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.
Thank You
Ilse DeLange Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I can see my past
Another chance to be free
Opened a door at last
All useless conversations
Words spilled, conclusions drawn
I will go on without you
I'll try from this day on
I don't need backslash baby
Will run before you fall
Too big a confrontation
No mirrors in your hall
Another misconception
Is that my hop is gone
I won't let sorrow linger
I'll try from this day on
Reconstruct my heart
Loose the broken parts
Forget about your memory
Thank you for leaving
Thank you
With no appreciation
For all the stories told
It's your imagination
That's filled the lied you hold
Beyond the comprehension
That I can be this strong
Refocus my attention
I'll try from this day on
Reconstruct my heart
Loose the broken parts
Forget about your memory
Thank you for leaving
Thank you
In Ilse DeLange's song "Thank You", the singer reflects on a past relationship that has ended, but she sees it as a new opportunity to be truly free. She acknowledges that she will never know what lies ahead of her, but she can learn from her past mistakes and move forward without her former partner. The lyrics mention "useless conversations" and "words spilled, conclusions drawn" which speaks to the frustration and lack of communication that led to the relationship's demise. She also mentions a "backslash" which could refer to negative criticism or backlash from her former partner, but she has decided to run away from that negativity and not let it hold her back.
The chorus of the song is filled with gratitude: "Thank you for leaving, thank you." She expresses this sentiment despite the pain of losing a loved one, and she sees it as an opportunity to reconstruct her heart and let go of the broken parts. The singer emphasizes that there is no appreciation for the stories told and that the relationship was based on her former partner's imagination rather than the reality of the situation. Despite this, she remains strong and determined to refocus her attention and move forward. Overall, the song speaks to the resilience and strength of the human spirit, and the power of gratitude to overcome the pain of loss.
Line by Line Meaning
I never know what's before me
I am uncertain about my future, but I am clear about my past.
But I can see my past
Although I am uncertain about my future, I am clear about the experiences that have led me to this point in time.
Another chance to be free
This is another opportunity for me to experience freedom through personal growth and development.
Opened a door at last
This new opportunity has presented me with the chance to enter a new realm of possibilities.
All useless conversations
All the meaningless talks that we had with each other.
Words spilled, conclusions drawn
We made meaning out of nothing in our conversations that lacked depth or significance.
I will go on without you
I am ready to move forward with my life and leave the past behind, without letting you hold me back.
I'll try from this day on
I am willing to make an effort to improve my life from this day on.
I don't need backslash baby
I don't need your negativity or criticism.
Will run before you fall
I will not stick around for you to bring me down with your negativity, I will move on ahead of you.
Too big a confrontation
Fighting with you is not worth my time or energy.
No mirrors in your hall
You do not have any self-reflection or introspection.
Another misconception
You have misunderstood my strength and resilience.
Is that my hope is gone
You believe that I am hopeless, but that is not true.
I won't let sorrow linger
I refuse to dwell on sadness or regret, and will focus on moving forward.
Reconstruct my heart
I am working on healing my heart from the hurt caused by our past experiences.
Loose the broken parts
I am removing the parts that no longer serve me or contribute to my growth.
Forget about your memory
I am choosing to let go of the memories tied to you, and to focus on creating new experiences.
Thank you for leaving
Although it may have been painful, I am grateful for the space and opportunity to grow on my own.
With no appreciation
You do not acknowledge or appreciate the value of the stories and experiences we shared together.
For all the stories told
We shared many stories, but you do not see the significance or value in them.
It's your imagination
You are creating a false reality or narrative that does not align with the truth of our past or present situation.
That's filled the lied you hold
This false narrative that you have created is causing you to hold onto a lie, which is preventing you from moving forward.
Beyond the comprehension
You cannot understand my strength or resilience, even though it may seem impossible to you.
That I can be this strong
You are surprised by my strength and ability to move on from our past experiences.
Refocus my attention
I am redirecting my energy and attention towards positive and productive endeavors.
Contributed by Isabella N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.