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)
Voltooid Verleden
Clouseau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
't Licht kleurt de straten rood
De maan gaapt in de goot
Het ochtendgloren is zo ver weg
Ik glijd mee met de stroom
De rook danst rond mijn hoofd
En de nevel sluit me langzaam in
Ik slenter en ik zucht
En kerf je naam keer op keer in een boom
Doe de lichten uit
Demp het geluid
Verdoof m'n zinnen
Krom wordt nooit meer recht
Neen, dit gevecht
Kan ik niet winnen
Vol verwachting loop ik aan
'K heb nog zoveel weg te gaan
Zoveel duivels te verslaan
En ik mis je
En ik weet wel dat je zegt
Wat gezegd moet is gezegd
Maar ik strompel, van en vecht
En ik mis je
Jij zegt "Verleden tijd"
Maar ik wil jou niet kwijt
Ik wil je liefde niet verliezen
'T orkest speelt uit de maat
Hun tango komt te laat
Ik drink, maar voel m'n hart bevriezen
Zelfs duizend mijl van huis
Klinkt het gedruis
Voltooid verleden
De prijs al lang betaald
Het bier verschaald
Ver weg van Eden
Met open handen kom ik aan
'K heb nog zoveel weg te gaan
Zoveel duivels te verslaan
En ik mis je
En ik weet wel dat je zegt
Dat het pleit al is beslecht
Maar ik struikel, val en vecht
Want ik mis je
Vol verwachting kom ik aan
'K heb nog zoveel weg te gaan
Zoveel duivels te verslaan
En ik mis je
En ik weet wel dat je zegt
Dat het pleit al is beslecht
Maar ik struikel, val en vecht
En ik mis je
Regen in mijn hart
Voorgoed verward
Voltooid verleden
De ochtend is nabij
Voor jou en mij
Ver weg van Eden
The song "Voltooid Verleden" by Clouseau is about a person who is lost and struggling with their emotions. The lyrics describe a night scene where the singer is wandering aimlessly through the city streets, feeling depressed and lonely. The blue night represents the sadness the character is feeling. The desperation and despair that follows is described as a battle that can't be won, no matter how hard the person tries. The singer is trying to find a way to cope with their sadness and feelings of loss.
Despite feeling lost, the singer has hope and is determined to keep going, even if it means fighting their inner demons. The lyrics imply that the person may have lost a loved one or a relationship, and they're trying to find a way to move on. The song also suggests that the singer is struggling with accepting the past as "verleden tijd," while still longing for their loved one's return or acceptance.
Overall, "Voltooid Verleden" is a deeply contemplative and emotional portrayal of a person's struggle with isolation, loss, and moving on. The lyrics evoke a sense of sadness, longing, and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Zacht is de blauwe nacht
The night is serene and peaceful
De allerblauwste nacht
The sky is blue and serene
De moed der wanhoop jaagt me voort
I am pushed forward by sheer desperation
't Licht kleurt de straten rood
The streetlights paint the streets red
De maan gaapt in de goot
The moon is dull and lifeless
Het ochtendgloren is zo ver weg
The sunrise seems so far away
Ik glijd mee met de stroom
I just go with the flow
De rook danst rond mijn hoofd
The smoke plays around my head
En de nevel sluit me langzaam in
Slowly, the fog envelops me
De wind raast in mijn rug
The wind howls behind me
Ik slenter en ik zucht
I wander aimlessly with a heavy heart
En kerf je naam keer op keer in een boom
I carve your name over and over again onto a tree
Doe de lichten uit
Turn off the lights
Demp het geluid
Mute the sound
Verdoof m'n zinnen
Numb my senses
Krom wordt nooit meer recht
Things will never be the same
Neen, dit gevecht
No, I cannot win this battle
Kan ik niet winnen
I cannot win
Vol verwachting loop ik aan
I walk with hopeful anticipation
'K heb nog zoveel weg te gaan
I still have a long way to go
Zoveel duivels te verslaan
So many demons to conquer
En ik mis je
And I miss you
En ik weet wel dat je zegt
And I know you say
Wat gezegd moet is gezegd
What was said has been said
Maar ik strompel, van en vecht
But I stumble, groan, and fight
Jij zegt "Verleden tijd"
You say "It's in the past"
Maar ik wil jou niet kwijt
But I don't want to lose you
Ik wil je liefde niet verliezen
I don't want to lose your love
'T orkest speelt uit de maat
The orchestra plays out of sync
Hun tango komt te laat
Their tango is too late
Ik drink, maar voel m'n hart bevriezen
I drink, but my heart freezes
Zelfs duizend mijl van huis
Even a thousand miles away from home
Klinkt het gedruis
I still hear the noise
Voltooid verleden
The past is completed
De prijs al lang betaald
The cost was paid long ago
Het bier verschaald
The beer is stale
Ver weg van Eden
Far away from paradise
Met open handen kom ik aan
I arrive with open arms
'K heb nog zoveel weg te gaan
I still have a long way to go
Zoveel duivels te verslaan
So many demons to conquer
Regen in mijn hart
Rain in my heart
Voorgoed verward
Permanently confused
De ochtend is nabij
Morning is near
Voor jou en mij
For you and me
Ver weg van Eden
Far away from paradise
Contributed by Xavier W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@aaikeboermans1941
Is zo een mooi liedje❤
@francisdisco1634
❤️❤️❤️❤️
@ea4935
✨📜Voltooid verleden tijdens verleden tijd🤔🎓