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 perfectie
Clouseau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ik kijk dan hoogstens verveeld
en ik zwijg en tijd, ben het spreken kwijt
je vraagt dan doorgaans wat er is
ik prevel vaagweg iets over gemis
en dat ik bang ben, al een lange tijd
hoe je mij dan wenkt en weet
waaraan ik denk en hoe je kalmte brengt
ref:
ooooooooh de perfectie!
blijf bij mij en neem me dagelijks vast
da's nu gek, zie
ik herken perfectie op de tast
jouw perfectie
geen van beiden een topmodel
maar samen mooi, ja dat weer wel
een aardig stel, fraai samenspel
zoals je staat in het tegenlicht,
zondermeer een zalig zicht
en vederlicht, mmm, ik zie je wel
en de warme troost die mij dat schenkt
zoals je wiegt terwijl ik tranen pleng
om de tijd die ons hier samen brengt
ref:
ooooooooh de perfectie!
blijf bij mij en neem me dagelijks vast
da's nu gek, zie
ik herken perfectie op de tast
jouw perfectie
eindelijk rust als zij me kust
mijn hoofd en hart zijn zo bewust
van dit gevoel, 't is zo echt
het maakt een eind aan mijn gevecht
z'is de vrouw van wie ik hou
ik blijf perfectie trouw
ref:
ooooooooh de perfectie!
blijf bij mij en neem me dagelijks vast
da's nu gek, zie
ik herken perfectie op de tast
jouw perfectie
ze bestaat ik ben blij dat ik haar ken
mijn perfectie
ik denk dat ik haar nog lang verwen
De perfectie
The lyrics of Clouseau's "De perfectie" talk about a person who finds it difficult to express their feelings, but their partner understands them anyway. The song emphasizes the idea that perfection does not mean physical appearance but rather the emotional and mental connection with someone. The singer is hesitant to communicate their emotions but relies on their partner's understanding and comfort. The lyrics are a tribute to the notion of finding comfort, love, and peace in an imperfect world.
The lyrics are based on a slow piano melody that differs from the usual upbeat tempo of the band's music. It aims to convey a more introspective, contemplative mood to add depth to the message of the song. The chorus is catchy and memorable, with the recurring phrase "de perfectie," which translates to "the perfection" in English. This phrase encapsulates the main theme of the song: a search for something that is not necessarily physical perfection but rather an emotional connection.
Clouseau is a Belgian pop rock band that has been active since the 1980s. They have released several albums and singles throughout their career and have achieved significant commercial success both in Belgium and the Netherlands. "De perfectie" is one of their popular songs, which became a hit in 2007. The song showcases the band's versatility in producing both upbeat and slow-paced music.
Line by Line Meaning
zelden zeg ik wat er scheelt
I rarely express what bothers me
ik kijk dan hoogstens verveeld
I may appear bored
en ik zwijg en tijd, ben het spreken kwijt
I am speechless and lost in time
je vraagt dan doorgaans wat er is
You usually inquire what's wrong
ik prevel vaagweg iets over gemis
I mutter something vague about missing something
en dat ik bang ben, al een lange tijd
And that I've been scared for a long time
maar de warme troost die jij dan schenkt en
But the warm comfort you offer
hoe je mij dan wenkt en weet
The way you beckon and understand me
waaraan ik denk en hoe je kalmte brengt
What's on my mind, and how you bring calmness
ooooooooh de perfectie!
Oh, the perfection!
blijf bij mij en neem me dagelijks vast
Stay with me and hold me daily
da's nu gek, zie
It may seem strange
ik herken perfectie op de tast
I recognize perfection even by touch
jouw perfectie
Your perfection
geen van beiden een topmodel
Neither of us are models
maar samen mooi, ja dat weer wel
But together, we're beautiful, that's for sure
een aardig stel, fraai samenspel
A decent match, perfect harmony
zoals je staat in het tegenlicht,
The way you stand in the backlight
zondermeer een zalig zicht
Is undoubtedly a blissful sight
en vederlicht, mmm, ik zie je wel
And featherlight, mm, I can see you
en de warme troost die mij dat schenkt
And the warm comfort that offers me
zoals je wiegt terwijl ik tranen pleng
The way you sway as I shed tears
om de tijd die ons hier samen brengt
About the time we're spending together
eindelijk rust als zij me kust
Finally peace when she kisses me
mijn hoofd en hart zijn zo bewust
My head and heart are so aware
van dit gevoel, 't is zo echt
Of this feeling, it's so real
het maakt een eind aan mijn gevecht
It puts an end to my struggle
z'is de vrouw van wie ik hou
She's the woman I love
ik blijf perfectie trouw
I remain faithful to perfection
ze bestaat ik ben blij dat ik haar ken
She exists, and I'm glad to know her
mijn perfectie
My perfection
ik denk dat ik haar nog lang verwen
I think I'll keep spoiling her for a long time
Contributed by Brayden H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jakovzotov
dank u wel voor heel mooie liedjes♡♡♡♥︎