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)
Tijd Om Te Leven
Clouseau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je hebt de tijd voorbij zien vliegen, maar wat heb je echt gedaan?
Want ooooh
Je hebt het zo, je hebt het zo ver laten komen
Dat het lijkt of je niet terug kan ooooh
Wat blijft er over van je wilde dromen?
Je leven liep niet volgens plan
Zoals jij dat wil
Het is mij om het even
Zolang jij er vandaag nog mee begint
En elke week diezelfde cijfers op de lotto
Je kent ze uit je hoofd
′Trouw aan jezelf' was je levensmotto, maar je vuur lijkt gedoofd
En ooooh
Je laat je leiden door vrienden die niks hebben bereikt
Ooooh
Alle respect dat je van hen verdiende
Is waardeloos als jij je toekomst in kijkt
Het is tijd om te leven
Zoals jij dat wil
Het is mij om het even
Zolang jij er vandaag nog mee begint
En ik zeg je: ′gooi het roer maar om, het is niet gedaan, neeeeee'
Want ooit
Als je die stap zet, dan zal je jezelf in de spiegel zien staan
Het is tijd om te leven
Zoals jij dat wilt
Het is mij om het even
Zolang jij er vandaag nog mee begint
Ja geloof me
Het is tijd om te leven
Zoals jij dat wilt
Het is mij om het even
Zolang je er vandaag nog mee begint
Oehhh
Zolang jij er vandaag nog mee begint
Geloof me maar
En leef zoals je wil
Clouseau's "Tijd Om Te Leven" is a song that explores the theme of self-reflection, encouraging listeners to take control of their lives and live as they truly desire. The song begins with the observation that despite spending every night in front of the mirror, the singer does not recognize the person they see standing before them. The second verse references the monotony of the character's life and how they have let other people's opinions and limitations dictate their actions, leading to unfulfilled potential.
The pre-chorus acknowledges the singer's feelings of being trapped by their own inaction, but the chorus serves as a call to action, urging them to take control of their lives and start living on their own terms. The bridge reassures the singer that it's not too late to make a change and take a step towards living the life they truly want to live. The final chorus is a repeated message to "believe" and take the necessary steps towards self-discovery and fulfillment.
This song is a powerful reminder to listeners that it is never too late to take control of your life and live your dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Elke avond sta je voor de spiegel, maar wie zie je staan?
Every night, you stand in front of the mirror, but do you see yourself?
Je hebt de tijd voorbij zien vliegen, maar wat heb je echt gedaan?
You've seen time fly by, but what have you really done?
Want ooooh
Je hebt het zo, je hebt het zo ver laten komen
Dat het lijkt of je niet terug kan ooooh
You've let things go so far that it seems like you can't turn back, oh
Wat blijft er over van je wilde dromen?
Je leven liep niet volgens plan
What's left of your wild dreams? Your life didn't go as planned
Het is tijd om te leven
Zoals jij dat wil
Het is mij om het even
Zolang jij er vandaag nog mee begint
It's time to live life how you want, it doesn't matter to me, as long as you start today
En elke week diezelfde cijfers op de lotto
Je kent ze uit je hoofd
′Trouw aan jezelf' was je levensmotto, maar je vuur lijkt gedoofd
En ooooh
Je laat je leiden door vrienden die niks hebben bereikt
Ooooh
Alle respect dat je van hen verdiende
Is waardeloos als jij je toekomst in kijkt
You play the same lottery numbers every week and have them memorized. 'Stay true to yourself' was your life's motto, but it seems like your fire has been extinguished. Oh, you let friends who haven't achieved anything lead you. Oh, all the respect you earned from them is worth nothing when you look at your future.
En ik zeg je: ′gooi het roer maar om, het is niet gedaan, neeeeee'
Want ooit
Als je die stap zet, dan zal je jezelf in de spiegel zien staan
And I tell you, 'change direction, it's not over, nooo.' Because one day when you take that step, you'll see yourself in the mirror.
Ja geloof me
Het is tijd om te leven
Zoals jij dat wilt
Het is mij om het even
Zolang je er vandaag nog mee begint
Oehhh
Zolang jij er vandaag nog mee begint
Geloof me maar
En leef zoals je wil
Yes, believe me, it's time to live how you want, it doesn't matter to me, as long as you start today. As long as you start today. Just believe me, and live how you want.
Writer(s): Kris Wauters, Stefaan Fernande
Contributed by Emily A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nathalievdeeden1545
Heel leuk en mooi nummer 👏👏
@wiespeeltertonto5523
Nee top MUSIC daar gaat ze .
@lucas6juni
hey clouseau,jullie winnen voor mij de prijs voor de beste clip van het jaar
@seppenijsen2840
en de nobelprijs ;) voor de literatuur
@romaandegeest39
mooi
@inekebarkema5516
Cool nummer!
@kwfan7048
zoooo mooi echt die clip is echt zooo leuk
@mary_canary
My ex told me about this band. I really like it (the band, not the ex)!
@ManuellaBosmans
Prachtige tekst. Heel mooi. Toepasselijk liedje als je uw leven wil veranderen.
@patriciavandevelde6377
❤️❤️❤️