is the very time to recall John Lennon's message of peace: "Imagine".
"After all, every person wants to live in peace and freedom," said the Dutch singer.
The song "Imagine" describes the vision of a society free of religion, nationalism and property. It is a call for peace and is the anthem of the peace movement of the 70s. It is one of the best songs of all time, as published by the US magazine Rolling Stone.
Anton is a so-called singer-songwriter. "I don't just sing, I also write most of my songs myself. I'm connected to the songs, inseparable," says the singer and adds: "I've often asked myself why I write these songs. First of all, I don't really want to do anything other than capture a feeling that I have experienced in the presence of my family, my friends or on my own. Capture it in a song. That way, a feeling can become a memory." A feeling that lasts. Music that stays - songs that stay.
"Once Every Year" is a festive smash hit, music by Anton van Doornmalen. The text stems from Peter Tenret.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDPLDxl9f0I
Once every year
A Once every year
When the nights are long
Christmas is near
One can hear it every day
Ice on the streams
Cause it’s crispy cold
Outcome of dreams
Lots of snow fell overnight
Liverpool and the Beatles - you can't have one without the other. And it's no secret that Anton is a big fan of the Beatles.
"It's simply a combination of top musical quality and the memories of the 60s that the songs evoke," explains Anton van Doornmalen, adding: "Back then, the sound was a total renewal - there had never been music like this before." What's more, the songs of Liverpool's most famous sons are timeless and by no means old-fashioned: "Paul McCartney and John Lennon are songwriters on a par with Mozart and Bach, simply outstanding."
"Trying to Understand" is part of the new album "Journey". This song is something special.
On our journey through life, not everything is always like a picture book. Sometimes connections break that should be forever. A break-up can be very difficult. It is even more difficult to understand this moment at all. But those who manage to do so are given the opportunity to break new ground and shape their future. "Trying to understand" does not deal with an easy topic.
Humanity is important right now, in this very moment. The song "Humanly" was written during the pandemic. In the clip, children paint pictures of people – pictures of hope.
Corona has pretty much shaken up our everyday life, the numbers of those tested positive are rising. In the Netherlands, but also in Germany.
The song "Dobell Drive" takes us to the other end of the world, far away – to Lake Macquarie in Australia.
"Steven, a long-time work colleague, lives there in Dobell Drive," says Anton van Doornmalen. "He's a music lover just like me." He sent him a violin solo from halfway around the world. "And my team and I developed a complete song from it," says Anton. The song tells of the light-heartedness and authenticity of nature.
The picture shows Lake Macquaire, New South Wales, Australia.
"Down by the Sea" is a song that tells of the sound of the waves. It is the sound of our seas. Anyone and everyone can hear it on a walk along the beach.
The gentle sound of the waves, the wind and the seagulls help us to relax and feel free, says Anton van Doornmalen: "This is exactly what my song "Down by the sea" is about. It's my first song in the style of a French chanson."
The sky is blue, the sun is burning and the beach is waiting for you. It's late summer. And Anton wishes you a nice summer with good mood and excellent music, especially after these challenging pandemic times.
An absolute earworm is Anton's song "Traumhafte Wolken": You can find the song on Anton's album "Einfach ich".
Another recommendation for getting into the summer spirit ist Anton's french chanso "A la mer":
The new Anton album "Journey" is now also available on Spotify.
Many songs from the English-language album were sung at the last concert in Bad Sassendorf. You can find these songs on the new album: "Everywhere You Go", "Try To Understand" or "Humanly". Others are: "Down by the Sea", "To live by your side" or "The Australian Sunrise". A real catchy tune is the song "Dobell Drive" with an Irish violin solo from Down Under.
By Andreas Sträter
Anton van Doornmalen's concert evenings are like visiting friends.
The concert in Bad Sassendorf was overshadowed by the war in Ukraine. "Everyone would like to live in peace and freedom," said Anton. In this mood, Anton started the concert in front of more than 200 people with John Lennon's peace song "Imagine". Van Doornmalen also welcomed four Ukrainian women to the conference center, who are currently staying at the Rijk Zwaan guesthouse in Welver.
Anton van Doornmalen's concert evenings are like evenings with friends. Here you feel comfortable and safe. Because of the strong increase in numbers and the current Corona situation, the concert planned for Saturday evening in Bad Sassendorf will be postponed to Saturday, April 2.
All concert-goers will get a small gift in Bad Sassendorf (November 20th, 19pm), promises the singer Anton van Doornmalen in advance. Ans this time it will not be a tomato, he adds.
Anton van Doornmalen will perform two Christmas songs at the conference and congress center in the spa town: The new duet with Anke "Wie ein Traum" and the song about the "Soester Weihnachtsmarkt". The new Christmas song "Wie im Traum" tells of the contemplative Christmas and Advent season ahead of us.
Anton will sing a third duet with his daughter Anke in Bad Sassendorf, namely the all-new Christmas song "Wie ein Traum!" In addition, Anton's youngest daughter will also sing the songs "Talent" and "You Are" as a duet with her father at the concert in the spa town on Saturday, November 20.
Finally it's that time again! The Dutch singer-songwriter Anton van Doornmalen will give a concert in Bad Sassendorf (Kreis Soest, NRW, Germany) on Saturday, November 20. The concert title "Journey" promises a musical journey of the singer, who is popular in the region and who, in addition to new English-language songs, will play his evergreens. The concert in Bad Sassendorf will take place for the first time in the Conference and Congress Center (Eichendorffstraße 2, Bad Sassendorf).
The Dutch songwriter Anton van Doornmalen will give a concert on Saturday, November 20th, in Bad Sassendorf close to the city of Soest.
The concert title "Journey" already promises a musical journey for the singer, who is popular in the region. He will perform his new English-language songs and also some Evergreens.
The concert in Bad Sassendorf will take place for the first time in the conference and congress center.
Anton is already looking forward to play in front of an audience again soon, of course with his professional live band. It seems that his dream will come true sooner than expected: The first big concert after the pandemic is planned for Saturday, November 20, in Bad Sassendorf.
Of course, all distance and hygiene rules will be observed. It will then be exactly two years ago that the singer stood on stage in Werl-Büderich in the Kuniberthalle with his soccer choir ("Fußball macht Spaß").
In a few months, Anton will release his new album. It will be entitled "Journey" and contains mainly English-language songs. Many songs are known to his fans from the digital concerts in December and June 2020. On the album are for example the songs "Everywhere You Go", "Try To Understand" or "Humanly".
Of course, the duets "Talent" and "You Are" with his daughter Anke are also on the new long player. When the album will be released has not yet been determined. There is also a concert planned for later this year (locally in Bad Sassendorf, November 20.)
Last year, the European Championship fell through. This year, soccer will be celebrated again in Europe. The anticipation is rising and we have the right song for it: "Champions from Germany", a variation from Anton's smash hit "Fußball macht Spaß"!
A brand new title in Anton's rich portfolio is called: "Fly, Maybug, Fly". In it, Anton recalls how he used to play with maybugs and let them fly. "Nowadays, you hardly ever see maybugs," says the singer. A song like a herald of spring.
And so the song is also a song about species extinction and the loss of biodiversity. The song says, "There are no more bugs / In our territory / What is happening / To our biodiversity / What I have learned / from my childhood memory / how fragile nature can be."
The songs "Breathe" and "Talent" are now available for you on YouTube.
"Breathe" is a song about the difficulties in the Corona times. The video for it will be very simple. The lyrics of the song will be supported by graphic elements, such as a corona virus.
"Talent" is an outtake from the last digital concert. It is already the second duet between Anton and his daughter Anke.
Right now, no song seems to fit better than this track. The sing-along song "Immer scheint die Sonne" (The sun always shines) simply spreads a good mood. Because the sun is always there - even if the weather is rather restrained in the current spring and April does what it wants.
The lyrics say "The sun always shines, / no matter where you are. "The beauty of the sun is: it costs nothing, it always shines - no matter what. We can also be inspired by it here on earth, says the Dutch singer-songwriter.
The song to be found on the album "Glücklich sein".
Anton owns six guitars, but he is particularly fond of two guitars.
One is my mother's guitar, which has the most beautiful sound, he says. Especially at the concert he uses this guitar the most. It is a souvenir of his mother, who died a few years ago at the age of 92. The second favorite guitar is a Martin guitar. "It's the one I play on the most," he says.
"Guitars," Anton says, "you have them all your life. They accompany us through life."
It is March. And actually the weather should be better. Where is spring?
The mood is gloomy everywhere, but Anton sees the rain in a positive light. That's why he has dedicated a song to the bad weather, which is surprisingly relaxed and upbeat: "Bad Weather Song":
The song "Talent" was the highlight of Anton van Doornmalen's last digital concert. Now, the song is available as a separate clip release and as a special reminder of the successful second digital concert with Anton and his professional live band.
Anton recorded the song with his daughter Anke. The track is about talent that is in all of us. Not everyone always expresses it. Not so with Anke: "She is a great talent," wrote the premiere viewers in the YouTube live chat. How fitting!
Here, you can enjoy the YT-clip:
Music is also a great hobby of Steven Roberts, commercial Director of Rijk Zwaan Australia and Business Manager Oceania. He plays the violin well in the Irish and Scottish tradition with great passion and dedication.
In the Corona days Steven composed a melody line and with his musical friends recorded a demo using online tools. He sent this to me along with his reaction to the song 'Australian Sunrise'.
Anton has composed a song about the Corona situation and has already recorded it in the studio in the Netherlands.
"The song deals with the very personal level," says Anton van Doornmalen: "About what you experience as a person when someone close to you suffers from Covid-19."
The song "Breathe" is inspired by personal experiences from the singer's immediate environment.
Here is the new YouTube video:
In Anton's new song "My car and me" the car becomes the best friend.
"It's a car song," Anton says. "The car is personified in it." The song is about being carefree on the roads in your car and enjoying life. "My wife, Riekie, loves driving and going down the highway," Anton says, adding, "Especially in Germany." Driving, he says, is not excitement for her, but relaxation."
Anton wasn't thinking about a specific car when he came up with the lyrics to this new feel-good song.
Anton presented the song during his second digital concert, it is song number 9:
Anton's song "Traumhafte Wolken" (Engl.: Dreamlike clouds) has a catchy tune. The track reminds us that we encounter clouds in different formations every day.
When he sings the upbeat songs in concerts, he inwardly lets the clouds pass him by. So: look up at the sky more often and dream of the "dreamlike" clouds. The song is alongside 23 other songs on the album "Einfach ich", which was released at the end of January 2019 and can still be ordered via Amazon.
Anton's Australia song thrilled fans at its stage premiere.
The singer presented the song at the second digital concert. The song features a didgeridoo, a traditional Aboriginal musical instrument.
The pandemic is now part of our everyday life. Nevertheless, there are still many beautiful moments. But of course also days with a little melancholy. Anton's music is about our life, which consists of ups and downs.
"We should enjoy every moment, be full of joy, but also humble," says the singer. "In my repertoire, for example, there is a song about birth, and then three days before my mother died, I wrote the song "What Remains."
Anton and his live band - that's one unit. Anyone who has ever seen the band play knows how much passion is behind the project "Anton van Doornmalen". This is pure music. If you have ever visited a concert, you know who Anton ist. But do you also know the live band? Here is an overview - who is actually who?
Laurens van Wessel
Musical direction, studio productions
Bass guitar, guitar and vocals
Anton's songs are always stories. Stories from life - sometimes cheerful, sometimes thoughtful. But there is always a song story behind it. You find all details now on the Dutch language website: Select the flag icon in the upper right corner and click on "blog"!"
Right now, the blog is only available in the Dutch language version. But you will find the best texts as "news" on the English and the German AVD website. So you won't miss anything, we will keep you up to date.
Anton wants to give not only good music to the people, but also healthy food: The singer comes from an industry that develops new varieties of vegetables. Since 1973, he has been managing director of the vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan (no. 4 in the world); first in the German subsidiary, then in the international group. For several years, Anton van Doornmalen has served as chairman of the company's advisory board. Music, however, is his very great passion: "A day without music is a day not lived," says van Doornmalen.
At 19:00 h (CET) on Saturday 12 December you can listen to the second digital concert ‘Journey Part II’ by Anton van Doornmalen. He will be presenting more English songs from his new album ‘Journey’.
This is the direct way to his concert on YouTube:
Anton van Doornmalen will present many new songs, like ‘Everywhere you go’, ‘Try to understand’ and ‘Humanly’.
Anton´s chanson "A la mer" will be presented in English at the next digital concert.
The ballad is called "Down by the Sea" and is just as poetic as in French, and yet the song sounds a bit different.
At Anton's next digital concert ("Journey Part II") on Saturday, December 12, 2020, at 7 p.m. sharp (YouTube) it will have its stage premiere.
Anton's album "Even Weg" with four Dutch and one English title ("Simba Farm") will be available for download and streaming from December 12, 2020, on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, or Deezer.
The five songs are all written and sung by the Dutch singer-songwriters Anton van Doornmalen.
Anton's next digital concert will be released on December 12, 2020.
He will present his new english songs from his forthcoming album.
The digital concert will be called "Journey Part II" and it will be recorded in a very large studio just outside Amsterdam. This will also ensure that all hygiene and distance rules are guaranteed. Anton and his highly professional live band are already looking forward to the concert in the middle of the pandemic.
The second digital concert will focus on the Sibusiso Foundation in Tanzania once again. "Let's not forget the children right now," says Anton. Work for children with disabilities is more important than ever, especially since the therapeutic exercises must be communicated via video films, for example.
The concert film will therefore include a link to the Foundation, so that the weakest members of society will be in the focus, especially during these times of pandemic.
Anton has given his daughter Anke another song as a present.
After the great success of "You Are", the new song "Talent" is now ready for take off. The song is about unused talents.
"80 percent of the talents are often not used at all," says Anton and adds: "That's what triggered me to make this a topic of discussion. Everyone should do much more of what he or she really likes". The Feel-Good-Song is in English language, like all forthcoming songs. The song starts a bit balladesque, but then becomes faster and faster and more cheerful.
Anton has published his first digital concert. His very special journey starts right here:
From Saturday, 06 June, 7 pm you are able to watch the concert entitled "Journey" on his YouTube channel. "Me and my band will take you on a musical journey", says Anton: "With this concert, I would like to lay the focus on the Sibusiso Foundation, which supports disadvantaged children in Tanzania.I would be very happy if you would visit my digital concert."