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)
Zij Aan Zij
Clouseau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tikt het noodlot aan
En schud alles door elkaar
Heel mijn wereld door elkaar
Moedeloos en moe
Kom ik naar je toe
En val uitgeput in slaap
Tot je stem me wakker maakt
Luister toch eens even
We slaan er ons doorheen
Ook al wordt het hard en zwaar
Je staat niet alleen
Zij aan zij gaan we door de storm
Als je duizelig wordt, geef ik jou mijn adem
Zij aan zij tot de zon op komt
En elke zorg meteen verdwijnt
Je bent zo mooi vandaag
God ik zie je graag
Ik zou echt alles doen voor jou
Ik zou alles doen voor jou
In lief maar ook in leed
Ik wil dat je dit weet
Ligt je wereld overhoop
Dan help ik je uit de nood
Liefde doet genezen
We slaan er ons doorheen
Zelfs al lijkt het uitzichtloos
Je staat niet alleen
Zij aan zij gaan we door de storm
Als je duizelig wordt, geef ik jou mijn adem
Zij aan zij tot de zon op komt
En elke zorg meteen verdwijnt
Je waakt over mij
Ik waak over jou
Ik wou dat er niets gebeuren kon
Je waakt over mij
Ik waak over jou
Ik zal er altijd zijn
Koel en zelfvoldaan
Tikt het noodlot aan
En schud alles door elkaar.
Zij aan zij gaan we door de storm
Als je duizelig wordt, geef ik jou mijn adem
Zij aan zij tot de zon op komt
En elke zorg meteen verdwijnt
Jij waakt over mij
Ik waak over jou
Ik wou dat er niets gebeuren kon
Jij waakt over mij
Ik waak over jou
Ik zal er altijd zijn
The lyrics to Clouseau's song Zij Aan Zij describe a person dealing with the challenges and uncertainties of life, seeking comfort and support from their loved one. The opening lines describe the feeling of being shaken up by fate, as the singer's world is turned upside down. They seek solace from their partner, falling asleep exhausted only to be awoken by the comforting sound of their voice. The chorus speaks to the idea of facing life's challenges together, as the couple stands side by side through the storm. They offer each other support, with one sharing their breath when the other is struggling to keep their footing. The lyrics emphasize the power of love to heal and offer hope in even the most difficult of circumstances.
Overall, Zij Aan Zij is a poignant and romantic song that celebrates the strength of a relationship in the face of adversity. It speaks to the idea that love can provide a foundation to weather life's storms, and that facing challenges together can make the bond between two people even stronger.
Line by Line Meaning
Koel en zelfvoldaan
In a detached and complacent manner
Tikt het noodlot aan
The unfortunate events strike
En schud alles door elkaar
And turn everything upside down
Heel mijn wereld door elkaar
My world is in chaos
Moedeloos en moe
Feeling hopeless and exhausted
Kom ik naar je toe
I come to you
En val uitgeput in slaap
And fall asleep, drained
Tot je stem me wakker maakt
Until your voice wakes me up
Luister toch eens even
Listen for a moment
We slaan er ons doorheen
We'll make it through
Ook al wordt het hard en zwaar
Even if it gets tough and heavy
Je staat niet alleen
You're not alone
Zij aan zij gaan we door de storm
Side by side, we go through the storm
Als je duizelig wordt, geef ik jou mijn adem
If you feel dizzy, I'll give you my breath
Zij aan zij tot de zon op komt
Side by side until the sun rises
En elke zorg meteen verdwijnt
And every worry disappears instantly
Je bent zo mooi vandaag
You look so beautiful today
God ik zie je graag
God, I love you so much
Ik zou echt alles doen voor jou
I would really do anything for you
In lief maar ook in leed
In love and also in sorrow
Ik wil dat je dit weet
I want you to know this
Ligt je wereld overhoop
If your world is upside down
Dan help ik je uit de nood
Then I'll help you out of trouble
Liefde doet genezen
Love heals
Je staalt niet alleen
You're not alone
Je waakt over mij
You watch over me
Ik waak over jou
I watch over you
Ik wou dat er niets gebeuren kon
I wish nothing bad would ever happen
Ik zal er altijd zijn
I'll always be there
Contributed by Charlotte J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@snezanavasilevska3586
De best van belgie❤
@evybastiaens5666
Dit word ik niet moe. Prachtige clip en zang super. Forever Koen en Kris. ❤️ Voor altijd fan.
@zotski27
van hun 'nieuwe' liedjes is dit het beste nr..
@dolfijnmaantje
Ze blijven geweldig. Jammer dat ze niet meer zoveel van ze hoort in nederland. want ze zijn en blijven top.
@eddypauwels8610
voor mij één van de mooiste nrs van Clouseau , en ik vind deze clip supermooi ...
@stilstemmetje
dit is een liedje met echte waarheid. supper
@jalimarcaya
Fuerteventura
@baukewijnsma
Dit nummer is echt geweldig. Ik luister ik graag om door de huidige coronamaatregelen te komen
@hannevuegen6284
Ik word emotioneel😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
@JanisWellens
mooi gezongen op het afscheid van de slachtoffertjes van de busramp! Ik moest zelfs wenen omdat het zo mooi was... Echt chapeau