Unity (Joost Klein album)
| Unity | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 21 February 2025 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 36:20 | |||
| Language | Dutch, English, German | |||
| Producer |
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| Joost chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Unity | ||||
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Unity is the fifth studio album by Dutch musician Joost Klein. It was self-released in February 2025. Unity is Joost's first major project since his participation as the Dutch representative in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, from which he was disqualified.
Background and writing
[edit]Joost Klein was selected to represent the Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 by AVROTROS in December 2023, with his song "Europapa" premiered the following February. During the competition, the Netherlands proceeded to the final, but was disqualified by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) due to an off-stage incident involving Klein.[1] Several tracks on Unity make references to the affair, including lyrics disparaging Eurovision organizers and the EBU.[2]
In August 2024, Klein announced he was working on a new album on Instagram following his performance at Sziget Festival.[3] Unity was preceded by three singles after its announcement: "Luchtballon" in June 2024,[4] "Filthy Dog" in October,[5] and "Why Not???" in January 2025. Several Unity tracks were debuted during Klein's European tours following Eurovision.[4]
Reception
[edit]Unity was positively received. Gijsbert Room, writing for De Volkskrant, awarded the album four stars out of five, describing it both as disruptive and uplifting.[6] A NPO 3FM writer highlighted its themes of unity and its several featured musicians.[7] Bryan Boomaars, a writer for online Dutch outlet Dansende Beren, underlines that Klein's frustrations with the EBU was the album's primary theme.[8] US music reviewer Anthony Fantano criticized Klein's humorous tone as not "quite as sharp or as layered as it could be."[9]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Joost Klein, unless specified.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Why Not???" | 2:37 | |
| 2. | "Luchtballon" |
| 2:16 |
| 3. | "Gabberland" | 2:38 | |
| 4. | "1" (featuring Scooter) | 3:20 | |
| 5. | "United by Music" (featuring Tommy Cash) | 1:48 | |
| 6. | "Discozwemmen" (featuring Spinvis) |
| 2:46 |
| 7. | "Friesenjung" (featuring Ski Aggu and Otto Waalkes) |
| 2:26 |
| 8. | "Kunst und Musik" |
| 2:16 |
| 9. | "Filthy Dog" | 1:55 | |
| 10. | "We'll Meet Again" (featuring Stuntje) |
| 2:31 |
| 11. | "BOOM BOOM!!!!!!" | 1:57 | |
| 12. | "Internetcafe 24/7" | 2:48 | |
| 13. | "Epiphany of Love: The Origin" (featuring Jungle Bobby and aldo2swag) | 0:29 | |
| 14. | "Europapa" |
| 2:40 |
| 15. | "Europapa - Outro" |
| 1:07 |
| 16. | "Last Man Standing" | 2:46 | |
| Total length: | 36:20 | ||
Notes
- "Luchtballon" samples from "Right Here Waiting" by Richard Marx.[10]
- "1" samples from "We Are Young" by Fun.[7]
- "Discozwemmen" interpolates "Ik wil alleen maar zwemmen" by Spinvis.[7]
- "We'll Meet Again" samples "Come Take My Hand" by 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor.[7]
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from Tidal.
- Joost Klein – vocals
- Benjamin Klassen – guitar (1)
Technical personnel
- Tantu Beats – producer (1–6, 8–16)
- Thijmen Melissant – producer (2, 11)
- Used – producer (3)
- vieze asbak – producer (3, 11)
- Spinvis – producer (6)
- Sunnysoposted – producer (9)
- Flansie – producer (10, 16)
- 22ghosts – producer (12)
- Onzekere Guy – producer (13)
- Paul Elstak – producer (14)
- Dylan van Dael – producer (15)
Charts
[edit]| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[11] | 18 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[12] | 16 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[13] | 36 |
References
[edit]- ^ Marshall, Alex (11 May 2024). "Eurovision Disqualifies Dutch Entrant Hours Before Final". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
- ^ Marshall, Alex (31 March 2025). "Time to Get Over Eurovision? 'Hell No!' a Jilted Contestant Says". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
- ^ "Joost sloopt Sziget op dag 1 én kondigt shows in Amerika aan" [Joost demolishes Sziget on day 1 and announces shows in America]. NPO 3FM (in Dutch). 8 August 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
- ^ a b "Joost in Genk, Schotse traditie in Brussel en reggaeton in Antwerpen: de beste concerten voor de volgende dagen" [Joost in Genk, Scottish tradition in Brussels, and reggaeton in Antwerp: the best concerts for the coming days]. Humo (in Dutch). 24 June 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
- ^ Palmans, Lucas (October 3, 2024). "Nieuwe single Joost - "Filthy Dog"" [Nieuwe single Joost - "Filthy Dog"]. Dansende Beren (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ Room, Gijsbert (27 February 2025). "Op 'Unity' weet Joost zich eurotrash en onversneden gabberbeats geheel eigen te maken" [On 'Unity', Joost manages to make eurotrash and unadulterated gabber beats entirely his own]. De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d "'Unity', het nieuwe album van Joost Klein, staat vol met iconische features" [Joost Klein's new album, Unity, is packed with iconic features]. NPO 3FM (in Dutch). 21 February 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
- ^ Boomaars, Bryan (21 February 2025). "Joost – Unity (★★★½): Eigenzinnig verwerkingsproces" [Joost – Unity (★★★½): Unique processing method]. Dansende Beren (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ Fantano, Anthony (27 February 2025). "Joost - Unity". The Needle Drop. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ Van Eenennaam, Alexander (5 June 2024). "Joost Klein hint op Songfestivalrel met nieuwe track: 'Toekomst is onzeker, wil gewoon mijn leven leven'" [Joost Klein hints at Eurovision controversy with new track: 'The future is uncertain, I just want to live my life']. Veronica Superguide (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 September 2025.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Joost – Unity" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Joost – Unity" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
- ^ "Joost: Unity" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
