Vengaboys

Biography

Vengaboys ( BENG-gə-boyz) is a Dutch Eurodance music group based in Rotterdam consisting of lead and female vocalist Kim Sasabone, female vocalist Denise van Rijswijk and male vocalists Robin Pors and Donny Latupeirissa. Created by Dutch producers Wessel van Diepen (who selected the group members) and Dennis van den Driesschen (known as Danski and Delmundo), the group enjoyed commercial success in the late 1990s. They are best known for their hit singles "We Like to Party", "Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!×Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!1998 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! (airplay)3:232Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! (Brooklyn Bounce Boombastic remix)6:55", and "We're Going to Ibiza", the latter two of which topped the UK Singles Chart and have sold an estimated 25 million records worldwide.
Vengaboys won two World Music Awards in a row for World's Best-Selling Benelux Group in 2000 and 2001. In 2019, Dutch online newspaper Nu.nl called Vengaboys the most successful Dutch pop group in history.

1996–1998: Formation, Up and Down, and The Party Album

The name "Vengaboys" was originally the title of the electronic musical project of Dutch producers Danski and Delmundo as DJs in the early 90s. It derives from the Spanish word venga, meaning "come on!" In 1997 they decided to use the name to produce a pop group, choosing the Moluccan-Dutch singer Kim Sasabone as the vocal lead. After some auditions, Denise Post-Van Rijswijk, Roy den Burger and Robin Pors were added to complete the group.
In August 1997, the group released their debut single "Parada de Tettas×Parada de tettas1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Parada de tettas (radio)4:002Parada de tettas (video)3:553Parada de tettas (radio XL)5:314Parada de tettas (XXL)6:165Tettas Galore! (radio)3:266Tettas Galore! (XL)5:457Acatettapella1:19", followed by "To Brazil!×To Brazil!1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1To Brazil! (radio)3:072To Brazil! (Medium radio)3:223To Brazil! (XXL)4:324Parada de Tettas (remix radio)4:015Parada de Tettas (remix XXL)4:45" in December 1997 and "Up and Down×Up and Down22 June 1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Up and Down (Airplay)3:472Up and Down (Hard Radio)3:413Up and Down (BCM Radio)3:324Up and Down (More Airplay)4:035Up and Down (Hard & Long)5:256Up and Down (BCM Clubmix)6:447Up and Down (Airplay XXL)5:53" in February 1998. In April 1998, the group released their debut album Up & Down×Up & Down22 June 1998 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Up and Down (airplay)3:462Up and Down (hard & long)5:23 – The Party Album in the Netherlands and Belgium. The album was certified gold in the Netherlands. This was followed by "We Like to Party" in May, which peaked at number 2 on the Dutch charts and at number 1 in Belgium in June 1998.
In October the group released "Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!×Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!1998 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! (airplay)3:232Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! (Brooklyn Bounce Boombastic remix)6:55" and Greatest Hits! Part 1; the album peaked at number 1 on the Dutch chart.
In November 1998, Vengaboys entered the UK Singles Chart at number 4 with "Up and Down". "We Like to Party" was released internationally in 1999 and was a Top 10 hit in many European countries, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In June 1999, Vengaboys released Greatest Hits! Part 1 as The Party Album; their debut studio album. The single "Boom Boom Boom Boom" topped the charts in the UK, New Zealand and the Netherlands. In November 1999 "Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!" was also used in an advert in Japan for Nissan for their Wingroad 5-door estate.
"We're Going to Ibiza", a reworking of Typically Tropical's 1975 number 1 hit "Barbados", also reached the top slot in the Netherlands in September 1999. The LP spent 30 consecutive weeks on the U.S. Billboard 200, and was certified gold (500,000 units) in November 1999.
The Remix Album was released in January 2000, featuring new dance remixes×Dance Remixes1999 · Album · Compilation,RemixSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1We Like to Party (airplay)3:452Up & Down (Hard radio)3:423Boom Boom Boom Boom! (airplay)3:254We’re Going to Ibiza! (Hitradio mix)3:405We Like to Party (BCM remix)4:046Up & Down (airplay)3:497Boom Boom Boom Boom! (XXL version)5:248We’re Going to Ibiza! (DJ Peran mix)6:459We Like to Pary! (Kluubbheads mix)6:0710Up & Down (Hard & long)5:2511We Like to Pary (More airplay)5:5012Boom Boom Boom Boom! (Beat Me Up Scotty remix)7:3713Up & Down (BCM club mix)6:4214We Like to Pary (Baunz mix)4:45 of the songs from Vengaboys' debut record.

2000–2002: Departure of Pors, The Platinum Album and hiatus

Shortly before the release of their next studio album, Pors left the group to pursue a solo career and was replaced by dolphin trainer Yorick Bakker.
The Platinum Album was released in early 2000, which saw continued success for the group, as its first three singles "Kiss (When the Sun Don't Shine)", "Shalala Lala×Shalala Lala28 February 2000 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Shalala Lala (Hitradio mix)3:352Shalala Lala (XXL mix)5:173Shalala Lala (karaoke version)3:364Shalala Lala (Alice Deejay remix)5:53548 Hours4:366Shalala Lala (Very Sexy Videoclip)3:33" and "Uncle John from Jamaica×Uncle John From Jamaica2000 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Uncle John From Jamaica3:092Uncle John From Jamaica (XXL)5:13" all charted in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and Canada, with the first two going on to top the New Zealand charts. For the album's fourth single, "Cheekah Bow Bow (That Computer Song)×Cheekah Bow Bow (That Computer Song)2000 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Cheekah Bow Bow (That Computer Song) (Hitradio mix)2:562Cheekah Bow Bow (That Computer Song) (XXL)4:593Cheekah Bow Bow (That Computer Song) (Transa remix)5:584Cheekah Bow Bow (That Computer Song) (Dillon & Dickins remix - vocal)5:57", the group gained a virtual member, the animated Cheekah.
In 2002, Post-Van Rijswijk and Bakker left the group which ceased its activities.

2006–2009: Return on stage and line-up changes

In 2006, the group returned to the club scene with new member Donny Latupeirissa a.k.a. Ma'Donny, replacing Roy den Burger as Cowboy. Post-Van Rijswijk and Bakker rejoined the group at that point. In 2009, Pors also rejoined the group while Bakker left again.

2010–2013: The Best of Vengaboys

In 2010, the band released a new single, "Rocket To Uranus×Rocket to Uranus4 June 2010 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Rocket to Uranus (Hitradio with Perez)3:542Rocket to Uranus (Hitradio without Perez)3:523Rocket to Uranus (Riptide RMX)5:374Rocket to Uranus (Schmid RMX)5:225Rocket to Uranus (Superbug RMX)5:266Rocket to Uranus (Andronik Spacedisco RMX)7:31", a collaboration with singer-songwriter Pete Burns and American celebrity Perez Hilton. The video premiered on 6 June at the Dutch television station TMF, and in 2D and 3D formats on their own website and YouTube channel.
In December 2011, the group released The Best of Vengaboys in Australia. They performed at Trinity May Ball in June 2012.
In January 2013, the group first performed a cover of "Hot, Hot, Hot", during their National Tour in Australia. The song was released in July 2013 as a single.
Around that time, Kim Sasabone became pregnant.

2014–2015: X-mas Party Album

In January 2014, Robin Pors said in an interview in Dubai that the group intended to continue touring in Europe and that they were working on future shows in the Middle East and India, along with performing their greatest hits, their latest single, "Hot, Hot, Hot", and reportedly new unreleased tracks. He also stated that releasing new material was planned for 2014. In May 2014 a new remix from their single "To Brazil" re-titled "2 Brazil" was released.
In November 2014 a new album was released called The X-mas Party Album including all Vengaboys' hits with a Christmas sound. Also, the single "Where Did My X-mas Tree Go" was released together with a new music video. A tour of South Africa was scheduled for December.

2015–2017: Australia and New Zealand tour

In late February 2015, Denise Post-Van Rijswijk said that she was pregnant with her second child.
In 2016, the group toured Australia and New Zealand.
In November and December 2017, Vengaboys supported Steps at their Party on the Dancefloor Tour.

2019: 20th anniversary and Unplugged EP

In 2019, Vengaboys celebrated their 20th anniversary and released unplugged versions of the songs "Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom" and "We're Going to Ibiza!" and released an EP titled Unplugged #1's×Unplugged #1's28 June 2019 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! (Unplugged)2:432We're Going To Ibiza! (Unplugged)3:15.

2020–2021: Covers and re-mixes

In the summer of 2020, the band released a festival version of their worldwide hit "Up & Down×Up & Down22 June 1998 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Up and Down (airplay)3:462Up and Down (hard & long)5:23" with Australian DJ and producer Timmy Trumpet, with the new version credited to Timmy Trumpet x Vengaboys.
In September 2021, the band released a cover version of Charli XCX and Troye Sivan's "1999", retitled "1999 (I Wanna Go Back)×1999 (I Wanna Go Back)10 September 2021 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track11999 (I Wanna Go Back)2:36" and came with a deep fake-style video which saw the cover stars from various 1990s albums lip-syncing to the song and the band put into the Friends title sequence with the sofa and fountain.
In September 2021, Vengaboys took part in 90's Nostalgia: Electric Circus tour in Canada, featuring Eurodance music.
In December 2024, Kim Sasabone announced she was taking a break to rest and would be replaced for the rest of their tour by Cilla Niekoop from Ch!pz.
On 23 July 2025, Vengaboys opened for Scissor Sisters and Kesha at New York's Madison Square Garden for The Tits Out Tour.

Members

Current
Kim Sasabone (1997–2004, 2007–2024, 2026–present)
Denise Post-Van Rijswijk (1998–2002, 2007–present)
Robin Pors (1998–1999, 2009–present)
Donny Latupeirissa (2007–2011, 2013–2018; 2021–present)
Former
Roy den Burger (1998–2004)
Yorick Bakker (1999–2002, 2007–2009)
Mark Jong-a-Pin (2002–2004, 2018–2020)
Lynn Allien (2002–2004)

Touring

JJ van Zon (2012)
Cilla Niekoop (2024–2026)

Worldwide releases

The Party Album (1999)
The Platinum Album (2000)