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)
Ik Geef Me Over
Clouseau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
want het is zo stil
de klokken luiden zelfs niet meer
m'n hart zal breken
en de zon is kil
was dit nu onze laatste keer
Maar we lijken op elkaar
alle wegen leiden naar
diezelfde storm
Ik geef me over
wat zal ik voor je zijn
ik geef me over
bespaar me toch die pijn
of laat me hier maar staan
neem me, of laat me gaan
god, stuur me liefde
en ik beken je schuld
je vraagt me veel te veel geduld
ik zet m'n hart ver open
maar niet helemaal
is dit de prijs die ik betaal
vergeef me duizend maal
ik wil je wel
het eind van ons verhaal
komt veel te snel
ik geef me over
wat zal ik voor je zijn
ik geef me over
bespaar me toch die pijn
of laat me hier maar staan
neem me
reik ik je de hand
dan geef jij me de vinger
razend word ik dan
je zou toch wel voor minder
ik ben m'n stem van het schreeuwen weer helemaal kwijt
jij gaat naar links en ik naar rechts
ben ik goed gezind
dan doe je averechts
is m'n idee over liefde geen realiteit
is dit een somber teken
want het is zo stil
de vogels fluiten zelfs niet meer
ik verdwaal in m'n gevoel
dat komt ervan
maar je blijft m'n levensdoel
wat wil je dan
ik geef me over
wat zal ik voor je zijn
ik geef me over
bespaar me toch die pijn
of laat me hier maar staan
neem me, of laat me gaan
reik ik je de hand
dan geef jij me de vinger
razend word ik dan
je zou toch wel voor minder
ik ben m'n stem van het schreeuwen weer helemaal kwijt
jij gaat naar links en ik naar rechts
ben ik goed gezind
dan doe je averechts
is m'n idee over liefde geen realiteit
ik geef me over
wat zal ik voor je zijn
ik geef me over
bespaar me toch die pijn
of laat me hier maar staan
neem me, of laat me gaan.
The song "Ik Geef Me Over" by Clouseau is about the struggle of a person in love who has to accept the end of a relationship. The first stanza talks about the silence and the somber feeling that surrounds the singer. The bells don't ring anymore, and even the sun is cold. The mood is sad, and the heart of the singer is breaking. The person wonders if it's the last time they will be together, but they both seem to be on the same path, heading towards the same storm.
In the chorus, the singer surrenders and asks the question, "What will I be to you?" The repetition of the phrase "Ik geef me over" (I surrender) shows the desperation of the singer to hold on to the relationship. The person asks to be spared from the pain or to be left alone. The singer realizes that they cannot force the other person to love them and that they are willing to let go if that's what it takes.
The second stanza talks about the conflict and the struggle present in the relationship. The singer always reaches out, but the other person seems to push away. The singer confesses their love and begs for mercy, but it seems like it's not enough. The singer reflects on the cost of loving someone and whether the struggle is worth it. In the last moments, the singer accepts their fate, knowing that the other person will always be an essential part of their life.
Line by Line Meaning
is dit een somber teken
Is this a sign of sadness or bleakness?
want het is zo stil
Because it is so quiet
de klokken luiden zelfs niet meer
Even the bells no longer toll
m'n hart zal breken
My heart will shatter
en de zon is kil
And the sun is cold
was dit nu onze laatste keer
Was this our final moment?
Maar we lijken op elkaar
But we seem alike
zo hard en dom
So stubborn and foolish
alle wegen leiden naar
All roads lead to
diezelfde storm
The same storm
Ik geef me over
I surrender to you
wat zal ik voor je zijn
What will I be to you?
bespaar me toch die pijn
Spare me that pain
of laat me hier maar staan
Or just leave me here
neem me, of laat me gaan
Take me or let me go
god, stuur me liefde
God, send me love
en ik beken je schuld
And I confess your guilt
je vraagt me veel te veel geduld
You ask for too much patience from me
ik zet m'n hart ver open
I open my heart wide
maar niet helemaal
But not completely
is dit de prijs die ik betaal
Is this the price I pay?
vergeef me duizend maal
Forgive me a thousand times
ik wil je wel
I do want you
het eind van ons verhaal
The end of our story
komt veel te snel
Comes too soon
reik ik je de hand
If I offer you my hand
dan geef jij me de vinger
You give me the cold shoulder
razend word ik dan
I become furious
je zou toch wel voor minder
You would be upset for much less
ik ben m'n stem van het schreeuwen weer helemaal kwijt
I am completely hoarse from shouting
jij gaat naar links en ik naar rechts
You go left and I go right
ben ik goed gezind
If I am in a good mood
dan doe je averechts
You do the opposite
is m'n idee over liefde geen realiteit
Is my idea of love not reality?
de vogels fluiten zelfs niet meer
Even the birds no longer sing
ik verdwaal in m'n gevoel
I get lost in my emotions
dat komt ervan
That's just how it is
maar je blijft m'n levensdoel
But you remain my life goal
wat wil je dan
What do you want?
Contributed by Grace I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Katelijn Isselee
Ik loop op het strand met mijn koptelefoon op en luister naar jullie heerlijke muziek krijg er gewoon warm van
anemaniacs1
Geweldige muziek ben al jaren fan van jongs af aan ze bestaan al 30jr en nog steeds brengen ze leuke liedjes uit super gewoon.
Wilco Degreef
Love your music
Dennis
WAT EEN GOED LIEDJE
lachiu
wrm stoppen ze ? Ze moeten doorgaan ! Komaan Clouseu
Myrte Kooi
Gewooon super lied (En zanger ;))
Angelo Cabooter
topliedje
sabine zwerts
wat een stem
Robin Koorevaar
Awesome :D
Katelijn Isselee
ZALIG GEWOON ZALIG