Steve Hofmeyr released a tribute to Theuns Jordaan - 'Sing dan in die Hemele'.

Steve Hofmeyr released a tribute to Theuns Jordaan – ‘Sing dan in die Hemele’. Image: SteveHofmeyr/YouTube

On a sour note: Steve Hofmeyr’s Theuns Jordaan tribute draws fire [watch]

Steve Hofmeyr ignited a backlash for his use of a personal voice note from the late Theuns Jordaan in his memorial song to the Afrikaans singer.

Steve Hofmeyr released a tribute to Theuns Jordaan - 'Sing dan in die Hemele'.

Steve Hofmeyr released a tribute to Theuns Jordaan – ‘Sing dan in die Hemele’. Image: SteveHofmeyr/YouTube

While Steve Hofmeyr’s tribute song to Theuns JordaanSing dan in die Hemele – has received an overwhelming positive response from fans and other Afrikaans artists alike, some individuals are slamming him for his use of a personal voice note.

Steve Hofmeyr’s touching tribute to Theuns Jordaan

Steve’s tribute – which features subtle references to Theuns’ hit songs, Namibsroos and Roeper in die Nag – was released on YouTube shortly after Theuns’ funeral in November 2021.

The music video has already clocked in over 600 000 views on YouTube alone. On Facebook, the video has been watched over 9 000 times, with many saying that it is a very special tribute.

“Don’t ever take anyone or anything for granted as so oft we do. Sing in the Heavens amongst the Angels Theuns. Beautifully written Steve,” stated most of the comments.

Sing dan in die Hemele’ backlash

According to The Citizen, Ilza Roggeband, a close friend and also Theuns’ decades-long spokesperson told Netwerk24 that she has only one question that she would like to ask Hofmeyr: “If the roles were reversed, would Theuns have done the same to you?”

The Afrikaans singer Dozi and the former private secretary to Nelson Mandela, Zelda La Grange also criticised the tribute.

Dozi told Netwerk24 that he did not necessarily have a problem with the song, but rather with the fact that Steve used Theuns’ private voice note in the song.

According to him, he also received voice notes from a very ill Theuns Jordaan and that it was sent in the “spirit of privacy between two friends who loved each other dearly”.

He says he would never violate that privacy. At the funeral, Dozi sang his song, Grassade, because he knows that Theuns loved the song.

Steve responds to backlash over Theuns tribute

Steve – who was also one of the casket carriers at Theuns’ funeral – has since responded to the backlash on Facebook saying that “how is it possible that Theuns’ funeral has developed into a competition”.

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Steve Hofmeyr at Theuns Jordaan’s funeral. Image: Steve Hofmeyr/Facebook

Steve also said that he did not do anything without the permission of Theuns’ father, Willie.

“The only singer who complains about Sing dan in die Hemele is the singer who, when he could choose, chose his own music [to sing at the funeral].”

He also said that if he could take a guess, Theuns is probably giggling about the whole situation.