Gordon Heuckeroth

Cornelis Willem (Gordon) Heuckeroth (born 6 July 1968, Amsterdam) is a Dutch performer and radio and television personality, known by his nickname Gordon. As a singer, he had a Dutch number one hit with the single Kon ik maar even bij je zijn ('If I could be with you for just a while').[1] Gordon has an estimated fortune of €8 million.[2]

Gordon
Gordon singing in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Cornelis Willem Heuckeroth
Also known as	Gordon
Born	(1968-07-06) 6 July 1968
Origin	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Genres	R&B, Pop music
Occupation(s)	Singer, tv personality
Years active	1991–present
Labels	CNR, EMI
Associated acts	De Toppers, Los Angeles The Voices
Website	www.gordon.nl

Early life

Gordon was born on 6 July 1968 in the north of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Before he became a professional performer, Gordon worked as a salesman on the streetmarket.

Career as a singer

Gordon with De Toppers

Gordon was turned down at the Soundmixshow and came in third in the National Songfestival contest.[3] At first he sang only romantic songs like Ik hou van jou (I love you) and Omdat ik zo van je hou (Because I love you so much), but later in the '90s his repertoire shifted to Dutch R&B. Gordon participated in the national finals of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003, finishing second after Esther Hart.

Gordon joined Gerard Joling and Rene Froger in a series of concerts under the name De Toppers. De Toppers represented the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia, but never made it to the final, finishing in seventeenth place in the semi-final. In 2009, Gordon left De Toppers. A few weeks later, Gordon rejoined De Toppers.

Career in radio and television

Gordon in a pink costume at the Amsterdam Gay Pride in 2008

Gordon eventually got his own radio show on Radio 538.[4] Later on he moved to Noordzee FM. On television, he became the host of Gordon's Late Nicht Show[5] (in this context nicht means queer) and Gordon's Life Style. In 2005, Gordon joined his 'Toppers' colleague Gerard Joling in Joling & Gordon over de vloer.[6] Gordon also appeared in the shows Thuis and in Vijf tegen Vijf.[7] In 2007 Gordon starred in a show on RTL 4 called Gillend naar huis ('Screaming back home'), in which he joins Dutch families during their foreign holidays. He joined the jury of Idols Netherlands in 2007.

Racism controversy

Gordon made multiple racist remarks to Dutch-Chinese contestant Xiao Wang on the TV show Holland's Got Talent in November 2013. Comments, mainly referring to Chinese restaurants, such as "Which number are you singing? Number 39 with rice?", "Surplise!", "He looks like a waiter from a Chinese restaurant", and "This is the best Chinese I've had in weeks, and it's not a takeaway,"[8][9][10][11] have been described as highly offensive to those of Chinese and Asian heritage.[12] The incident challenged the Netherlands' supposed tolerant reputation on issues related to diversity.[13]

Within a few days after the broadcast, the clip went viral online, and Gordon's racist comments drew heavy criticism on international media and social media outlets.[14] The Amsterdam Discrimination Hotline ("MDRA") issued a letter to the show asking for an explanation of Gordon's behavior, and states that while humor and exaggeration are generally acceptable on a public platform, "there is a line that can be crossed," and "the singer has the potential of influencing a large group."[15] On 27 November 2013, the hotline filed an official complaint with RTL Netherlands in regard to Gordon's racist treatment of Xiao Wang.[16]

Gordon responded that 'he thinks jokes like that are acceptable and innocent' in The Netherlands, that he is not a racist, and that he does not feel the need to apologise.[15] Performer Xiao Wang was quoted as saying that he "felt somewhat slighted" and "disliked the 'jokes'." Over time, Gordon reconsidered his position, but it is uncertain whether Gordon has actually apologised for his racist remarks.[13][17]

Discography

• Kon Ik Maar Even Bij Je Zijn (CNR Music, 1992)
• Alles Wat Ik Ben (1993)
• Now Is The Time (CNR Music, 1994)
• Kon Ik Maar Even Bij Je Zijn (2 CD; 1995)
• Je Bent Wie Je Bent Schatje (1995)
• De Tijd Van Mijn Leven (1996)
• Omdat Ik Zo Van Je Hou (CNR Music, 1996)
• Gordon & Re-Play (Dino Music, 2002) featuring Re-Play
• Gordon & (Dino Music, 2003)
• A Song For You (Rodeo Media, 2008)
• Liefde Overwint Alles (Berk Music, 2013)
• Compleet, Volmaakt, Het Einde (Berk Music, 2016) featuring Metropole Orkest

References

1. "Hit Parade". Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
2. report on the list of the richest Dutch gays in the Netherlands Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine on gay.nl. Retrieved 31 December 2007
3. ESC History – Netherlands 1990
4. Gordon on air! on the website of Radio538 Archived 13 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine (Dutch) – Retrieved on 31 December 2007
5. "Gordon's Late Nicht Show". Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
6. nl:Joling & Gordon Over De Vloer
7. Talpa takes Thuis down – article on the news website of RTL (Dutch)
8. YouTube: Xiao Wang verrast jury en publiek – HOLLAND'S GOT TALENT
9. ‘Which number are you singing, No. 39 with rice?’ Holland’s Got Talent judge cracks racist jokes at Chinese performer
10. Shockingly Racist Got Talent Judge Makes Howard Stern Look Tame Archived 21 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine
11. The Racist Talent Show Judge Who Makes Simon Cowell Look Good
12. The Banality of Televised Anti-Chinese Racism
13. Gordon: No More Chinese Jokes
14. Blum, Jeremy; Boehler, Patrick (21 November 2013). "Dutch musician's 'racist' comments against Chinese go viral, draw ire". South China Morning Post.
15. No Apologies for Racist Slurs
16. "Dutch TV station asked to apologize after racism complaints on Chinese participant". Retrieved 1 December 2013.
17. Xiao Wang Responds To Gordon

External links

• (in Dutch) Gordon, official website
• Article about Gordons discriminatory remark 'number 39 with rice' in BBC China