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)
De Tegenpartij
Clouseau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Anders dan wij
De tegenpartij
Voel de hete adem
Die komt heel dichtbij
De tegenpartij
In elke stad van ieder land
Politiek, werk of relatie
Overal woedt wel die brand
We moeten geloven in een betere tijd
Open je ogen, zet je woede opzij
Het kan ook anders: we keren het tij
Wat als we ze omarmen, de tegenpartij?
Kom, reik me je hand nu
Want jij bent voor mij
Een medepartij
Elke dag brengt irritatie
En overal woedt wel een brand
We moeten geloven in een betere tijd
Open je ogen, zet je woede opzij
Het kan ook anders: we keren het tij
Kom, we omarmen de tegenpartij
Stel je voor dat schrik de plaats ruimt voor respect
En dat iedereen, elke man en elke vrouw dan
Verdraagzaamheid gaandeweg ontdekt
We moeten geloven in een betere tijd
Open je ogen, zet je woede opzij
Dan is schrik voor de anderen voorgoed voorbij
Daar komt het einde van de tegenpartij
The lyrics of Clouseau's "De Tegenpartij" speak of the need to embrace those who are different from us - "de tegenpartij" or "the opposing party." The song acknowledges that these opposing parties can be found anywhere - in politics, work, and relationships - and that they often cause irritation and confrontation. However, the song encourages listeners to look beyond their anger and fear and recognize that a better future is possible if we work together.
The lyrics also suggest that the way to overcome these differences is through respectful dialogue and understanding. By "embracing" the opposition and extending a hand of friendship, the song suggests that peace and harmony can be achieved. The final verse imagines a world where respect has replaced fear, and where people have learned to be more tolerant and accepting of one another.
Overall, "De Tegenpartij" is a call to action for listeners to put aside their differences and work towards a better future. It encourages empathy, dialogue, and understanding as necessary tools for creating a more harmonious society.
Line by Line Meaning
Kijk, ze zijn zo anders
Notice how they are different from us
Anders dan wij
Different from us
De tegenpartij
The opposing side
Voel de hete adem
Feel the pressure mounting
Die komt heel dichtbij
It's getting closer
Elke dag brengt confrontatie
Every day brings new conflicts
In elke stad van ieder land
In every city of every country
Politiek, werk of relatie
In politics, at work, or in relationships
Overal woedt wel die brand
There is always some kind of conflict
We moeten geloven in een betere tijd
We must believe in a better future
Open je ogen, zet je woede opzij
Open your eyes and set aside your anger
Het kan ook anders: we keren het tij
It can be different, we can turn the tide
Wat als we ze omarmen, de tegenpartij?
What if we embrace the opposing side?
Kom, reik me je hand nu
Come, reach out your hand to me now
Want jij bent voor mij
Because you are on my side
Een medepartij
A fellow party member
Elke dag brengt irritatie
Every day brings new annoyances
En overal woedt wel een brand
There is always some kind of conflict
Stel je voor dat schrik de plaats ruimt voor respect
Imagine fear being replaced by respect
En dat iedereen, elke man en elke vrouw dan
And everyone, every man and every woman
Verdraagzaamheid gaandeweg ontdekt
Becomes more tolerant over time
Dan is schrik voor de anderen voorgoed voorbij
Then fear of the other is gone forever
Daar komt het einde van de tegenpartij
That's the end of the opposing side
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HANS FRANCKEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@katelijnisselee2602
Zie die ogen blinken zalig laat ze terug schitteren je bent het echt waard
@wiespeeltertonto5523
King of music 🇧🇪😘💪
@fanneke1827
Dat is zeker ik wil met hart en ziel tekst schrijver zijn 🌈🌈🌈
@wiespeeltertonto5523
Jij bent naast je broer 👍houw band altijdt met hem
👍👍👍👍
@Steenbokbloem
Ik Hou echt van Clouseau!
@sabrinaponnet4338
Goed lied vind ik
@benjaminvanschandevijl7365
Geweldig nummer clouseau😀
@YourboyB9
clouseau rulezzz!! Dan ze maar snel terug int sportpaleis staan tedju!
@katelijnisselee2602
Alstublief blijven doorgaan
@ririshow
Je suis bruxellois et j'aime bien ce groupe. Ce sont des bons musiciens. Go on guys. Proficiat.