Vaya Con Dios (band)
Encyclopedia
Vaya Con Dios (ˈbaʝa kon djos) is a Belgian
musical group founded in 1986 by Dani Klein
, Dirk Schoufs, and Willy Lambregt (the latter subsequently replaced by Jean-Michel Gielen). Their name is Spanish for "Go with God". It is one of the most successful Belgian groups ever.
They had some international success with the songs "Just A Friend Of Mine
" (a hit in France
), "What's a Woman?
" (a number 1 hit in the Netherlands
in 1990), "Nah Neh Nah
", "Don't Cry for Louie", "Puerto Rico", "Heading for a Fall", "Johnny", "Sunny Days" and "Don't Break My Heart
".
In total, Vaya Con Dios have sold more than 7 million albums and more than 3 million singles.
music, jazz
, and opera
- genres that they felt were underappreciated in Brussels
.
Their first single, "Just a Friend of Mine", had a Latin feel and became a big hit in France
, selling over 300,000 copies. Willy Lambregt left the group and was replaced by Jean-Michel Gielen.
Even though Vaya Con Dios was successful in Latin countries, the band remained largely unknown in the Netherlands
, partially due to being a Belgian band, but also because of their gypsy style. In the summer of 1990 they finally had their breakthrough in the Netherlands with "What's a Woman?
" peaking at #1 for three weeks, making Vaya Con Dios the second Belgian artists to have a #1 hit in the Netherlands. (The first was Ivan Heylen in 1974.) The song is about the difficulties of men and women who on one hand need each other, yet sometimes find it hard to understand one other.
In 1991, Klein and Schoufs decided to go their separate ways, and from then on the group consisted of Klein playing with various musicians. On 24 May 1991, Schoufs died of an AIDS
-related illness. (He had contracted HIV
through his heroin addiction.) The third album, Time Flies, is much more melancholy than its predecessors.
Even though the music and the composition of the band changed, Vaya Con Dios remained popular in much of Europe - especially France, Germany
, and Scandinavia
- until 1996, when Klein left the music business complaining of too much stress. She returned in 1999 as singer in the group Purple Prose, which released a debut album of the same name that year. Vaya Con Dios returned in 2004 with a new album titled The Promise
, released on an independent label. In 2006, The Ultimate Collection was released, a greatest hits album, with a DVD of the acoustic concert in Brussels, and some bonus items, such as an interview with Dani, some photos... "Pauvre Diable" was the first single.
In October 2009, the album 'Comme On Est Venu' was released. This time, all songs on the album are in French.
In December 2010 the German DJ Duo Milk & Sugar released a remix of the song Nah Neh Nah
. It entered the German Media-Control Charts and exceeded all expectations by reaching the Top 10.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
musical group founded in 1986 by Dani Klein
Dani Klein
Danielle Schoovaerts , known as Dani Klein, is a Belgian singer and member of the band Vaya Con Dios.In the 1980s, she was also a member of Arbeid Adelt! with Luc Van Acker , Ladies sing the Blues with Réjane Magloire and Beverly Jo Scott, Purple Prose and Steelover with Rudy Lenners.-External...
, Dirk Schoufs, and Willy Lambregt (the latter subsequently replaced by Jean-Michel Gielen). Their name is Spanish for "Go with God". It is one of the most successful Belgian groups ever.
They had some international success with the songs "Just A Friend Of Mine
Just a Friend of Mine
"Just A Friend Of Mine" is the first single by the Belgian band Vaya Con Dios. It was released in 1987 by Ariola Records and later included in the band's debut album Vaya Con Dios.-Track listings:7" single-Charts:-External links:* at Discogs...
" (a hit in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
), "What's a Woman?
What's a Woman?
"What's a Woman?" is a 1990 pop-rock song recorded by Belgian band Vaya Con Dios. It was the second single from band's second studio album Night Owls and was released in 1990. It achieved success in many European countries. It even topped the chart in the Netherlands, and was a top-five hit for...
" (a number 1 hit in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1990), "Nah Neh Nah
Nah Neh Nah
"Nah Neh Nah" is a jazz-rock song by Belgian band Vaya Con Dios. It was released in 1990 as the first single from the band's second studio album, Night Owls.-Track listings:*;7" single#"Nah Neh Nah" – 2:52#"Pack Your Memories" – 3:04*;12" single...
", "Don't Cry for Louie", "Puerto Rico", "Heading for a Fall", "Johnny", "Sunny Days" and "Don't Break My Heart
Don't Break My Heart (Vaya Con Dios song)
"Don't Break My Heart" is a 1995 soft rock song by the Belgian band Vaya Con Dios. It was released in 1995 as the first single from the band's fourth studio album Roots and Wings.-Track listings:# Don't Break My Heart...
".
In total, Vaya Con Dios have sold more than 7 million albums and more than 3 million singles.
Biography
Dani Klein, the lead singer, and Willy Lambregt had previous success in the band Arbeid Adelt! and decided to form the band Vaya Con Dios together with contrabassist Dirk Schoufs, because they shared interests in gypsyRoma music
Romani music is the music of the Romani people, who have their origins in Northern India, but today live mostly in Europe....
music, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, and opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
- genres that they felt were underappreciated in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
.
Their first single, "Just a Friend of Mine", had a Latin feel and became a big hit in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, selling over 300,000 copies. Willy Lambregt left the group and was replaced by Jean-Michel Gielen.
Even though Vaya Con Dios was successful in Latin countries, the band remained largely unknown in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, partially due to being a Belgian band, but also because of their gypsy style. In the summer of 1990 they finally had their breakthrough in the Netherlands with "What's a Woman?
What's a Woman?
"What's a Woman?" is a 1990 pop-rock song recorded by Belgian band Vaya Con Dios. It was the second single from band's second studio album Night Owls and was released in 1990. It achieved success in many European countries. It even topped the chart in the Netherlands, and was a top-five hit for...
" peaking at #1 for three weeks, making Vaya Con Dios the second Belgian artists to have a #1 hit in the Netherlands. (The first was Ivan Heylen in 1974.) The song is about the difficulties of men and women who on one hand need each other, yet sometimes find it hard to understand one other.
In 1991, Klein and Schoufs decided to go their separate ways, and from then on the group consisted of Klein playing with various musicians. On 24 May 1991, Schoufs died of an AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
-related illness. (He had contracted HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
through his heroin addiction.) The third album, Time Flies, is much more melancholy than its predecessors.
Even though the music and the composition of the band changed, Vaya Con Dios remained popular in much of Europe - especially France, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
- until 1996, when Klein left the music business complaining of too much stress. She returned in 1999 as singer in the group Purple Prose, which released a debut album of the same name that year. Vaya Con Dios returned in 2004 with a new album titled The Promise
The Promise (Vaya Con Dios album)
The Promise is the fifth studio album by Vaya Con Dios. It was released in 2004, the first studio album of the band since 1995. It is the first Vaya Con Dios album with songs in Spanish and German...
, released on an independent label. In 2006, The Ultimate Collection was released, a greatest hits album, with a DVD of the acoustic concert in Brussels, and some bonus items, such as an interview with Dani, some photos... "Pauvre Diable" was the first single.
In October 2009, the album 'Comme On Est Venu' was released. This time, all songs on the album are in French.
In December 2010 the German DJ Duo Milk & Sugar released a remix of the song Nah Neh Nah
Nah Neh Nah
"Nah Neh Nah" is a jazz-rock song by Belgian band Vaya Con Dios. It was released in 1990 as the first single from the band's second studio album, Night Owls.-Track listings:*;7" single#"Nah Neh Nah" – 2:52#"Pack Your Memories" – 3:04*;12" single...
. It entered the German Media-Control Charts and exceeded all expectations by reaching the Top 10.
Studio Albums
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales thresholds) |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEL Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995... (Flanders) |
BEL Ultratop 40 Ultratop 40 singles, often just Ultratop 40, is the weekly chart of best-selling singles in Wallonia and Brussels Capital Region, the french-speaking parts of Belgium. Its equivalent covering the Flanders region is Ultratop 50. Both charts are produced and published by the Ultratop organization... (Wallonia) |
NLD MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
AUT Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
CHE Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
SWE Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
NOR VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... |
FIN |
|||
| 1988 | Vaya Con Dios
|
— | — | — | 10 | 23 | 9 | — | — |
|
| 1990 | Night Owls
|
— | — | — | 4 | 1 | 8 | — | — |
|
| 1992 | Time Flies
|
— | — | 8 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 11 | — |
|
| 1995 | Roots and Wings Roots and Wings (Vaya Con Dios album) Roots and Wings was released in 1995 and is an album from Belgian group Vaya Con Dios.-Track listing:#"Lonely Feeling"#*also released as a single#"Stay With Me"#*also released as a single#"Hot August Night"#"Don't Break My Heart"... |
1 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 16 | 5 | 32 |
|
| 2004 | The Promise
|
12 | 73 | 96 | — | 67 | — | — | 32 | |
| 2009 | Comme on est venu...
|
7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Compilation Albums
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales thresholds) |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEL Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995... (Flanders) |
BEL Ultratop 40 Ultratop 40 singles, often just Ultratop 40, is the weekly chart of best-selling singles in Wallonia and Brussels Capital Region, the french-speaking parts of Belgium. Its equivalent covering the Flanders region is Ultratop 50. Both charts are produced and published by the Ultratop organization... (Wallonia) |
NLD MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
AUT Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
CHE Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
SWE Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
NOR VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... |
FIN |
|||
| 1996 | Best Of Vaya Con Dios
|
3 | 3 | 20 | 15 | 19 | 1 | 4 | — |
|
| 1998 | What's A Woman: The Blue Sides Of Vaya Con Dios
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2006 | The Ultimate Collection
|
5 | 9 | — | — | 52 | 52 | — | 26 | |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales thresholds) |
Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEL Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995... (Flanders) |
BEL Ultratop 40 Ultratop 40 singles, often just Ultratop 40, is the weekly chart of best-selling singles in Wallonia and Brussels Capital Region, the french-speaking parts of Belgium. Its equivalent covering the Flanders region is Ultratop 50. Both charts are produced and published by the Ultratop organization... (Wallonia) |
NLD |
FRA Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
AUT Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
CHE Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
||||
| 1987 | "Just A Friend Of Mine Just a Friend of Mine "Just A Friend Of Mine" is the first single by the Belgian band Vaya Con Dios. It was released in 1987 by Ariola Records and later included in the band's debut album Vaya Con Dios.-Track listings:7" single-Charts:-External links:* at Discogs... " |
— | — | — | 7 | — | — | Vaya Con Dios Vaya Con Dios (album) - Personnel :*Acoustic guitar — Jean-Michel Gielen , Nono Garcia*Backing vocals — Dani Klein , Dirk Schoufs , Julia Loko , Verona Davis , Wild One Dee*Bugle, trumpet — Patrick Mortier*Double bass — Dirk Schoufs*Drums — Marcel De Cauwer*Harmonica — Big Brad... |
|
| "Puerto Rico" | — | — | — | 46 | 7 | — | |||
| 1988 | "Don't Cry for Louie" | 9 | — | 54 | — | 16 | — | ||
| 1989 | "Johnny" (only released in France) | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990 | "Nah Neh Nah Nah Neh Nah "Nah Neh Nah" is a jazz-rock song by Belgian band Vaya Con Dios. It was released in 1990 as the first single from the band's second studio album, Night Owls.-Track listings:*;7" single#"Nah Neh Nah" – 2:52#"Pack Your Memories" – 3:04*;12" single... " |
1 | — | 4 | — | 25 | 21 | Night Owls Night Owls (album) -Personnel:*André Brasseur — hammond organ*Bruno Castellucci — drums*Steve Clisby - background vocals*Verona Davis — background vocals*Jason Johnson — background vocals*Dani Klein — vocals*Eric Melaerts — acoustic guitar*Patrick Mortier — trumpet, flugelhorn... |
|
| "What's a Woman? What's a Woman? "What's a Woman?" is a 1990 pop-rock song recorded by Belgian band Vaya Con Dios. It was the second single from band's second studio album Night Owls and was released in 1990. It achieved success in many European countries. It even topped the chart in the Netherlands, and was a top-five hit for... " |
1 | — | 1 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
|
||
| "Night Owls" | 6 | — | 51 | — | — | — | |||
| 1992 | "Heading for a Fall" | 3 | — | 3 | — | 10 | 5 | Time Flies | |
| "Time Flies" | — | — | 51 | — | 29 | 30 | |||
| 1993 | "So Long Ago" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995 | "Don't Break My Heart Don't Break My Heart (Vaya Con Dios song) "Don't Break My Heart" is a 1995 soft rock song by the Belgian band Vaya Con Dios. It was released in 1995 as the first single from the band's fourth studio album Roots and Wings.-Track listings:# Don't Break My Heart... " |
6 | 8 | 28 | — | — | — | Roots and Wings Roots and Wings (Vaya Con Dios album) Roots and Wings was released in 1995 and is an album from Belgian group Vaya Con Dios.-Track listing:#"Lonely Feeling"#*also released as a single#"Stay With Me"#*also released as a single#"Hot August Night"#"Don't Break My Heart"... |
|
| 1996 | "Stay with Me" | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Lonely Feeling" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2004 | "No One Can Make You Stay" | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Promise The Promise (Vaya Con Dios album) The Promise is the fifth studio album by Vaya Con Dios. It was released in 2004, the first studio album of the band since 1995. It is the first Vaya Con Dios album with songs in Spanish and German... |
|
| 2005 | "La Vida Es Como Una Rosa/Take Heed" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006 | "Pauvre Diable" | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | The Ultimate Collection | |
| "What's a Woman" ft. Aaron Neville Aaron Neville Aaron Neville is an American soul and R&B singer and musician. He has had four top-20 hits in the United States along with four platinum-certified albums... |
— | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2009 | "Les voiliers sauvages de nos vies" | 12 | 34 | — | — | — | — | Comme on est venu | |
| 2010 | "Hey (Nah neh nah)" Milk & Sugar Milk & Sugar Milk & Sugar are German housemusic producers and record label owners Mike Milk and Steven Sugar... Remix |
10 | 46 | 5 | — | 6 | 4 | ||