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.
She Is Beautiful
Anouk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On her own, scarred inside, she's a loner
Nobody can hear her crying at night
And see that all her smiles are tears
That she wears a mask to hide all her lies
To comfort all the fears
But when the sun starting to fade
'Cause tonight all the men who strip her tell her
That SHE IS BEAUTIFUL
And she is BEAUTIFUL
And she is BEAUTIFUL
She is BEAUTIFUL
So BEAUTIFUL
That SHE IS BEAUTIFUL
But she's a lonely girl with cold hard eyes
Who doesn't know what's right
Beyond any doubt, wants to break out
And live another life
I'm not saying it won't be very easy
But you have to understand
All she needs is someone to set her
And take her heart with gentle hands
But when the sun starting to fade
It doesn't matter anyway
'Cause tonight all the men who strip her tell her
That SHE IS BEAUTIFUL
That she is BEAUTIFUL
She is BEAUTIFUL, yeah, yeah
She is BEAUTIFUL
So BEAUTIFUL
SHE IS BEAUTIFUL
Anouk's song "She Is Beautiful" speaks about a girl who appears to be happy on the surface, but is actually dealing with a lot of pain and loneliness inside. The singer observes her standing alone in the corner, wearing a mask to hide her true emotions. The girl cries alone at night, but her tears are disguised as smiles during the day.
As the night falls, the girl goes to meet some men who can see through her disguise, and they make her feel beautiful. They strip away her mask and tell her that she is beautiful just the way she is. However, the singer emphasizes that the girl still feels lonely and wants someone to take her heart with gentle hands.
The song ultimately highlights the contrast between the girl's inner and outer selves. She is beautiful on the outside, but inside, she is struggling to find herself and connect with others. Anouk paints a poignant picture of a girl whose beauty should not just be limited to the physical, but also extends to the beauty of her heart and the depth of her inner being.
Line by Line Meaning
See that girl, see her standing in the corner
Observe that girl, who is standing in the corner and is isolated from others.
On her own, scarred inside, she's a loner
She is on her own and emotionally hurt, causing her to be isolated.
Nobody can hear her crying at night
No one can hear her crying during the night.
And see that all her smiles are tears
All her smiles are covering up her sadness and pain, revealing that she is crying, not smiling.
That she wears a mask to hide all her lies
She hides her true feelings and experiences behind a mask of deception.
To comfort all the fears
To ease her fears and anxieties.
But when the sun starting to fade
When night begins to approach.
It doesn't matter anyway
None of it matters regardless.
'Cause tonight all the men who strip her tell her
Because tonight, the men who objectify and exploit her will shower her with compliments.
That SHE IS BEAUTIFUL
They tell her that she is physically attractive.
And she is BEAUTIFUL
They reiterate that she is beautiful.
She is BEAUTIFUL
Emphasizing that she is beautiful.
She is BEAUTIFUL
Repeating that she is beautiful.
So BEAUTIFUL
Stating that she is extremely beautiful.
That SHE IS BEAUTIFUL
Lastly, proclaiming that she is beautiful.
But she's a lonely girl with cold hard eyes
Nevertheless, she remains a lonely individual with a hardened expression.
Who doesn't know what's right
Someone who struggles to understand what is right and wrong.
Beyond any doubt, wants to break out
A desire to escape from her current situation.
And live another life
To start anew and live a different life.
I'm not saying it won't be very easy
It's not to say that it will be effortless.
But you have to understand
It's essential to understand the situation.
All she needs is someone to set her
She needs someone to save her.
And take her heart with gentle hands
Someone who will handle her emotions with care.
Writer(s): Tore Johansson, Anouk Teeuwe, Martin Gjerstad
Contributed by Caden K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.