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.
Ja vannacht
Jan Smit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ik voel me alleen en verlaten
Wat mis ik jou toch en dat doet zeer
We moeten nodig eens praten
'K wil meer voor jou zijn dan een weekend lover
Ik wou dat het vrijdag was want dan zing ik de hele dag
Ja vannacht in het licht van de sterren
Als jij fluistert jij bent waar'k voor leef
Dan lijkt het of ik door de ruimte zweef
Ja vannacht in het licht van de sterren
Klinkt jouw stem als muziek van heel verre
Als het mooiste liefdeslied voor mij
Ging deze nacht maar nooit voorbij
Het is nu maandag 'k ben weer alleen
Jij komt niet uit mijn gedachten
Ik bijt door een zure appel heen
Al die eenzame gedachten
'K wil meer voor jou zijn dan een weekend lover
Ik wou dat het vrijdag was want dan zing ik de hele dag
Ja vannacht in het licht van de sterren
Klinkt jouw stem als muziek van heel verre
Als jij fluistert jij bent waar'k voor leef
Dan lijkt het of ik door de ruimte zweef
Ja vannacht in het licht van de sterren
Klinkt jouw stem als muziek van heel verre
Als het mooiste liefdeslied voor mij
Ging deze nacht maar nooit voorbij
In these lyrics, Jan Smit expresses his feelings of loneliness and longing for someone he deeply misses. He describes feeling alone and abandoned, and the pain of missing that person. He acknowledges that they need to have a conversation and address their issues.
Jan Smit expresses his desire to be more than just a weekend lover to this person, indicating that he wants a deeper and more committed relationship. He longs for the day where he can sing and be happy with this person, wishing it was already Friday.
In the chorus, Jan Smit imagines a night illuminated by stars, where he can hear the voice of the person he loves. Their voice is described as music from afar, and when they whisper that he is what they live for, it feels as if he is floating through space. He wishes this night, filled with the beauty of their love, would never end.
As the days pass and it becomes Monday, Jan Smit finds himself alone again. He can't stop thinking about the person he misses, and he must face these lonely thoughts head-on. He uses the metaphor of biting into a sour apple to represent the difficult emotions he is experiencing.
Once again, Jan Smit expresses his desire to be more to this person than just a weekend lover. He yearns for Friday to come, as it represents a day filled with joy and the opportunity to sing all day long.
In the final chorus, Jan Smit reiterates the vivid image of a night illuminated by stars, where the person he loves whispers to him. Their voice is still described as music from afar, and he wishes this night, filled with the most beautiful love song for him, could last forever. The song concludes with the longing for time to stand still, allowing him to continue basking in the love and beauty of that special night.
Line by Line Meaning
De regen daalt zachtjes op mij neer
I feel a gentle rain falling on me
Ik voel me alleen en verlaten
I feel alone and abandoned
Wat mis ik jou toch en dat doet zeer
How I miss you and it hurts
We moeten nodig eens praten
We really need to talk
'K wil meer voor jou zijn dan een weekend lover
I want to be more for you than just a weekend lover
Ik wou dat het vrijdag was want dan zing ik de hele dag
I wish it was Friday because then I would sing all day
Ja vannacht in het licht van de sterren
Yes tonight in the light of the stars
Klinkt jouw stem als muziek van heel verre
Your voice sounds like music from far away
Als jij fluistert jij bent waar'k voor leef
When you whisper that you are what I live for
Dan lijkt het of ik door de ruimte zweef
Then it feels like I'm floating through space
Het is nu maandag 'k ben weer alleen
It is now Monday, I am alone again
Jij komt niet uit mijn gedachten
You don't leave my thoughts
Ik bijt door een zure appel heen
I bite through a sour apple
Al die eenzame gedachten
All those lonely thoughts
Als het mooiste liefdeslied voor mij
As the most beautiful love song for me
Ging deze nacht maar nooit voorbij
If only this night never ended
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind