In the 1960's, Arno travelled to Asia and made the ritual visit to Kathmandu. We also caught a glimpse of him singing in St. Tropez, on the Greek islands, or in Amsterdam. Undeniably turned onto music, he sang for the first time on stage during a summer music festival in Ostend in 1969. Following this he began his career in bands, among them FreckleFace between '72 and '75. He played the harmonica. After a unique album which they produced themselves, Arno left the group for another, Tjens Couter. It was in fact a duo with Paul Decouter. Like FreckleFace their repertoire was mostly rhythm 'n'blues and in any case, very Anglo-Saxon.
Around 1977, Arno and Decouter formed TC Bland with Ferre Baelen and Rudy Cloet. The group had a certain fame and toured around Europe a lot. But in '80, joined by Serge Feys on keyboards this group became TC Matic, one of the most innovative European rock groups of the period. Quickly Decouter was replaced by Jean-Marie Aerts, who would remain one of Arno's travelling buddies. Europeans, they were indeed that. Their tours took them regularly across Scandinavia, England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. During the summer of 1981, their first namesake album was released. Then, on EMI records, they recorded several albums, among them "L'Apache" in 1982. Some of their songs like "Elle adore le noir" or "Putain Putain" are still considered today as pillar compositions of that time.
In 1985, they were the opening act for the Simple Minds during their European tour. But '85 also marked the end of TC Matic who would forever cease to exist in '86.
Arno set out on a solo career with his first namesake album as early as '86. Recorded on a bet with the musicians from TC Matic and entirely composed by Arno, the album was primarily in English. One French song came out of the lot "Qu'est-ce que c'est?" whose only words are… "Qu'est-ce que c'est?" repeated a good forty times.
During the years spent with different groups, Arno made himself a solid name in the music scene. His talent as an artist is widely recognised. As for his wild personality full of ups and downs, it puts him among the most noticed of the rock scene. In his new solo life, Arno didn't have much difficulty asserting his talent on the music scene.
In 1988 he released a second album "Charlatan" which was still primarily in English. We found however "Le Bon Dieu" a sublime cover of the most famous Belgian singers Jacques Brel. Two years later, set up in Paris, he released "Ratata". From this record written almost entirely with Jean-Marie Aerts, we recall "Lonesome Zorro" and its heady melody maintained by its chorist Beverly Brown. On June 26, 1990, Arno went on the Parisian stage at the Cigale.
In '91, Arno works on his companion Marie-Laure Beraud's album. At the same time on his solo route he didn't look down upon the idea of doing some group work. So, in 1991, he found himself with Charles et les Lulus for an eponymous album. Surrounded by Roland Van Campenhout and Adriano Cominotto, he redid some blues classics by Willie Dixon, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Rufus Thomas. From the blues he went straight to Nashville to record a new album in 1993 "Idiots Savants". After Brel, Arno borrowed "Les Filles du bord de mer" from another famous Belgian singer Adamo. This new cover confirmed his undeniable talent to give new life to old songs. This latest remains one of his flagship songs.
On February 16th, 1994 Arno stopped off at l'Elysee Montmartre in Paris.
After Charles et les Lulus, came a new group digression with Arno et les Subrovnicks in '94. Joined by old friends Adriano Cominotto (ex-Lulu), Rudy Cloet (ex-TC Matic) and Geoffrey Burton and Francois Garny, Arno recorded the album "Water" in the South West of France.
Still in '94 Arno got started in cinema soundtracks with "Personne ne m'aime" by Frenchwoman Marion Vernoux. The cinema milieu wasn't unknown to him because in '78 in Belgium he wrote the music for the film "Le Concert d'un homme seul".
After a 20-year career primarily in English, Arno released his first album fully recorded in French in 1995. Thirteen tracks co-written with Jean-Marie Aerts or Adriano Cominotto. We find the cover of Brel's "le Bon Dieu" as well as two new songs "Elle pense à lui" by Charlélie Couture and particularly "Comme à Ostende" written by Léo Ferré and Jean-Roger Caussimon. Arno reached the top of the charts with "Les Yeux de ma mere". The album favoured the mix of genres, from tango to jazz to blues to which Arno's voice always gives a special texture.
December 13th, Arno played the Bataclan in Paris before starting off his tour around France and Switzerland and before he took off for the United States where he sang in New York and Austin, Texas.
The following year we found Arno in the cinema world but this time as an actor. He played the homosexual swimming instructor in "Camping Cosmos" by Belgian director Jan Bucquoy who also directed "La vie sexuelle des Belges" which attracted a lot of attention. Back on stage in October '96 with an evening at the Olympia on the 7th. A live album was released the following year, "Arno (en concert à la Française)" which took the best moments from his tours. An album in English was also released in '97 "Give me the gift" but it was only destined for the American market. Finally in '97, French actor Michel Piccoli gave him a role in "Alors Voilà". Arno also wrote the soundtrack.
After Charles et les Lulus, Arno went to Charles and the White Trash Blues in 1998. Within this new occasional group, where we find guitarist Geoffrey Burton he gives us an album between blues and rock and whose covers, now part of his repertoire, go from the Kinks to Nina Simone. In '99 it's again with a cover song that we find him. But this time it's as a guest on the album by American Beverly Jo Scott, who lives in Belgium. Together they did an entertaining track which is a synthesis of "la Fille du Père Noël" by Dutronc and "Jean Genie" by Bowie.
Arno returned to the music news in August '99 with a new album entitled "A Poil Commercial". Recorded in Arno's habitual blues-rock vein, "A Poil Commercial" brought the singer's husky "whisky-and-cigarettes" vocals even further to the fore.
The singer followed on with a tour spread over the year 2000 and including 170 concerts. And, after a last concert in Prague, the Parisian Cité de la Musique gave him carte blanche to put on a show of his own choice. Alone on stage with his usual band, he gave a very warm and tasteful 'bal rock', which was grandly applauded by a public of loving fans. A month later a compilation summarising his 30-year career was released.
Arno stormed back into the music news on 26 February 2002 with an album full of tender rock ballads entitled "Arno Charles Ernest" (the singer's real name). The 15 tracks on the album, recorded in a more acoustic vein than usual, included a duet with Jane Birkin ("Elisa") and a cover of the Rolling Stones classic "Mother's Little Helper". Shortly after the album release Arno kicked off a new tour with a concert at the Olympia in Paris on 8 March 2002.
Arno, the insatiable wordsmith, was back at the forefront of the music scene in May 2004 with a second album written entirely in French. The album, entitled French Bazaar, was the 26th of his career. Shot through with the lucidity and acerbic wit with which Arno has made his name, French Bazaar proves that the Flemish singer – who has just turned 55 – is still full of life and vitality.
How are you
Arno Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The pills, the thrills, the white nights
And the sleepy days
God was still in heaven
The left side was alive
Rock'n'roll was the devil
By the way how are you, I'm ok
The right wing was sleeping,
Cholesterol was an island
Near the Costa del Sol
San-Francisco was a flower shop
Ringo a drummer from Liverpool
By the way how are you, I'm ok
I'm just older, my heart is getting colder
I don't like memories
You never smoked alone
The hairdressers were out of work
Life is still dangerous
And people are still falling in love
By the way how are you, I'm ok
I'm just older, my heart is getting colder
By the way how are you, I'm ok
I'm just older, my heart is getting colder
The song "How Are You" by Arno is a nostalgic reflection of the past. The lyrics showcase the contrasts of the singer's memories, from the wild and reckless behavior of pills, thrills, and white nights to the peaceful sleepiness of daytime. The mention of God, the devil, and rock'n'roll reflect the singer's personal beliefs and experiences with religion and music. The singer also contrasts the political climate of the time with the left and right sides and references to San Francisco and Liverpool. Ultimately, the singer poses the question, "By the way how are you, I'm ok. I'm just older, my heart is getting colder," indicating a sense of isolation and separation that comes with the passage of time.
The song reflects on the experiences of youth and the singer's transition into an older adult. The lyrics are reminiscent and wistful of the past. The singer is coming to terms with the changes in their life and the world around them, referencing how people still fall in love but also that life is still dangerous. The lyrics convey a sense of uncertainty and unease about the future.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember your wicked smile
I recall your mischievous grin
The pills, the thrills, the white nights
The drugs, excitement, and sleepless nights
And the sleepy days
And the lethargic mornings
God was still in heaven
The divine realm remained unchanged
The left side was alive
The liberal ideology still thrived
Rock'n'roll was the devil
The genre symbolized rebellion and sin
By the way how are you, I'm ok
By the by, how are you? I'm fine
I'm just older, my heart is getting colder
I've aged, and my emotions are diminishing
The right wing was sleeping
The conservative factions were inactive
Cholesterol was an island
The health concern was isolated and ignored
Near the Costa del Sol
In the vicinity of the Mediterranean coast
San-Francisco was a flower shop
The city had transformed and lost its character
Ringo a drummer from Liverpool
A Beatles member was reduced to a profession and place of origin
I don't like memories
I dislike reminiscing
You never smoked alone
You always had accompanying company during smoking sessions
The hairdressers were out of work
The beauty industry was suffering from low demand
Life is still dangerous
Existence remains unpredictable and risky
And people are still falling in love
But love still endures as an aspect of humanity
By the way how are you, I'm ok
By the by, how are you? I'm fine
I'm just older, my heart is getting colder
I've aged, and my emotions are diminishing
Contributed by Luke A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
LINATJE
i still have goosebumps of this version . RIP arno.
Ronny Beelen
De meest fantastische versie van With you.......en een Arno op zijn allerbest......kippenvel a volenté. Hoop dat hij nog lang mag leven.......
LANDE ALAIN
Superbe chanson, et superbe interprétation : merci l'ami ARNO ♥
Géry De Cafmeyer
Artiste extraordinaire. Qu'est-ce que je regrette sa disparition.
Fleur de sel
Et rugir de plaisir ! ♪♫ Chapeau, l'artiste !
Jason Basson
Magnificent emotional track! One of my favourite tracks ever!
Huit légendes du pays du Ternois Thierry Milhomme
Incroyablement classieux ce Arno et son band !
Koen Raevens
gewoon een sterke, perfecte, adembenemende song.
Fabian Charbaut
The best song for Arno ❤💪
Thorel Mitsou
Bravo même avec un air de teckno ! Trop fort. Merry chrismas Arno .