Typhoon | We Zijn Er (We Are Here) + subtitles

'We Are Here' is from the album 'Lobi Da Basi' - www.mctyphoon.nl/catalog/

One of the most successful artists in the Netherlands today is called Typhoon, real name: Glenn de Randamie. The 31 year old Dutch-Surinamese hiphop artist has come forward as not only being offspring to slaves, but also to slave owners. With his statement he clearly highlights the complexity of the phenomenon of slavery. His music may be widely accepted, his message of love and connectivity revered, slavery remains a hot topic in the Netherlands. For this film ‘We Zijn Er’, Dutch for: we are here. Typhoon worked together with Ivan Barbosa - Quba Republic - and the short film is shot in Cape Verde, which played a big role in the transatlantic slave trade.

The Dutch, historically, have a rich past. Especially during the Middle Ages the country excelled in international business due to its advanced fleet and entrepreneurial spirit. In those days the country managed, as small a nation as it is, to colonize parts of what is now South Africa, South America and some Caribbean islands. In Dutch history books this era is referred to as 'The Golden Age', and understandably so. Today however, the Dutch struggle with the consequences of this era as ethnic diversity tests the definition of what it means to be Dutch. Performing artist Typhoon tries, through his work, to bridge that gap, and does so in a fashion that is brutally honest yet artistically unapologetic.

Typhoon has been making music from a very young age. He’s well known for his deep lyrics and the Caribbean influences he puts in his music. With his songs he affects people of all ages. In 2014 his second album ‘Lobi Da Basi’, Surinam for: love is the boss, came out and since then his career has been a rollercoaster performing at the largest festivals in The Netherlands like Lowlands and North Sea Jazz, abroad and even for the Dutch royal house. New music by Typhoon will be released at the end of this year.

Lyrics Typhoon - We Are Here

Oh Lord, give me strength.
Oh, give me strength.

Though the jungle is beauteous, the escape route as dangerous
But it beats being the footboy for the boss man, so bilious.
Been such a long time I could speak, speak my mind
We're not going back, never going back. We're here.

Bull's-eye the hatchet, Achilles' heel, wheel of fortune spinning wheel
Until the hinges squeak and come off
Spin, spinning like navigators gone berserk
I think I'll stick around
AC interference, interference, and if it's not
It must be something like rain or rumble. The night is black

The battery's dead, I can't use my phone
And we don't talk because you don't wanna know
Even if you wanted to take it from scratch with me
You can’t even look at me without shivering

So act like you're chilly
I'll offer you my coat
Sit down beside you
Your head on my shoulder

Hell ain't what I have, what I crave, what I cause
Neither yours nor mine
This heaven's proof

We're here
Still here
Yes, we're here

I don't want to be righteous per se, I want to do what's right, be me
Sometimes it's hard, same old ticket, same old train
Lobi da Basi or rather get burned
I have never believed there was love I deserved

In just a few words with one glance
I promised to look after you
Through the crawlway, hounds on our trail
We wade in the water
Disappear from their bother

AC interferences
This ' where-is-this-taking-us?' conversation
Early in the morning, I'm raging
I find solace in our history, but painful thoughts keep surfacing
It's a hell of a job so sometimes we doubt it
Still you stay with me, although it may seem unsound

Until the next forever, together for an eternal year
Sometimes we laugh in agony

Hell ain't what I have, what I crave, what I cause
Neither yours nor mine
This heaven's proof

We're here
Still here
Yes, we're here

It's beautiful, So beautiful
We're here
Still here
Yes, we're here