In 1999, DeLange released live-album Dear John, an album full of covers by John Hiatt, after a very successful performance at the "Marlboro Flashbacks". The album went platinum in the Netherlands, for selling more than 80,000 copies.
In 2000, DeLange released her sophomore album Livin’ On Love. Although there was a good amount of promotion for the album, it could not compete with the success of its predecessor. It peaked at #5 on the Dutch Album Top 100. Its lead single “Livin’ On Love” became a minor Top 40-entry. Meanwhile, Warner Music attempted to promote this release as her "breakthrough" release in the United States. Although World Of Hurt was planned to be released in the States, the record labels in America thought the album was too old-fashioned for the 2000s. It was eventually shelved.
In 2003, DeLange released her third album Clean Up. It became another success for the Dutch singer, peaking at Number 1 on the Dutch Album Top 100 for five weeks. Its single “Shine” with Rosemary's Sons became a surprise Top 40-hit. Despite the success, the first single “No Reason To Be Shy” was a commercial failure and the record company decided not to release any further singles.
Later that same year, DeLange released her first compilation album Here I Am (1998-2003). She also collaborated with Kane on “Before You Let Me Go”, which was recorded live in Rotterdam. It peaked at #4 on the Dutch official Top 40, earning DeLange her first ever Top 10-hit. At the beginning of 2004, the Dutch section of record company Warner Music was disbanded and DeLange lost her contract.
She then signed with Universal Music. In 2006, she released her fourth album The Great Escape. Its lead single of the same name became an unexpectedly big hit, charting for more than five months on the Dutch official Top 40. The album peaked at Number 1 on the Dutch Album Top 100 and was certified double-platinum within its first month. Its follow-up singles “The Lonely One” and “I Love You” both entered the Top 40 as well.
In 2008, DeLange released her fifth album Incredible. Its lead single became a breakout success, peaking at #6 on the Dutch official Top 40. It also won the Schaal van Rigter prize. The follow-up single “Miracle” became an even bigger hit, topping the Dutch official Top 40 and earning DeLange her first Number 1-single. The album was also a commercial success, becoming her fourth Number 1-album and being certified quintuple-platinum.
In 2010, DeLange released her first EP titled Next To Me. Its lead single of the same name became another Top 10-hit. In 2011 she started working on a new album, which was later shelved after her father’s death.
In 2012, DeLange released her seventh album Eye of the Hurricane. The single “Hurricane” became the album’s breakout single. This new album was promoted with a concert in the 'GelreDome' stadium. It earned DeLange another Number 1-album on the Dutch Album Top 100.
In 2013, DeLange replaced Nick & Simon as a coach on The Voice of Holland. She returned to The Voice of Holland as a coach for its fifth season in August 2014. On 15 January 2015, it was announced that DeLange would be replaced as a coach for the sixth season of The Voice of Holland by Miss Montreal lead singer Sanne Hans.
DeLange represented the Netherlands, with singer Waylon as The Common Linnets, during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark. With the song “Calm After The Storm”, the band finished in second place behind the winner Conchita Wurst from Austria, the Netherlands’ best result in more than a decade. The song became a hit single across Europe, reaching the Top 10 in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Denmark and the United Kingdom. The band’s eponymous album also became very successful, 50.000 copies within a week in The Netherlands alone.
On 7 December 2017 it was revealed that DeLange would have a recurring role in the final season of the ABC/CMT musical-drama series Nashville.
In 2018 created DeLange her own record label, Spark Records, as part of Firefly/Universal Music. She also released her new eponymous album. The album debuted and peaked at #3 on the Dutch Album Top 100. It failed to produce a significant hit single.
DeLange was part of the Dutch delegation for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 as an artistic consultant and mentor to the Dutch representative Duncan Laurence, whom she coached during the fifth season of The Voice of Holland. Laurence went on to win the contest with his song "Arcade".
In September 2019 DeLange released the roots-album Gravel & Dust. Recorded in Nashville, this album was made with producer T Bone Burnett. It debuted at #2 on the Dutch Album Top 100. Quickly thereafter, DeLange released her new album Changes. The album debuted and peaked at #4 on the Dutch Album Top 100 and became a surprise hit in German-speaking countries. It peaked at #14 on the German Top Album Charts and a Top 10-album in Switzerland. The success inspired DeLange to tour through Germany in 2023.
DeLange participated in the seventh season of Sing Meinen Song - Das Tauschkonzert. The episode where DeLange was the central guest, suddenly increased the sales of DeLanges old albums and singles.
Good Thing
Ilse DeLange Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I've seen enough
And I know enough to know
I know a good thing when I see it
And it's a bad thing to let go
We'll I've been around
I've been up and down
With your world all in motion
You got to put a ball and a chain on your soul
All those angels runnin'
Picking up the pieces
Putting back together hearts broke long ago
I know a good thing when I see it
And's a bad thing to let go
There will always be lovers
With borders of their own
And you may charge across
In a golden chariot
But you will never be home
I had dreams like distant thunder
I had hope like a prayer unheard
Now this is nothing
Less than perfect
In a less than a perfect world
All those angels
Picking up the pieces
Putting back together hearts broke long ago
I know a good thing when I see it
And it's a bad thing to let go
I know a good thing when I see it
And it it's a bad thing to let go
The first stanza of Ilse DeLange's "Good Thing" depicts the singer's self-assuredness in identifying a positive force in her life. She's witnessed enough experiences and listened to enough stories to recognize when something good presents itself. She also recognizes the risk in letting go of something good and how that can lead to something bad. This opening line suggests that the singer is aware that there are gifts in life, and that she is willing to hold onto them.
In the second stanza, Ilse DeLange talks about her wild journey on this earth, with ups and downs. The idea of bending out of control may suggest that while the things in her life are eventful, they are not all positive experiences, and she's been in situations where she's lost control. The line "You got to put a ball and chain on your soul" has her recognizing that the person she's singing to has some level of responsibility to stay grounded and not let life take them completely over.
In the final stanza, the lyricist presents the idea that although love may try to conquer all or most things, it may not be enough to provide a sense of belonging. There is a sense of resignation to fate, and that despite best efforts, being "home" may never come. The chorus is a persistent, constant reminder that recognizing something good is a gift that is worth holding on to.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I've heard enough
I have listened to enough lies and excuses
And I've seen enough
I have witnessed enough heartbreak and disappointment
And I know enough to know
I have gained the wisdom to recognize certain truths
I know a good thing when I see it
I am aware of and appreciate valuable things when I encounter them
And it's a bad thing to let go
It is regrettable and unwise to lose or give up something good
We'll I've been around
I have experienced life and traveled to different places
I've been up and down
I have faced highs and lows, successes and failures
Until I bent out of control
Until I lost my balance and became overwhelmed
With your world all in motion
With your life in a constant state of change and flux
You got to put a ball and a chain on your soul
You need to anchor yourself to something stable and secure to find inner peace
All those angels runnin'
All those kind souls helping others in need
Picking up the pieces
Repairing the damage caused by past mistakes and tragedies
Putting back together hearts broke long ago
Mending the emotional scars left by past hurts and heartbreaks
There will always be lovers
There will always be people searching for love and companionship
With borders of their own
With their individual limits and conditions of love
And you may charge across
You may attempt to overcome these barriers
In a golden chariot
With great ambition and determination
But you will never be home
But you will never find true happiness and belongingness with someone who does not share your values and goals
I had dreams like distant thunder
I had aspirations that were powerful and awe-inspiring
I had hope like a prayer unheard
I had faith in something that seemed impossible or unlikely
Now this is nothing
Now all that seems unimportant or insignificant
Less than perfect
Short of the ideal, with flaws and imperfections
In a less than a perfect world
In a world that is not ideal and has its share of problems and contradictions
And it's a bad thing to let go
And it is foolish and regrettable to give up or lose something valuable
I know a good thing when I see it
I am perceptive enough to recognize and value good things
And it's a bad thing to let go
And it is imprudent and unfortunate to let go of them
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ROBBEN FORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
~ Ostara meditation ~
Prachtig 💝💝💝🎶
MaximeMei
Zo'n mooi liedje. I love Ilse!
Nikita Selyukov
Was surprised to find that this was also sung by Cher as 'Angels Running' in 1995
Griet Dam
Alles nummers zijn mooi !!!!
Ilse Boerboom
dit is geen livin' on love, dit is: good thing :)