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)
Onvergetelijke Nacht
Clouseau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
een nacht als deze nacht
als honing smaakt je kus
zo eindeloos en zacht
ben jij
De tijd speelt nu geen rol
zo liggen wij in bed
verrast door elk gebaar
de wereld houdt
haar adem in
Alles wat ik met jou beleef
ik ervaar het als een wonder
ik wou dat deze nacht
voor eeuwig duren kon
refrein
Aan jou wil ik alles geven
ja aan jou geef ik het beste van mezelf
en als het soms gebeurt
dat de tijd ons hart verkleurd
breng ik weer deze nacht tot leven
Niemand die begrijpt
hoe ver m'n liefde rijkt
dat ik voor jou bezwijk
m'n ziel in jou verdwijnt
zo lief ben jij
Niemand kent de weg naar jou hart
niemand die het weet
neem m'n hand en leidt me
naar dat hart van jou
refrein
en als het soms gebeurt
dat de tijd ons hart verkleurd
breng ik weer deze nacht tot leven
en aan jou geef ik het beste van mezelf
en als het soms gebeurt
dat de tijd ons hart verkleurd
vannacht
zo'n nacht, vannacht
The lyrics of Clouseau's song Onvergetelijke Nacht express the intensity of a romantic and passionate night between two lovers. The singer describes the night as unforgettable and one that he wishes could last forever. The sweetness of their kiss and the tenderness of their movements make time stand still, and the world seems to hold its breath as they experience each other. The singer finds himself completely captured by the other person, thrilled by every gesture and move.
The second verse highlights the depth of the singer's love and devotion to the person he is with, expressing a willingness to give everything to them. He acknowledges that no one understands the extent of his love and how completely he is overshadowed by his feelings. He pleads with his lover to guide him to their heart, showing a longing for even greater intimacy and connection. The chorus reinforces the idea of giving oneself entirely to the other person and preserving the precious experience of the unforgettable night.
Line by Line Meaning
Nooit komt zoiets weer
I fear a repeat of a night like this will never arrive.
een nacht als deze nacht
A night like tonight, forever in my mind.
als honing smaakt je kus
Our kisses taste like the sweetest honey, so tender and loving.
zo eindeloos en zacht
Infinite softness and gentleness between us.
ben jij
It's you who made this night so unforgettable.
De tijd speelt nu geen rol
Time has no value now, as we lay next to each other.
zo liggen wij in bed
We are lying down together, consumed by each other's presence.
gevangen in elkaar
We are captured by the aura surrounding us.
verrast door elk gebaar
In awe of every gesture made by each other.
de wereld houdt haar adem in
The world pauses to witness the beauty of our moment.
Alles wat ik met jou beleef
My life with you is a magical journey.
ik ervaar het als een wonder
I see it as nothing less than a miracle.
ik wou dat deze nacht
I wish for this night to never end.
voor eeuwig duren kon
If only we could make it last forever.
Aan jou wil ik alles geven
I give you everything I have.
ja aan jou geef ik het beste van mezelf
I offer the best parts of myself to you.
dat de tijd ons hart verkleurd
Time may change our hearts over time.
breng ik weer deze nacht tot leven
I'll relive this night again to rekindle our love.
Niemand die begrijpt
No one comprehends.
hoe ver m'n liefde rijkt
How far my love goes for you.
dat ik voor jou bezwijk
I am willing to sacrifice everything for you.
m'n ziel in jou verdwijnt
My soul merges with yours.
zo lief ben jij
This is all because of the love you give me.
Niemand kent de weg naar jou hart
No one knows the path to your heart.
neem m'n hand en leidt me
Hold my hand and lead me to your heart.
naar dat hart van jou
To that heart of yours that I crave so much.
vannacht zo'n nacht
Tonight, it's such a night of pure love.
Contributed by Zachary N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.