The Netherlands 2018: Get to know Waylon

Willem Bijkerk was born in 20 April 1980, known professionally as Waylon, is a Dutch singer. His stage name came from the name of his idol Waylon Jennings. He represented the Netherlands with Ilse DeLange as The Common Linnets at the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, finishing in second place in the final and will return as a solo act to represent the Netherlands again in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon.

Waylon started his career in 1995 singing in the television program Telekids where he sang the chorus of the song “Harry Stallion.From childhood, he was inspired by country music and he played the drums with the band West Virginian Railroad. He was signed in 1997 by EMI and went to Nashville to record an album. The album was never completed. In 2001, he lived and worked for a year in the United States where he also performed with his idol, Waylon Jennings. After Jennings died in 2002, Waylon returned to the Netherlands.

Waylon’s talent was further developed with Lisa Boray. After returning from the United States, he joined the cover band Santa Rosa. He also sang in the band Millstreet. In 2005, Waylon and Rachel Kramer performed as the duo Rachel & Waylon in the preliminary rounds of the National Song Contest with the song “Leven als een beest.

Waylon took part in the first season of Holland’s Got Talent  in 2008. He auditioned with the song “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” by James Brown. He received positive feedback from jurors Henkjan Smits and Patricia Paay. Waylon reached the final and finished second.

A year later, Universal Music signed Waylon as the first Dutchman to the Motown label. His first single, “Wicked Way”, was released on August 7, 2009, as a preview of the album Wicked Ways, released later that month.”Wicked Way” reached the top 10 in the Dutch Top 40 charts.

In April 2010, Waylon won his first major music award for “Best Newcomer”. A month later he received in a gold record for his debut album on the television program De Wereld Draait Door. In June 2010, Waylon was one of the winners of the TMF Awards, winning the Borsato Award for new talent. The prize was awarded to him by the namesake, Marco Borsato, at the TMF Awards Festival in Enschede.

Waylon released “The Escapist” in October 2011 as the first single from his second album, After All, which was released on November 3, 2011. This was followed by the singles “Lose It” and “Lucky Night”. Waylon was voted best singer in the April 2012 3FM Awards.

Together with singer Ilse Delange, Waylon was the Dutch entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen. The two formed the duo “The Common Linnets”  and sang the country/bluegrass song “Calm After the Storm”. They won second place with a total of 238 points behind Conchita Wurst from Austria, who scored 290 points.

Waylon last performed with Delange at a concert on June 21, 2014 in Enschede, following which he left The Common Linnets.

He married in 2002, fathered a son, Dylan, and divorced after three years of marriage.

“Outlaw In Em” lyrics:

[Verse 1]
It’s a fine, fine line
Between whiskey, and water, into wine
It’s a long way home
When you’re down and out and out here on your own
But it don’t matter who you are when it’s time to lock and load

[Chorus 1]
Everybody’s got a little outlaw in ’em
Chrome piece hidin’ in their blacked out denim
Heartbeat beatin’ to a rock ‘n’ roll rhythm, yeah
Everybody’s got a couple scarred up knuckles
Blood on their boots and their back-off buckle
Diamondback rattle with a quick strike venom
Everybody’s got a little outlaw in ’em
(Hmm)

[Verse 2]
When they knock you to the ground
You ain’t gonna let nobody keep you down
When you’re back’s against the wall
That’s when you gotta learn to stand up tall
Yeah, that rebel fight inside of you
Has been there all along

[Chorus 1]
Everybody’s got a little outlaw in ’em
Chrome piece hidin’ in their blacked out denim
Heartbeat beatin’ to a rock ‘n’ roll rhythm, yeah
Everybody’s got a couple scarred up knuckles
Blood on their boots and their back-off buckle
Diamondback rattle with a quick strike venom
Everybody’s got a little outlaw in ’em
(Oh, ohh)

[Chorus 2]
Everybody’s got a little outlaw in ’em
Chrome piece hidin’ in their blacked out denim
Heartbeat beatin’ to a rock ‘n’ roll rhythm, yeah
Huh, everybody got little frontman swagger
Stone cold rollin’ like a young Mick Jagger
A new tattoo that you can’t keep hidden
Everybody’s got a little outlaw in ’em, yeah
(Oh, ohh)

[Outro]
I said, everybody’s got a little outlaw in ’em, aw