Racoon is a Dutch pop-rock band founded in 1997 in Goes, Zeeland. Bart van … Read Full Bio ↴Racoon is a Dutch pop-rock band founded in 1997 in Goes, Zeeland. Bart van der Weide (vocals) and Dennis Huige (guitar) were fed up with the sound of their hardcore rockband Vic'tem and decided to go acoustic. Their first writings resulted in a song called Rapid Eye Movement. For their first release, a demo called "It's an Ice Cream Day", Stefan de Kroon (bass) and Paul Bukkens (drums) completed the band's line-up.

The band made a breakthrough appearance at the 1999 Noorderslagfestival in Groningen, resulting in lots of record deal offers. Contracted by Sony's S.M.A.R.T. label, they released their first album Till Monkeys Fly in January 2000. Produced by Michael Schoots, former Urban Dance Squad drummer, the album hit the charts receiving nationwide airplay. Both the first single Feel Like Flying and the second one, Blue Days, became a 3FM megahit. Their festival appearances on Parkpop and Lowlands confirmed their image as a live-act.

Summer 2001 Here We Go, Stereo! was released as their second full-length record. Widely acclaimed, this record was their ticket to play at the Netherlands's largest festival: Pinkpop.

While working on their third album, Sony ended the record deal. With help from Dutch radio station 3FM and the producer of their first album, they signed a contract with PIAS, to release their 3rd album early 2005. The fresh and mature sound, combined with a more serious approach on songwriting got Another Day a slow start with Happy Family. The second single Love You More hits hard: they claimed 3rd spot on the Dutch Top 40; the album skyrocketed to 6th position in the Album Charts. A succesful club tour during autumn and winter 2005 resulted in the release of their first live DVD called Another Night. And the fans really found their true love back, voting Racoon to be Pinkpop's Gouden Tip ("Viewers Choice") for 2006, claiming a spot on the mainstage.

After this clubtour they decided to fulfill a long-lasting dream for the bands vocalist (Bart van der Weide) and went on a theatertour all across Holland, with the adition of a keyboardplayer (Manu van Os) and a re-write of most of the songs to slim them down a bit. They blew away most fans with the awsome sounding back to basics tour filled with emotions and a new track called Close Your Eyes.

After the theatertour Manu went on to join Di-rect for their theatertour. Currently the band is recording a new album

Members
- Bart van der Weide (vocals)
- Dennis Huige (guitar)
- Stefan de Kroon (bass)
- Paul Bukkens (drums)

Links
www.racoon.nl
Official fansite
PIAS Nederland
3FM

Close Your Eyes
Racoon Lyrics

Lost the things that you thought you would never miss
Let them out, miss them while they're gone
But there's memories down here that will always live
And they can't take them away, so they won't

Open this window, let the sickness out
Sleep softly, breath again
If there's a way then it'll find you and help you out
You're like a circle, there is no start and no end

Close your eyes, you might see something beautiful
'Cause it's not all pitch black in the back your mind
So close your eyes, you might see something prettier
You pick a dream right out of the night

And change I wish, for I will, 'cause it's gonna work
You can do this, it's your life
And if you're unhappy about something, stop jerking about
Follow the clouds and dive right in

Open this window, just let the wind blow in
And let it grab you and calm you down
And if there is no way, then find a way
But don't go down that easy way
And don't let any of them bastards hold you down

Close your eyes, you might see something beautiful
'Cause it's not all pitch black at the back your mind
So close your eyes, you might see something prettier
So pick a dream right out of the night

Welcome to the show 'cause you're
Following the man, with a million dollar plan
And all your dreams are gone if you let them go
And all the dreams you win, if your dare to make it so
If you dare to make it so

You lost the things that you thought you would never miss.
You let them out, miss them while they're gone
But there's memories down here that will always live down here
And they can't take them away, so they won't

Close your eyes, you might see something beautiful
'Cause it's not all pitch black at the back your mind
So close your eyes, you might see something prettier
You pick a dream right out of the night

So close your eyes
You close your eyes
So close your eyes
Common close your eyes

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group

Written by: Y, MIKE DI SCALA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

lamerox13

11y↑9

8 years later and this still remains one of my favorite songs.

siem de haan

3y↑1

Even 16 years... still amazing!

Vincent van der Vliet

2y↑1

It was when this song was current that I was stuck in my life and very unhappy. One day, I closed my eyes, followed the clowns and dove right in. It worked. I changed I wish for I will. I still cannot hear this song without tearing up from happiness about how I was able to change my life. Thanks for urging me on.