Re-Union

Early Career and Formation

Re-Union was a short-lived Dutch pop duo composed of Paul de Corte (born 28 February 1979) and Fabrizio Pennisi (born 29 September 1979). Paul grew up in the Netherlands, while Fabrizio was born in Sicily and later settled in Belgium. Both singers discovered music early – Fabrizio’s father gave him a guitar at age four, sparking his passion for music. In the late 1990s, Fabrizio co-founded a Dutch boyband called All of Us, which Paul joined in 2001. The group had modest success but split up in 2002. However, Paul and Fabrizio stayed friends and reunited musically soon after. In 2004, they seized an opportunity to perform as a duo at Nationaal Songfestival 2004, the Dutch Eurovision selection show. They competed with the pop ballad “Without You”, written by Ed and Angeline van Otterdijk, and won the national final.

Eurovision Song Contest 2004

Re-Union represented the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 in Istanbul. It was a historic year, as a semi-final was introduced due to the growing number of countries. In the semi-final on 12 May 2004, Paul and Fabrizio performed last (22nd). Their harmonious vocals and friendly chemistry paid off. They finished in 6th place out of 22 semi-final entries, easily qualifying for the grand final. In the final on 15 May, Re-Union sang “Without You” once more. The duo ended up in 20th place (out of 24 finalists) with just 11 points. This result was a bit disappointing after the promising semi-final. Re-Union’s Eurovision song “Without You” enjoyed moderate success back home. It reached #12 on the Dutch singles chart and became their signature hit. Later in 2004, the duo also released a follow-up single, “If You Love Somebody”, though it peaked at a modest #36.

After Eurovision and Personal Lives

Re-Union’s time in the spotlight was brief but impactful. The duo released an album in 2004 and continued performing together for a short period. By the end of that year, however, Paul and Fabrizio decided to part ways and Re-Union split up. They failed to find long-term success as a duo, but each member went on to pursue his own path in life.

Paul de Corte

After Re-Union, Paul remained active in music on a smaller scale. In 2006 he became the lead singer of a cover band called You and Me, performing pop and rock classics. Over time, he shifted his dreams and found a new calling outside mainstream music. Paul trained in the hospitality industry and is now a successful chef and entrepreneur. He is the co-owner and head chef of a restaurant and event venue (Grand Café Hoove De Vriendschap) in Beringe, Limburg. Interestingly, he runs this establishment together with his husband, Dennis van Rensch. The former pop singer has built a happy personal life; he married Dennis and settled into a more private life in the Netherlands. Paul still sings for fun and passion. He often performs at local events and with his band, keeping his love for music alive even as he manages his restaurant business. 

Fabrizio Pennisi

Fabrizio also moved on after the Eurovision experience. The Italian-born singer-guitarist had grown up in a musical environment and continued to dabble in music for some time. He briefly worked in the music industry (including a stint associated with “Musical Records”) and maintained a low-profile artistic presence. In his personal life, Fabrizio remained in Belgium, where he had settled during his youth. He has been in a long-term relationship and largely stayed out of the limelight, focusing on ordinary life and work. Even so, he did not abandon music entirely. In 2023, Fabrizio surprised by returning to the studio for a special project. He teamed up with Belgian singer Erik Van Hoof to record a duet cover of Ed Sheeran’s hit “Perfect.” This duet single was released in March 2023, showing that Fabrizio’s passion for music still flickers. Today, he leads a private life away from show business