Chris Chameleon makes psalms rock
Chris Chameleon rocks psalms that are almost a century old.
With his new album Herleef (relive), Linden singer and actor Chris Chameleon says he believes the rock psalms will have people relive the lyrics all over again.
He took psalms that have been sung in church for years and set them to music for the new album.
“I do believe by repetition things can become meaningless. If you sing ‘Albertus se sandale’ (the real name is ‘Op berge en in dale’) year in and year out, does it still have the same impact? No.”
“So if there is a new sound to it people will experience it differently.”
Chameleon (42) said if people listen to his musical transcription of the late Afrikaans poet Ingrid Jonker’s poems and they learn the words, they will at least know 32 of her poems by heart. “There was a new way to introduce her work to people who might not have known it before. Years ago rock music was described as evil, so why not now convey a good message through rock music.”
Chameleon’s career of 24 years has had many genres. He was front man for the monkipunk band Boo and produced many Afrikaans albums. As an actor he appeard in 7de Laan, Sonkring, Konings and Die Netwerk. He is also television presenter of the Afrikaans magazine show Dekat TV. Earlier this year he starred in the film Fanie Fourie’s labola where he played an musician called Sarel Fourie.
With Herleef, relevance is an important topic to him.
“The Bible is ancient, but you remain to read it to keep it relevant. It is the same with eating. Twohundred years ago people ate as well, but differently. The message in the Bible is similar. The essence is that it will pass the test of time.”
