Emma Kok - You Raise Me Up - Requested reaction

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@stevecgarry mentioned this song and two others in a comment a while ago, and I decided to make it, and the others, bonus videos
It was also requested by Paul Wagner and Wersiman.
• You raise me up | Emma...
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/ @emmakokofficial
Links
Emma Kok Website
emmakok.nl
Emma Kok Instagram
emmakokofficial
Emma Kok Facebook
emma.kok.3572
Emma Kok Tik Tok
tiktok.com/@emmakokofficial._

[@JaapFilius]

It was such a good decision to chose Emma for this memorial concert. She knows how it is NOT to be free in daily life at first hand; she also knows how it is to be frightened at times. Not because of war but because of her illness. That's why she sings this song as she does: with real emotion and real feeling, drawing us into the emotions of this song, which is a prayer. Sometimes age is not important. But life experience is always important. And Emma has (sadly enough) lot's of life experience despite being only 16.

[@alanrobinson4814]

I visited the site of that concert in September. 14,000 soldiers gave their lives for liberation of Holland. 6,000 remains were claimed by families and sent out. 8,000 remain buried there. The families in that village sponsor each soldiers gravesite. Very touching. They truly were grateful for those soldiers.❤️❤️❤️

[@stevecgarry]

I've only just found this bonus video, I'm having to play catch up, having been away from home visiting family in the UK, primarily to celebrate my mother's 100th birthday, an event that was indeed special for all of us that attended, but it meant my on line time has been more than limited recently. Thank you so much for your gracious words, they mean a lot to me, partly because it's helping to spread the word about Emma, who has well and truly got deep into my 73 year old heart, the first time I heard her when we were listening to Andre's summer concert in our local cinema, last August, she went deep, very deep into both me and my wife, and since that time, as I've searched for more about Emma, and discovered her story, and her activities, I have been massively impressed with her drive and determination, she truly is a very special individual, and I for one am determined to do whatever I can to try and spread the word about her achievements, and her amazing life journey, and in doing that, I'm finding people that are equally impressed and affected by her wonderful personality, and where they are reactors like you are, it's worth letting you know about what she's doing, and the way she is becoming even more of a celebrity. I've seen that RogerClutton has been filling in the gaps for you with even more details than I have managed to amass, and that's been very helpful, in that it helps me, and all of us make sure that we're not leaving gaps in our knowledge, and the end result is that all of us get to see and hear more about Emma's incredible skill and quality, the version of Voila she sang recently in Dublin was subtly different to the version that has been viral for the last 9 months, she has made a lot of small but significant changes, and done what I thought was impossible, she's improved on a version of the song that many of us regarded as perfection, and enhanced it by her insistence on reviewing her previous performances, and looking for anything that needs to be improved on, and that is exactly what she does, fine tunes each song she sings, to make sure that what she delivers is the best it can be. She's recently been involved in a whole series of celebration concerts across the Netherlands, ( they don't call it Holland any more), and some of those events have been in front of high ranking politicians and the Dutch Royal Family, Emma has gone on record to say that she feels incredibly honoured to be asked to sing at these events, and her performances have been stunning, and having delivered an incredible performance of a Demi Levato song, 'Father', at a celebration concert last September, in recent weeks, she's sung it again at another celebration concert, and this time, she again subtly changed it, and went for even more powerful and stunning high notes than I've heard before, and I think you too will be impressed with her performance, it comes from a concert in the Hague, during a very busy period at the start of May, as there were a number of concerts with Andre in Ireland and the UK. kzbin.info/www/bejne/apy7apyffrRonbssi=eI_HZrihQS-I_rIg The visual content is not as good as some, it's clearly a phone capture, and I'm hoping that there will be a better version uploaded soon, as for me, it's another defining performance by Emma, she gave this version absolutely everything. I'm also wondering how you got on with finding the rehearsal videos of Emma preparing for the Voila performance last summer, I know you were having trouble with the KZbin version, I can only suggest that if you are still struggling, a google search for Emma Kok, Voila rehearsal, and then select video tab, that should give you a pointer into alternative versions on other social media sites, it's on several. I won't make this too long, it's all too easy to get carried away, and then hit the site limit on a comment, but for now, I will close out with my thanks for your words, and for the reaction, and my hopes that just the one new video I've mentioned will also give you pleasure in hearing her rise again to new heights, and I also add my gentle reminder to all your readers and subscribers to not forget Emma's foundation, gastrostars.nl, and if possible. to donate to the work they are doing. The website has been significantly updated recently, and there's been a lot of new content added, which makes her story easier to understand.

[@RobertDeMartin]

Wow! Perfect timing, Paul. I watched the D-Day Memorial in France and is was very moving. I think the youngest vet was 98 years old. As each one was helped out of their wheel chairs, they gave it all they had to stand at attention while they received their Medal of Honor badge. I've always said, when school kids go on these 'field trips', one of them should contain a visit to a National Cemetery and each kid should have a flower to leave at some hero's resting place. Emma is in a very select group of human beings who in God's eye is with us to help us through trying times. My heart has captured Emma's love and I now have the love of two Angels in my heart.

[@alanrobinson4814]

You are doing a wonderful job with your bonus videos. Emma is so special to me. There is a video on you tube titled Transformation, 0 to 16 Emma Kok. I think you will like it for yourself as you do the liberation videos. Father and Hero she did in Holland, and the view of that cemetery they show will touch your soul. ❤️

[@jvdwbd]

Hello, thank you for your sincere reaction. Let me give you some background information. I was born in Wageningen, close to the Grebbeberg I believe Emma sang this in the Cunera church in Rhenen. In Rhenen on the Grebbebegr is a WW2 memorial and a military cemetery. These are projected on a large screen behind Emma On this cemetery over 500 Dutch soldiers are buried that died defending The Netherlands against the attack by the Germans in May 1940. The Netherlands had declared to remain neutral as in WW1. However Hitler decided that the port of Rotterdam and the river Rhine were so important that he attacked us. The Dutch army was poorly armed and soldiers not well trained. They did fight the Germans , but when Germany bombed the heart of Rotterdam and trattent to bomb other cities as well, The Netherlands surrendered and were occupied. In the church you see projections of the monument and the cemetery. Interesting fact the Grebbeberg lays between Rhenen and Wageningen. In Wageningen on the 5th of May the Germans Greetz Jacques Dupain

[@Wrecker3D]

I'm from The Netherlands, where this artist and our Royal Military Band Johan Willem Friso (named after a member of the Royal Family) are from. Every year on May 4th we remember the fallen of WWII and other Wars, and every May 5th we celebrate our freedom as that is the day on which the Germans signed the Treaty and left The Netherlands We end the 5th with a special concert in Amsterdam on one of the canals, the King and Queen always attend this show, its free to attend (just like other freedom festivals on this date) and aired on tv (freeview) Emma Kok was singing a duet in this edition with April Darby The Dutch really appreciate what Freedom Fighters did and sometimes still do... I dont know the link, but there is a clip on yt somewhere made by a bbc or cnn reporter (not sure) about how we still remember and celebrate the event Hope you have time to look it up, and enjoy it if you didn't watch it already Please keep enjoying life, and thanks to all veterans ❤

[@Koma_Texeld]

Emma, Amira, Dimash, Lara, Angelina, Lucy, Morissette, ...., and many more great artists, talents, voices and music that you give us every day... I am really grateful to you for all those good moments, for praying and for sharing your feelings with all of us. In spite of the distance, I feel close to you thanks to all the emotions and kind words you convey in each video. God bless you and your loved ones. See you next time 👏👋

[@RogerClutton]

I will give you a separate comment with Emma's full bio and background story but here just about this reaction video specifically. I love your sincere and heartfelt reactions to Emma who has a profound effect on many who listen to her sing. This performance was very recent, 14th May 2024 and was at the military chapel at the memorial site in Grebbeberg, the site of a major battle at the start of WWII. I will say more about Emma's support since 2022 of the commemorative and freedom concerts in the separate 'bio+' comment to come. Steve has clearly mentioned to you Emma's September 2023 performance at the American War Graves Cemetery in Margraten, her performance of Demi Lovato's 'Father' completely emotionally folds up the sound engineer you can see behind her; and many other people who listen to it. On your previous Emma reactions you have mentioned her Gastroparesis and her tube feeding regime, you will notice in your video at time stamp 2:40 Emma is walking past the war memorial carrying a bag which contains two feeding pumps. You can also see the two tubes from the bag going under her coat which, via a 'Mickey Button' interface and disconnect valves, pas through a surgical hole in her abdomen, with one tube connecting to her stomach, the other to her intestine. It shows Emma's commitment to these events given the demands of her health condition that she wanted to sing here on 14th May. Here there was a relatively small audience albeit for a prestigious event. However, it meant that Emma had to jump on a plane the next morning on 15th to fly to London with Andre Rieu to sing to a sell out 12500 crowd at Wembley Arena that evening.

[@paulschmehl2124]

Thank you Roger.

[@HANSVLIJM]

Dit concert was niet in een kapel op de begraafplaats. Het was in de Cunerakerk in Rhenen, vlakbij de Grebbeberg.

[@RogerClutton]

Emma Bio continued: Part 2 of 3 26th June 2021, a minor performance in some respects but maybe of major significance. Emma sang in Weert, with Frank Steijns, a board member of Limburg Youth Symphony Orchestra, a composer and a superb musician, pianist, carillonneur, and importantly first violinist with Andre Rieu’s orchestra for over 30 years. There was a similar performance with Frank in Heerlen on 15th August 2021 During the summer 2021 Emma sang at various theatre venues including at an event linked to the Belgian Tour of Limbourg cycling race. July 2021, Emma becomes an ambassador for The Children’s Research Fund for Limburg hospitals and later that month puts on her own dedicated concert at the Open Air Theatre in Valkenburg to raise money for the Fund. 18th August 2021, Valkenburg - Emma sings Hallelujah with the Maastricht Staar male voice choir for a special TV broadcast by ‘Max Voor Limburg’. This was in support of those affected by flooding in the Limburg area. Most interesting is that here Emma met Andre Rieu during an interview where he was also a guest at the event. 25th August 2021, Holland Casino Valkenburg - Emma went directly from a short summer vacation to perform at another concert for the benefit of those affected by flooding in Limburg. 4th September, Hoessenbosch Music Festival - Emma sang her full set of her songs from ‘The Voice Kids NL’. 10th September 2021, Open-air theatre in Brunssum - with the Dutch Customs Orchestra, Emma sang various songs including a duet of Michael Jacksons ‘Earth Song’ with Martin Van Der Starre. 23rd September 2021, Royal Theatre Carre, Amsterdam - Emma sings on behalf of the Princess Maxima Centre to raise money for childhood cancer research. 4th November 2021, Amsterdam Theatre - Emma closes the commercial ‘Flow of Change Congress, for GroupM NL singing ‘Times are Changing’. She shares a joke with the host while interview on stage afterwards about her dream of one day singing in Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome, the CEO of the Ziggo Dome was in the audience. Shortly after, Emma recorder parts of her video for her first single in an empty Ziggo Dome, the year after that she received a standing ovation from a 15000 packed audience there. 23rd November, for a broadcast fundraising event, working with ‘Project Smile’ and as ambassador for The Children’s Research Fund, presents with Ali-B (her celebrity coach on The Voice Kids) to support other sufferers of Gastroparesis with practical pump bags which they delivered personally. 24th December 2021, appears on NPO1 tv. 11th March 2022, Emma’s first single is released, ‘Laat Mij Een Vlinder Zijn’ (Let Me Be A Butterfly) co-written with, and produced by, TJ Oosterhuis. From a young age Emma has associated with the butterfly metaphor, breaking out of the constraints of the cocoon, linked to her condition constrained by her health condition and feeding pumps. Since The Voice Kids, Emma’s In Ear Monitors carried a butterfly motif. 1st May 2022, Parkstad Limburg Theatres - Emma’s first dedicated full theatre concert. Tickets were €15, can you imagine that!! 5th May 2022, National Children's Memorial, Madurodam, The Hague - Emma sang as part of the liberation commemoration concerts, singing ‘Als Wij Niets Doen’ (If We Do Nothing) from the educational musical, ‘Soldier of Orange’. 7th June 2022, Emma has the Mickey Button in her stomach replaced, for the first time without anaesthetic (understood that this is to protect her voice). This procedure is repeated every few months. 15th June 2022, Rendez-vous the Lentekriebels concert, accompanied on the piano by Frank Steijns who was mentioned earlier. Andre Rieu was also present at this performance, celebrating 40 years since his first album release. 19th June 2022, at the MECC Maastricht, opens the National Congress of ESCAP, Networks in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, singing ‘Warrior’ and ‘Let Me Be A Butterfly’. 26th June, ZAPP Music Festival, Zapp Music Festival in Houten 16th July, Park City Festival, Heerlen. Guest Artist with Phile Bee, singing a duet of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Superstition’. 19th July 2022, Emma becomes an ambassador for the Erasmus Medical Centre, Sophie Children’s Hospital. 30th July 2022, WMC Kerkrade - with Blizzert Band - stops during the set to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her dad who is in the audience who all sing along. 1st September 2022, Open Air Theatre Valkenburg - Emma’s second dedicated concert at this venue. 11th November 2022, at the start of the huge carnival in Roermond, Emma sings to a crowd of 15500 for the first time. 26th December 2022, Vrijthof Theatre, Maastricht - singing with Maastricht Staar. ........ see next post

[@paulschmehl2124]

Roger, I love the detail you are providing, but the playlist bios are limited to 5,000 words. So, I have to find a way to condense what you've written to the essential elements that we want to know about Emma. We definitely need to mention her condition and her foundation.

[@RogerClutton]

@@paulschmehl2124 I’ll put together a brief synopsis for you to consider.

[@RogerClutton]

@@paulschmehl2124 Does this work as an Emma bio Paul? Emma Kok was born in Maastricht in The Netherlands (NL) on March 12th 2008, and lives in nearby Kerkrade. Whilst blessed with a natural singing and performing talent she also has a very personal battle with the incurable health condition Gastroparesis. Emma’s childhood was overshadowed by her health and the consequential side effects. The mental effects were exacerbated by bullying at school due both to her condition and her stature. Owing to her Gastroparesis, Emma has some growth retardation - at the age of 16 Emma is approximately 150cm (5ft) tall. Emma has 2 siblings: Brother, Enzo (21), an exceptional violinist; and Sister, Sophie (18), herself a noteworthy singer, but who now studies law. Emma’s parents were both originally musicians and Emma’s father currently holds a senior management role with the South Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra. Emma’s interest in music and singing was encouraged from a young age with Emma learning violin and piano then latterly finding her angelic voice. In 2020 Emma performed publicly for the first time in concerts organised by brother Enzo in support of artists impacted by the Covid pandemic. Even at 12 years of age her voice showed signs of things to come with its range, control and unearthly power. These performances spurred Emma on and prompted her to enter the tenth series of The Voice Kids NL, still age 12 when recording started, and winning it as she turned 13. Although a double talent contest winner, Emma is no superficial ‘wannabe’ performer. Emma is musically gifted and has served a hard-working apprenticeship. She sang regularly from the age of 13 including in her own shows in theatres, outdoor venues, music festivals, corporate events and on television. She is also sings at events that interest her including for worthy causes such as in support of victims of flooding, earthquakes, and for children’s causes, some of which she is an ambassador for. Emma has developed some valuable partnerships to underpin her early career. Firstly, her family team who have to take great credit for their role in nurturing, protecting and helping with key professional decisions. Emma has also performed multi events and toured with the Dutch Customs Orchestra as well as the prestigious Royal Military Band “Koninklijke Militaire Kapel Johan Willem Friso” (KMKJWF). Emma typically sings songs which have a deep meaning for her or relate directly to her own life story and its challenges. Emma has performed covers of contemporary pieces from Sia, Demi Lovato, and Lady Gaga through to those of Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Tina Turner. Emma also has 2 singles of her own that have done well on streaming platforms - in 2022, Laat Mij Een Vlinder Zijn (Let Me Be A Butterfly), and in 2023, Strijder (Warrior). Emma’s leap to more worldwide recognition came in the summer of 2023 when she was invited by renowned maestro Andre Rieu to join his famous Johan Strouss Orchestra (JSO) in their annual 12 concert series on the Vrijthof Square in Maastricht. Having seen Emma perform the song ‘Voila’ when she won Ministars, he asked her to sing a new interpretation/orchestration of the song which subsequently went viral. Emma also appeared as a guest with the JSO in Malta in Summer 2023 and at their 2023 Christmas concert series in Maastricht. After Emma’s first performance with the JSO, Andre Rieu invited Emma to join them on their 2024 world tour where she will sing to live audiences totaling approximately 1.25 million people. At the time of writing, traveling with one or both of her parents, and keeping up with her school studies through The World School, Emma had completed 59 of 107 scheduled concerts with the JSO, whilst fitting in other studio time and concert engagements and other events during any gaps in the JSO tour. Emma’s Gastrostars foundation: In February 2023 when Emma won Ministars, it came with a prize of €25000 to spend as she wished, although the rules of the show meant she could not receive the money until she was 18. However, when asked by the show’s producers how she would spend the money, Emma said she would use it, not on herself, but to start a foundation: a) to raise awareness of her little-known condition, b) to support fellow sufferers of all gastrointestinal illnesses, c) to raise further funds to support research into gastroparesis. They were so impressed by her vision that they flexed the rules so she could have the money immediately. A few weeks later Emma's ‘gastrostars.nl’ foundation was born. Emma has raised further funds through initiatives and performing, for example, the sponsor of one event, Stal Tops, donated the €50000 proceeds from the auction of a young foal to Emma’s foundation. Donations, small or large can be made via the foundation website, www.gastrostars.nl.

[@cmlarose50]

@@RogerClutton- Curious 73 yo disabled American man who absolutely loves Amira Willighagen, (Dutch soprano) wondering if Emma & Amira have ever performed together and if no, why not? They are very similar in their voices and kind, caring souls. Paul does Amira reactions too and has gotten me interested in Emma. Amira's dad still lives in Nijmegen while she lives in South Africa since 2018 as does her mom and brother. She has been back to the Netherlands a lot to perform and spend time with her dad Gerrit. However, Emma's singing schedule is much more grueling and Amira now attends University of Pretoria for music and conducting. It is so amazing how such super talent has emerged from tiny The Netherlands!

[@RogerClutton]

@@cmlarose50 Thanks for the question. No, they have never performed together. I see your thought process but Emma Kok is a rather more contemporary singer with Amira being an out and out operatic soprano. Their trajectories kind of crossed insofar as they were given opportunities by Andre Rieu, albeit with quite different songs and a different kind of opportunity. Because of her very young age, it would have been limited what Andre could ask Amira to do. She sang the the one song during the Vrijthof concerts in Maastricht in 2014, repeating her 2013 Holland's Got Talent debut song 'O Mio Babbino Caro'. Emma Kok has sung a wider range of songs, and as of Saturday evening in Prague Emma completed her 59th concert with Andre Rieu, with a further 44+ to go to the end of the year. Emma is also packing the gaps in the World Tour with other things as you rightly point out. Not just singing either, some profile building, some just fun, or both. Yesterday after flying back from Prague to Amsterdam, Emma was at the premier of the musical 'Frozen'; I imagine a direct result of her presenting an award at this years Musicals Gala Award Ceremony in April. She will do 'Fred and Friends' 2 day event in October and if you look that up you will see that is wildly off the end of the spectrum that Amira would consider. If you do look that up (actualy, here are the links), don't prejudge the environment or Emma's choices in doing this. For her, although it is out of her own character, I think (so my speculation) this is about her message of being of who you (and others) are, and being accepted for who you (others) are. These performances were repeated of 2 days. each to 15000 rather raucus crowd last autumn. Emma sang 'Voila' and her own second single 'Strijder': kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHythHRrjralotU kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z53CdIuIbcihkK8 I hope that helps, and because this is my opinion I may be found to be wrong, but in short I think it unlikely that Emma and Amira will ever perform together. My logic being is that because their predominantly contemporary verses absolute soprano genre's, as well as them being in different phases of their career journey, will keep them a little apart. However, even if this is so, we will just have to enjoy their wonderful talents individually. It will be an interesting journey either way. ❤

[@2012inca]

The Americans, British and Canadians helped liberate The Netherlands not Holland. There is North Holland and South Holland which are provinces in The Netherlands they are like states in the US but called provinces of The Netherlands. I live in the provence of South Holland in The Netherlands. The Dutch are very thankful for all the soldiers liberating The Netherlands. Once a year old Canadian vets come to The Netherlands in a parade where the Dutch thank them for liberating them. Why the British and American vets dont come to the parade I dont know. There is a video on KZbin called "VE day." Canadian veterans celebrated in the Netherlands" You see even teens and little kids thanking the Canadian vets. P.s. Sometimes Dutch people themselves confuse Holland with The Netherlands but the country is The Netherlands and two provinces within The Netherlands are North Holland and South Holland. These two provinces are the most busy out of the 12 provences The Netherlands consists of.

[@paulschmehl2124]

Please forgive my ignorance. I will try my best to recall this information in my future videos.

[@2012inca]

​@@paulschmehl2124That's ok Amira did Holland's Got Talent so even tv makers use Holland wrongfully. It should be called The Netherlands Got Talent but Holland's Got Talent sounds better and foreigners often know Holland but not The Netherlands. They also use Holland on export products this is for marketing purposes but also not correct. So I see why it is confusing but the country is The Netherlands. It is called Netherlands because our country is below sea level. My grandpa escaped the naz is by climbing on top of his house and by running over the rooftops. That is why I am thankful to all veterans who liberated The Netherlands.

[@erickvermeulen9734]

The orchestra is the royal military band of the Dutch army, named Johan Willem Friso after Johan Willem Friso van Nassau Dietz (1687-1711), Prince of Orange. The present form of the military band dates from 2005, but the origin goes back to 1829 when then King Willem I ordered that the regiment of grenadiers should have a military band.

[@jvdwbd]

The last part of my reaction disappeared I noticed. It should read : In Wageningen on the 5th of May 1945 the Germans signed the capitulation documents in the presence of our Prince Bernard and General Foulkes.

[@jvdwbd]

Sorry about some unnoticed auto coreect failures my computer made

[@andyau5970]

You mentioned Emma performing at the memorial concert for WW2 fallen American soldiers. I thought you might find this interesting, it's a introductory video Emma did before the event, English subs with Google translate I think, so odd translations. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2arc5d-jZuVm9k

[@paulschmehl2124]

Thank you for sharing that.