His first big hit was Eenzame Kerst ("Lonely Christmas"). In 1979 he signed a contract with EMI, and soon after that his career started to take off. Een Vriend ("A Friend") and Een Beetje Verliefd ("A Little Bit In Love)" were both top ten hits of his.
On september 23, 2004 André Hazes was struck by a cardiac arrest which resulted in his death. Four days later a ceremony was held in the Amsterdam Arena where ten thousands of fans paid respect to one of the most popular Dutch singers of the late 20th century. The next day his last single Zij gelooft in mij ("She believes in me") became number one in the Dutch charts.
Nog mooier dan voorheen
André Hazes Lyrics
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Wij samen in de klas
Ik was te gek verliefd tot over m'n oren
Jij zag me toen nooit staan
Zo voelde ik dat aan
Heel af en toe mocht ik je overhoren
Ja uren kon ik naar je kijken
Ik wist nooit wat ik moest zeggen
Laat staan je uit te leggen
Hoe stapelgek ik was op jou
Refrein:
Jij bent nog mooier dan voorheen
Waarom ben jij nog steeds alleen
De kerst heeft ons bijeen gebracht
Ik steek een kaarsje aan vannacht
Refrein
Nu zie ik je weer hier
En maken we plezier
We praten over toen en hoe het was
Je kijkt me aan verdwaasd
En ik ben stom verbaasd
Als je zegt dat jij het zelfde voelde in die klas
Ja uren kon je naar me kijken
En dan heel moeilijk m'n blik ontwijken
Je wist nooit wat te zeggen
Laat staan me uit te leggen
Hoe stapelgek je was op mij
Refrein
Jij bent nog mooier dan voorheen
Waarom ben jij nog steeds alleen
De kerst heeft ons bijeen gebracht
Oh oh...
Ik steek een kaarsje aan vannacht
The lyrics of André Hazes's song "Nog mooier dan voorheen" paint a picture of a past love story that has now, through the course of the song, come full circle. The singer reminsices on a time when he was deeply in love with a girl that he went to school with. Even though he attempted to catch her attention, she never seemed to notice him, and he resigned himself to the fact that his feelings would go unrequited. Fast forward to a reunion during Christmas time, and the two former classmates come together again. As they spend time together, the singer is stunned to learn that the girl felt the same way about him as he did about her back in school. It's as if all the years of trying to suppress their mutual attraction and unflinching affection for one another have been erased. The song ends with the singer lighting a candle for their newfound love.
The song's lyrics are quite evocative and nostalgic, reflecting on a time when love was new and pure. The verses recount the feelings of unrequited love and the sense of longing that comes with it. The chorus, with its repetition of the phrase "Jij bent nog mooier dan voorheen," adds a wistful tone to the song, as though the singer can hardly believe that this love he thought was lost has come back to him so fully.
The song's central theme is about the persistence of love, even across great distances of time and space. It argues that love can survive even the most significant of obstacles when it is truly heartfelt and sincere. It is an ode to the power of connection and the poignant beauty of love that endures.
Line by Line Meaning
Ik weet nog hoe het was
I still remember how it was
Wij samen in de klas
We together in the class
Ik was te gek verliefd tot over m'n oren
I was crazy in love, head over heels
Jij zag me toen nooit staan
You never noticed me back then
Zo voelde ik dat aan
That's how I felt about it
Heel af en toe mocht ik je overhoren
Occasionally, I got to quiz you
Ja uren kon ik naar je kijken
Yes, I could watch you for hours
En dan heel moeilijk je blik ontwijken
And then, it was hard to avoid your gaze
Ik wist nooit wat ik moest zeggen
I never knew what to say
Laat staan je uit te leggen
Let alone explaining to you
Hoe stapelgek ik was op jou
How crazy I was about you
Jij bent nog mooier dan voorheen
You are even more beautiful than before
Waarom ben jij nog steeds alleen
Why are you still alone?
De kerst heeft ons bijeen gebracht
Christmas brought us together
Ik steek een kaarsje aan vannacht
I will light a candle tonight
Nu zie ik je weer hier
Now, I see you here again
En maken we plezier
And we have fun together
We praten over toen en hoe het was
We talk about back then and how it was
Je kijkt me aan verdwaasd
You look at me bewildered
En ik ben stom verbaasd
And I am dumbfounded
Als je zegt dat jij het zelfde voelde in die klas
When you say that you felt the same in that class
Je wist nooit wat te zeggen
You never knew what to say
Laat staan me uit te leggen
Let alone explaining it to me
Hoe stapelgek je was op mij
How crazy you were about me
Contributed by Colin L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.