Jacques Brel, a Belgian singer-songwriter praised for his poetic lyricism, released the song "Amsterdam" in 1964. A few years later, British musician Scott Walker covered this very song, as well as several other of Brel's emotive compositions, on the record titled Scott Walker Sings Jacques Brel. Despite this cover being an English translation of a song originally performed in French, Walker's vocals emanate Brel's passion, delivering a performance that is both dynamic and rich.