It has been a long time coming and this was a hit album bound to happen - Theuns Jordaan, one of the best voices of Afrikaans music, singing Koos du Plessis, undoubtedly one of the best songwriters ever in Afrikaans.
Theuns has always loved the music of Koos du Plessis. When he performed in pubs in Pretoria in the late nineties, he sang popular English songs by artists like Neil Diamond and Kenny Rogers. To show his love of Afrikaans music he started singing Afrikaans song towards the end of his shows. After a while he realised people were coming to his shows because of the Afrikaans songs. Some of the most popular songs in Theuns' Afrikaans repertoire were that of Koos du Plessis.
When Theuns recorded his debut album Vreemde Stad in 2000, two Koos Doep songs were recordes - Onthou Jy Nog and Skielik is Jy Vry. On his second album Tjailatyd (2002) he again recorded a Koos Doep song, this time Vermiste Mense. On Theuns' third album, Seisoen, he recorded Groet Sonder Woorde.
"I have always been a big fan of the music of Koos du Plessis," says Theuns. "He was an amazing songwriter and he's command of the Afrikaans language is legendary. He had a talent to put into words what people were feeling and thinking. It has always been a dream of mine to record an album with the songs of Koos du Plessis. This is my tribute to one of the best songwriters that South Africa has ever seen."
Some of Koos Doep's best known songs are on the album - songs like As almal ver is, Skielik is jy vry, Kinders van die wind, Groet sonder woorde, Skadu's teen die muur, Sprokie vir 'n stadskind and Gebed.
The arrangements were done by Anton L'Amour and it was produced by Arnold Coleske, Anton L'Amour and Theuns Jordaan. The vocals were tracked and produced by Arnold Coleske.
Kouevuur promises to be one of the most successful albums of the year. But what else do you expect if you combine the voice of Theuns Jordaan with the songs of Koos du Plessis.