Smit was discovered by Dutch middle of the road band BZN, who used his vocals in a duet called Mama. He has released several albums in Dutch and German since.
Jan dedicated the song Ik zing dit lied voor jou alleen (means: I Sing this song just for you) to his grandmother. In 1997, Smit toured South Africa with popular Afrikaans singer Nádine. In 2000, Smit won the Grand Prix der Volksmusik singing Ich zeig dir die Berge with Oswald Sattler for South Tyrol. In 2001 Smit won the Exportprijs for his success in Germany, France and Italy. In Germany he became one of the best selling Dutch artists ever, with German-language albums specifically aimed at the German market.
After three big hits in the late 90's, Jan's popularity began to wane gradually. His albums Jan Smit 2000 #32 (2000), Zing en Lach (Sing and Laugh) #33 (2001), Zonder Jou (Without You) #40 and Op Eigen Benen (On My Own Feet) #45 sold fewer copies than his first two albums from his child star era.
However, Jan was still very popular in Germany, where he spent most of his time touring. 2005 marked his comeback in his home country, when regional television host Willie Oosterhuis picked up a Jan Smit song recorded in 2003, 'Als de nacht verdwijnt' ('When the night is over'). Willie heavily plugged the song on his show, resulting in a medium sized hit.
During the same period Dutch broadcaster TROS wanted to produce a real life soap about Jan, with the focus on his life as a teenage star in Germany and The Netherlands, and on his private life in the picturesque seaside village of Volendam. The reality soap became a TV hit and an accompanying album, 'Vrienden voor het leven' ('Homies for life') brought Jan back at the top of the charts for the first time in a few years. It was written for his cousin Niek Smit(s), who lives in Maastricht.
In 2006 Smit had several big selling hit singles, such as 'Laura' (about a friend who died of cancer), 'Als de morgen is gekomen' ('When the morning has come') and 'Cupido' (Cupid). Jan usually includes special tracks on his CD singles, such as live recordings, previously unreleased tracks and CD-ROM-content, which makes his singles more interesting for his hardcore fanbase. In 2007 he topped the single charts again with "Op Weg Naar Geluk" (On The Road To Happiness) and with "Dan Volg Je Haar Benen" ('And then you check out her legs'), and the album charts also with the album "Op Weg Naar Geluk" (the album sold 160.000 copies in its first four days after being released, more than double platinum).
In 2006 he also recorded "Kerst voor Iedereen" (Christmas for Everyone) which was a Christmas-duet with Dutch tv-host Bridget Maasland as a part of Dutch tv-show Katja vs Bridget. He later on recorded this song with his younger sister Monique Smit, who recently also started a singing career
In 2007 he planned to tour the Netherlands again with the "Jan Smit Komt Naar Je Toe"-tour (Jan Smit Comes To You) but due to problems with his vocal cords this tour had to be postponed. For at least 6 months Jan Smit has to rest his voice.
'Dan volg je haar benen' was Jan's fifth Number One single in The Netherlands, making him one of the most successful soloists in Dutch chart history. Only George Michael and Dutch singer Marco Borsato had more Number Ones.
Hoop Liefde en Vertrouwen
Jan Smit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Het is de hoogste tijd om
Jou eens te bezingen
Met je blonde haar
Ongeëvenaard, de mooiste van het land
Zonder jou
Is er geen leven, voor mij
Je maakt me elke dag weer blij met alles wat ik krijg van jou
Hoop liefde en vertrouwen
Wat ik voel voor jou gaat nooit meer voorbij
Je bent een deel van mij
Hey daar mooie meid
Het is de hoogste tijd om
Jou eens te beschrijven
Vol met vrolijkheid
Die mij zo verblijdt, de leukste van het land
Zonder jou,
Is er geen leven,voor mij
Je brengt me vreugde maak me blij met alles wat ik krijg van jou
Hoop liefde en vertrouwen
Wat ik voel voor jou gaat nooit meer voorbij
Je bent een deel van mij
Hey daar mooie meid
Het is de hoogste tijd om
Jou eens te bedanken
Voor wat jij me geeft,
Hoe jij voor me leeft,als liefste van het land
Zonder jou
Is er geen leven,voor mij
Ik ben gelukkig en zo blij met alles wat ik krijg van jou
Hoop liefde en vertrouwen
Wat ik voel voor jou gaat nooit meer voorbij
Je bent een deel van mij
Blij met alles wat ik krijg van jou
Hoop liefde en vertrouwen
Wat ik voel voor jou gaat nooit meer voorbij
Je bent een deel van mij
Wat ik voel voor jou gaat nooit meer voorbij
Je bent een deel van mij
The song "Hoop" by Jan Smit is a beautiful love song where the singer addresses his lover as a beautiful girl with blonde hair, the most beautiful girl in the land. The singer expresses how he cannot imagine life without her and how she brings him joy and happiness every day. He thanks her for being with him and for the love, hope, and trust she brings into his life. The singer is deeply in love with his partner and believes that he will never be able to get over his feelings for her because she is a significant part of his life.
The lyrics portray strong emotions of love and appreciation towards the singer's partner. The reference to "blonde hair" could be an indication of the singer's preference or attraction towards the girl. By calling her the "most beautiful girl in the land," the singer is trying to reinforce her worth and beauty in his life. The repeated reference to "hope, love, and trust" defines the foundation of their relationship and emphasizes the importance of these values in their lives.
Overall, the song "Hoop" is a beautiful love song that expresses the deep love and appreciation of the singer towards his partner. It depicts the importance of hope, love, and trust in a relationship and highlights the value of one's partner in one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey daar mooie meid
Greetings to my gorgeous girlfriend
Het is de hoogste tijd om
It's the perfect moment to
Jou eens te bezingen
Sing about you for once
Met je blonde haar
Your golden hair
Ongeëvenaard, de mooiste van het land
Unmatched, the most beautiful in the country
Zonder jou
Without you
Is er geen leven, voor mij
There's no life for me
Je maakt me elke dag weer blij met alles wat ik krijg van jou
You make me so happy every day with everything you give me
Hoop liefde en vertrouwen
Hope, love, and trust
Wat ik voel voor jou gaat nooit meer voorbij
What I feel for you will never go away
Je bent een deel van mij
You are a part of me
Vol met vrolijkheid
Full of happiness
Die mij zo verblijdt, de leukste van het land
That delights me so, the most fun in the country
Je brengt me vreugde maak me blij met alles wat ik krijg van jou
You bring me joy, make me happy with everything you give me
Hey daar mooie meid
Greetings to my gorgeous girlfriend
Het is de hoogste tijd om
It's the perfect moment to
Jou eens te beschrijven
Describe you for once
Voor wat jij me geeft,
For what you give me,
Hoe jij voor me leeft,als liefste van het land
How you live for me, as the sweetest in the land
Ik ben gelukkig en zo blij met alles wat ik krijg van jou
I'm happy and so grateful for everything you give me
Het is de hoogste tijd om
It's the perfect moment to
Jou eens te bedanken
Thank you for once
Blij met alles wat ik krijg van jou
Happy with everything I get from you
Wat ik voel voor jou gaat nooit meer voorbij
What I feel for you will never go away
Je bent een deel van mij
You are a part of me
Wat ik voel voor jou gaat nooit meer voorbij
What I feel for you will never go away
Je bent een deel van mij
You are a part of me
Contributed by Muhammad F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.