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.
Als De Nacht Verdwijnt
Jan Smit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
waar moet dat toch nou naar toe
soms loop ik maar te dromen
het is een ratjetoe
Mijn leven was naar de maan
meteen toen ik jou zag staan
wat mij is overkomen
Als de nacht verdwijnt en de zon weer schijnt
als ik jou zo zie klinkt een symfonie
en je weet hoeveel ik van je hou
heel mijn hart staat open voor jou
Als de nacht verdwijnt en de zon weer schijnt
als ik jou zo zie klinkt een symfonie
en je weet hoeveel ik van je hou
heel mijn hart staat open voor jou
Een glimlach van jou alleen
dat houdt me wel op de been
zo blond met blauwe ogen
zo zie je d'r maar een
Jij vroeg me toen voor een dans
ik voelde dit is mijn kans
het moest er maar van komen
wij zweefden als in trance
Als de nacht verdwijnt en de zon weer schijnt
als ik jou zo zie klinkt een symfonie
en je weet hoeveel ik van je hou
heel mijn hart staat open voor jou
Als de nacht verdwijnt en de zon weer schijnt
als ik jou zo zie klinkt een symfonie
en je weet hoeveel ik van je hou
heel mijn hart staat open voor jou
Jij kan op mij vertrouwen
mijn hele leven lang
want ik blijf steeds bij jou
Als de nacht verdwijnt en de zon weer schijnt
als ik jou zo zie klinkt een symfonie
en je weet hoeveel ik van je hou
heel mijn hart staat open voor jou
Als de nacht verdwijnt en de zon weer schijnt
als ik jou zo zie klinkt een symfonie
en je weet hoeveel ik van je hou
heel mijn hart staat open voor jou
The lyrics of Jan Smit's song Als De Nacht Verdwijnt speak about his love for someone special who has transformed his life. The opening lines illustrate that he feels lost and confused about the direction his life is taking. He appears to be in a state of disarray, unsure of what is going on around him. However, he goes on to describe how everything changed when he met his lover. His life, which he previously considered to be messed up and difficult, became filled with a sense of purpose and direction.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the joy and happiness he has found with this person. His love for them fills his heart, and their presence seems like a symphony in his life. The lines "Je weet hoeveel ik van je hou" (You know how much I love you) demonstrates the depth of his feelings. The singer is not just smitten, but he has found his soulmate.
In the second verse, Smit describes his lover's physical appearance, and it's clear that he is very much attracted to her. This verse marks a shift from the confusion and uncertainty of the earlier lines towards a sense of calm and stability. The chorus repeats again, emphasizing how important his partner is to him.
Overall, the lyrics of Als De Nacht Verdwijnt tell the story of a person who found their soulmate, and how their love has transformed their life. It's a celebration of love and the joy people find in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Ik weet niet meer wat ik doe
I am lost and unsure of my actions
waar moet dat toch nou naar toe
I don't know where I am headed
soms loop ik maar te dromen
Sometimes I am lost in my daydream
het is een ratjetoe
Life is confusing and mixed up
Mijn leven was naar de maan
My life was going nowhere
meteen toen ik jou zag staan
But then, I saw you standing there
wat mij is overkomen
What happened to me
kan ik niet langer aan
I can no longer hold it back
Een glimlach van jou alleen
Just a smile from you
dat houdt me wel op de been
Keeps me going and keeps me alive
zo blond met blauwe ogen
So fair with blue eyes
zo zie je d’r maar een
There is no one else like you
Jij vroeg me toen voor een dans
You asked me to dance
ik voelde dit is mijn kans
I felt like this was my chance
het moest er maar van komen
It was meant to be
wij zweefden als in trance
We danced as if in a trance
Jij kan op mij vertrouwen
You can trust me
mijn hele leven lang
For my entire life
want ik blijf steeds bij jou
I'll always be with you
heel mijn hart staat open voor jou
My heart is completely open for you
Als de nacht verdwijnt en de zon weer schijnt
When the night fades and the sun shines again
als ik jou zo zie klinkt een symfonie
As I see you, a symphony plays
en je weet hoeveel ik van je hou
And you know how much I love you
heel mijn hart staat open voor jou
My heart is completely open for you
Contributed by Kayla O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
aida orrico
Muito bom. Fantástico 🤩🤩
Stefania Bosiacka
SUPER I SUPER !! WSPANIAŁE WYKONANIE !!! BRAWO JANTIJ !! [ pozdrawiam z POLSKI
Karim El Hamdi
😂
Adrienne CASENAZ
Bravo et merci Jan,c'est magnifique.
Jose Galante
Grande cantor grande voz e uma assestencia incrivelmente reconhecida ao cantor lindo muito lindo José Galante Portugal
P. Daniel Rodriguez Teisseire
me encanta la energía que transmite, un publico sano, lleno de familias y de tidas las edades. Así deberían ser todos
John Smith
What an excellent singer and entertainer Jan Smit is, I wished he'd been known more outside continental Europe, he had that huge stadium audience eating out of his hand, even when small he could sing in different languages, what is the flag everyone is waving? The Netherlands has certainly had their fine singers, like Heintje Simons and Jan Smit.
Maria natividade
Que lindo que Deus te abençoe sempre
AnyaSilka
Für Mich ist Jan Smit WELTKLASSE!! Einfach das Beste Sänger, Unterhalter und so ein guter Mann! Vielen lieben Dank lieber Jan Smit!! Alles Gute!!👌🎶🙏❣
Bill davis
what a fantastic voice ,I wish he sang more songs in English I think more Americans should hear this guy