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)

Wake Up
Hooverphonic Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You're the needle
In my veins
Pleasure mostly
Ends in pain

Temptation is a part of us
But us is driving me insane
Now it's time to make decisions

Yes ain't easy but no's too safe

Wake up
Don't tell me what do
Wake up
Don't tell me what to say
Wake up
But there's one thing you can tell
Wake up
And that's how I'd feel
When there's no more you
When there's no more you

We don't need no competition
In the end this is no game
Deliver me your best and I will
Give you what is left of me

Excuses are the final drop
Excuses don't relieve the pain
Solitude ain't so bad
When there's nothing left for us to gain

Wake up
Don't tell me what do
Wake up
Don't tell me what to say
Wake up
But there's one thing you can tell
Wake up
And that's how I'd feel
When there's no more you
No more you
You
No more you
You

You're the needle
In my veins
Pleasure mostly
Ends in pain
Nothing left for
Us to gain

Wake up
Don't tell me what do
Wake up
Don't tell me what to say
Wake up
But there's one thing you can tell
Wake up
And that's how I'd feel
When there's no more you
When there's no more you
When there's no more you

When there's no more you
When there's no more you

Overall Meaning

In "Wake Up," Hooverphonic sings about a tumultuous relationship that is tainted by addiction and temptation. The lyrics describe one person as the "needle in [the other's] veins," suggesting that they are addicted to each other. However, this pleasure is short-lived, and the song acknowledges that it "mostly/ends in pain." The second verse continues this sentiment, describing the relationship as "no game" and emphasizing the importance of giving "your best" and receiving "what is left" in return.

Despite this clear frustration and difficulty, the refrain insists on waking up and making decisions. The song acknowledges that while "Yes ain't easy," "no's too safe," and encourages the other person to refrain from attempting to control or dictate what to do or say. Ultimately, the song appears to come to a resigned conclusion, stating that "When there's no more you… there's nothing left for us to gain."

Overall, "Wake Up" is a haunting meditation on the complexities of human relationships and the difficulties of balancing pleasure and pain, addiction and autonomy.

Line by Line Meaning

You're the needle
You are the source of my addiction

In my veins
You are a part of me, deeply ingrained

Pleasure mostly
Being around you brings mostly pleasure

Ends in pain
But that pleasure eventually leads to pain

Temptation is a part of us
Feeling tempted is a natural part of our relationship

But us is driving me insane
But our relationship is making me crazy

Now it's time to make decisions
It's time to make some tough choices

Yes ain't easy but no's too safe
Saying yes to you is hard, but saying no is too easy

Wake up
Pay attention to what's happening

Don't tell me what do
Don't try to control me

Don't tell me what to say
Don't try to dictate my words