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Article from Break Out No 21, 14 May 1998
'I enjoy all this attention' A couple of months ago, Marion was an ordinary girl from Zeeland.
She could have been the girl next door! But then 2 Unlimited put her whole world upside down.
The singer is recognised everywhere now and she enjoys it very much. 'What did you think?!
I've been dreaming of this for whole my life.'
What was on your list of gifts wanted as a child? My Little Pony or a soundmixer?
'The last one ofcourse. I've been singing for whole my life. When I had seen a musical
with my parents, I would fly off home to imitate it. Then I would get my hairbrush and
sing all the songs in front of the mirror.'
Were you a real fan of a special singer?
'I liked Madonna very much! I even was a member of her fanclub! But I wasn't a freak.
I didn't have my whole bedroom full of posters with her face, but I often imitated her.
Then I would wear Madonna clothes: skirts, lace gloves, T-shirts with holes...'
Your parents would have liked that.
'Oh well, I was about twelve years of age. I think the thought it was enjoyable, I livened
things up at home. My parents have been supporting me in my singing career through thick and thin.'
Who do you imitate in front of the mirror now?
'I'm no longer a fan of someone, really. I just love music, especially salsa, blues and jazz.
But I have to say that I really admire Celine Dion and Aretha Franklin. With those two I'd like to
sing a duet or two.'
What do you think of having your own fans?
'I love it. I enjoy all the attention. Everyone in my village in Zeeland knows me. At the
beginning I had to get used to it. I often go see bands of friends on Sunday afternoon and then
you feel being watched. Or you hear someone whisper when passing by.'
And doesn't that bother you?
'Well no. And it's a little bit my fault, because I myself like to be the centre of attention.
When my friends ask me to sing along on stage, I always do that. I've always done that, so why not now?
I simply love it to jam with my friends.'
Do you also do that with Romy?
'No. We see each other six days a week and that's more than enough. Not that I don't like Romy,
we get along very well together. But Sunday's for my own. Romy thinks the same about it. In this business
you have to watch out for your relations with friends and family to not get disintegrated. Next thing you know
you haven't seen or spoken them for a couple of weeks. 2 Unlimited is important for my, but also my friends!'
Did Romy and you get along right at the beginning?
'I immediately found her a nice, spontaneous girl. I think she liked me too. She has been very helpful to me.
She knows exactly how it all works in the world of showbizz, and was able to give me some advice.'
Like how to deal with annoying tabloid press journalists?
'Oh well, they don't bother us very much. Once there was an article in Party, but that was a very small
article. It was said that we ask too much money for our shows. Not really something to lose any sleep over.
It's all in the profession and no doubt it will happen more often.'
But suppose all of a sudden you read: 'The girls of 2 Unlimited are lesbian!'
'I would be doubled over with laughter, I really would! The people that I care about know that I'm heterosexual
anyway, so I wouldn't be bothered by it. Look, if I react indignant and demand a rectification, it looks as if I've got
something to hide, like it is true!'
Do you really haven't got anything to hide?
'No. You can know everything about me.'
Okay, what's your boyfriend's name?
'I don't have one.'
Would you admit it when you do have one?
'Err... maybe not.'
What do you think of a relation with a fan?
'No, no, no! I can't have a relation with someone who adores you in everything you do.
Then he loves everything I do. I think that would be very tiresome.'
So a couple of condoms is not part of your standard concert outfit?
'No. I'm not that kind of type that goes to bed with everyone. First I must know for sure that I can
trust a guy. I always do safe sex. But I don't need condoms now. Next question.'
Aren't you tired of everyone wanting to know all these intimate details?
'Well no. I'm actually beginning to like the interviews! At the beginning no one knew us and we would get
the same questions over and over: Who are you? What did you do before 2U? How do you think to equal the success
of Ray and Anita... Now we know all of that, so the interviews get more interesting. Journalists now ask
deeper questions and come up with different subjects. Really nice. Although I still have some problems with some
questions. Everyone can know everything about me, except for more intimate details about my family! And where I live
exactly... I won't tell that either!'
Something more usual then: what do you think of as the ugliest part of yourself?
'Err... difficult. Look, I'm not a model, such as Romy. But really ugly? Nowadays I'm pretty satisfied with myself.'
How would you describe yourself?
'I'm getting more spontaneous. At the beginning I would wait to see which way the wind blows and I often was a bit quiet. But that has changed nowadays. Thanks to 2 Unlimited I feel freer. And if you don't believe that, you should come and watch us perform. I'm really coming loose on stage!' Text: Leonie Kragt and Debby Nobel - Translation: Erik Jan Meijer - Photos: Hélène Wiesenhaan |
