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)
Opium
Hooverphonic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wonder why you sigh
There's no reason
There's no reason for you to cry
Don't
Don't believe your own lies
There's no reason
There's no reason for you to sigh
Music
Music is opium for free
Try a little, try to consume me
Music is Prozac for free
Don't get stuck in greed
Why
Why don't you dare to speak?
Silence
Silence will tighten our leash
Happy
Happiness is not for lease
Silence
Silence will tighten our leash
Music
Music is opium for free
Try a little, try to consume me
Music is Prozac for free
Don't get stuck in greed
Music
Silence
Happy
There's no reason
Music
Silence
Happy
There's no reason
Don't
I think that "Opium" by Hooverphonic is a song that delves into the idea of escapism through music. The lyrics in the chorus - "Music is opium for free, try a little, try to consume me, Music is Prozac for free, don't get stuck in greed" - suggest that music can be a source of both pleasure and comfort, just like opium and Prozac. The first verse raises a question about why someone might feel sad or anxious, suggesting that there might not be a tangible reason for their feelings. The second verse touches on the idea that speaking up about our feelings is important, and that silence can be suffocating. Overall, I think this song is a reminder to take care of ourselves and to find healthy ways to cope with difficult emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Why
The vocalist is questioning the listener's mood
I wonder why you sigh
The vocalist is wondering why the listener is sad
There's no reason
The vocalist is asserting that there is no valid reason for sadness
There's no reason for you to cry
The vocalist is comforting the listener and telling them that they should not cry
Don't
The vocalist is giving a command or piece of advice to the listener
Don't believe your own lies
The vocalist is warning the listener not to deceive themselves
There's no reason for you to sigh
The vocalist is telling the listener that they should not sigh because there is no reason to be sad
Music
The vocalist is changing the subject to the topic of music
Music is opium for free
The vocalist is explaining that music is like a drug that can be experienced without cost
Try a little, try to consume me
The vocalist is encouraging the listener to try listening to their music
Music is Prozac for free
The vocalist is comparing music to an antidepressant medication that can be obtained for free
Don't get stuck in greed
The vocalist is cautioning the listener against becoming greedy or overly attached to the feeling that music provides
Silence
The vocalist is once again changing the subject to the concept of silence
Why don't you dare to speak?
The vocalist is asking why the listener is not speaking
Silence will tighten our leash
The vocalist is warning that a lack of communication can make things more restrictive or difficult
Happiness is not for lease
The vocalist is asserting that true happiness cannot be bought or rented
Don't
The vocalist is giving the same command or piece of advice as before
Silence will tighten our leash
The vocalist is repeating the same warning as before
Music Silence Happy
The vocalist is repeating the three keywords and linking them together
There's no reason
The vocalist is repeating the phrase from earlier in the song
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALEX CALLIER, RAYMOND GEERTS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Katy Aretxabaleta
Hooverphonic is one of my all time favorite bands ever, ever. There aren't many bands out there where one can say that there is not any one thing a band puts out that they don't like. I seriously love everything they have ever put out.. Mad respect and much love for this band..
Luiz Nicolau
Great band, congratulations from a Brazilian lover
Dr.Devang Somani
This song itself is damn narcotic