Smit was discovered by Dutch middle of the road band BZN, who used his vocals in a duet called Mama. He has released several albums in Dutch and German since.
Jan dedicated the song Ik zing dit lied voor jou alleen (means: I Sing this song just for you) to his grandmother. In 1997, Smit toured South Africa with popular Afrikaans singer Nádine. In 2000, Smit won the Grand Prix der Volksmusik singing Ich zeig dir die Berge with Oswald Sattler for South Tyrol. In 2001 Smit won the Exportprijs for his success in Germany, France and Italy. In Germany he became one of the best selling Dutch artists ever, with German-language albums specifically aimed at the German market.
After three big hits in the late 90's, Jan's popularity began to wane gradually. His albums Jan Smit 2000 #32 (2000), Zing en Lach (Sing and Laugh) #33 (2001), Zonder Jou (Without You) #40 and Op Eigen Benen (On My Own Feet) #45 sold fewer copies than his first two albums from his child star era.
However, Jan was still very popular in Germany, where he spent most of his time touring. 2005 marked his comeback in his home country, when regional television host Willie Oosterhuis picked up a Jan Smit song recorded in 2003, 'Als de nacht verdwijnt' ('When the night is over'). Willie heavily plugged the song on his show, resulting in a medium sized hit.
During the same period Dutch broadcaster TROS wanted to produce a real life soap about Jan, with the focus on his life as a teenage star in Germany and The Netherlands, and on his private life in the picturesque seaside village of Volendam. The reality soap became a TV hit and an accompanying album, 'Vrienden voor het leven' ('Homies for life') brought Jan back at the top of the charts for the first time in a few years. It was written for his cousin Niek Smit(s), who lives in Maastricht.
In 2006 Smit had several big selling hit singles, such as 'Laura' (about a friend who died of cancer), 'Als de morgen is gekomen' ('When the morning has come') and 'Cupido' (Cupid). Jan usually includes special tracks on his CD singles, such as live recordings, previously unreleased tracks and CD-ROM-content, which makes his singles more interesting for his hardcore fanbase. In 2007 he topped the single charts again with "Op Weg Naar Geluk" (On The Road To Happiness) and with "Dan Volg Je Haar Benen" ('And then you check out her legs'), and the album charts also with the album "Op Weg Naar Geluk" (the album sold 160.000 copies in its first four days after being released, more than double platinum).
In 2006 he also recorded "Kerst voor Iedereen" (Christmas for Everyone) which was a Christmas-duet with Dutch tv-host Bridget Maasland as a part of Dutch tv-show Katja vs Bridget. He later on recorded this song with his younger sister Monique Smit, who recently also started a singing career
In 2007 he planned to tour the Netherlands again with the "Jan Smit Komt Naar Je Toe"-tour (Jan Smit Comes To You) but due to problems with his vocal cords this tour had to be postponed. For at least 6 months Jan Smit has to rest his voice.
'Dan volg je haar benen' was Jan's fifth Number One single in The Netherlands, making him one of the most successful soloists in Dutch chart history. Only George Michael and Dutch singer Marco Borsato had more Number Ones.
Alles Wat Je Droomt
Jan Smit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Word je nachtrust aan een droom gewijd
Je slaapt, er spookt van alles door je kop
Soms beland je in een goed gesprek
Ben je bang of word je knettergek
En soms, houd het geluk voor jou niet op
Maar "˜s morgens aan het ontbijt
Is je geheugen dat weer kwijt
Want je weet, want je weet, want je weet
Dat meestal (ja, je weet, ja, je weet, ja dat)
Alles wat je droomt niet echt bestaat,
Elke fantasie weer overgaat.
Toch hoop je dat wat jij daar zag,
Eens waarheid worden mag
Dan word wat je droomde al die tijd,
Plotseling voor jou realiteit
Geniet ervan zolang het kan
En weet dat op je wacht, jouw droom vannacht
Zelf het allermooiste avontuur,
Sneeuwt ten onder in het ochtenduur.
Voordat, je weer volledig bent ontwaakt.
Dromen van je grote popidool,
Een diploma op de middelbare school.
Je hebt van alles meegemaakt
Refrein:
Maar "˜s morgens aan het ontbijt
Is je geheugen dat weer kwijt
Want je weet, want je weet, want je weet
Dat meestal (ja, je weet, ja, je weet, ja dat)
Alles wat je droomt niet echt bestaat,
Elke fantasie weer overgaat.
Toch hoop je dat wat jij daar zag,
Eens waarheid worden mag
Dan word wat je droomde al die tijd,
Plotseling voor jou realiteit
Geniet ervan zolang het kan
En weet dat op je wacht, jouw droom vannacht
(Je weet dat alles wat je droomt niet echt bestaat,)
Je weet dat alles wat je droomt
(Elke fantasie weer overgaat.
Toch hoop je dat wat jij daar zag,)
Niet echt bestaat
(Eens waarheid worden mag
Dan word wat je droomde al die tijd,)
Blijf jij maar dromen al die tijd
(Plotseling voor jou realiteit)
Geniet ervan zolang het kan
En weet dat op je wacht, jouw droom vannacht
The song is about the fleeting nature of dreams and how they often disappear upon waking. The lyrics describe how dreams can range from pleasant to strange, but they all have one thing in common: they usually never come true. Despite this, the singer encourages the listener to keep having dreams and to cherish them while they last, because who knows - they just might come true one day.
The opening verse sets the stage by describing how dreams can occur randomly and seem very real. The second verse describes some common dreams, such as meeting a celebrity or achieving a specific life goal. The refrain repeats the message that dreams are not always a reflection of reality, but the bridge encourages the listener to continue dreaming anyway.
Line by Line Meaning
Af en toe, zo om de zoveel tijd
Occasionally, every once in a while
Word je nachtrust aan een droom gewijd
Your sleep is dedicated to a dream
Je slaapt, er spookt van alles door je kop
You sleep, with all sorts of things haunting your mind
Soms beland je in een goed gesprek
Sometimes you end up in a good conversation
Ben je bang of word je knettergek
Are you scared or going crazy
En soms, houd het geluk voor jou niet op
And sometimes, the luck doesn't stop for you
Maar 's morgens aan het ontbijt
But in the morning at breakfast
Is je geheugen dat weer kwijt
Your memory is lost again
Want je weet, want je weet, want je weet
Because you know, you know, you know
Dat meestal (ja, je weet, ja, je weet, ja dat)
That usually (yes, you know, yes, you know, yes)
Alles wat je droomt niet echt bestaat,
Everything you dream about doesn't really exist,
Elke fantasie weer overgaat.
Every fantasy fades away.
Toch hoop je dat wat jij daar zag,
Yet you hope that what you saw there
Eens waarheid worden mag
Will become reality someday
Dan word wat je droomde al die tijd,
Then what you've been dreaming of for all this time
Plotseling voor jou realiteit
Suddenly becomes your reality
Geniet ervan zolang het kan
Enjoy it while you can
En weet dat op je wacht, jouw droom vannacht
And know that your dream is waiting for you tonight
Zelf het allermooiste avontuur,
Even the most beautiful adventure
Sneeuwt ten onder in het ochtenduur.
Disappears in the morning hour
Voordat, je weer volledig bent ontwaakt.
Before you wake up completely again
Dromen van je grote popidool,
Dreaming of your big pop idol
Een diploma op de middelbare school.
A diploma from high school
Je hebt van alles meegemaakt
You've experienced it all
Je weet dat alles wat je droomt niet echt bestaat,
You know that everything you dream doesn't really exist,
Elke fantasie weer overgaat.
Every fantasy fades away.
Toch hoop je dat wat jij daar zag,
Yet you hope that what you saw there
Eens waarheid worden mag
Will become reality someday
Dan word wat je droomde al die tijd,
Then what you've been dreaming of for all this time
Plotseling voor jou realiteit
Suddenly becomes your reality
Geniet ervan zolang het kan
Enjoy it while you can
En weet dat op je wacht, jouw droom vannacht
And know that your dream is waiting for you tonight
Je weet dat alles wat je droomt
You know that everything you dream
Niet echt bestaat
Doesn't really exist
Blijf jij maar dromen al die tijd
Just keep dreaming all this time
Geniet ervan zolang het kan
Enjoy it while you can
En weet dat op je wacht, jouw droom vannacht
And know that your dream is waiting for you tonight
Contributed by Jason E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Christa Keil
Mooi, Mooi, Mooi, Mooi, Mooi, Mooi, Mooick.......................................................................