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)
Doolhof
Clouseau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
En de scherven van de ruzies blijven liggen
Als ik opkijk tegen muren van jouw koppigheid enzo
En je weigert om de ruzies bij te leggen
Dan probeer ik om te zwijgen
En mijn woede te verbergen
Die ons anders naar een afgrond drijven zou
Woorden schieten dan tekort
Het is beter dan dat ik heel even uit het zicht verdwijn
Om onopvallend naar de pechstrook uit te wijken
Om dan rustig weer te keren
En je boosheid te bezweren
Door heel ongedwongen bij jou te zijn
God, ik voel me zo onhandig
Mijn gedachten zijn verward
Heel m'n denken is nu somber
Zo donker en zo zwart
Ik ben verdwaald in m'n gepieker
Vleugellam en zonder kracht
God, hoe graag wil ik ontsnappen aan dit doolhof
Dit doolhof van de nacht
Als je zwijgend naast me ligt
Blijf ik urenlang gekweld verder denken
Welke weg moet ik nu volgen naar de kamer van je hart?
En ik pieker om de juiste toon te vinden
Maar opeens gebeurt een wonder
Heeft m'n ziel jouw hart gevonden
Door gewoon heel lief voor jou te zijn
Zonder woorden wil ik vrijen
Helemaal in jou verdwijnen
En je ogen laten spreken
Want daar vind ik je weer
En ik laat me aan je dromen
En je glimlacht meer en meer
En zo help je mij ontsnappen aan dit doolhof
Dit doolhof, dit doolhof van de nacht
The song "Doolhof" by Clouseau is a heartfelt and emotional expression of the struggles one faces in a relationship when communication becomes difficult and walls of stubbornness are built. The singer describes a situation where he finds it hard to express his feelings, as words seem inadequate and may only drive them apart. Instead, he chooses to remain silent and hide his anger, hoping to avoid any conflicts that could push them towards the edge. The singer feels lost in a maze of thoughts and doubts, unsure of how to connect with his partner and wondering if they will ever find a way out of the darkness.
However, the song takes a positive turn when the singer discovers that love can overcome even the greatest challenges. Through small and affectionate gestures, such as holding each other and letting their eyes speak, the singer and his partner find their way out of the maze and back into each other's hearts. The song ends on a hopeful note, as the couple shares a moment of intimacy and their love helps them escape from the maze of the night.
Overall, "Doolhof" is a poignant ballad that highlights the importance of communication and empathy in relationships, as well as the power of love to overcome even the most difficult obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Als praten moeizaam gaat
When it's hard to communicate
En de scherven van de ruzies blijven liggen
And the broken pieces of our fights remain
Als ik opkijk tegen muren van jouw koppigheid enzo
When I face walls of your stubbornness and such
En je weigert om de ruzies bij te leggen
And you refuse to make amends
Dan probeer ik om te zwijgen
Then I try to be silent
En mijn woede te verbergen
And hide my anger
Die ons anders naar een afgrond drijven zou
That would otherwise drive us to a cliff
Woorden schieten dan tekort
Words are then insufficient
Want daarmee zal ik je hart nooit echt bereiken
Because they will never really reach your heart
Het is beter dan dat ik heel even uit het zicht verdwijn
It's better for me to briefly disappear from sight
Om onopvallend naar de pechstrook uit te wijken
To inconspicuously move to the emergency lane
Om dan rustig weer te keren
And then calmly return
En je boosheid te bezweren
And calm your anger
Door heel ongedwongen bij jou te zijn
By being very relaxed around you
God, ik voel me zo onhandig
God, I feel so awkward
Mijn gedachten zijn verward
My thoughts are confused
Heel m'n denken is nu somber
My whole thinking is now gloomy
Zo donker en zo zwart
So dark and so black
Ik ben verdwaald in m'n gepieker
I'm lost in my overthinking
Vleugellam en zonder kracht
Unable to fly and without strength
God, hoe graag wil ik ontsnappen aan dit doolhof
God, how much I want to escape from this labyrinth
Dit doolhof van de nacht
This labyrinth of the night
Als je zwijgend naast me ligt
When you're lying next to me in silence
Blijf ik urenlang gekweld verder denken
I keep thinking anxiously for hours
Welke weg moet ik nu volgen naar de kamer van je hart?
Which path should I take now to reach the room of your heart?
En ik pieker om de juiste toon te vinden
And I ponder to find the right tone
Maar opeens gebeurt een wonder
But suddenly a miracle happens
Heeft m'n ziel jouw hart gevonden
Has my soul found your heart
Door gewoon heel lief voor jou te zijn
By simply being very sweet to you
Zonder woorden wil ik vrijen
I want to make love without words
Helemaal in jou verdwijnen
Disappear completely into you
En je ogen laten spreken
And let your eyes speak
Want daar vind ik je weer
Because that's where I find you again
En ik laat me aan je dromen
And I let myself dream of you
En je glimlacht meer en meer
And you smile more and more
En zo help je mij ontsnappen aan dit doolhof
And so you help me escape from this labyrinth
Dit doolhof, dit doolhof van de nacht
This labyrinth, this labyrinth of the night
Contributed by Elizabeth P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Katelijn Isselee
Zo mooi