Anouk has released twelve studio albums to date, the most recent one being Wen d'r maar aan, released on 12 October 2018. She represented the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden, with the song "Birds". Her song made it to the final – the first since 2004 for the Netherlands; and finished 9th with 114 points.
Musical style
Anouk's musical style has been described as a combination of Joan Osborne, Melissa Etheridge and Alanis Morissette. She is known for explosive rock songs like "Nobody's Wife" and "R U Kiddin' Me", but has also made small and fragile songs like "Lost" and "Michel". In addition to her pop/rock sound she also experiments with soul, funk and hip hop.
Personal life
Anouk was married to her manager Edwin Jansen until 1998. She married Remon Stotijn (aka The Anonymous Mis), frontman of the reggae/rap band Postmen, on 16 March 2004. Stotijn is the father of three of her children; son Benjahmin Kingsley (b. 18 April 2002), son Elijah Jeramiah (b. 5 December 2003) and daughter Phoenix Ray (b. 3 June 2005). In May 2008, Anouk and Remon announced a "harmonious" mutual separation. In 2010 Anouk gave birth to her fourth child, a son named Jesiah Dox. Her son Sion Jethro was born in June 2014. In June 2016, she gave birth to her sixth child, a baby girl, Jelizah Rose, with her current partner, mixed martial artist and former basketball player Dominique Schemmekes.
It's So Hard
Anouk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I sometimes feel inside
And I'm figuring out just what it is
That makes me feel so small
Is it you, that hurts me when I give myself
Every day and every night
Am I too blind to see that it doesn't work out
Do you mean to tell me that's the way it is
Do you mean to say
It's all so hard, It's so hard
It's all so hard, It's so hard
As I search for an answer, I see the clear blue sky
And I know that you're the one to blame
And I feel so naïve
When you say that our love to you was just a game
I dream, my dream, I'm sane, I'm insane
Oh, please don't, please don't speak to me that way
Do you mean to tell me that's the way it is
Do you mean to say
It's all so hard, It's so hard
It's all so hard, It's so hard
Damned it's so hard, why you're so hard
Why you're so hard, It's tearing me apart
In Anouk's song "It's So Hard," the singer explores the feelings of vulnerability that come with being in love. Through the lyrics, she expresses her confusion and pain, as she is unable to understand why her lover treats her in a way that makes her feel small, weak, and insignificant. She is forced to confront the reality that the love she offered was not reciprocated in the way she hoped, leaving her feeling helpless and lost.
Throughout the song, Anouk seems to be searching for answers, trying to make sense of her feelings. She considers the idea that perhaps it is her own fears and insecurities that make her feel so small, but ultimately realizes that her love was not met with the same level of commitment and trust. This is evident when she sings: "I'm just thinking about the child in me, that I sometimes feel inside, and I'm figuring out just what it is that makes me feel so small. Is it you that hurts me when I give myself every day and every night?"
The chorus of the song is perhaps the most powerful element, as it captures the overwhelming sense of confusion and helplessness that Anouk feels. She repeats the phrase, "It's all so hard, it's so hard," emphasizing just how difficult it is for her to understand and come to terms with the way she has been treated. Despite this, she holds on to hope and continues to search for answers, even if it means confronting painful truths.
Overall, "It's So Hard" is a powerful portrayal of the complexities of love and the emotions that come with it. Through the lyrics, Anouk offers a vulnerable and honest portrayal of her own experiences, making the song relatable to anyone who has ever felt lost in love.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm just thinkin' about the child in me,
I am reflecting on my inner child and the emotions that come with it.
That I sometimes feel inside
I still experience child-like emotions from time to time.
And I'm figuring out just what it is
I am attempting to understand what is causing these emotions.
That makes me feel so small
These emotions make me feel insignificant and powerless.
Is it you, that hurts me when I give myself
I am questioning whether or not you are causing my pain.
Every day and every night
I feel this pain constantly.
Am I too blind to see that it doesn't work out
I wonder if I am ignorant to the fact that our relationship is not working.
Did I really ask too much of you baby
I am questioning whether or not my expectations were too high.
Do you mean to tell me that's the way it is
Are you implying that this is just how our relationship is?
Do you mean to say
Are you trying to communicate something to me?
It's all so hard, It's so hard
Everything is extremely difficult right now.
As I search for an answer, I see the clear blue sky
As I try to find a solution, I am reminded of the beauty in the world.
And I know that you're the one to blame
I believe that you are the cause of my pain.
And I feel so naïve
I now realize that I was foolish and gullible.
When you say that our love to you was just a game
Your proclamation that our love meant nothing to you hurts me deeply.
I dream, my dream, I'm sane, I'm insane
My thoughts are constantly shifting between lucidity and madness.
Oh, please don't, please don't speak to me that way
I am pleading with you to be kind and gentle with me.
Damned it's so hard, why you're so hard
It is extremely difficult to deal with your harshness and cruelty.
Why you're so hard, It's tearing me apart
Your demeanor is causing me intense emotional distress.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANOUK TEEUWE, BART VAN VEEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind