With the arrival of bassist and singer Henny Vrienten, Doe Maar, which had already delivered an unnoticed untitled debut, transformed into a pop group with potential in one fell swoop. Written by him Since 1 Dag Of 2 (later renamed 32 Jaar by Frits Spits) meant the band's breakthrough, and the whole of the Netherlands would change to green and pink within a few months, the colors of their second
… album Skunk (1980). It is a vibrant record, more ska than reggae, that clearly reveals the roots of the band in the Dutch youth club circuit: from the hilarious ode to Nederwiet to the high pogo content of Smoorverlraag. Drummer Carel Copier, who would be replaced before the great success, still has a prominent role here, with the lead vocals on two songs written by him (Te Laat, Nix Voor Jou). It is precisely the rough edges that would disappear with the more laidback successor Doris Day En Andere Stukken. Skunk's zest for life, an echo of the carefree seventies, would even turn into the doom of the eighties within a few years, with its high unemployment rate and Cold War, on the single De Bom and the album 4Us. (MS)more
