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
Smoothly
Racoon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have a notion where I am although I'm scared some how.
So not a dropping in, more a dropping out.
It fell so loud that I found out I always done without.
I dreamt that nothing's wrong, everything just smiled.
In this worthwhile dream of mine a beauty place combined.
I saw eagles fly, a grey sky open up,
a star explode as others float between the mountaintops.
I guess it's up to me.
Somewhere hid away, well there is a cure but I ain't sure whether it's mine to pay.
'cause all the time I tried to give my dreams a life.
Every time that I woke up I simply closed my eyes.
She said: 'That's another kind of magic,
I swear, things go smoothly'.
She said: 'Man I promise you it gets better, we're there...'
Futile dreams and reasons floating in the air.
I stay silent. And I gave up the try to walk on water. For you,
for you, so smooth...
I feel weary now, shaky in the gut.
And what if I woke up and saw that dreams is all I got.
I guess I'd laugh at life, sneaky in the hand.
Because it's a bitch to find out things ain't going as you planned.
But she said: 'That's another kind of magic,
I swear, things go smoothly.
She said: 'Man I promise its gets better, we're there.
She said: 'Are you willing to look the other way.
She said: 'Are you willing to take chances'.
I said: 'It's best if you just walk away'.
She said: 'Life is short and meaningless, unless you make the best of it'.
The lyrics of "Smoothly" by Racoon describe a sense of confusion and hopelessness that the singer is experiencing in their life. They feel like things are not going the way they planned and they are scared of the unknown. They dream of a better life, a place where everything is beautiful and nothing is wrong, but even in their dreams, they cannot escape the reality of their situation. They feel like they have tried so hard to achieve their dreams but always fall short, and every time they wake up, they are confronted with the same sense of disappointment.
However, in the midst of all this despair, there is a glimmer of hope. The singer meets someone who tells them that there is another kind of magic, where things go smoothly. This person promises that things will get better, and they encourage the singer to take chances and make the best of their life. While the singer is hesitant and unsure, they recognize that they need to be willing to look the other way and take risks if they want to achieve their dreams.
Overall, "Smoothly" is a song about the struggles of life and the importance of having hope, even when things seem bleak. It encourages listeners to keep pushing forward, even when they feel like giving up, and to seize opportunities when they arise.
Line by Line Meaning
So much difference now, the feeling's letting down.
Things are not the same anymore and I feel disappointed.
I have a notion where I am although I'm scared some how.
I have an idea of where I am, but I'm also afraid of what's to come.
So not a dropping in, more a dropping out.
I'm not entering a new phase, but leaving an old one behind.
It fell so loud that I found out I always done without.
The thing that has changed was so striking that I realized I never really needed it in the first place.
I dreamt that nothing's wrong, everything just smiled.
I had a dream where everything was perfect and without any troubles.
In this worthwhile dream of mine a beauty place combined.
In my dream, everything was beautiful and harmonious.
I saw eagles fly, a grey sky open up, a star explode as others float between the mountaintops.
I witnessed the majestic sight of eagles soaring above, the sky clearing up, and the stars shining brightly over the mountain range.
She said: 'That's another kind of magic, I swear, things go smoothly'.
Someone told me that this is a different kind of magic, where everything goes smoothly.
I guess it's up to me.
I suppose it's my responsibility.
Somewhere hid away, well there is a cure but I ain't sure whether it's mine to pay.
There might be a solution hidden somewhere, but I'm not sure if I'm the one who has to pay for it.
'cause all the time I tried to give my dreams a life.
I've been constantly trying to make my dreams come true.
Every time that I woke up I simply closed my eyes.
Whenever I woke up from my dreams, I refused to face reality.
Futile dreams and reasons floating in the air.
My dreams and reasons for them seem useless and vague.
I stay silent. And I gave up the try to walk on water. For you, for you, so smooth...
I keep quiet and stopped trying to do the impossible for someone who seems to have it all so easy.
I feel weary now, shaky in the gut.
I'm tired and feel uncertain.
And what if I woke up and saw that dreams is all I got.
What if I realized that all I have left are my dreams?
I guess I'd laugh at life, sneaky in the hand.
I think I'd laugh at how unpredictable life can be.
Because it's a bitch to find out things ain't going as you planned.
It's tough to learn that things don't always go according to plan.
She said: 'Man I promise its gets better, we're there.
Someone told me that things will improve and they're there for me.
She said: 'Are you willing to look the other way.
That person asked me if I'm willing to ignore certain things.
She said: 'Are you willing to take chances'.
They asked me if I'm willing to take risks.
I said: 'It's best if you just walk away'.
I suggested that they should just leave.
She said: 'Life is short and meaningless, unless you make the best of it'.
That person said that life is short and without meaning unless you make the most of it.
Contributed by Liam I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
fayelilith
Loved this song in high school. I've found it casually in a compilation someone lost. It took me years to find out who you are!
Red Dots Media
Toen ik deze voor het eerst hoorde back then, wist ik niet eens dat ze uit NL kwamen....waren ze nog niet eens zo bekend bij het grote publiek. Nice song!
Mark h
Samen met rollercoaster van de heer Vera,de beste muziek,zonder opsmuk en allerlei onzin met zonnebrillen op podium en dom gelul,gewoon goed stukje muziek
Tim De Groot
Beter kan niet geweldige gitaarist
Robert Musacchio
The rain effect rather disconcerting as Bart gets wetter & wetter, but still a gentle song that, however, has to be lip synced; amazing how young BvdW is here
Pascale van Gils
Ik krijg het er zelf koud van. ;)
Dirk-Jan Balkenende
Je snapt niet dat ze toen nog niet doorgebroken waren. Wat een goede nummers maakten ze toen.
Timolucas
Nou ze waren wel doorgebroken, althans hun singles werden in mijn herinnering regelmatig gedraaid op de radio en tv (ook deze clip zag ik best wel vaak langskomen toen). Maar om redenen die ik niet meer weet wilde hun toenmalige maatschappij niet meer met hun in zee, en de leadzanger moest zelfs een tijd als vuilnisman werken om inkomen te hebben (respect daarvoor trouwens). Met 'love you more' maakten ze weer een dikke comeback en sindsdien loopt het wel geloof ik.
ticki23
Here i am i Just watched Videos of racoons getting there ass kicked im Not disappointed though