In '88 they have a small hit with "Alleen met Jou" (Only with you) and win the Baccara-trophy in the squad of Raymond Van Het Groenewoud.
In 1989 they participated in the preselection to determine the Belgian delegate to the Eurovision Song Festival. Clouseau finishes second (behind Ingeborg), but now has a foot in the door. The breakthrough comes immediately with the single "Anne" and an album "Hoezo ?" (How so?). Screaming teenagers all over the place and smashed record sales in Belgium are the consequence. The Netherlands follow, when "Daar Gaat Ze" (There she goes) becomes a big hit. The 2nd album "Of zo" (Or so) also proves to be very successful.
1990 is a year which can only be described as the year of "Clouseau-mania". Everything the boys touch turns to gold.
Manager Hans Kusters : "They really appeal to the teens. Simple songs, but also lyrics in the form of "She comes, she goes or she is". No fuss about apartheid or the nuclear missiles. Clean, cute, sometimes rocking, sometimes slowing, always charming melodies with innocent and easily recognizable love- and dance stories."
In 1991, the Benelux is getting too small for the group so they (or at least the record company) decide to try to storm the European market.
This time they are appointed to participating for Belgium in the Eurovisionsongcontest (where the finish very low with "Geef het op", despite the very high hopes Flanders was posing in them). They record a CD in English called "Close Encounters" (mainly consisting of adaptations of their own Dutch songs) of which they sell 200.000 copies in the slipstream of Roxette's European tour of 1992.
The 2nd English-language album "In every small town", however, is a complete commercial failure. Frontman Koen Wauters starts a career as a television presenter and race-pilot (Paris-Dakar), kicks a few old friends out of the band and refocuses on the Dutch market with the CD "Oker" (Ochre) in 1995.
On the album "Adrenaline", only the two Wauters' Brothers remain. The album shows a more adult Clouseau. They have successfully survived the hype and are starting to produce decent material again, without the necessity to "score" or match the sales figures of the 1989-1990 craze.
What about the band members that were left behind :
- Bob Savenberg has ventured to a successful solo career (e.g. the duet with Dutch singer Stef Bos in "Breek de stilte" and his solo CD "Vuur en Vlam"). He also presented "Ultratop" (the Belgian hitparade on VRT) and has a small company that builds websites. In 2001, he did the show "Popstars" for VT4.
- Tjenne Berghmans has played in about every other Belgian group (e.g. The Scabs, Betty Goes Green ...) since he left Clouseau.
- Karel Theys, formerly of the Employees, was at the base of another Kloot Per W project, de Lama's in 1993-94.
In 1997, they release a compilation album "Clouseau 1987-1997" and have a celebration on their 10 years of existence. Koen Wauters (although hard to recognize amidst all the publicity for Belgacom) finishes another Dakar at the beginning of 1997. He also continues his television career (Familieraad, Koen & The Gang, Wedden dat ...), and fights off a female stalker in his bathroom. In 1999, he marries Carolijn Lillipally (who was a VJ for MTV-Europe).
In 1999 Clouseau conquers Flanders for the umpteenth time, on this occasion with the new CD "In Stereo". In a production with a lot of violins by Jean Blaute (see RvhG, Kate's Kennel ..) and with songs that were written by people such as Frank van der Linden (of De Mens), Jan Leyers (of My Velma & Soulsister), Mark Vanhie (The Bet, Sarah) and others, and pulled by singles such as "Heb ik ooit gezegd" (a Van Morisson-cover) and "Altijd meer en meer" the group even makes it back again as a headliner at Marktrock (where it all had started). This leads them to a new live-album, simply called "Live", released in 2000.
In 2001 they opened with an album with nothing but slow songs for the Dutch market - entitled "Ballades" - but in recording their next album they deliberately stepped away from this trend in ever slower songs. En Dans - wrapped in a funny cover hand-drawn by Marcel Vanthilt, who also sings on one song - was released in November 2001, and contained much more uptempo songs, taking them back to the starting days of the band. Most striking track was certainly the title song "En Dans", Clouseau in an festive disco-outfit. However the first single that was taken from the album was a ballad "Ik Geef Me Over" (I surrender) with a video that caused some controversy due to the smoking habit of Koen. Through the usual visits to radio stations and a break-in into the BigBrother house, the CD certainly didn't miss it's start, as it deserved platinum for 30,000 copies in the presales, and entered the album-charts at n°1. On the live-front it remained fairly quiet, working towards two gigantic gigs in the Sportpaleis in Antwerp in the month of December.
The band released their latest CD Vonken & Vuur ("Sparks & Fire") in March 2007.
Band members (original line-up) :
- Koen Wauters (vocals)
- Kris Wauters (keyboard and guitar)
- Bob Savenberg (drums and backing vocals)
- Karel Theys (bass)
- Tjenne Berghmans (guitar).
Albums :
- Hoezo(Hans Kusters Music - 1989)
- Of Zo (Hans Kuster Music - 1990)
- Close Encounters (EMI - 1991)
- Doorgaan (tot je niet meer op je benen kan staan) (EMI- 1992)
- In Every Small Town (EMI - 1993)
- Oker (EMI - 1995)
- Adrenaline (EMI - 1996)
- In Stereo (EMI - 1999)
- En Dans (EMI - 2001)
- Live in het Sportpaleis DVD ("Live at the Sport Palace, Antwerp") (2003)
- Vanbinnen (2004)
- Clouseau in 't lang DVD ("Live at the Sport Palace, Antwerp") (2006)
- Vonken en Vuur (2007)
- Zij aan Zij (2009)
Compilations :
- Clouseau Live (Hans Kusters Music - 1991)
- Clouseau 1987-1997 (EMI, 1997)
- Live (EMI, 2000)
- Ballades (EMI, 2001)
Alarm
Clouseau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
voor een avontuur in het menselijk bestaan
't is het bespelen van gevoelige snaren
Zo'n ritueel zal wel altijd bestaan
Maar hoe vervelend dat we het ook vinden
er is een woordje bij
4 kleine letters die ons kunnen verslinden
ik denk wel na voor ik nog eens vrij
Ik sla alarm
Ik sla het juist op tijd
Alarm
Speel je leven niet kwijt
Alarm
Ik sla alarm
Er is een woordje bij
Het kan elkeen gebeuren
Tenzij je weet met wie je blijft gaan
Reden genoeg om hierover te zeuren
Luister je niet, komt het je duur te staan
De kans is klein maar ja, ze bestaat wel
Dus hou je hoofd erbij
Je kan je voorhoeden met een middel
Haal dat condoom en hou het maar bij
Ik sla alarm
Ik sla het juist op tijd
Alarm
Speel je leven niet kwijt
Alarm
Ik sla alarm
Want het hoort erbij
Speel op de lotto zonder een tweede kans
Zing liever over iets anders
heel spijtig maar dit is geen gezwans
Alarm
Ik sla het juist op tijd
Alarm
Speel je leven niet kwijt
Alarm
Ik sla alarm
Alarm
Speel je leven niet kwijt
Alarm
Alarm
Ik sla alarm
Alarm
Ik sla alarm
Alarm
Ik sla alarm
The song "Alarm" by Clouseau is a warning to listeners about the dangers of unprotected sex. The lyrics describe how nature has no objections to sexual activity but that it is important to be aware of the risks involved, which can be summed up in four letters - STDs. Although it may be unpleasant to think about, it is crucial to consider the potential consequences before engaging in unprotected sex. The singer urges listeners to be cautious and take precautions to protect themselves, such as using condoms.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of being aware of the risks and taking action to prevent them. The singer declares "I sound the alarm/I sound it just in time/Alarm/Don't lose your life" and repeats the phrase "Alarm" to drive home the message.
The song has a catchy pop-rock sound and is typical of Clouseau's style. It was released in 2000 and received moderate commercial success in Belgium and the Netherlands. The song's message is an important one and it continues to be relevant today, serving as a reminder of the importance of safe sex practices.
Line by Line Meaning
Moeder natuur heeft totaal geen bezwaren
Nature has no objections
voor een avontuur in het menselijk bestaan
for an adventure in human existence
't is het bespelen van gevoelige snaren
It's playing on sensitive strings
Zo'n ritueel zal wel altijd bestaan
Such a ritual will always exist
Maar hoe vervelend dat we het ook vinden
But no matter how annoying we find it
er is een woordje bij
there is a small word
4 kleine letters die ons kunnen verslinden
4 small letters that can devour us
ik denk wel na voor ik nog eens vrij
I think twice before being free again
Ik sla alarm
I sound the alarm
Ik sla het juist op tijd
I sound it at the right time
Speel je leven niet kwijt
Don't lose your life
Er is een woordje bij
There is a small word
Het kan elkeen gebeuren
It can happen to anyone
Tenzij je weet met wie je blijft gaan
Unless you know who you're going with
Reden genoeg om hierover te zeuren
Reason enough to complain about this
Luister je niet, komt het je duur te staan
If you don't listen, it will cost you dearly
De kans is klein maar ja, ze bestaat wel
The chance is small but it exists
Dus hou je hoofd erbij
So keep your head straight
Je kan je voorhoeden met een middel
You can protect yourself with a method
Haal dat condoom en hou het maar bij
Get that condom and stick with it
Want het hoort erbij
Because it's part of it
Speel op de lotto zonder een tweede kans
Play the lottery without a second chance
Zing liever over iets anders
Sing about something else instead
heel spijtig maar dit is geen gezwans
Very sorry, but this is not a joke
Ik sla alarm
I sound the alarm
Alarm
Alarm
Speel je leven niet kwijt
Don't lose your life
Ik sla alarm
I sound the alarm
Alarm
Alarm
Ik sla alarm
I sound the alarm
Contributed by Evan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Katelijn Isselee
Jullie moeten altijd blijven doorgaan
Katelijn Isselee
Gewoon zalig lied