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)

Music Box
Hooverphonic Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sin is so much more than poetry
Better start to pray
Crime is sensual
Softly breathing down your neck
Flooded chemistry

A tempting sign
Is showing us

A glimpse of alchemy
The curtain drops
Whenever we do try
To react as if we're one

Poisoned arrow softly piercing my heart
With poetry
Watching the sunrise
My eyes closing fast
Swallowed by the sea

A tempting sign
Is showing us
A glimpse of alchemy
The curtain drops
Whenever we do try
To react as if we're one

One music doll stops rotating, breaking
Her song lingers on
Translating

A tempting sign
Is showing us
A glimpse of alchemy
The curtain drops

Whenever we do try
To react as if we're one

Overall Meaning

Hooverphonic's "Music Box" is a song that is open to interpretation, and the lyrics are cryptic enough to give rise to different meanings. At its heart, however, the song appears to deal with the theme of sin, crime, and alchemy, using the metaphor of a "music box" that alludes to the inherent beauty and complexity of life. The first verse highlights the sinister nature of sin, with the need to "start to pray" to avoid succumbing to the sensual and tempting allure of crime. The second verse talks about the impact of this sin on oneself, with the metaphor of a "poisoned arrow softly piercing" one's heart with poetry, leading to the eventual swallowing up by the sea. The refrain, "a tempting sign is showing us a glimpse of alchemy, the curtain drops whenever we do try to react as if we're one," suggests that the consequences of our actions are inevitable, and that trying to deny or escape them inevitably leads to failure.

Overall, "Music Box" is an evocative song that blends beautiful and haunting melodies with a deep and enigmatic set of lyrics. The use of metaphors and symbols adds depth and nuance to the song's themes, making it an interpretive feast for those who appreciate poetic music.

Line by Line Meaning

Sin is so much more than poetry
Sin is a serious matter that should not be taken lightly

Better start to pray
Prayer can help protect us from the dangers of sin

Crime is sensual
Committing a crime can seem appealing and bring pleasure

Softly breathing down your neck
The temptation of crime can be ever-present and feel suffocating

Flooded chemistry
Emotions can become overwhelming and cloud judgement

A tempting sign
An alluring indication of something that may bring pleasure or danger

Is showing us
Presenting to us a tempting opportunity

A glimpse of alchemy
An exciting and transformative possibility

The curtain drops
Revealing a new situation or reality

Whenever we do try
When we attempt to change our circumstances or take action

To react as if we're one
To respond in a unified and harmonious way with those around us