De oude muzikant



"De oude muzikant" ("The old musician") was the Dutch entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1973, performed in Dutch by Ben Cramer.

The song is a ballad, with Cramer describing the titular "old musician", who lives in Paris. He explains that the character had once been famous and wealthy, but that he is now reduced to the life of an anonymous street musician - with even his friends deserting him. Cramer also recorded the song in English (as "The Old Street Musician"), French ("Pour être vraiment sincère") and German ("Der alte Musikant").

The song was performed thirteenth on the night, following Sweden's Nova with "You're Summer" and preceding Ireland's Maxi with "Do I Dream". At the close of voting, it had received 69 points, placing 14th in a field of 17.

It was succeeded as Dutch representative at the 1974 Contest by Mouth & MacNeal with "I See A Star".

References and external links

 * Official Eurovision Song Contest site, history by year, 1973
 * Detailed info and lyrics, Diggiloo Thrush, "De oude muzikant"