Clouseau - The Band, Not the Inspector Quiz

Answer: I burn again with desire

The song title gives the impression of an ode to fire fighters. But the refrain is the cry of someone devoured by lust and desire. Clouseau has published this song only in Dutch, and I've translated the lyrics: both a correct version (based upon the refrain) as a red herring (based upon the title of the song).
"Eye of the Tiger" was the greatest hit for the American band Survivor. "Smoke on the Water" was a major hit for Deep Purple.

Answer: Anne

"Anne" appeared in the local top 50 in 1989. The refrain is "Anne, als ik jou zie ben ik niet meer bij te sturen // Anne, die momenten zouden eeuwig moeten blijven duren" - roughly to be translated as "Anne, when I see you I'm out of control // Anne, these moments should last forever."
"Anne" was Clouseau's first bid for the national selection to Eurovision Song Festival, but it was not selected.
The other songs are also numbers by Clouseau named after a girl, but none of these has ever been Queen of England.

Answer: Daar gaat ze

"Daar gaat ze" is the only song by Clouseau among these titles. While "Close Encounters" describes the feeling after a love relationshhip has ended ("Don't cry now, you know it happens to the best of us"), the Dutch lyrics describe a love affair at its best ("Daar gaat ze, en zoveel schoonheid heb ik niet verdiend" - which roughly translates to "There she goes, a beauty I've never set eyes on before").
"Daar gaat ze" contains a hilarious last strophe: "En zelfs de hoeders van dit land, zouden liever in mijn schoenen staan. Ja de premier dingt naar haar hand, en biedt mij zijn portefeuille aan. Maar ik denk er niet aan - loop naar de maan". This would translate to "And the powers of this land would like to trade places with me. The Prime Minister asks for her hand and offers me his job. But I don't think so - away he can go ..."
"Kom van dat dak af" was sung by Peter Koelewijn and the Rockets. Herman van Keeken introduced the song "Pappie loop toch niet zo snel" (later covered by other artists). And "Dat heet dan gelukkig zijn" was a hit for Ann Christy.

Answer: Death of Koen Wauters' dog

"Alles is voorgoed gedaan// als jij er klaar voor bent // 'k heb aan je zijde gestaan // Mijn God, ik heb je graag gekend". Translated to English this would roughly give (fitting the rhythm) : "All is over now // if you're through // I supported you // Oh God, I loved you so". The text is clearly about the death of a dearly beloved, in this instance Koen's dog. But the song is frequently played at funerals, too.
Jacques Brel, Ann Christy and Louis Neefs died before Clouseau was founded. None of the red herrings ever happened, by the way.

Answer: The Nobel Prize

The song was "De Nobelprijs" - a translation is quite obvious. The refrain was "Laat me proeven van de hemel // Laat me zweven van geluk // Ik wil jou de wereld geven // die van ons kan niet meer stuk // 'k neem je mee naar warme oorden // op een eindeloze reis // dit zijn meer dan mooie woorden // jij verdient de Nobelprijs".
Let's try and translate this refrain: "Let me taste from heaven // Let me float with happiness // I want to give you the world // ours can't perish // I take you to warm areas // on a journey without end // this is more than small talk // you deserve the Nobel Prize." Mind you, this translation is only based on the meaning of the words, with disregard for rhyme and rhythm.
As far as I know, there are not yet any songs named after World Press Photo, the Oscars or the Pulitzer Prize. Maybe this might inspire a professional lyricist?

Answer: September

School starts again in September, after the summer holidays in Belgium. But Clouseau's song "September" does not mention the back to school theme. It merely reflects on the end of a summer love story, as the evenings get colder. Part of the refrain is "Die zomernachten // dansen in het maanlicht // ik zag je en je lachte // bruin verbrand gezicht." Translated this would start with a medley of other songs: "Summer nights // dancing in the moonlight // I saw you smile // a tan face." "Summer nights" is a song from the movie "Grease". "Dancing in the Moonlight" was recorded by several artists, including Thin Lizzy and Van Morrison. "I saw you smile" is a frequent sentence in romantic lyrics. One example is the song "Dayum Baby" by Florida Georgia. Finally "a tan face" is part of the lyrics of the song "Steve Winn" by Action Bronson.

Answer: The land of Swentibold

Clouseau sang "Welkom in het land van Swentibold // Welkom in het aards paradijs // Welkom in het land van Swentibold // Welkom in dit feestpaleis." This translates to "Welcome to the land of Swentibold // welcome to the earthly paradise // welcome to the land of Swentibold // welcome to a festive palace."
According to the strophes, the land of Swentibold has many benefits: the weather is always good, pubs are open till very late (or early in the morning, depending on how you would put it), and the women are friendly and curvaceous.
The band may have picked up the name Swentibold in history classes. Indeed: Swentibold (870-900) was the illegitimate son of Emperor Arnulf of Carinthia, and made it to King of Lorraine in 895. He died on the battlefield.
"Xanadu" was the name of the summer residence of Kublai Khan. It is also the title of one of Samuel Coleridge's poems, and a song from the movie "Xanadu".
"Shangri La" is the earthly paradise described by James Hilton in his novel "Lost Horizon". It is also the title of several hits by various artists, such as ELO, The Kinks, Gerard Joling or Mark Knopfler.
"Utopia", the earthly paradise described by Thomas More, was also set to music. The Dutch group Within Temptation created this number, and Alanis Morissette covered it.

Answer: "Passie" ("Passion")

"Passie" rather sums up the theme of each and every song by Clouseau, and by the way also the vast majority of songs by other bands, too.
"Passie" describes a couple breaking up because their passion has faded away. According to the refrain: "Droog je tranen, ook al heb je veel verdriet // je kan treuren net als ik maar 't helpt ons niet". I would translate this as "Stop crying, although you're sad // crying doesn't help either of us."
"Kamerplant" is about a young boy who doesn't like going home, for only a houseplant awaits him in an empty house.
"Fiets" is a very short song about a young boy on a bike, while his girl friend has a motorbike. If it were the other way round, he might push her...
"Oker" is set at a cemetery just before sunset. The singer praises someone who has been buried over there, but it's never clear whom he remembers.

Answer: No

Several titles of Clouseau's songs are to be interpreted in the figurative way. So does "Vonken en vuur". The refrain says "Jij geeft me vonken en vuur // gevaarlijk maar van lange duur // jij geeft mij verlangen en trouw // want bij jou zijn is de kick die ik echt wou." All right, I know most of you don't speak Dutch, so here is my unofficial translation: "You give me sparks and flames // the danger lasts for ages // you inspire me with faith and desire // to be with you is what I really want." "Vonken en vuur" reached the number one position in the Flanders Ultra Top 50, and stayed there for four weeks.

Answer: Johan Verminnen

"Laat me nu toch niet alleen" was a great hit for Johan Verminnen in 1973. In 1994 he recorded the same number again, in an extended version. He also recorded this song as a duet with Jo Lemaire.
Clouseau was not the only one who covered this song. Miguel Wiels and Gino were other cover artists.
Stef Bos is a Dutch artist born in 1961. Reinhard Mey is a German artist, who has recorded a few songs in Dutch. Johannes Kerkorrel was a South-African artist, who worked with Stef Bos on a few Dutch numbers.