Check out this catchy number - Decimal Dan the Rand Cent Man.

6 posts • viewed 522 times
Watch here;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ41bGOQajA .

What a catchy number.

Is there a version in Afrikaans?

Aidan.
Yes! Yes, there is! :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVhueSJiuYU

There is so much that is interesting about this!

First of all, notice how the instruments are completely different in the two versions of the song. The English one has a fairly modern jazz-ish band feel and the Afrikaans one uses the instruments from Afrikaner folk music. There is also the difference between "Decimal Dan" and "Daan Desimaal", but the most interesting thing of all is the pronunciation of "Rand".

"Rand" is an Afrikaans word, pronounced a but like "r-UNT" in that language. These days most English speakers say "RAND" (as in Ayn Rand) but the original preferred pronunciation was supposed to be the same as the Afrikaans. However, most English speakers landed up saying "RONT", which is what you can hear in the Decimal Dan version of this song! These days only old people and sarcastic people say "RONT". African language speakers in the areas of the county I've lived in actually get closest to the original intentions with "RAHNT".

Thank you so much for finding and posting this. It really has made my night.
The name 'Rand' is actually derived from a place - Witwatersrand, which is also known as the Rand for short.

The term 'Randlord', used to describe those who got wealthy from the mining industry in the late 19th. Century is also derived from Witwatersrand as well.

Most people are not aware that the word 'Rand' is probably Afrikaans for 'Ridge'.

Aidan.
I’ve been looking for this! Reminds me of “in come the dollars” to the tune of “click goes the shears”...
Quote: "GoldenGarfield"​I’ve been looking for this! Reminds me of “in come the dollars” to the tune of “click goes the shears”...

That is the Australian one reminding of the change on 14 February 1966 - exactly 5 years after South Africa's change to decimal currency.

I haven't found a jingle for either the U.K. or Ireland's change to decimal currency on 15 February 1971 though.

Aidan.
I think this is the British one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCiEzQ4EGk4

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