Twenty years ago, Fokofpolisiekar released their first album titled As Jy Met Vuur Speel Sal Jy Brand, and so irrevocably disrupted Afrikaans culture.
And now it is six years later since the band released their previous full length album, Selfmedikasie. On Thursday, 7 December, Fokofpolisiekar released their fifth full length album, Dans Deur Die Donker, and this is the one album Fokofpolisiekar fans have been waiting for.
Hunter Kennedy’s description of Dans Deur Die Donker: “It sounds like my mid-90’s CD wallet had a one-night stand with 2023’s internet.”
According to the band’s bassist and manager, Wynand Myburgh “it is the perfect balance of what all five of us wanted to hear on a new Fokof album”.
LISTEN TO DANS DEUR DIE DONKER: https://ffm.to/dansdeurdiedonker
As per usual, Fokofpolisiekar is unafraid to stare uncomfortable topics in the eye. For example, the focus single on the 12-track album, Die Goeie Ou Dae, is a scathing look at those who wish for the ‘good old days’. “I wanted to highlight the cognitive bias of people who long for the ‘old’ South Africa,” says lyricist Hunter Kennedy.
Hunter Kennedy shares his track list descriptions for Dans Deur Die Donker:
1. Ctrl+Alt+Delete: “I sometimes wonder why the programmer of this simulation doesn’t just press Ctrl + Alt + Delete.”
3. Die goeie ou dae: “You are here because of those that came before you.”
4. Word wakker word groot: “Sometimes it feels like we are the robots.”
5. Breindrein: “Getting old ain’t for sissies”
6. Dans deur die donker: “You have two choices: Cower in fear or dance through the darkness.”
7. Dis nie nodig om my polse te sny nie: “A positive mental attitude is essential in the end times.”
8. Fok rond: “Basically the creed of humanity in general.”
9. Goue drol: “When you realise that material reward is not worth your soul.”
10. Die gees van Fokof: “The more things change the more they stay the same.”
11. Oorgestimuleer: “Prevention is better than cure.”
12. Die einde: “No one has accurately predicted the apocalypse… yet.”
Fokofpolisiekar Crowdfunding
As with Selfmedikasie, Dans Deur Die Donker was made possible by Fokofpolisiekar’s fans. Supporters were invited to make purchases from fokof.store or to make donations. With Selfmedikasie’s crowdfunding campaign in 2017, the goal of R500 000 was doubled. Once again Fokofpolisiekar’s expectations were exceeded.
“We wanted to engage the Fokof community with the album’s creation again and there is no better way than a crowdfunding campaign. The goal was to raise R250 000 in profit (+/- R650000 gross) and we ended up at R262 350. Thank you to everyone who got involved. You know who you are.” Wynand Myburgh
“You have two choices: Cower in fear or dance through the darkness.” Hunter Kennedy
Fokofpolisiekar {WOORDE 2003 – 2023}
Fokofpolisiekar {Woorde 2003 – 2023} is the updated and completed version of all of Die Bende’s words in a poetry collection format.
20 years and 80 songs in a 128-page captured as a lyrical collection.
This lyrical collection also includes lyrics from the latest album, Dans deur die donker and can be pre-ordered from fokof.store.
LINKS:
Instagram: fokofpolisiekar
Facebook: fokofpolisiekarband
Twitter: @fokofband
Website: fokofpolisiekar.co.za
