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Hooverphonic

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Hooverphonic is a Belgian band founded in 1995. The group was first called Hoover, but the name was changed because other bands were already using it. The permanent core consists of bassist and programmer Alex Callier and guitarist Raymond Geerts. Around them the female singers changed: Liesje Sadonius sang on the debut, then came Geike Arnaert, later Noémie Wolfs and Luka Cruysberghs, and in 2020 Arnaert returned.

Music and breakthrough

The debut A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular (1996) brought trip hop full of breakbeats and samples. The track 2Wicky, with a riff from Isaac Hayes's Walk On By, appeared in the film Stealing Beauty and gave the group international fame. On Blue Wonder Power Milk (1998), with the eighteen-year-old Arnaert, the music sounded warmer, with strings and more classical song forms. The Magnificent Tree (2000) produced Mad About You and brought the international breakthrough. Then followed the concept album Hooverphonic presents Jackie Cane (2002), an orchestral period and the psychedelic The President of the LSD Golf Club (2007).

Influence

Hooverphonic began as trip hop but grew into a band that mixes electronics, pop, rock and orchestra. The group is one of the few acts equally well known in Flanders and Wallonia. In 2001 they were the first Belgian band to close Rock Werchter, and in 2021 they sang The Wrong Place at the Eurovision Song Contest. Arnaert's voice, which was later also heard outside the band, remained for many listeners the sound of the group.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Mad About You (2000). Notice the strings that carry the song and how Geike Arnaert's calm, dreamy voice floats above them.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

See also

Categories: Artists