JEAN VANLOO
The Belgian Visionary Behind Born to Be Alive
Jean Vanloo, the Belgian mastermind who produced the global hit Born to Be Alive, left an undeniable mark on the music industry. Over his career, he produced more than 200 tracks, sold over 60 million records, and opened several influential nightclubs. Yet, despite his achievements, his name remains relatively unknown to the general public.
Vanloo’s journey began in Mouscron, Belgium, where he initially worked as a lifeguard. However, his true passion lay in music, leading him to transform Le Relais de la Poste, a café-restaurant in the town’s main square, into the legendary Twenty Club. This venue quickly became a magnet for young music lovers from both Belgium and France, setting the stage for Vanloo’s career as a producer.
Driven by an insatiable hunger for creative projects, Vanloo never stopped pushing boundaries. As songwriter and composer Christian Vié describes in a documentary, he was a man who feared emptiness, constantly seeking new challenges to fill his life.
From Rock to Disco to Electronic Music:
Jean Vanloo’s career was defined by his ability to adapt to evolving musical trends. From his early days in rock and roll, he later shifted to disco and eventually embraced the electronic music revolution.
A Musical Chameleon
In collaboration with industry figures like Marcel De Keukeleire and Jean-Claude Pellerin, Vanloo navigated the music business, despite early setbacks. Initially, many dismissed his productions as “belgeries”—a term used to describe Belgian-made music that was seen as unsophisticated and commercially limited to local audiences. However, Vanloo had an undeniable knack for spotting trends and anticipating what would resonate with listeners.
One of his first major successes came through his partnership with Rikki Stein, which helped launch The Sunlights and their song Les Roses Blanches. But it was in 1977 that Vanloo truly broke onto the international stage. His production of Moving Like a Superstar by Amadeo proved that Belgian producers could create music with global appeal.
As disco began to fade, Vanloo adapted once again, turning his focus to the emerging electronic music scene. In 1987, he produced Mammy by Dobel You, a track that gained significant traction and cemented his place in the industry. Around the same time, he founded At The Villa, a nightclub that would become a mecca for house music lovers.
The Birth of
Born to Be Alive
One of Vanloo’s greatest strengths was his ability to recognize potential in a song, even when others doubted it. This talent was evident in the story of Born to Be Alive, which became one of the biggest dance hits of all time.
After parting ways with his longtime collaborator Marcel De Keukeleire, Vanloo found himself in need of a new project. He joined forces with Jean-Claude Pellerin and discovered a promising artist named Patrick Hernandez. At first, Hernandez was set to record a different song, Making Love, but Vanloo had a different vision.
He encouraged Hernandez to rework Born to Be Alive, a rock song from his former band Paris Palace Hotel, and transform it into a high-energy disco track. The decision was met with skepticism, and it took six months before the song gained traction. After an unexpected breakthrough in Italy, it exploded onto the international scene. The track eventually earned 54 gold records and remains a dancefloor classic to this day.
Not In Bed with Madonna, But in Business
One of the most fascinating moments in Vanloo’s career was his unexpected connection to Madonna. While assembling a dance team for Patrick Hernandez, Vanloo organized a massive audition in New York, attracting over 800 hopeful dancers.
Among them was a young Madonna, eager to make her mark. As part of the audition, Vanloo asked each dancer to sing. At first, Madonna refused, insisting she was a dancer, not a singer. But after some persuasion, she reluctantly performed Happy Birthday.
Impressed by her raw talent and presence, Vanloo signed her to a contract and brought her to Paris with the intention of developing her career. However, Madonna had her own plans. She eventually broke free from the contract to pursue her career in the U.S., a move that Vanloo accepted without hesitation.
The Struggles Behind
the Success
While Vanloo’s career was filled with groundbreaking achievements, he also faced significant hardships. A customs investigation left him financially ruined, and he battled vocal cord cancer along with other forms of the disease, which affected his health for the rest of his life. Yet, even with these struggles, he kept pushing forward until his passing in 2000 at just 62 years old. What a life, what a guy.
I grew up with a grandfather who faced multiple cancer diagnoses throughout his life, yet he was always joking, always smiling, and always trying his best. That same spirit of resilience and determination defined Jean Vanloo. No matter the obstacles, he kept moving forward, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire.
His impact on the music industry remains undeniable. Friends and colleagues remember him as a visionary with an unmatched musical instinct, a perfectionist obsessed with detail, and a pioneer who shaped the sound of multiple generations.
Julien Segard’s documentary captures the essence of Vanloo’s remarkable career, reminding the world of the man whose work continues to influence music to this day.
Jimi Hendrix at the Twenty Club
With the support of his English partner, Rikki Stein, he was able to bring some of the biggest rock acts of the time to the Twenty Club stage, including The Moody Blues, The Small Faces, The Yardbirds, The Animals, and even a rising star named Jimi Hendrix.
YOUR PROJECT - OUR LEGACY
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