Hooverphonic is a Belgian rock/pop group formed in 1995. Though initially p… Read Full Bio ↴Hooverphonic is a Belgian rock/pop group formed in 1995. Though initially placed in the trip-hop genre, they quickly expanded their sound to the point where they could no longer be classified so easily. The band originally called themselves Hoover but later changed their name to Hooverphonic due to other groups using the Hoover name.

The band achieved international recognition through the inclusion of the track 2Wicky (from A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular) on the soundtrack to Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1996 film Stealing Beauty (Io Ballo da Sola).

The original members of the group were vocalist Liesje Sadonius, keyboardist Frank Duchêne, bass guitarist and programmer Alex Callier, and guitarist Raymond Geerts. Sadonius left Hooverphonic on amicable terms shortly after the release of A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular and was replaced by Geike Arnaert in early 1998. Duchêne left the band after Blue Wonder Power Milk. Arnaert left the band in 2008 and was succeeded by Noémie Wolfs. On March 26, 2015 the band announced that that Noémie Wolfs would be leaving the band "in mutual agreement."

Hooverphonic released their fifth studio album No More Sweet Music in November 2005, featuring four singles: Wake Up, You Hurt Me, Dirty Lenses and We All Float. One year later they released a Best Of album called Singles 96-06. This was their last release under the Sony label.

Hooverphonic released their sixth studio album The President of the LSD Golf Club on 8th October 2007 in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium and Holland, which includes the single Expedition Impossible. European Release January 2008 (although available via mail-order). This was an independent release, recorded at the Willie Nelson studios in the USA.

On October 10, 2008 the management announced that Geike Arnaert would be leaving the band.

After Geike Arnaert and the band parted ways, it took them two years to find a worthy successor to Arnaert. In November 2010 Noémie Wolfs was announced as the new leading lady. A brand new album called The Night Before followed soon after. The new singer was introduced on Belgian television in State Broadcaster VRT's late night show "De Laatste Show" on Thursday November 4th. The title track of the album is their biggest singles' chart success to date. Also, the album soon equaled the success of A Magnificent Tree.

On March 26, 2015 it was announced that Noémie Wolfs would be leaving the band.

Hooverphonic released In Wonderland on March 18, 2016. This release features a number of vocalists including: Emilie Satt, Janie Price (AKA Bird), Felix Howard, Litlo Tinz, Christa Jérôme, and Tjeerd Bomhof.
They were supposed to represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam with their song "Release Me". The event was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hooverphonic was the only Eurovision entrant for 2020 who refused to take part in the "Love Shine a Light" performance, where entrants each contributed sections of the song, although a photograph of Luka Cruysberghs was included with the other participants making a hand heart at the end.

On 9th November 2020, Luka Cruysberghs left the band and, on the same day, Geike Arnaert announced her return. Also on the same day, they released a new version of Mad About You for the song's 20th anniversary.

Discography

• A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular (1996)
• Blue Wonder Power Milk (1998)
• The Magnificent Tree (2000)
• Hooverphonic Presents Jackie Cane (2002)
• Sit Down And Listen To... (2003)
• No More Sweet Music (2005/6)
• Singles 96/06 (2006)
• The President of the LSD Golf Club (2007/2008)
• The Night Before (2010)
• With Orchestra (2012)
• Reflection (2013)
• In Wonderland (2016)

- The Magnificent Tree
Hooverphonic Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Bought this guitar
At a shop called mars
But on the way back home
Strange things happened in my car
Started to play
All by itself
Creatures jumped from
The highest shelf

Until I touched string 12
This magnificent tree
Appeared in my mind
Even without leaves
ITS strength was divine
Synthesized gnomes
Penetrated this godly zone
Summer was thrown off
It's royal throne
This magnificent tree
Appeared in my mind

Even without leaves
It's strength was divine

Overall Meaning

The song "The Magnificent Tree" by Hooverphonic paints an evocative image of an otherworldly experience that took place in the aftermath of buying a guitar. The singer recounts how on the way back from the store, strange things started happening in the car. As they started to play the guitar, creatures seemingly appeared from nowhere and surrounded them. It was only when the singer reached the twelfth string that a magnificent tree sprang to life in their mind's eye.

Despite the fact that the tree was depicted without any leaves, it exuded an immense strength and power that seemed to come from a divine source. The lyrics also reference "synthesized gnomes" that "penetrated this godly zone," adding to the mystical atmosphere of the song. The shift in seasons is alluded to as well, with "summer thrown off its royal throne." The words and tone of the song suggest that the experience was transformative and otherworldly, defying explanation.

Line by Line Meaning

Bought this guitar
I purchased a guitar

At a shop called mars
The store where I bought it was named Mars

But on the way back home
However, during my journey back home

Strange things happened in my car
Unusual occurrences took place in my car

Started to play
The guitar began to play

All by itself
Without any assistance from me

Creatures jumped from
A group of beings leapt down from

The highest shelf
The tallest shelf

Until I touched string 12
The music only stopped when I touched the 12th string

This magnificent tree
An impressive tree

Appeared in my mind
I imagined it in my head