BZN started out as a pop-rock band in their native Volendam in 1966, playin… Read Full Bio ↴BZN started out as a pop-rock band in their native Volendam in 1966, playing early-Bee Gees-like harmony pop. The initial line-up consisted of Jan Veerman (vocals), Cees Tol (guitar), Evert Woestenburg (guitar) Jan Tuyp (bass guitar) and Gerrit Woestenburg (drums).

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.

Reflections
BZN Lyrics

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Reflections
(Th. Tol/J. Tuijp/C. Tol)

Time goes by
The years have flown
Reflections of my mind
I recall the days
When we were young

Have I been gentle as I should
Have I been helpful if I could
Am I a fool to search the corners of my mind

If I could rewrite yesterday
Would I change or be the same
I just don't know
I just don't know

If I could rewrite yesterday
Would I change or be the same
I just don't know
I just don't know

If I could re-arrange again
The diary of my life
Would I fall in love with you again
Or would I be another man
Give me the answer if you can
Am I a fool to search the corners of my mind

If I could rewrite yesterday
Would I change or be the same

I just don't know
I just don't know

Overall Meaning

The song Reflections by BZN is a reflective ballad about the passing of time and the memories that come with it. The lyrics speak about looking back on life and questioning whether the choices made were the right ones. The first verse speaks about how time has flown by quickly and the memories that are etched in the mind. The second verse poses questions about whether the individual has been gentle and helpful enough, leading to the search in the corners of the mind. The chorus speaks about the desire to rewrite the past, to change or stay the same, but the individual is unsure which is the right course of action.

The song speaks to a universal theme of nostalgia and regret. Time waits for no one and as one gets older, there is a tendency to reflect and look back on what could have been. The lyrics capture this sentiment and the melody adds to the reflective nature of the song. The theme of love is also explored in the song, with the question of whether the individual would fall in love again with the same person if they could rearrange the diary of their life. The song ends with the repeated refrain of being a fool for searching the corners of the mind, highlighting the uncertainty and doubt that can arise when looking back on one's life.

Line by Line Meaning

Time goes by
As time passes

The years have flown
The years have gone quickly

Reflections of my mind
My memories and thoughts

I recall the days
I remember the past

When we were young
When we were in our youth

Have I been gentle as I should
Have I been kind enough

Have I been helpful if I could
Have I done enough to help

Am I a fool to search the corners of my mind
Is it foolish to reflect on my thoughts and memories

If I could rewrite yesterday
If I could go back in time

Would I change or be the same
Would I alter my actions

I just don't know
I am uncertain