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)
Boomerang
Hooverphonic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He does sing, but not in a choir
He thinks he's cool with his 19” tires
Got the looks but he's playing with fire
Always comes back like a boomerang back to me
The words of a liar do hurt like breaking a knee
Evenings are high, morning are lowW
He can't accept that he's getting thirty
He's oh so slow, never in a hurry
He serves desire with hurt as a potion to me
Whenever he's gone he reinvents the word free
The lyrics of Hooverphonic's song "Boomerang" seem to present a love-hate relationship with a man who is depicted as a reckless and somewhat immature individual. He is shown to have a superficial interest in music, only playing an electric guitar and not joining a choir. He also takes pride in his appearance, featuring 19” tires on his car, but his actions hint at a disregard for consequences, or even danger - hence, he is "playing with fire." Despite all these seemingly negative qualities, the singer seems to be unable to break out of this cycle with him. Even when he comes back repeatedly, like a boomerang, the singer acknowledges that his words and actions can be hurtful, akin to breaking a knee.
The words 'sober feels out of control' express a feeling of instability and anxiety that is further compounded by the man's tendency to oscillate between extremes - he is charming in the evening, but distant and aloof the next morning. The reference to getting "thirty" and being "oh so slow" might indicate that he is reaching a crucial age of self-reflection, but he is unable to come to terms with the passage of time or his limitations. Instead, he serves his own desires, often at the cost of hurting the singer with callous words, and when he is gone, he uses the idea of 'freedom' as a way to justify his behavior, seeing himself as a 'reinventor of the word free.'
Overall, the song attempts to show the complex and often painful experience of being with someone who can be reckless with their feelings and actions, but whom you can't seem to shake. The boomerang serves as a metaphor for the returning cycle of pain that the singer experiences, no matter how many times they try to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
He likes to play an electric guitar
He enjoys playing an electric guitar
He does sing, but not in a choir
He sings, but not as a part of a choir
He thinks he's cool with his 19” tires
He believes that his 19” tires make him look cool
Got the looks but he's playing with fire
Although he may look good, he is playing with danger
Always comes back like a boomerang back to me
He keeps returning to me, just like a boomerang
The words of a liar do hurt like breaking a knee
The lies he tells me are as painful as breaking a knee
Sober feels out of control
When he is sober, he feels as though he has no control
Evenings are high, morning are low
His emotions are heightened in the evening but subdued in the morning
He can't accept that he's getting thirty
He is struggling to come to terms with turning thirty
He's oh so slow, never in a hurry
He is a slow-moving person who is never in a rush
He serves desire with hurt as a potion to me
He manipulates my desires and uses painful methods to control me
Whenever he's gone he reinvents the word free
He always tries to redefine what it means to be free when he is not around
Contributed by Hudson G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kevin Wilkinson
One of my favourite Hooverphonic songs. Gorgeously arranged song.💖
Denise
Me encanta esta canción ❤️❤️
Cedric Mathew Hudson
LOVE the summer vibes i'm getting from this album
Aaron Barton
Hooverphonic are awesome. I'm so glad that you're producing music videos for your new songs.
steve akehurst
Great band
seriousbe
Best song of the album!
Beyza Küçük
her voice feels like it's coming from 50's
LD.Tube
Amazing song!!! <3 <3 <3
Barry Broderick
Fantastic guys, love it! (Also, please come to Ireland!)
Ger Thoma
great song