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 nĀ°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)
Handenklap voetenstap
Clouseau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ik heb hier nog 2 kaarten voor de fuif vanavond!
Ik trek m'n beste kleren aan
ik loop de 100 metern trap in 10 seconden.
Ik zoek m'n spullen samen
'k heb m'n sleutels ook nog nooit zo snel gevonden.
De dag was lang,
genoeg gewacht nu ben ik vrij.
Ik glimlach breed dat hoort erbij
of vindt je dat ik overdrijf?
De handenklap, de voetenstap,
we dansen ons de benen van het lijf.
De handenklap de voetenstap,
we dansen ons de benen van het lijf.
Nee meneer ik moet niet van jou pillen
ik ben zo al fit genoeg.
Geef me wat muziek en ik kan
hup-hup-hup-huppelen tot morgenvroeg.
De voeten in de houding de handen in de lucht,
en alle stramme spieren lachen opgelucht.
De voeten in de houding de blik op sympathiek,
klaar om te bewegen bij de eerste noot muziek.
De handenklap, de voetenstap,
we dansen ons de bene van het lijf.
De handenklap, de voetenstap,
we dansen ons de benen van het lijf.
En zie ik daar een leuke meid,
dan vraag ik of ze meedanst
want voor andere zaken is er nu
op dit moment wel eigenlijk geen tijd.
De handenklap, de voetenstap,
we dansen ons de benen van het lijf.
De handenklap, de voetenstap,
we dansen ons de benen van het lijf.
The lyrics to Clouseau's song Handenklap voetenstap (Handclap Footstep) describe the excitement and anticipation of going to a party. The opening lines invite the listener to join in by offering two tickets to a party. The singer then describes getting ready quickly, feeling energized, and ready to have a good time. He remarks that the day was long enough for him, and he is finally free to let loose. He smiles broadly, inviting others to join him, before launching into the chorus: "The handclap, the footstep, we dance our legs off."
As the song continues, the singer explains how he is already fit enough and doesn't need any pills to enhance his experience. Music is his medicine, and it makes him want to jump all night long. He instructs his feet to keep moving and his hands to keep clapping. He describes how dancing makes his muscles relaxed and happy. If he spots a cute girl, he invites her to dance, stating that it's time to just let go and have some fun.
This song is upbeat and encourages people to dance and enjoy themselves. The lyrics set the tone for the vibe that Clouseau wants to bring to the party. The song is a perfect example of how music can bring people together and create lasting memories. The catchy chorus, combined with the energetic and enthusiastic verses, makes this song a classic party anthem.
Line by Line Meaning
ga je mee?
Asking if you want to go with me to the party tonight because I have two extra tickets.
ik trek m'n beste kleren aan
I am putting on my best clothes to look my best at the party.
ik loop de 100 meter trap in 10 seconden
I am in such a hurry that I am practically running up the stairs.
ik zoek m'n spullen samen
I am gathering all of my things together before leaving.
'k heb m'n sleutels ook nog nooit zo snel gevonden
I found my keys faster than I ever have before.
de dag was lang, te lang voor mij
The day was too long and I can't wait to go out and have some fun.
genoeg gewacht nu ben ik vrij
I have been waiting long enough and now I am free to enjoy myself.
ik glimlach breed dat hoort erbij, of vindt je dat ik overdrijf?
I am smiling widely because that's what you do when you are happy, but do you think I am overdoing it?
de handenklap, de voetenstap, we dansen ons de benen van het lijf
We are clapping our hands and stomping our feet while we dance our hearts out.
nee meneer ik moet niet van jou pillen, ik ben zo al fit genoeg
No thank you, I don't need any pills to feel good. I am already energized enough.
geef me wat muziek en ik kan hup-hup-hup-huppelen tot morgenvroeg
Just give me some music and I can dance all night long.
de voeten in de houding de handen in de lucht, en alle stramme spieren lachen opgelucht
I have my feet in position and my hands in the air, and all of my muscles feel relieved and loose.
de voeten in de houding de blik op sympathiek, klaar om te bewegen bij de eerste noot muziek
My feet are ready to move and I am looking friendly, waiting for the first note of music to start.
en zie ik daar een leuke meid, dan vraag ik of ze meedanst, want voor andere zaken is er nu op dit moment wel eigenlijk geen tijd
If I see a cute girl, I will ask her to dance because there isn't really time for anything else at the moment.
we dansen ons de benen van het lijf
We are dancing so much that we feel like our legs might fall off.
Contributed by Jeremiah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sara Bru.
Ga je me ik heb hier nog bord eten ( dessert) voor van avond š Want dat ander zintje mogen we blijkbaar niet meer zingen want al de tekst worden vaak fout begrepen.š ( In 2020 )