The Sunshine Blogger Awards

Where did they come from? Who initiated them? And what's in the goodie bag? Let's dive in.

And then came the Sunshine Blogger Awards. They took over your timeline (and mine) in no time. Suddenly I was reading about diamond-encrusted knives, huge cash prizes, and, I assume, generous goodie bags being packed as we speak. So when my own nomination arrived, I was over the moon. I even started clearing out the garage to make room for all the fantastic gifts surely heading my way. Bring it on!

I imagine there’ll be an award show at some point, complete with a red carpet and press photographers. The tuxedo is ready, and I’ve already drafted my acceptance speech for when they call my name. I assume it’ll be televised? Has anyone secured the European broadcasting rights? I want all my friends and family to witness my moment de gloire.

Okay, okay, before you think I’ve gone a bit too heavy on the edibles this afternoon: I genuinely love the initiative. Kudos to whoever came up with it. It’s a fun, light-hearted way to connect and step outside the usual worlds we write in.

A huge thank-you to

Andres

for the nomination. Your support means the world. And if you haven’t already, do yourself a favour and check out his wonderful Stack, go subscribe. It’s Andy who brings out the sunshine ☀️

So, without further ado, and in the spirit of one of my favourite yearly award shows, Eurovision:

Voici les votes du jury Belge :

1. What’s your earliest musical memory?

Tricky one. I must have been interested in music from the start. I remember getting a kid-sized record player when I was about seven or eight, a strange orange contraption that only played 7-inches. You had to feed the records through a slot, and you couldn’t open it, so once a record got stuck, that was it. I think it even ran on batteries. Truly bizarre. But hey I’m talking about the seventies.

Eventually a record did get stuck, so it didn’t last long. But for a little while, I had my very own record player, and my mother would buy me new 7-inches from time to time. Lots of Flemish songs, and that dreadful early-seventies track “Popcorn.” Even at that age, my taste was already… let’s say, unusual.

2. Was there a specific artist, band, record or event that inspired you to start writing about music?

For me, writing is actually quite new. I started during a difficult period between jobs, mostly as a form of therapy 😊. But the idea had been in my head for years. Some things just need time, or the right moment, to begin.

Not being a native speaker was also a barrier. But at that particular moment I told myself, “fuck it… let’s do this.”

3. What’s an album you could write treatises on?

This one really made me think. A very difficult question. I do have my favourite albums, of course, but my taste is, awkward to some, perhaps, also quite broad.

If I had to choose just one piece, I’d probably go with classical music: Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto. Apparently it’s one of the most difficult works to play, and I believe it, it’s so richly layered that I discover something new every time I hear it.

One of the most impressive versions ever was this one from the winner of the Queen Elizabeth competition piano 2016.

4. What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?

That you have to write what you want to write, not what you think your readers expect.

5. What’s the most unusual place you have ever written from?

I could say the toilet.

But let me go with the noise of one of my “proofreaders” beside me when I’m sitting on the coach.

6. If you could go on tour with one artist or band, current or past, dead or alive, who would you choose and why?

B 52’s. They where so crazy on stage

7. Name a concert you were lucky to witness and one you regret having missed.

Again the B-52’s in Brussels. It was the tour after their ’90s comeback album, in a smaller venue this time. But the crowd came dressed up. There were more B-52 hairdos in the audience than the American army had in the air at that point.

I saw some truly remarkable outfits, and it all added to the unique, electric vibe. One of the best shows I’ve ever been to.

I never got to see Roxy Music or ELO, and I really wish I had.

8. How would you define success?

Finding happiness in what you’ve done, and in who you are

9. What’s your main guilty pleasure?

It’s called a cardinal’s hat 😊 (no surprise there). It’s a classic Belgian pastry with marzipan, buttercream, and all the good stuff. I’m lucky — there’s a bakery not too far from where I live that still makes them properly.

Every Sunday morning I’m up at 6, I take the two Frenchies for their walk, and then I drive to the bakery to pick up our weekly ration of bread rolls and pastries.

It’s probably the thing I’d miss most if I ever left Belgium.

10. A hill you’ll die on?

No Hill is worth dying on.

11. When all is said and done, how would you like to be remembered?

As the ultimate disco kid 😁

No, really, as someone who tried to live life to the fullest and never took himself too seriously. Carpe diem.