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Jan Rot
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Jan Rot
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Jan Rot (25 December 1957 – 22 April 2022) was a Dutch singer-songwriter born in Makassar, who was famous in the Netherlands for his many translations of songs, pop as well as classical ones. His Dutch translation of Bach's St Matthew Passion peaked in the Dutch pop album charts at Easter 2006. In 2021, Rot was diagnosed with terminal cancer; he continued performing till April 2022 and died in Rotterdam on 22 April.[1]

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Jan Rot

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Jan Rot (25 December 1957 – 22 April 2022) was a Dutch singer-songwriter, composer, and lyricist renowned for his extensive Dutch-language adaptations—known as hertalingen—of international pop hits and classical music works, as well as his original songs and performances. Born in Makassar, Indonesia, he began his music career in 1978, initially combining work in media and theater with early releases before achieving greater recognition after 2000 for his translations that brought foreign songs and classical cycles to Dutch audiences. Notable among these were his Dutch versions of Schubert's Winterreise and Die schöne Müllerin, Schumann's Dichterliebe, and various pop tracks, which formed the core of many of his albums. He also appeared in the Dutch musical Doe Maar! in the role of Arent and contributed to soundtracks and television appearances. Rot released numerous albums starting in the 1980s, including Rot & Roll (1984), Winterreis (2002), and compilations of his adaptations, often performing with bands such as Jan Rotband. Married to Daan de Launay from 2001 until his death, he was survived by four children. He died in Rotterdam from colon cancer.

Early life

Birth and family background

Jan Rot was born on 25 December 1957 in Makassar, Indonesia. He was the fourth and youngest child of Dutch parents. His father served as a missionary doctor, dispatched to Indonesia by the Reformed Church, and the family lived in a small missionary community in Makassar during his early childhood. The family returned permanently to the Netherlands in 1970, when Rot was twelve years old. He had at least one older brother who had preceded the family to the Netherlands.

Education and early musical development

Jan Rot briefly pursued higher education in 1977 by enrolling in a Dutch language and literature program at the University of Groningen, though he discontinued his studies after only a few weeks. His early exposure to music occurred during childhood in Indonesia and on family visits to the Netherlands, where he developed an interest in pop music through packages containing singles and sheet music. As a teenager growing up in the village of Zuidwolde in Drenthe after the family's return to the Netherlands, Rot played in several local amateur bands, including a blues group called Drenthe, though these efforts met with little success.

Career

Entry into cabaret and initial songwriting

Jan Rot made his transition to the Dutch cabaret scene in the early 1990s after a decade of performing English-language pop and rock music. This shift involved adopting his native Dutch for songwriting and moving from pop venues to theater performances, allowing him to develop a more narrative and ironic style suited to kleinkunst. In 1991, he wrote and released his first Dutch-language song, "Rocker in Holland", an autobiographical piece that humorously yet poignantly reflected on the disillusionments of his earlier touring life in the pop circuit. The song served as a foundational work for his cabaret material, blending self-deprecating observation with emotional depth. He debuted as a cabaret performer in 1992 with the solo theater program Jan Rot gaat nooit uit elkaar, which premiered on February 6, 1992. In this show, Rot combined songs like "Rocker in Holland" with spoken stories about love, lost dreams, and personal experiences, delivered with a modest, engaging naturalness and mild irony that sought audience sympathy rather than bold confrontation. The program marked his entry into the cabaret world, where he established himself as a thoughtful singer-songwriter in the Dutch theater tradition.

Solo music career and recordings

Jan Rot's solo recording career began in the early 1980s with the release of singles such as Ain't got all the time and Mokum de piraat in 1981, leading to his debut album Rot & Roll in 1984. As a singer, composer, and lyricist, he focused on original Dutch-language material, establishing a consistent output as an independent artist. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Rot released numerous albums showcasing his singer-songwriter style, including Rot, Warm & Tender in 1988, Hoop & Liefde in 1990, Een Zee Van Tranen in 1992, Koning Jan in 1993, and Schout Bij Nacht in 1995. These works appeared on labels such as Mercury and Philips, reflecting his growing catalogue of self-penned songs. In the 2000s and 2010s, he shifted toward more independent production, often through the Okapi label, with albums including Van Rot Los in 2000, Ja, Ik Wil! in 2001, Hallelujah in 2008, Ik Hou Van Jou and Eenzaam Aan de Top in 2011, Weg Naar Walhalla in 2012, and O Ja! (Jaren 90) in 2019. His solo discography continued steadily until the late 2010s, spanning nearly four decades of original recordings.

Musical theatre translations and adaptations

Jan Rot earned acclaim for his skillful translations of lyrics for Dutch-language productions of international musicals, beginning in the late 1990s and continuing through the 2010s and early 2020s. His work adapted the original English lyrics to fit Dutch idiom and rhythm while preserving emotional depth and singability, contributing to the popularity of these shows in the Netherlands. Notable examples include his Dutch lyrics for the musical Rent, which premiered in 1999. He also translated the songs for De Leeuwenkoning (The Lion King), the Dutch production that opened in 2001 at the Circus Theatre in Scheveningen. Rot's adaptation for Mamma Mia! followed in 2004, helping the ABBA-based musical connect with local audiences through natural and poetic Dutch phrasing. His contributions extended to other major productions, such as Tarzan in 2007 and Sister Act in 2009. Later in his career, Rot completed the Dutch translation for Hello, Dolly! which premiered in 2020 just before the COVID-19 crisis, and for Matilda De Musical, which opened in March 2022 at the Luxor Theater in Rotterdam. These adaptations showcased his ongoing dedication to making international musical theatre accessible and resonant in Dutch.

Personal life

Relationships and personal identity

Jan Rot was openly bisexual and incorporated aspects of his sexual orientation into his public identity, particularly during the 1980s. He maintained a significant five-year relationship with writer Simon de Boer from 1985 to 1990. The two met in an Amsterdam club in 1985, where Rot initiated contact, and their bond strengthened during a shared homo-film week at the Desmet Theater, leading to a romantic connection described as transformative for de Boer. Later in life, Rot married Daan de Launay in 2001, and they had four children together. He remained married to her until his death in 2022. The relationship with de Boer later inspired the semi-fictitious novel De Janjaren, which uses their partnership as a key element in exploring broader themes of love and personal growth, though it is not a direct biography.

Illness and death

Cancer diagnosis and final work

In 2021, Jan Rot was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The diagnosis followed medical investigations that revealed the disease had already spread extensively. In May 2021, he underwent surgery to remove a large tumor from his stomach and intestines as part of initial treatment efforts. By July 2021, a follow-up scan confirmed widespread metastases, leading Rot to publicly state that he would not recover and full healing was impossible. He shared that "uitzaaiingen alom" (metastases everywhere) made improvement unachievable. In September 2021, Rot revealed a prognosis of six months to one year to live, yet expressed no anger over his situation and maintained a reflective outlook. Despite the terminal nature of his illness, Rot continued his creative and performing activities as long as his health permitted. He kept performing concerts and engaging with his audience into early 2022, using his platform to share personal experiences with the disease. His final work included ongoing songwriting and stage appearances that reflected his resilience and commitment to his art until shortly before his death.

Passing and immediate tributes

Jan Rot passed away on April 22, 2022, in Rotterdam at the age of 64. His family announced that he had "vredig en vol liefde het leven verlaten" (peacefully and full of love left life) that morning, noting his choice for a silent cremation without a funeral. He died from complications of metastatic colorectal cancer, which he had publicly discussed since the summer of 2021. The family message also included the inscription "Makassar 25/12/57-Rotterdam 22/04/22" to mark his birth and death locations. Immediate tributes appeared shortly after the announcement. Prime Minister Mark Rutte addressed Rot's death at the start of his weekly press conference, calling the news "heel triest" (very sad) and describing him as an "enorm veelzijdig musicus" (enormously versatile musician) who contributed significantly to classical music through his Dutch adaptations of Mahler songs and the Matthäus-Passion. That same evening, NPO Radio 5 aired a special program titled Volgspot: Een Rotavond, originally planned but continued at Rot's own request after his passing, featuring personal recollections from colleagues and friends including Marjolein Meijers, Henkjan Smits, and Bill van Dijk alongside his music.
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