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.
The Great Escape
Ilse DeLange Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The wind comes crawling in
The rain with all its sin
Captures me again
The words went through my wave
Filled my soul with pain
My anger into space
Almost found it's way again
Questions to embrace
Feelings that you'll face
In this holy land
A desert made of quicksand
Streets that lead you there
Places of your fear
Some force, pulls you in
The shadow world
By the time I made the great escape
I was falling, falling, falling from heaven
In every picture that I drew I saw you
Falling, falling, falling from heaven
From an empty face
The smile wiped away
Eyes that never see
Blind the deepest me
Act a small charade
Words you can't explain
Silence louder than the doubt
Lingers in the sound
By the time I made the great escape
I was falling, falling, falling from heaven
In every picture that I drew I saw you
Falling, falling, falling from heaven
I got down on my knees and prayed
I was calling, calling, calling to heaven
Just in time I made the great escape
I was falling, falling, falling from heaven
If you just talk to me
If you just look at me
We'll be all right
By the time I made the great escape
I was falling, falling, falling from heaven
In every picture that I drew I saw you
Falling, falling, falling from heaven
I got down on my knees and prayed
I was calling, calling, calling to heaven
Just in time I made the great escape
I was falling, falling, falling from heaven
Falling from heaven
The lyrics to "The Great Escape" by Ilse DeLange describe emotions of pain, anger, fear, doubt, and ultimately, hope. The use of nature-related imagery such as falling leaves, crawling winds, and rain with its sin suggest the overwhelming and all-encompassing feelings of the singer. The reference to the desert made of quicksand and streets that lead to places of fear illustrate the confusion and feeling of being trapped in a situation from which they need to escape. The shadow world mentioned in the second verse might signify the unknown and the fear of the unknown.
The chorus reveals the singer's belief that they were falling from heaven, indicating the loss of hope and connection to something greater. The repeated phrase "falling, falling, falling from heaven" adds emphasis to this feeling of falling and helplessness. However, the lines "I got down on my knees and prayed, I was calling, calling, calling to heaven, just in time I made the great escape" suggest a hint of optimism and the possibility of salvation through faith and inner strength. The final lines "If you just talk to me, If you just look at me, We'll be all right" imply the desire for communication and the possibility of resolution and healing.
Line by Line Meaning
The leaves will fall again
The autumn season will come again, signaling the passing of time and the inevitability of change.
The wind comes crawling in
The arrival of a new season brings with it a noticeable change in the way the wind blows, reminding the singer of the passage of time.
The rain with all its sin
The rain, symbolizing sadness and grief, returns once again to capture the singer's emotions.
Captures me again
The singer is overwhelmed by her emotions, which have returned to haunt her once again.
The words went through my wave
The singer was hit hard by something someone said, causing her emotions to rise up like a wave.
Filled my soul with pain
The words spoken to the singer caused her to feel deep emotional pain, overwhelming her being.
My anger into space
The singer's anger dissipated and disappeared, leaving her feeling lost and alone.
Almost found it's way again
The singer's emotional turmoil was nearly back to the forefront, threatening her sense of calm and well-being once again.
Questions to embrace
The singer is searching for meaning in her life, asking herself important questions about what she wants and needs.
Feelings that you'll face
The journey towards self-discovery is fraught with difficult and uncomfortable emotions that the singer must confront.
In this holy land
The singer feels like she is in a sacred space, where she can better connect with her own spirituality and inner wisdom.
A desert made of quicksand
The journey towards self-discovery is like walking through a desert that is constantly shifting and changing, where it is easy to become trapped and lost.
Streets that lead you there
Despite the challenges and obstacles, there are paths that will guide the singer towards her destination, even if they are not always clear.
Places of your fear
The singer must confront her fears and anxieties in order to move forward on her journey.
Some force, pulls you in
The singer feels a strong pull towards her destination, something that is driving her forward even when things get tough.
The shadow world
There is a dark and mysterious world within the singer that she must journey through in order to find her true self.
By the time I made the great escape
After a difficult and harrowing journey, the singer finally found her way out of the emotional turmoil she was experiencing.
I was falling, falling, falling from heaven
The singer felt as though she was losing all sense of who she was, like falling out of grace with herself and her surroundings.
In every picture that I drew I saw you
Despite her best efforts, the person the singer is searching for is always on her mind and in her heart.
I got down on my knees and prayed
In moments of desperation, the singer turns to prayer for guidance and support.
I was calling, calling, calling to heaven
The singer feels as though she is reaching out to something greater than herself, searching for answers and direction.
If you just talk to me
The singer is pleading with the person she is searching for to communicate with her and to help her find her way.
If you just look at me
The singer is asking the person she is searching for to see her as she truly is, and to understand what she is going through.
We'll be all right
The singer is expressing hope that, with the help of the person she is searching for, she will be able to overcome her challenges and find peace.
Falling from heaven
The singer feels as though she is losing touch with the goodness and purity in the world, and that she herself is falling from grace.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Ilse Annoeska de Lange, Patrick Raymond Leonard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind