It is hard to know whether my childhood desire to sing in front of large audiences of people was born of watching Kinderen voor Kinderen, or whether I liked Kinderen voor Kinderen because of some innate musical inclination.  I fantasized about being a part of the beloved Dutch children’s choir, which was started in 1980 and is still going strong; its albums are consistent bestsellers, and its yearly television broadcasts remain popular.

The only thing I wanted more than to be a part of Kinderen voor Kinderen was to be featured on the Mini-Playback Show, which – with the help of an amazing wig department – transformed children into their favorite pop stars.  I was most inspired by a timeless rendition of Whitney Houston’s “How Do I Know,” but this emphatic Cyndi Lauper wannabe (who has a lot to learn about lip-synching) should give you some idea of the glamour involved.

Over the years, Kinderen voor Kinderen has done an admirable job of keeping its finger on the pulse of a changing musical – and political – landscape.

But times change, and gone with the oversized red cardigans and light pop beats are the innocent themes of 20 years ago.  Perhaps the most famous – or, at least, the most frequently YouTubed – Kinderen voor Kinderen song is an anthem from 2005, “Twee Vaders,” about a boy whose adoptive fathers are a gay couple, sung live here by its subject and author, Terrence.

There is a quality in the song and its singer that, especially to anyone who has spent time in the US, seems charmingly progressive and unabashed.  A YouTube commenter writes:

I always get chills at 2:23 when he says “So what, I’m their son!” There something about the look he gives… it doesn’t say “I’m better than you,” but rather “I’m equal with you.”

It may seem trite or over-generalizing to say that one often notes a spirit of egalitarianism and tolerance in Dutch children, but I do think that’s what gives Kinderen voor Kinderen some of its unique sparkle.