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.
The Valley
BZN Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There where the birds seem to come from the inside
Changing the colours of a new morninglight
Now they fly on the wind, silently drifting
They move on the wind to the valley again
Covered with castles and secrets so old
Lost in the ages but silently waiting
I'll be there everytime, my mind is confused
I will rest for a while
In this valley of green
Take me into your land
And try to understand
Here in this valley now
I want to be somehow
Now that I've found the key to your door
Open the gates, it's me and I'm flying
Into your beauty, your silence and grace
Now I fly on the wind, silently drifting
I move on the wind to the valley again
Take me into your land
And try to understand
Here in this valley now
I want to be somehow
Take me into your land
And try to understand
BZN's "The Valley" is a song that highlights the beauty and peace that is found in the valley. In the first stanza, the song describes the beauty of birds as they fly in the morning light, silently drifting on the wind to the valley to bring life to the surroundings. The valley is described as covered with castles and secrets that are old and lost in the ages but silently waiting. However, there is a key that will open the door, and the singer promises to be there every time, even if their mind is confused, for they need to rest for a while in this valley of green.
In the second stanza, the singer wants to be taken into the land and understood in this valley of peace. They've found the key to the door, and they want to fly into the beauty, silence, and grace of the valley once more. The valley is a place where one can find peace of mind and enjoy the beauty of nature. The singer pleads with the listener to take them into the land of the valley and try to understand the peace, calmness, and beauty that the valley brings.
Line by Line Meaning
Here in the valley, where silence was born
The valley is a place of stillness and quiet, where sound seems to originate from within the birds themselves.
There where the birds seem to come from the inside
The birds' songs are so powerful they seem to emanate from within rather than from outside themselves.
Changing the colours of a new morninglight
The birds' songs usher in a new day and alter the way the light appears and feels.
Now they fly on the wind, silently drifting
The birds glide on the breeze without making any noise, adding to the peacefulness of the valley.
They move on the wind to the valley again
The birds return to the valley each day, bringing with them a sense of calm and serenity.
Covered with castles and secrets so old
The valley is steeped in ancient history, with hidden stories and legendary tales passed down over time.
Lost in the ages but silently waiting
The valley's history has been forgotten or lost, but there is a sense of anticipation and expectation for what's to come.
But there's a key that will open your door
There is a secret or piece of knowledge that can unlock a person's understanding of the valley's mysteries.
I'll be there everytime, my mind is confused
The singer will be present to help others who feel lost or uncertain, even when they themselves are feeling unsure.
I will rest for a while
The singer will take a break and find peace in the valley to rejuvenate and regain clarity.
In this valley of green
The lush, verdant nature of the valley adds to its beauty and sense of calm.
Take me into your land
The singer wants to be invited into the valley and experience its wonder and tranquility.
And try to understand
The singer hopes that others will also come to understand and appreciate the valley's unique qualities.
Now that I've found the key to your door
Having discovered the secret to understanding the valley's mysteries, the singer can now fully appreciate and enjoy its beauty.
Open the gates, it's me and I'm flying
The singer wants to be granted access to the valley to soar and take it all in.
Into your beauty, your silence and grace
The valley is a place of extraordinary beauty and peace, with a sense of grace that cannot be found elsewhere.
Take me into your land
The singer again expresses their desire to explore and appreciate the valley's unique qualities.
And try to understand
The singer repeats their hope that others will also come to understand and appreciate the valley's wonder and tranquility.
Contributed by Adalyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.