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.
Miracle
Ilse DeLange Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone put a lock on this old door
It's been beaten up and used and more
It's been kicked a hundred thousand times
It's keeping all the memories behind
If you read the lines between the paint
Look beyond the cracks that store away
Right behind the eyes that saw it all
Given all the facts of circumstance
I did not believe that a romance
Would show itself in all this dark and blue
That's the only place I ever knew
You put me outside my safety-zone
Outside all the lines that made my home
To find out that no one really lives
Without giving what it is you give
A miracle looking in my life
A mirror-ball showing me all these faces
A miracle looking in my life, after all
A miracle looking in my life
A mirror-ball showing me all these faces
A miracle
I've been living underneath my skin
Everything I felt I kept it in
It carried all the words without a sound
It got me, it almost got too loud
But now that my arms are holding on
To someone as sacred as a song
To the one who wants to be my own
I have found that blood can come from stones
A miracle looking in my life
A mirror-ball showing me all these faces
A miracle looking in my life, after all
A miracle looking in my life
A mirror-ball showing me all these faces
A miracle
A miracle looking in my life
A mirror-ball showing me all these faces
A miracle looking in my life, after all
A miracle looking in my life
A mirror-ball showing me all these faces
A miracle looking in my life, after all
A miracle looking in my life
A mirror-ball showing me all these faces
A miracle?
Someone put a lock on this old door
It's been beaten up and used and more
It's been kicked a hundred thousand times
It's keeping all the memories behind
The lyrics of "Miracle" by Ilse DeLange talks about the ups and downs of life, particularly in finding someone special who brings a fresh perspective into one's life. The first two stanzas metaphorically describe a door that has been abused and still stands, reflecting the experiences and memories it has kept inside. The singer invites the listener to read beyond the one-dimensional layer to find the hidden messages and stories, much like the door keeps the memories locked inside.
The third stanza sets the tone for a love story, albeit unconvincing of its possibility considering the past hurts and significant disappointments. Nonetheless, the singer admits that the only constant factor in her life has been the negativity, the "dark and blue," making her second-guess the reality of genuine love. The chorus offers a ray of hope as the singer discovers a "miracle" in her life in a partner who opens her eyes to the different facets of reality, represented by the "mirror-ball showing me all these faces."
The fourth stanza presents a personal revelation in the singer's journey to self-discovery. She recognizes that she has been holding back her emotions and struggles, keeping everything inside. Still, with her newfound love, she finds the courage to open up and release the emotional baggage. This emotional freedom allows her to find joy in the one who loves her and who she loves back in return. The repetition of "A miracle looking in my life" in the chorus highlights the wonder and amazement felt by the singer that she found someone to share her life with, bringing much-needed light into her existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone put a lock on this old door
The door symbolizes the singer's heart, which has been hurt and is now closed to protect itself from further damage.
It's been beaten up and used and more
The singer has been through many hardships and pain, which have led to the closure of their heart.
It's been kicked a hundred thousand times
The singer's heart has been hurt repeatedly and suffered immense pain.
It's keeping all the memories behind
The closed heart is holding onto all the past memories, good and bad, and preventing the artist from moving on.
If you read the lines between the paint
If one were to look deeper, beyond the surface level, they would see what's truly going on.
Look beyond the cracks that store away
Similarly, if one were to look beyond the seemingly small damages and scars, they would find the deeper pain the singer is dealing with.
It's hidden in the windows of the walls
The singer's pain and trauma are not visible, but they exist and affect them every day.
Right behind the eyes that saw it all
The artist's eyes hold all the pain they have seen and experienced.
Given all the facts of circumstance
Taking into account all the details and situations the artist has faced,
I did not believe that a romance
The artist did not believe that they could ever find love or happiness amidst all their pain and trauma.
Would show itself in all this dark and blue
The singer did not think that any good could come out of their dark and gloomy situation.
That's the only place I ever knew
The artist has only known pain and trauma, and they never thought they could escape it.
You put me outside my safety-zone
The person the singer is addressing has helped them step out of their comfort zone and take a chance on love.
Outside all the lines that made my home
The singer has gone beyond what they thought was familiar and comfortable, and this person has shown them a new kind of home.
To find out that no one really lives
The singer has realized that true life and happiness come from giving and receiving love, not just surviving.
Without giving what it is you give
Without opening up and giving love, one cannot truly experience life and all it has to offer.
I've been living underneath my skin
The artist has been living with bottled-up emotions and pain.
Everything I felt I kept it in
The singer has been suppressing their feelings and not sharing them with anyone.
It carried all the words without a sound
The singer's pain and emotions were so heavy that they were felt silently.
It got me, it almost got too loud
The artist's bottled-up emotions almost became too much to bear.
But now that my arms are holding on
The artist has found someone who has helped them open up and express their feelings.
To someone as sacred as a song
The person the artist is addressing is compared to a sacred song, something pure and beautiful.
To the one who wants to be my own
This person wants to be with the singer and share their life with them.
I have found that blood can come from stones
The artist has found that something good and beautiful can come out of something painful and traumatic.
A miracle looking in my life
The love and happiness the singer has found feel like a miracle.
A mirror-ball showing me all these faces
The singer is now seeing all the different sides and emotions of themselves and those around them.
A miracle looking in my life, after all
Despite all the pain and hardships, the singer has found something wonderful and miraculous.
A miracle
The artist repeats this line to emphasize the wonder and significance of what they have found.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ilse Annoeska de Lange, Sacha Skarbeck
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ahavakasha
this really kicked my stomach. i was hypnotized the moment it started, to her eyes to the song to the emotion. and the meaning.
made my heart kinda ache very beautiful.
gives hope. she was locked inside her past her mind keep replaying her memories (feeling like losses and yearning for the life/essence she lost) all alone lost hope and was "dying inside" herself
looking into a mirror ball - into herself and her subconcious... lighting up candles.. she's heavily missing life. and herself. and love. as for she craves to feel alive/loved again.
Breaking Free from the prison of your mind and releasing the past
Coming back to life. as for the vines getting through and surrounding her.
to me it's saying a lot as for i didn't know this song before and i felt pulled to it
and has great meaning and msg to set myself free. there is hope.
thank you for this song amazing song. amazing singer. really.
@Lina-nm6cp
Remains a beautiful song of Ilse de Lange ✨🕊️
@ZeroThree3
This song is so underrated...
@mir3349
Agree
@darrenclemie5447
her lyrics are so thoughtful. very inspiring
@ericeric4271
Some voices touch your heart.
This is one of them.
@remytherat7824
HOW CAN THIS SONG ONLY HAVE 4K LIKES???!!!! I DESERVES AT LEAST A MILLION!🙂👍
@Kanarie1973
Because only a few people recognize quality. The rest is listening to elevator music.
@remytherat7824
Semolina Pilchard ok thank you🙂
@grandpianist
First time listener here. This beautiful and I guess a little old. Now at 55 years if age everything amd everyone seems old. All my musical friends and heros are starting to die. While others just seem to be being born. From bo and Jake to older people that I look up to. For example, Helen O'shea has been a bright light in darkness for me. This songs speaks fir all the miracles that have occurred these past 6 years in my own life. From joy to heartbreak I habe watched other people's musical dreams come true, and I couldn't be tha ful enough. Tha ks for such a beautiful so g to start my day with at 5am in the morning. Thanks also to Connie Lim for the email that she sent me on my last birthday. It was a dream that came true!
@karenellen2246
Beautiful xxxxx a song for her mum x i thank my Dutch husband for showing me her amazing music xxxx