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)

Samen
Clouseau Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh als je zegt dat je bij mij hoort,
is dat tot het eind van dagen?
Is dat voor altijd?
Oh als je zegt dat je bij mij hoort,
zal ik steeds weer blijven vragen
Is dat voor altijd?

En als het tegen zit

en je niet langer meer ziet
wat je eens in me zag,
zul je dan naar me blijven verlangen
als op die allereerste dag.

Ik ben geen prins op een paard
en als je passie bedaard
blijven we dan nog samen?
Blijven we dan nog samen?

oh als je zegt we blijven samen
is dat nu, vandaag of morgen
is dat voor altijd?

en als het tegen zit
en je niet langer meer ziet
wat je eens in me zag,
zul je dan naar me blijven verlangen
als op die allereerste dag.

ik ben geen prins op een paard
en als je passie bedaard
blijven we dan nog samen?
Blijven we dan nog samen?

Ik voel m'n hard sneller slaan,
want altijd kan niet bestaan,
wat als de liefde bekoeld,
wie weet wat je later nog voor me voelt.

Ik ben geen prins op een paard
en als je passie bedaard

blijven we dan nog samen?
Blijven we dan nog samen?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Clouseau's song "Samen" (together) are a reflection of the uncertainty and fragility of love. The singer questions the longevity of a relationship, even when both partners pledge their eternal devotion to each other. He wonders if the promises of forever and always will hold true, especially when faced with challenges and setbacks in the relationship. He acknowledges that he is not a perfect partner, comparable to a prince on a white horse, and contemplates if his flaws and shortcomings will eventually cause his partner to lose interest in him. Despite his insecurities, the singer still holds on to the hope that their love will endure, and asks if his partner feels the same way.

The song speaks to the universal experience of being in a relationship, which comes with its share of highs and lows, doubts and fears. It portrays a realistic and vulnerable portrayal of love, rather than an idealized or romanticized version. The singer's plea for reassurance and validation is a relatable sentiment that many listeners can identify with.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh als je zegt dat je bij mij hoort, is dat tot het eind van dagen? Is dat voor altijd?
Do you really mean it when you say you're mine? Will it last forever, until the end of time?

Oh als je zegt dat je bij mij hoort, zal ik steeds weer blijven vragen Is dat voor altijd?
I need to know if you promise to be mine, And if it'll last forever, until the end of time?

En als het tegen zit en je niet langer meer ziet wat je eens in me zag, zul je dan naar me blijven verlangen als op die allereerste dag.
When things get rough and you can't see What you once saw in me, Will you still long for me Like you did on that very first day?

Ik ben geen prins op een paard en als je passie bedaard blijven we dan nog samen? Blijven we dan nog samen?
I'm not a prince charming, that's for sure. If your passion fades, will we endure? Will we still be together? Will our love endure?

oh als je zegt we blijven samen is dat nu, vandaag of morgen is dat voor altijd?
When you say we'll stay together forever, Do you mean now, tomorrow or forever?

ik ben geen prins op een paard en als je passie bedaard blijven we dan nog samen? Blijven we dan nog samen?
I'm no knight in shining armor, And when our passion fades, will we be able to endure? Will we stay together and remain in love?

Ik voel m'n harder sneller slaan, want altijd kan niet bestaan, wat als de liefde bekoeld, wie weet wat je later nog voor me voelt.
My heart beats faster with each thought of you, But love that lasts forever is too good to be true. What if our love cools down one day, Who knows how you'll feel about me then?

Ik ben geen prins op een paard en als je passie bedaard blijven we dan nog samen? Blijven we dan nog samen?
I'm not a knight in shining armor, If your passion fades, will we still stand together? Will we still be lovers, will our love endure?

Contributed by Lily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS