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Artist

Do

Why we feature this artist The voice beyond the dance breakthrough Do's voice can hold the centre of a dance record and remain equally persuasive when the arrangement becomes quieter. The Dutch singer Dominique van Hulst first reached a broad international aud…

From
Netherlands
Sound
Dance-pop, adult contemporary, Nederpop
Active
2000–present

Start with the music

Tracks to explore

2 tracks

The artist, in context

The story of Do

Why we feature this artist

The voice beyond the dance breakthrough

Do's voice can hold the centre of a dance record and remain equally persuasive when the arrangement becomes quieter. The Dutch singer Dominique van Hulst first reached a broad international audience through Heaven, then built a solo catalogue whose melodic warmth extended well beyond that defining collaboration.

One song, several settings

Her recording of Bryan Adams's Heaven with DJ Sammy and Yanou became an international hit in the early 2000s. Different arrangements brought out different aspects of the performance: a dance version gave the melody a regular forward pulse, while the Candlelight and unplugged settings left more of the phrase exposed. Hearing those approaches together makes the identity of the singer particularly clear. The production changes substantially, but the emotional centre remains in the delivery.

The self-titled Do album appeared in 2004. It included Love Is Killing Me and Voorbij, the duet with Marco Borsato that reached number one in the Dutch Top 40. These recordings gave her a stronger identity as a solo pop artist at home, with the duet also demonstrating how naturally her voice could work in a Dutch-language setting.

A larger part for the song

Follow Me followed in 2006, including Beautiful Thing. The track's open, affirmative melody gives the vocal room to build without needing the scale of a club arrangement. It is a useful companion to Love Is Killing Me, which brings a more urgent pop energy into the earlier album. Later Dutch-language work included Hij Gelooft in Mij in 2011, another example of an existing song being carried by a recognisable interpretation. Do's recording history is therefore more varied than a single international feature might imply. The strongest connection between its different chapters is a way of making a polished song feel approachable: a phrase can rise, a chorus can grow, but the performance still sounds directed towards one listener rather than an anonymous crowd.

Essential releases

2004

Do

2006

Follow Me

2006

Beautiful Thing

Sources and further reading

NPO 3FM — Do's identity and recording history

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Dutch Top 40 — Do's original singles history

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Sony BMG — Follow Me original album edition

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Dutch Top 40 — Beautiful Thing original release record

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Dutch Top 40 — original Love Is Killing Me chart entry

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