In 1999, DeLange released live-album Dear John, an album full of covers by John Hiatt, after a very successful performance at the "Marlboro Flashbacks". The album went platinum in the Netherlands, for selling more than 80,000 copies.
In 2000, DeLange released her sophomore album Livin’ On Love. Although there was a good amount of promotion for the album, it could not compete with the success of its predecessor. It peaked at #5 on the Dutch Album Top 100. Its lead single “Livin’ On Love” became a minor Top 40-entry. Meanwhile, Warner Music attempted to promote this release as her "breakthrough" release in the United States. Although World Of Hurt was planned to be released in the States, the record labels in America thought the album was too old-fashioned for the 2000s. It was eventually shelved.
In 2003, DeLange released her third album Clean Up. It became another success for the Dutch singer, peaking at Number 1 on the Dutch Album Top 100 for five weeks. Its single “Shine” with Rosemary's Sons became a surprise Top 40-hit. Despite the success, the first single “No Reason To Be Shy” was a commercial failure and the record company decided not to release any further singles.
Later that same year, DeLange released her first compilation album Here I Am (1998-2003). She also collaborated with Kane on “Before You Let Me Go”, which was recorded live in Rotterdam. It peaked at #4 on the Dutch official Top 40, earning DeLange her first ever Top 10-hit. At the beginning of 2004, the Dutch section of record company Warner Music was disbanded and DeLange lost her contract.
She then signed with Universal Music. In 2006, she released her fourth album The Great Escape. Its lead single of the same name became an unexpectedly big hit, charting for more than five months on the Dutch official Top 40. The album peaked at Number 1 on the Dutch Album Top 100 and was certified double-platinum within its first month. Its follow-up singles “The Lonely One” and “I Love You” both entered the Top 40 as well.
In 2008, DeLange released her fifth album Incredible. Its lead single became a breakout success, peaking at #6 on the Dutch official Top 40. It also won the Schaal van Rigter prize. The follow-up single “Miracle” became an even bigger hit, topping the Dutch official Top 40 and earning DeLange her first Number 1-single. The album was also a commercial success, becoming her fourth Number 1-album and being certified quintuple-platinum.
In 2010, DeLange released her first EP titled Next To Me. Its lead single of the same name became another Top 10-hit. In 2011 she started working on a new album, which was later shelved after her father’s death.
In 2012, DeLange released her seventh album Eye of the Hurricane. The single “Hurricane” became the album’s breakout single. This new album was promoted with a concert in the 'GelreDome' stadium. It earned DeLange another Number 1-album on the Dutch Album Top 100.
In 2013, DeLange replaced Nick & Simon as a coach on The Voice of Holland. She returned to The Voice of Holland as a coach for its fifth season in August 2014. On 15 January 2015, it was announced that DeLange would be replaced as a coach for the sixth season of The Voice of Holland by Miss Montreal lead singer Sanne Hans.
DeLange represented the Netherlands, with singer Waylon as The Common Linnets, during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark. With the song “Calm After The Storm”, the band finished in second place behind the winner Conchita Wurst from Austria, the Netherlands’ best result in more than a decade. The song became a hit single across Europe, reaching the Top 10 in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Denmark and the United Kingdom. The band’s eponymous album also became very successful, 50.000 copies within a week in The Netherlands alone.
On 7 December 2017 it was revealed that DeLange would have a recurring role in the final season of the ABC/CMT musical-drama series Nashville.
In 2018 created DeLange her own record label, Spark Records, as part of Firefly/Universal Music. She also released her new eponymous album. The album debuted and peaked at #3 on the Dutch Album Top 100. It failed to produce a significant hit single.
DeLange was part of the Dutch delegation for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 as an artistic consultant and mentor to the Dutch representative Duncan Laurence, whom she coached during the fifth season of The Voice of Holland. Laurence went on to win the contest with his song "Arcade".
In September 2019 DeLange released the roots-album Gravel & Dust. Recorded in Nashville, this album was made with producer T Bone Burnett. It debuted at #2 on the Dutch Album Top 100. Quickly thereafter, DeLange released her new album Changes. The album debuted and peaked at #4 on the Dutch Album Top 100 and became a surprise hit in German-speaking countries. It peaked at #14 on the German Top Album Charts and a Top 10-album in Switzerland. The success inspired DeLange to tour through Germany in 2023.
DeLange participated in the seventh season of Sing Meinen Song - Das Tauschkonzert. The episode where DeLange was the central guest, suddenly increased the sales of DeLanges old albums and singles.
I'm Not So Tough
Ilse DeLange Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's runnin' fast, out of control
You're afraid of what you'll find
If you get too close
You imagine I don't care
You see walls that just aren't there
You think I'm too strong to let you in
Well, boy that's just not fair
I'm not so tough, I'll call your bluff
And let you see a side of me
That wants you here and cries real tears
I need someone to love
I'm not so tough
I know that you've been hurt before
Well so have I, what can you do
That doesn't mean you close the door
So stop blamin' me, I don't blame you
I'm not some ghost from your past
The one who tore your heart in half
I'm not her
It's not my fault you're holding on to that
I'm not so tough, I'll call your bluff
And let you see a side of me
That wants you here and cries real tears
I need someone to love
I'm not so tough
In "I'm Not So Tough," Ilse DeLange speaks to a romantic partner who is intimidated by her supposed strength and perceived lack of vulnerability. The song's lyrics reveal that the singer is both frustrated and hurt by her partner's reluctance to open up to her, and pleads with them to give her a chance. She acknowledges that she, too, has experienced pain in the past, and assures her partner that she is not the source of their trauma. In fact, she longs for intimacy and connection just like anyone else, and hopes that her partner will see her for who she really is instead of projecting their fears and insecurities onto her.
Line by Line Meaning
I can almost read your mind
I can sense that you have some doubts and apprehensions.
It's runnin' fast, out of control
The thoughts in your mind are moving rapidly and irregularly.
You're afraid of what you'll find
You are scared of what you will uncover if you get too close.
If you get too close
If you come too close to me emotionally.
You imagine I don't care
You think that I am indifferent.
You see walls that just aren't there
You perceive emotional barriers that do not exist.
You think I'm too strong to let you in
You believe I am too resilient to be vulnerable.
Well, boy that's just not fair
Your assumption is not reasonable.
I'm not so tough, I'll call your bluff
I am not as tough as I appear, and I am willing to prove it.
And let you see a side of me
I will display an emotional side of me to match your emotions.
That wants you here and cries real tears
My emotions are such that I desire your presence, and I can show real tears
I need someone to love
I yearn for affection and companionship.
I know that you've been hurt before
I appreciate the fact that you have gone through some emotionally distressing situations before.
Well so have I, what can you do
I went through similar circumstances, but there is nothing we can do about it now.
That doesn't mean you close the door
That should not be a reason to bar the possibility of an emotional connection.
So stop blamin' me, I don't blame you
Let us cease our individual efforts to attribute guilt and embrace a path forward together.
I'm not some ghost from your past
I am not some unpleasant memory from your past.
The one who tore your heart in half
The individual who was responsible for breaking your heart and causing immense pain.
I'm not her
I am not that individual.
It's not my fault you're holding on to that
It is unfair to transfer the emotions associated with your past experiences to me.
I'm not so tough, I'll call your bluff
I am not unbreakable, and I am willing to demonstrate that.
And let you see a side of me
I will reveal a vulnerable element of my personality to match your vulnerability.
That wants you here and cries real tears
I genuinely want you to be near and I am capable of authentic tears.
I need someone to love
I need a partner who can provide me with love and support.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRUCE C BOUTON, HILLARY LINDSEY, ROBERT ORRALL, ROBERT ELLIS ORRALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind