Liesbeth List

1969–1990: expanded career

List with poet and singer Jacques Brel when she received a Gold record for her LP with Brel's songs translated to Dutch.

In 1969, List was awarded a press prize at a television festival in Montreux. The prize was awarded to her for her contribution in a television series. Because of this foreign acclaim, List focused more on international success. She started recording more cover versions of well-known artists, such as Gilbert Bécaud. List's success continued with the release of more LPs and a continued acting career in television, film, and stage. In 1972 she recorded an album with the American singer, songwriter Rod McKuen: 'Two against the morning'. In 1973 she recorded the album 'Meet lovely Liesbeth List' in England. Her album: 'Liesbeth List sings Jacques Brel' was released in 1972 in the USA. In 1976 she recorded an album with songs of Charles Aznavour 'Charles Aznavour presents: Liesbeth List'. She sang with him the duet: 'Don't say a word.'

List took a short break when she became pregnant with her first child; she and husband Robert Braaksma had a daughter, Elisah, in 1983, when List was 41. List ceased her activities for six years to care for her child. In 1988, List made her return to the public eye, starring in a theatre programme titled "List NU". In 1990, she started on a similar show, but it gained neither critical nor commercial success, therefore List accepted that her career had ended.

1991–2020 In the 90s singer, songwriter and producer Frank Boeijen revived List's career. She recorded two albums with him: in 1994 List and in 1996 Noach. In 1995 she received an Edison for the first, which is one of the highest musical honors awarded in The Netherlands. In 1999 she released Vergezicht which contains the song Heb Het Leven Lief (Love life) which she sang in 2007 at the memorial celebration for Jos Brink, with whom she had performed in a musical Het Hemelbed to great acclaim. She was also approached by Albert Verlinde to star in his musical about Edith Piaf's life. She started this in 1999 and did 170 shows of Piaf, de Musical. Because of its success, and the many requests to bring the musical back, she reprised the role during 2008 and 2009. In 2000 and in 2009, she won the coveted John Kraaijkamp Musical Award for this role. In 2009 she released a new CD called Verloren & Gewonnen. In 2015, she released what would be her last album, a tribute album to Ramses Shaffy titled Echo, which contained covers of songs by Shaffy.

In 2017, List decided to retire from music because she was developing dementia due to brain damage she had sustained in a car accident earlier in life. She died in her sleep on 25 March 2020, after spending the last years of her life in an assisted-living facility.

Discography

Liesbeth List (1966) Liesbeth List Sings Theodorakis (1967) Pastorale (1968) Zingt Jacques Brel (1969) Victoria (1970) Neuremberger Droom (1971) Two Against the Morning (1972) Meet lovely Liesbeth List (1973) Foto (1974) Samen (with Ramses Shaffy) (1976) Charles Aznavour presents: Liesbeth List (1976) Madame Melancholie (1977) Meisjes van Dertig (1979) Voor vanavond en daarna (1982) List (1994) Noach (1996) Vergezicht (1999) Van Shaffy tot Piaf (2001) Heb het leven lief (2001) Portret (2002) Carré Vedetten Gala (2006) Verloren en Gewonnen (2009) Echo (2015) Voor Altijd (2022)