During the recent episode of 'Ik vraag het aan', presenter and actor Thomas Vanderveken opened up about the deep emotional connection he feels with the song 'Voor ik vergeet' by Spinvis, particularly as it reminds him of his late father, Ugo Prinsen. Vanderveken, now 43, recalls how the song resonates even more deeply today than when he first encountered it, especially its poignant lyrics: "And the hands of my father, I will forget over time." This personal connection stems from the loss of his father, who passed away approximately twenty years ago due to asbestos-related lung cancer.
Vanderveken lost his father, known artistically as Hugo Vanderveken, back in 2004 when he was just 22 years old. Reflecting on the impact of this loss, he described how he visualizes his father's hands but admits, "It's been so long ago, the image becomes blurred." He expressed the challenge of holding onto these memories, sharing how he feels overwhelmed with emotion when recalling these moments. "While I say it, I get goosebumps. I want to hold onto this image because it’s the only thing I have left. But still, it fades away,” he shared.
One of Vanderveken's biggest regrets is the fact his children have never met their grandfather. "For my children, he is only a legend, a mythical figure," he lamented. To keep his father's memory alive, Vanderveken tries to weave stories about him for his sons, saying, "I try to tell as many stories as possible about Grandpa Hugo." The emotional weight of these memories was evident as he spoke about the song, which had played a significant role during his grieving process.
“Spinvis is not just a musician or artist for me; he is like a wizard,” Vanderveken mused about Erik de Jong, the man behind the Spinvis moniker. He described de Jong’s music as transcending storytelling to describe the atmosphere of moments or emotions, capturing feelings like snapshots. Vanderveken emphasized how 'Voor ik vergeet' is about nostalgia and the gradual fading of memories. "It’s about the things you lose over time," he pointed out, adding how certain lyrics evoke strong feelings: “When someone dies, you want to cherish the image, but it still fades.”
Vanderveken vividly remembered the first time he truly connected with the song: “I was sitting in the car and had to pull over because I started to cry.” He acknowledged the prolonged nature of his grieving, stating, “A mourning process lasts for years.” Even now, discussing his father feels current and raw, with Vanderveken saying, “If there’s a reason to cry about this loss, it feels incredibly relieving.”
He depicted his father as warm and loving, someone whose affection would ripple through generations. Vanderveken expressed sadness for his children, wishing they had the opportunity to know their grandfather. "It's unfortunate for me, for him, and for my children. Opa Hugo is only a legend to them, though I try to keep the image alive by sharing anecdotes,” he reflected.
To Vanderveken's surprise, Spinvis himself performed the song during the episode, creating what Vanderveken described as “a connection across time and space, filled with warmth and love.” His reaction was one of pure gratitude: “What a gift!” The intimate performance made the experience even more potent, as Vanderveken cherished the connection he felt with his father through the music.
Erik de Jong, or Spinvis, expressed the significance of knowing how much his music means to someone like Vanderveken, stating, “It is immensely valuable for me as an artist to hear how my song impacts someone.” He also shared his perspective on songwriting, saying, “I create my songs like bottles tossed out to sea; I never know where they will end up.” Adding to the emotional atmosphere, he remarked, “My hands are also my father’s hands,” emphasizing the shared legacies we all carry.
Through this heartfelt episode, Vanderveken illuminated the enduring impact of loss and remembrance, highlighting the power of music to bridge the gap between the past and present. His insights not only reflected his personal struggles with grief but also underscored how memories can sustain connections with those we lose, even when time threatens to blur their images.