Hooverphonic — the three-piece trip hop band — finally accepted Belgium’s call to sing at Eurovision. And they were due to do so with their ambient pop song “Release Me”. Handpicked by VRT — the Flemish broadcaster — in October 2019, the group revealed their entry in February.
Scroll down for “Release Me” lyrics
Belgium in Eurovision 2020: Hooverphonic “Release Me”
Hooverphonic can fall back on 25 years of music industry experience. The band was founded in 1995 by Alex Callier and Raymond Geerts. Luka Cruysberghs is the group’s current lead vocalist, joining in 2018.
They have released over a dozen albums, Looking for Stars being the most recent one. Prior to their selection for Eurovision, Hooverphonic were best known for “Eden”, “Mad About You” and “2 Wicky”. They have toured the world, including a performance at the opening ceremony of the European football championships in 2000.
Hooverphonic are long-time Eurovision fans, especially Alex. So, the desire to do Eurovision has always been there. However, Alex only wanted to go when he had a song that he felt was the right one.
What do the “Release Me” lyrics mean?
Trumpeting the arrival of “Release Me” in February, broadcaster VRT labelled the track as “very personal” and “one you will immediately identify with Hooverphonic”.
And indeed, it does boast much of what fans have come to love from the band, including lush instrumentals and a dreamy atmosphere.
Alex explains why the entry is so personal to him — “The song is about saying goodbye. I wrote the song when my father was dying but the underlying theme is universal: sooner or later we all have to say goodbye to a friend, family member or a loved one.”
The trio have elaborated further, confirming that the song relates to letting go in general. It doesn’t have to be death. For instance, its sentiments are equally applicable when a relationship between two lovers goes bad.
Alex says the song came to him during the night. He wrote it down and fell asleep. He reviewed it again in the morning, before presenting his idea to Luca and Raymond. They were immediatly enthusiastic.
The band hopes that listeners can connect to the song: “If we have learned one thing in our career it is that a song written from an intense personal experience is often a well-received one. As if the audience feels the song’s authenticity”.
But there is more to saying goodbye than the mere act itself. Farewells happen over a number of stages, many of which the song touches upon — from the initial acceptance that it must happen to the eventual coming to terms with the aftermath.
“Release Me” lyrics — Hooverphonic (Belgium ESC 2020)
Written and composed by: Alex Callier and Luca Chiaravalli.
Alex has composed and written a lot of songs for Hooverphonic. He also co-wrote Sennek’s “A Matter Of Time” for Belgium at Eurovision 2018. For “Release Me”, they called in help from Luca Chiaravalli, an Italian composer and producer. This name may ring a bell — Luca also composed Italy’s song for Eurovision 2017, “Occidentali’s Karma”.
Text
Release me
Don’t talk go away
Release me
It’s not right to make me stay
All the lies and all the pain
Only you can make them go away
Release me from this sad and losing game
Release me
Don’t say what I already know
Release me
Only trouble steals the show
All those words won’t comfort me
It’s clear we’re not meant to be
Release me from this sad and losing game
You’re all I want
A dangerous need
It’ss wrong to keep you close to me
If you dare
If you care
Then cut the ropes and float away
Yes release me
If you love me, let me go
Release me
Don’t talk go away
Release me
It’s not right to make me stay
All the lies and all the pain
Only you can make them go away
Release me from this sad and losing game
You’re all I want
A dangerous need
It’s wrong to keep you close to me
If you dare
If you care
Then cut the ropes and float away
Yes release me
If you love me, let me go
All the lies and all the pain
Only you can make them go away
All those words won’t comfort me
It’s clear we’re not meant to be
Release me from this sad and losing game
What do you think of “Release Me”? How would it have done at Eurovision? Let us know in the comments.
