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.
What Have You Done
BZN Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Th. Tol/J. Tuijp/C. Tol)
I was a loner and I turned you over
To love me with all of your heart
But I couldn't make it and you didn't take it
And two worlds were drifting apart
And now I'm to ask you for more
You were the sunshine, the light in my eyes
You were my love in the still of the night
You said you loved me, but now that you're gone
Oh, I can't understand you
Oh, what have you done
I turned it over, you lent me your shoulder
To cry on with all of my heart
But deep down inside me, I knew you would blind me
I've been through it all once before
You gave me shelter, but now I know better
I'll never come back to your door
There were you found me, your mem'ry astounds me
Still it hurts me to see you alone
And now that you ask me for more
You took the sunshine, the light in my eyes
Putting me on, in the still of the night
You said you loved me, but now that you're gone
Oh, I can't understand you
Oh, what have you done
La la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la
You said you loved me, but now that you're gone
Oh, I can't understand you
Oh, what have you done
You took the sunshine, the light in my eyes
Putting me on, in the still of the night
You said you loved me, but now that you're gone
Oh, I can't understand you
Oh, what have you done
The song "What Have You Done" by BZN expresses regret and confusion over a failed relationship. The lyrics describe the singer's attempts to make the relationship work but ultimately failing, resulting in two worlds drifting apart. The chorus is particularly poignant, with the singer struggling to understand the actions of their partner and what led to the dissolution of their love. The use of repetition in the chorus and throughout the song reinforces the sense of confusion and sorrow, with the repeated questions of "what have you done" echoing the singer's internal struggle to understand and come to terms with the end of the relationship.
The verses also reveal a sense of distance between the two partners, with the singer referring to themselves as a "loner" and acknowledging that they couldn't make the relationship work. The use of past tense throughout the song suggests that the relationship is over, and the final repetition of the chorus drives this point home. Overall, the song is a powerful representation of the pain and confusion that can come with failed relationships, and the struggle to make sense of what went wrong.
Line by Line Meaning
What have you done
The singer is questioning the actions taken by the person they are addressing.
I was a loner and I turned you over
The singer was previously alone, but allowed the person they are addressing to become an important part of their life.
To love me with all of your heart
The singer asked the person they are addressing to love them completely and without reservation.
But I couldn't make it and you didn't take it
The artist was unable to make the relationship work with the person they are addressing, who did not accept this and move on.
And two worlds were drifting apart
The artist and the person they are addressing were growing apart and becoming increasingly different from each other.
And now I'm to ask you for more
The singer is now asking the person they previously could not make a relationship work with for something more.
You were the sunshine, the light in my eyes
The person the singer is addressing was a source of love and happiness for the singer.
You were my love in the still of the night
The person the artist is addressing was their source of comfort and love during difficult times.
You said you loved me, but now that you're gone
The person the artist is addressing previously claimed to love the artist, but then left them.
Oh, I can't understand you
The artist is unable to comprehend the actions of the person they are addressing.
I turned it over, you lent me your shoulder
The person the singer is addressing supported the singer emotionally during a difficult time.
To cry on with all of my heart
The artist was able to share their emotions fully with the person they are addressing.
But deep down inside me, I knew you would blind me
Although the person the singer is addressing supported them emotionally, the singer had doubts about the relationship.
I've been through it all once before
The singer has previously experienced a similar situation and knows how it feels.
You gave me shelter, but now I know better
The person the singer is addressing provided them with safety and security, but the singer has come to understand that this was only temporary.
I'll never come back to your door
The artist has decided not to return to the person they are addressing.
There were you found me, your mem'ry astounds me
The artist is surprised to find that they still have vivid memories of the person they are addressing.
Still it hurts me to see you alone
The singer is saddened by the fact that the person they are addressing is alone.
And now that you ask me for more
The person the singer is addressing is now asking the singer for more than they previously did.
You took the sunshine, the light in my eyes
The person the artist is addressing took away the love and happiness that the artist previously felt.
Putting me on, in the still of the night
The person the artist is addressing deceived them at night, when they were vulnerable.
You said you loved me, but now that you're gone
The person the artist is addressing previously claimed to love the artist, but then left them.
Oh, I can't understand you
The singer is unable to comprehend the actions of the person they are addressing
Contributed by Benjamin R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Graça Querido
Canções incríveis, adoro este casal, cantam e encantão.
Antoni Borzych
Słuchając tej piosenki rozpływam się w marzeniach ❤
wolfgang hupp
Great voices, beautiful artists, thank you Carola et Jan - and the whole group BZN💕
Terence Heslop
Each song they sing always seems an immediate hit,so good are they in their vocals.Always so pleasing to sit and just listen to them. I've never seen a group and duo so constant in what they do so perfectly.Absolute brilliance. T.Heslop. UK.
Sonny James
Never heard this one before. I love their voices. He has the perfect voice, so does she. You can hear every word they're saying, song is not overly long, well written. Very impressed.
Graça Querido
Canção lindíssima.
Giovanni Pagano
Stupenda interpretazione di Carola ! Voce stupenda e fascino sconfinato! Giovanni
Cecil Gabriel
These two are amazing together... What beautiful voices.!
Georgi Cheyka
Не мога да спра да ви слушам!!!
Clive Exton
Real talent!