Normaal

Normaal is a very popular and long running Dutch rockband from the rural Achterhoek region in the east of the Netherlands. The group was formed in 1975 by lead singer Bennie Jolink and drummer Jan Manschot; Jolink has stated in an interview that this happend during a ride in Manschot's 2CV, when they were too stoned to drive and thus sat down at a bar.

Normaal plays blues rock, sometimes interrupted by cheesy ballads based on folk music (like "Ik mos pissen" and "Deurdonderen"). Their trademark however is their lyrics, in the dialect of the Achterhoek, about rural life and dislike of any music but true rock 'n' roll. When Normaal first performed, singing in Dutch was highly unusual for a rock band, and singing in dialect just flabbergasted the crowds. Many rural youths were struck by the attitude the band propagated: work like a man during the day, drink like a man at night, and do this all on the countryside.