Album cover Out Of The Flames - Elly Kellner

Out of the Flames

TRACKLISTING

  1. Out Of The Flames*  
  2. Ouch
  3. Each To Their Own*
  4. Come Back To Me
  5. Me In Yours, Darling
  6. Only One Decides
  7. Sweet And Bright
  8. Even After He Was Mine
  9. How We Spend Our Days*

   *  Songs written for paintings of the exhibition Hete Vuren

THE STORY

Releasedate April 22, 2023

For the exhibition Hete Vuren, Schatten uit het Rijks, Elly was invited to compose music to paintings. The result of a unique collaboration between five city museums, the Markiezenhof and the Rijksmuseum; M6. This traveling exhibition starts in Bergen op Zoom 22nd April 2023. After that it can then be seen in city museums in Harlingen, Zutphen, Gouda, Venlo and Hoorn . The Markiezenhof is the first to form a unique backdrop for the 33 new treasures from the Rijksmuseum. The exhibition of great masters, a parallel exhibition by Arsis and a varied program of activities for young and old are all connected by the theme Fire.

 

The Markiezenhof, the oldest city palace in the Netherlands, happens to be Elly's favorite place in Bergen op Zoom. She used to live right around the corner of it and loves the history in the city's medieval lanes and squares. Therefore it was a great honour for her to be invited to write songs to a number of paintings of the exhibition. Looking at the available artworks she was particularly inspired by three of them. Through Elly's music she expressed her own interpretation and feeling about the paintings and the theme 'fire'.

 

The exhibition Hete Vuren is planned from April 22, 2023 to September 3, 2023 in the Markiezenhof.  When you walk through the museum with an audio tour you will be able to hear the compositions. 

 

Elly recorded six more songs to complement the three new compositions. The full album Out Of The Flames is available as CD, digital download on this website or via any streaming platform. The official CD-release show with full band took place in Het Markiezenhof on Sunday 21 May 2023.

CREDITS

Out of the Flames was written and arranged by Elly Kellner. Elly's vocals, guitar, bass parts and the family choir were recorded in her homestudio. Drums and additional bass and guitar parts were recorded in Studio Wild Verband.

 

Produced by Elly Kellner with the guidance of BJ Baartmans

Mixed & mastered by BJ Baartmans in Studio Wild Verband

 

Elly Kellner 4-string guitar, percussion, bass guitar on tracks 3, 4, 6, 8

BJ Baartmans mandoline, 6-string guitar, 12-string guitar, electric (-slide) guitar, electric baritone guitar, bass guitar on tracks 2, 6, 7, 8

Tom Baartmans bass guitar on tracks 1 & 5

Sjoerd van Bommel drums

Carlijne, Loek, Olivia, Roos, Sarah choir on Sweet And Bright

 

Cover design by Elly with the kind assistance of Gertrude van der Linden

Photos of Elly by Ann Beckers

Studio photos by Elly Kellner

 

LYRICS & INFO

Drie generaties rondom het haardvuur - by Fons Gieles (1961)

Fons Gieles, Drie generaties rondom het haardvuur, 1961 (Collection Het Markiezenhof, Bergen op Zoom)

Painting: Three generations by the fireplace

Fons Gieles (1924 - 1995) is a household name for many citizens of Bergen op Zoom. This Dutch artist was versatile and never limited himself to material or theme; watercolor, oil paint, drawing, graphics, murals, costumes, record covers but also carnival floats.

He was immensely passionate about his town, nature, culture and faith. Gieles was also an arts teacher who taught his students to draw, paint, but especially to look closely. It is his versatility that led to him being awarded the Sakko Award for the Arts & Literature in 1982.

Elly's inspiration - Out Of The Flames

Elly: "I love the dreamyness of the phoenix in this painting. The family gathering around the fireplace seems to be deep in thought, holding on to each other, cherishing what is left after possibly experiencing loss. And then in the ashes, some movement can be seen.

Slowly, from the ashes, a tiny figure starts to appear. It tries to stand on it's own two feet. It grows and grows until a strong phoenix rises up. A sign of hope, a beacon of light. Warmth, love and perseverance will get us where we need to be. In the meantime we drink tea, hold space for one another and cherish the sparks in the fire."

Out Of The Flames

We drank our tea as we warmed our feet

And the fire was crackling and soothing

As we looked back on what we had lost

And all the things that still kept us together

 

I leaned in close and held your hand

Watched as the flames started dancing

 

Oh it's so small, oh it's so small

Came from the ashes but still beautiful

And we'll watch it grow, we'll watch it grow

Out of the flames and up it goes

Out of the flames

 

With warm cheeks and the lights down low

All the sparks flew, ever changing

And we remembered we must sometimes let go

How we're shifting through time, together

 

I leaned in close and held your hand

Watched as the flames kept on dancing

 

Tiny, tiny movements

Tiny, tiny, a sparkle in the dark

Tiny, tiny movements

Tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny

 

Warm and strong, stronger

Continues on, stronger

Warm and strong, stronger

Continues on, stronger

 

It's not that small, it's not that small

Came from the ashes but still beautiful

And we'll watch it grow, we'll watch it grow

Out of the flames and up it goes

Out of the flames

 

Came from the ashes but still beautiful

And we'll watch it grow, we'll watch it grow

Out of the flames and up it goes

Out of the flames

The flames

The flames

The flames

 

Elly Kellner – Vocals, 4-string guitar

BJ Baartmans – 12-string guitar, electric guitar

Sjoerd van Bommel – Drums

Tom Baartmans – Bass guitar

Verschil van Smaak - by Godfried Schalcken (1690)

Godfried Schalken, Verschil van smaak, 1690 (Collection Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam)

Painting: Differing tastes

Godfried Schalcken (1643-1706) was an artist of seduction. Internationally he was particularly known for his (sometimes erotic) scenes by candlelight. The diffuse candlelight allowed for a soft modeling of the face, giving the model an amiable and elegant impression. Godfried was truly Master of candlelight.

Elly's inspiration - Each To Their Own

Elly: "I was so drawn into this melancholy scene. The face of the young man smoking his pipe immediately demands my attention. In the background I see a man and woman sitting close to each other. The young man however sits alone.

 

It's fascinating; to me he seems to be either intoxicated or daydreaming the hours away, maybe both. I imagined him really wanting to lead a different life, different from how others live theirs. I saw him walking the streets at night, wandering off into the unknown and trying out new things. Things others may advice against but still following his heart."

Each To Their Own

I may sit by candlelight

In the darkness of a dimly lit room

In the darkness my longing travels on

 

I know what others do

In my minds eye I do those things too

But slighty different, it is possible

 

Others have a different pace

A different road to soldier on

As I go my melancholy way

I'm not alone, each to their own

I'm not alone, each to their own

 

I may roam the streets at night

In the darkness by the light of the moon

In the darkness my thoughts travel on

 

I dream wide awake, I dream

In my minds eye I see

Nothing's impossible, it is possible

 

Others have a different pace

A different road to soldier on

As I go my melancholy way

I'm not alone, each to their own

I'm not alone, each to their own

I'm not alone, each to their own

Each to their own

 

Elly Kellner – Vocals, 4-string guitar, bass guitar

BJ Baartmans – Electric guitar, guitar soundscape

Sjoerd van Bommel – Drums

Boereninterieur - by Jozef Israëls (ca. 1882)

Jozef Israëls, Boereninterieur, 1882 (Collection Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam)

Painting: Peasant interior

Jozef Israëls (1824-1911) favourite subject was man and the difficult life path. He first depicted this in large-scale paintings about the national history, but soon discovered the simple existence of fishermen and farmers offered just as many opportunities to show the fate of humanity. It resulted in paintings in which deep human sympathy, sorrow and mournful loneliness are the actual subject.

 

Not only was Jozef admired by his contemporaries, the young generation of artists also idolized him. Amond them Vincent van Gogh, who was inspired by Israëls' fishing scenes for his famous work The Potato Eaters.

 

 

Elly's inspiration - How We Spend Our Days

Elly: "Anybody who knows me, knows I adore cats. I have a cat and he's 14 years old, he suffers from arthritis. I myself have chronic pain and that's where the inspiration came in for this song.

Although this artwork has quite muddy colours and the fire is almost going out, it still speaks to me. I see an old man packing his pipe and a black cat with white paws drinking from a dish. They're just going about their day. Even if every day is the same, over and over, even if they have aches, they still enjoy each others company. Pondering the days gone by, in the end not wanting for more."

How We Spend Our Days

They say I'm old, I guess it's true

They say I'm old and the same goes for you

Yet there's air in our lungs

And a light that twinkles in our eyes

 

You sleep all day, sometimes I do too

You sleep all day but keep me up all night

When the fire's gone out

You come and lay yourself down

Come and curl up with your black fur

And your paws so white

I think we're alright

I think we're alright

 

Are you dreaming Tom, cause you're making a fuss

Are you dreaming Tom, was the dream about us

Were we running around the house

Enjoying the sun, like we'd just begun

Now tell me, did you catch the mouse

 

Is your body sore, a bit like mine

Is your body sore and does it get worse over time

In the wintertime, by the fireplace

You got your milk and I'll have a slice of bread

I pack my pipe and that is that

It's how we spend our days

It's how we spend our days

 

Are you dreaming Tom, cause you're making a fuss

Are you dreaming Tom, was the dream about us

Were we running around the house

Enjoying the sun, like we'd just begun

Now tell me, did you catch the mouse

Tell me did you catch the mouse

Did you catch it

 

Elly Kellner – Vocals, 4-string guitar

BJ Baartmans – Electric guitar

Ouch

Somedays you wanna start a war

Somedays you just wanna go home

Somedays you wanna hold on tight

Somedays you just wanna let go

 

Cover your head and pretend you're not there

It's not as if anybody else cares

Oh it can be so cold, dreary and dark in our own heart

Ouch

Ouch

 

Somedays you wanna build a bridge

And somedays wanna burn them all

Somedays you wanna push on through

And somedays just give up

 

Cover your head and pretend you're not there

It's not as if anybody else cares

Oh it can be so cold, dreary and dark in our own heart

Ouch

Ouch

 

Elly Kellner – Vocals, 4-string guitar

BJ Baartmans – Electric baritone guitar, bass guitar

Come Back To Me

Come back to me

Come colourful and rosy

Come as you were

As you pleased me the most

 

Come back to me

Be the whisper that I'm hearing

Be brutal or endearing

Come as you are

 

I missed you

I thought I'd be okay

But I missed you

I let go of you, never thought of you

Till this past week suddenly

You returned in my mind

In my mind

 

Come back to me

Warm me with the ease

Of how you can please me

 

Warm me, never leave me

Build the fire up

And let us melt

Into each other

 

I missed you

I thought I'd be okay

But I missed you

I let go of you, never thought of you

Till this past week suddenly

You returned in my mind

In my mind

In my mind

In my mind

 

Elly Kellner – Vocals, 4-string guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar

BJ Baartmans – Electric slide guitar

Sjoerd van Bommel – Drums

Me In Yours, Darling

Happy, happy

Just to see you

Just to watch you be yourself

Happy, happy

Just to hear you

Call out my name

It sounds better that way

 

Happy, happy

Just to know you

Can be at ease when I'm around

Happy, happy

Just to hold you

And my arms are happy, happy

Cause they found you in there

 

You in my arms and me in yours, darling

You in my arms and me in yours

You in my arms and me in yours, darling

You in my arms and me in yours

 

Happy, happy

Just to be here

Just to sit and hold your hand

Happy, happy

To be quiet

No words could say

What I'm feeling for you

 

You in my arms and me in yours, darling

You in my arms and me in yours

You in my arms and me in yours, darling

You in my arms and me in yours

You in my arms and me in yours, darling

You in my arms and me in yours

You in my arms and me in yours, darling

You in my arms and me in yours

 

Elly Kellner – Vocals, 4-string guitar

BJ Baartmans – 12-string guitar

Sjoerd van Bommel – Drums

Tom Baartmans – Bass guitar

Only One Decides

Oh the lonely road, lonely road

Just how steep it goes nobody knows

When you're by yourself, by yourself

Only you control the pace, nobody else

 

Only one decides, just how far

Only one decides, how high

Only one decides, where to stop

And when to give up

 

Oh the distant shores, distant shores

Do we travel on and still want more

When we're by ourself, by ourselves

Can we be content with all we have

 

Only one decides, just how far

Only one decides, how high

Only one decides, where to stop

And when to give up

 

Elly Kellner – Vocals, 4-string guitar, percussion, bass guitar

BJ Baartmans – Additional bass guitar (outro)

Sjoerd van Bommel – Drums

Sweet And Bright

Oh the mothers and fathers

How they cradle their children

From the crib to the prom

From dusk till dawn

And they read them the stories

And they sing lullabies in the night

Sweet and bright

 

The children are molded

Into beautiful creatures

Who have learned to stay open

And show how they feel

And now they lead by example

And go forward, like beacons of light

Sweet and bright

 

Goodnight, sleep tight

Don't let the bedbugs bite

May your dreams be sweet and bright

Goodnight, sleep tight

Don't let the bedbugs bite

May your dreams be sweet and bright

 

When the tables are turning

The hands get more wrinkly

Everyone gathers cause everyone cares

And those who held onto life

May now rise like a star in the night

And a small part of us will go with them

And they'll be alright

Sweet and bright

 

Goodnight, sleep tight

Don't let the bedbugs bite

May your dreams be sweet and bright

Goodnight, sleep tight

Don't let the bedbugs bite

May your dreams be sweet and bright

May your dreams be sweet and bright

May your dreams be sweet and bright

 

Elly Kellner – Vocals, 4-string guitar

BJ Baartmans – Bass guitar, mandoline

Sjoerd van Bommel – Drums

Choir – Carlijne, Loek, Olivia, Roos, Sarah

Even After He Was Mine

He stepped into my dark

And brought his little light

I held on to his smile

Even after he was mine

Even after he was mine

Even after he was mine

 

His footsteps so closeby

A different storyline

Another road, a sudden way

Of stepping into the light

Even after he was mine

Even after he was mine

 

So swiftly

So fleetingly

 

So swiftly on the earth

The shortest time we had

The longest life to memorize

Even after he was mine

Even after he was mine

Even after he was mine

 

So swiftly

So fleetingly

So swiftly

So fleetingly

 

Elly Kellner – Vocals, 4-string guitar, bass guitar

BJ Baartmans – Electric guitar, additional bass guitar

Sjoerd van Bommel – Drums