In the early Seventies, the band switched to hard rock and had its first successes, including a brace of Top 40 hits. After original singer Veerman left and drummer Keizer took his place behind the microphone, the band made a musical U-turn and opted for commercial radio pop, adding female co-vocalist Annie Schilder and laying the foundation for their status as the most popular Dutch band ever (in terms of hit singles and albums). BZN has had over 50 hits in the Dutch hit parade to date.
BZN's claim to fame started with the song "Mon Amour" (1976), which held the #1 hit parade ranking for over 5 weeks. Outside of the Netherlands the band has had some success as well, amongst which several hits in South Africa (such as "Yeppa" in 1990) and minor successes with their French-language songs in Canada.
Through the years there have been many lineup changes, the most important of which have been the departure of Schilder in 1984 (replaced by Carola Smit) and in 1988 of the brothers Cees and Thomas Tol (keyboards), who until then had been responsible for most of the music and lyrics. The band remained nevertheless successful, making their last major change in strategy when they decided to write in Dutch instead of English as of 2003.
BZN are also responsible for the initial success of singer Jan Smit (singer), who was discovered by BZN at the age of 10 and went on to have pop and schlager successes in The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.
On February 15 2006, BZN announced they would do one final tour and then call it quits. This goodbye tour is scheduled to last until June 2007.
I Can't Stand These Nights
BZN Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Th. Tol/J. Tuijp/C. Tol)
They say there is only pain
When love's turning into a game
It's like every flower can do without rain
A love needs sweet loving, it's always the same
Will you be there to answer the phone
It's all so frustrating and really unfair
You know that I'm waiting, you know that I care
You say it would be better
That we're not home together
But I feel all alone
I can't stand on my own anymore
It's just like stormy weather
But we must stay together
Am I wrong, am I right?
But I can't stand these nights anymore
So I'm telling you now
That I can't stand these nights no more
A woman's heart needs a man
She's doing the best that she can
To make him her lover, to make it all right
But will she recover, when he's lost in sight
You say it would be better
That we're not home together
But I feel all alone
I can't stand on my own anymore
It's just like stormy weather
But we must stay together
Am I wrong, am I right?
But I can't stand these nights anymore
So I'm telling you now
That I can't stand these nights no more
So I'm telling you now
That I can't stand these nights no more
The song "I Can't Stand These Nights" by BZN is a heartbreak ballad that explores the pain of unrequited love and the feeling of being alone. The lyrics express the singer's frustration and sadness at being in a relationship that's falling apart. The opening line, "They say there is only pain when love's turning into a game," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer feels trapped in a relationship that is hurting them and is unsure if things will ever get better.
The chorus is a plea for help and comfort from the person they love. The singer asks if they will be there when they're feeling down and alone. They express how frustrating and unfair it is to be in this situation and how they're struggling to cope alone. The metaphor of stormy weather represents the turmoil and chaos the singer is experiencing in their relationship, but despite this, they still feel they need to stay together.
The final verse delves into the woman's perspective in the relationship and how she's trying her best to make things work. The metaphor of a woman's heart needing a man highlights the vulnerability and need for love and support. The song ends with the singer finally expressing that they can't take the pain and loneliness anymore. Overall, "I Can't Stand These Nights" is a poignant representation of the difficulties and heartbreak that can come with love.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't stand these nights
The singer is expressing their dislike and discomfort with the current situation, possibly related to a romantic relationship or loneliness.
They say there is only pain
People commonly associate love with pain and hurt, particularly when relationships become difficult or come to an end.
When love's turning into a game
The singer feels like their romantic relationship has devolved into a competition or struggle.
It's like every flower can do without rain
The artist feels like they don't need the difficulties that accompany love and relationships in order to be happy, just like flowers don't always need rain to flourish.
A love needs sweet loving, it's always the same
Despite the challenges that love can bring, the artist believes that love is ultimately about giving and receiving affection.
So when I'm down and all alone
The singer describes feeling sad and isolated.
Will you be there to answer the phone
The singer is looking for comfort and support from someone else during tough times.
It's all so frustrating and really unfair
The artist is experiencing a high level of stress and dissatisfaction with their situation.
You know that I'm waiting, you know that I care
The artist is emphasizing that they are invested in the relationship and want their partner to understand that they need attention and reassurance.
A woman's heart needs a man
The artist believes that women often rely on the love and support of men in their lives to feel fulfilled and happy.
She's doing the best that she can
The singer recognizes the effort that women may put into romantic relationships.
To make him her lover, to make it all right
The artist is highlighting the effort that women make to establish and maintain romantic relationships.
But will she recover, when he's lost in sight
The singer is questioning the resilience of women when relationships fail or when partners are no longer present.
It's just like stormy weather
The singer is likening their current situation to difficult, tumultuous weather conditions.
But we must stay together
The singer is acknowledging that they feel obligated to stay in their current relationship, despite its difficulties.
Am I wrong, am I right?
The artist is questioning their own judgment and perspective on the situation.
So I'm telling you now
The artist is making a direct and immediate plea to their partner.
That I can't stand these nights no more
The singer is reinforcing their earlier statement about their discomfort with their current situation.
Contributed by Carson V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.