Clouseau (a Belgian band) started as a group of friends back in 1984. Only … Read Full Bio ↴Clouseau (a Belgian band) started as a group of friends back in 1984. Only Karel Theys, the bass-player, had some previous experience in a band with The Employees. 1987 sees them coming out of the garage for the first time : they play Marktrock in Leuven en get a record deal for their first single "Brandweer".

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)

Niet voor niets
Clouseau Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ik zie geen tranen in je ogen
Ik voel geen warmte in je hart
zoveel ongesproken woorden
aan het einde van de dag

chorus: voel je niets meer voor mij
niets meer voor mij
waarom kijk je weg wanneer ik je vraag

hou je niet meer van mij
niet meer van mij
waarom zeg je niet
ik zie je graag

zoveel jaren met z'n tweeën
zoveel beleefd
zoveel geluk
kunnen we deze storm niet overleven
komt onze liefde ooit terug

chorus

maar als je twijfelt
(als je twijfelt)
en je wil wel weggaan
(als je twijfelt)
en ik vraag je steeds weer
probeer het nog één keer
zeg dan niet nee
zeg dan niet nee

als het echt te zwaar gaat wegen
wel dan hou ik je niet tegen
nee dan hou ik je niet tegen
oh nee

chorus

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Clouseau's song "Niet voor niets" depict the singer's feelings of disconnect and uncertainty in a relationship that seems to be falling apart. The first verse highlights the lack of emotions and unspoken words between the couple. The absence of tears in the eyes and warmth in the heart suggests a growing distance and emotional detachment. The accumulation of these unsaid words throughout the day further emphasizes the communication breakdown between them.

The chorus expresses the singer's fear of losing their partner's love. They question whether their partner still feels anything for them, as indicated by the lyrics "voel je niets meer voor mij." The singer wonders why their partner avoids eye contact and refuses to say "ik zie je graag" (I love you). These questions reflect the deep vulnerability and longing for reassurance in the relationship.

The second verse delves into the history shared by the couple. It acknowledges the years they have spent together and all the experiences they have shared. Despite having experienced so much happiness, the singer wonders if their love can survive the storm they are currently facing. The lyrics convey the uncertainty of whether their love will ever return.

In the final part of the song, the singer acknowledges the possibility that their partner may be considering leaving. However, they plead with their partner not to say no. The singer is willing to allow their partner to go if the burden becomes too heavy, but they express their desire for one last chance to make things work. This section reveals both the singer's fear of losing their partner and their willingness to let them go if necessary.

Overall, "Niet voor niets" explores themes of emotional distance, uncertainty, and the desire to salvage a failing relationship. It depicts the struggles, doubts, and plea for another chance to rekindle the love that seems to be slipping away.

Line by Line Meaning

Ik zie geen tranen in je ogen
I don't see any tears in your eyes

Ik voel geen warmte in je hart
I don't feel any warmth in your heart

zoveel ongesproken woorden
so many unspoken words

aan het einde van de dag
at the end of the day

chorus: voel je niets meer voor mij
chorus: do you feel nothing for me

niets meer voor mij
nothing more for me

waarom kijk je weg wanneer ik je vraag
why do you look away when I ask you

hou je niet meer van mij
don't you love me anymore

niet meer van mij
not anymore of me

waarom zeg je niet
why don't you say

ik zie je graag
I love you