"To Be A Woman" is a Blogumentary, telling the story of a woman in search of her identity. We watch her live and learn.
The starting point of this project is the male to female transition of Merel Moistra. We follow this process, which involves Merel and everyone around here. The most important people are her life-companion and the two children they brought into this world.
Merel is a renown Dutch songwriter. She writes songs about her life and about her process of transition. In this Blogumentary we'll also follow her career as it evolves.
And as you watch these films, read the pages and get involved, you will gain a better understanding of concepts like 'normal', 'gender' and 'indentity', and you'll have much fun in the process, guaranteed!
Merel goes to the Semi-Finals!!!
Yes! We're so happy and proud!
Merel goes to the Half-Final! from Izzy Abrahami and Erga Netz on Vimeo.
And here's the Jury report from the competition that took place on the Dutch Island of Texel, 13-15 January:
Merel Moistra with "What Does That Woman Want?"
Her overwhelming opening line as low alto put everybody immediately on the wrong foot. No, this is no cheap revue performer on stage, here comes an inteligent entertainer presenting us with a very personal life dilemma. Unpolished, ignoring most of the rules that apply in a theater, she tells with flair, irony, remarkable self-confidence and courage, that she is a blunder of Creation. We can all laugh, but she laughs the most.
But before that laughter, there was sorrow and confusion and she shares that with us, too.
Personal stories like these might pose the risk of self-indulgance. But with this program, full of humor and perspective and wonderful feats of improvisation skills, such as when her earring falls to the ground and later when the other one does not, Merel avoids that trap. Sparsly, she shows that she is able to switch themes and that she has a keen eye on the outside world.
As a viewer you go with her completely and you forget the gendre issue and the man-woman distinctions.
The committee wants to add that Merel must be careful not to become a caricature of herself. Be caeful not to exploit these vulnerable contents of her program just to get an easy laugh. The commission says this in part because Merel has a final, breathtaking song with which she wins over the house. But she manages to get this effect thanks to her mannerisms and jokes. A serious point of criticism is on the too long story about her elementary school, followed immidiately by an annoying and abominable song and piano playing. This turn the program just into what Merel does not want: a little soggy.
The public forgave her. Perhaps because there are many entertainers who have the house "on a string", but few like Merel, who has the house "on her eyes".
For all the details on Merel's tour, go to Amsterdams Kleinkunst Festival.
Or visit Merel's Agenda
Merel goes to the Half-Final! from Izzy Abrahami and Erga Netz on Vimeo.
And here's the Jury report from the competition that took place on the Dutch Island of Texel, 13-15 January:
Merel Moistra with "What Does That Woman Want?"
Her overwhelming opening line as low alto put everybody immediately on the wrong foot. No, this is no cheap revue performer on stage, here comes an inteligent entertainer presenting us with a very personal life dilemma. Unpolished, ignoring most of the rules that apply in a theater, she tells with flair, irony, remarkable self-confidence and courage, that she is a blunder of Creation. We can all laugh, but she laughs the most.
But before that laughter, there was sorrow and confusion and she shares that with us, too.
Personal stories like these might pose the risk of self-indulgance. But with this program, full of humor and perspective and wonderful feats of improvisation skills, such as when her earring falls to the ground and later when the other one does not, Merel avoids that trap. Sparsly, she shows that she is able to switch themes and that she has a keen eye on the outside world.
As a viewer you go with her completely and you forget the gendre issue and the man-woman distinctions.
The committee wants to add that Merel must be careful not to become a caricature of herself. Be caeful not to exploit these vulnerable contents of her program just to get an easy laugh. The commission says this in part because Merel has a final, breathtaking song with which she wins over the house. But she manages to get this effect thanks to her mannerisms and jokes. A serious point of criticism is on the too long story about her elementary school, followed immidiately by an annoying and abominable song and piano playing. This turn the program just into what Merel does not want: a little soggy.
The public forgave her. Perhaps because there are many entertainers who have the house "on a string", but few like Merel, who has the house "on her eyes".
For all the details on Merel's tour, go to Amsterdams Kleinkunst Festival.
Or visit Merel's Agenda
And on to the THIRD ROUND!
Yes! Merel made it through to the Third Round of the Amsterdams Kleinkunst Festival, for the Wim Sonneveld Prize!
And as promised, here's the movie with the highlights of her winning performance, and what happened next...!
AKF Round Two online from Izzy Abrahami and Erga Netz on Vimeo.
Hope you already got your tickets for Merel's performance in Klif 12, Den Hoorn, Texel, on January 13th, because all tickets are sold out! Visit the website of the Amsterdams Kleinkunst Festival for all the details!
And as promised, here's the movie with the highlights of her winning performance, and what happened next...!
AKF Round Two online from Izzy Abrahami and Erga Netz on Vimeo.
Hope you already got your tickets for Merel's performance in Klif 12, Den Hoorn, Texel, on January 13th, because all tickets are sold out! Visit the website of the Amsterdams Kleinkunst Festival for all the details!
Merel is on to the Second Round of the Amsterdams Kleinkunst Festival competition!
The Amsterdams Kleinkunst Festival is an important yearly event, celebrating the Dutch tradition of 'Kleinkunst': a combination of cabaret, sing-song writing, stand-up comedy and satire. Merel participated in the First Round of the 24th edition, and was chosen to go on to the Second Round!
Here's a glimpse at the First Round:
If you want to see Merel in the Second Round, performing for 20 minutes, come to Theater Bellevue (Amsterdam) on Saturday, December 11, at 20:30!
Here's a glimpse at the First Round:
If you want to see Merel in the Second Round, performing for 20 minutes, come to Theater Bellevue (Amsterdam) on Saturday, December 11, at 20:30!
Laser Girl in HD!
Merel Moistra sings a song from the project: "Songs of Transition." This song is about the pain she suffered in the hand of the hair removal specialists. The 'laser girls' that removed her beard.
Synopsis video Online!
The song that sums it all up! Edited into a mini-documentary which gives you an idea of what the finished film will be like.
I Am Not Your Son
Merel Moistra sings a song from the project: "Songs of Transition"
This song is about "coming out" and it is addressed to Merel’s mother. In this song Merel describes her transition as emerging from the dark into the light. The song’s title "I Am Not Your Son" is a mantra and in a way it is sung not only to convince her mother but also to convince herself.
Merel says: "Its cathartic, so if you are in a male to female transition, do sing along!"
Lyrics
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| I am so cute! |
The people behind 'To Be A Woman'.
'To Be A Woman' is a project of Stichting Rainbow, a not-for-profit Dutch foundation whose aims are: promoting peace, tolerance and coexistence in the Netherlands and worldwide, encouraging acceptance of minority groups, especially Jewish, by majorities and other minorities; promoting the values of individual responsibility towards other individuals and the community, promoting and encouraging art, humor, joy and creativity among people, promoting knowledge and education to people of all ages.
'To Be A Woman', the Blogumentary, is created together by Merel Moistra and Erga Netz.
The documentary is produced and directed by Erga Netz, Abrahami-Netz TV Productions, for Stichting Rainbow.
'To Be A Woman', the Blogumentary, is created together by Merel Moistra and Erga Netz.
The documentary is produced and directed by Erga Netz, Abrahami-Netz TV Productions, for Stichting Rainbow.
Beta release of titel track.
Recorded 30 minutes after it was written. So it has a few glitches here and there. Bear with me!!
There's a short story behind this song. But first, here're the lyrics.
I woke up yesterday night at around 3AM with this melody
in my head. What's this. This melody wants me. So I went
down to record it on my cell phone. Couldn't sleep. Found
out that the line 'to be a woman' fitted perfectly in the
middle of the melody. Lyrics started to form in my head.
I went down again to write the lyrics down.
The next day as I'm finishing the song, I need a bridge
and I think of a poem which I wrote in the playground,
watching my children play.
The complete poem goes like this:
So yes I am happy to be a woman, and yes this means that I have serious mood swings......
LOL!
There's a short story behind this song. But first, here're the lyrics.
I woke up yesterday night at around 3AM with this melody
in my head. What's this. This melody wants me. So I went
down to record it on my cell phone. Couldn't sleep. Found
out that the line 'to be a woman' fitted perfectly in the
middle of the melody. Lyrics started to form in my head.
I went down again to write the lyrics down.
The next day as I'm finishing the song, I need a bridge
and I think of a poem which I wrote in the playground,
watching my children play.
The complete poem goes like this:
Every cloud has a silver lining
But not when the sky is grey.
It will only be true if you can see a patch of blue
And I am seeing some today
Yesterday was very bad
I was so sad
The sky was grey
And the rain came pouring down
And the rain lasted all day.
Now the rain is gone
And I can see blue patches in the sky
And that really makes me happy
Even if I don't know why.
So yes I am happy to be a woman, and yes this means that I have serious mood swings......
LOL!
What is a blogumentary?
A Blogumentary is an interactive documentary, made of blogs and films, all in one. A collaboration between us, Merel Moistra and Erga Netz and you: the visitors of this blog, the viewers of this blogumentaries. Responding to your feedback, we design, compose, sing, film, edit and publish endless streams of songblogumentaries about the life-in-transition of Merel.
Laser Girl Lyrics
Laser girl
Rock my world
Put the light on my face
And make all the hair
That was there
Dissapear without a trace
Laser girl
Hurt me bad
Let me into your world of pain
Let the beard
Dissapear
So the ordeal is not in vain
Laser girl, Laser light.
Wip out the light-saber Jedi Knight
Put on your goggles, burn me
Set me free
Laser girl bring on the light
Dance around me Jedi Knight
And give me the shave
Of the century
Laser girl Laser goddess
Let me join your cult
You can hurt me all you like
What counts is the result.
Rock my world
Put the light on my face
And make all the hair
That was there
Dissapear without a trace
Laser girl
Hurt me bad
Let me into your world of pain
Let the beard
Dissapear
So the ordeal is not in vain
Laser girl, Laser light.
Wip out the light-saber Jedi Knight
Put on your goggles, burn me
Set me free
Laser girl bring on the light
Dance around me Jedi Knight
And give me the shave
Of the century
Laser girl Laser goddess
Let me join your cult
You can hurt me all you like
What counts is the result.
Synopsis Song Lyrics
This is the story of Merel
Who was born to tears of joy
At first she was given some masculine name,
'Cause they thought she was a boy.
She grew up playing with other girls
Other girls thought him to be okay.
She was the guy they could really talk to
Without sex ever getting in the way.
At 25 he gets kissed
By a girl who was looking for a geek
But when he puts on her high heals
She re-thinks him into a freak.
Another girl comes into her life
Smiling, wearing a sexy dress
But it was her love that won the day
Or so the legend says.
They set up house, start a business
Sow the seed and raise the corn
Which is a fancy and poetic way of saying
That a first child was born
They named her Marlin Sara June.
Three years later came a son.
Who they proudly named Thomas
Look at each other and they knew the work was done.
Tom doesn't know any better
Marlin's old enough to see the change
But she says "now we can be girlfriends, Daddy"
And coming from her it doesn't even seem to be that strange.
Merel has found her place in life.
She is finally at her station
Full anticipation waiting three years for the train called operation.
Waiting hurts like crazy but
What train will ever be there fast enough
When you're sitting in a railway station
Waiting for your dick to freeze off.
Yes, everything goes smoothly
As if she had a plan
Merel is woman now
Safe to say
She never was a man.
Who was born to tears of joy
At first she was given some masculine name,
'Cause they thought she was a boy.
She grew up playing with other girls
Other girls thought him to be okay.
She was the guy they could really talk to
Without sex ever getting in the way.
At 25 he gets kissed
By a girl who was looking for a geek
But when he puts on her high heals
She re-thinks him into a freak.
Another girl comes into her life
Smiling, wearing a sexy dress
But it was her love that won the day
Or so the legend says.
They set up house, start a business
Sow the seed and raise the corn
Which is a fancy and poetic way of saying
That a first child was born
They named her Marlin Sara June.
Three years later came a son.
Who they proudly named Thomas
Look at each other and they knew the work was done.
Tom doesn't know any better
Marlin's old enough to see the change
But she says "now we can be girlfriends, Daddy"
And coming from her it doesn't even seem to be that strange.
Merel has found her place in life.
She is finally at her station
Full anticipation waiting three years for the train called operation.
Waiting hurts like crazy but
What train will ever be there fast enough
When you're sitting in a railway station
Waiting for your dick to freeze off.
Yes, everything goes smoothly
As if she had a plan
Merel is woman now
Safe to say
She never was a man.
To be a woman Lyrics
I am a pretty woman now
It lifts me up
Sets me free
To be a woman
Is so very nice
It's like paradise to me
I am walking through womanhood
Erasing
History
To be a woman
Makes me want to dance
It's like a second chance to me
Every cloud has a silver lining
But not when the sky is grey
It only will be true
If you can see a patch of blue
And I am seeing some today.
I became this little woman that
Ran around in my brain
To be a woman
Is the way to be for me
Anything else would be insane.
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