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.
Nieuwe vlinders
Jan Smit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
kom dicht bij mij en sla je arm om me heen
Hou mij eens vast, hou mij maar vast
en laat me nooit meer alleen
Ik vergeet de tijd in jouw aanwezigheid,
ik verlies mezelf spontaan
Dagdromen kan ik elke moment,
Dan slaat mn hoofd op hol,
voelt alles in m'n lichaam beter aan
Jouw blik die mijn gevoelens kent,
ik word ineens verlegen van je lach
Dan gaat m'n hart tekeer,
en voel ik nieuwe vlinders telkens weer
Dagen voor bij,
verloren dagen zijn het als 'r niet bent
Jij bent degeen,
degeen die al mijn stoutste dromen kent
Ik vergeet de tijd in jouw aanwezigheid,
ik verlies mezelf spontaan
Dagdromen kan ik elke moment,
want ik zie jou staat heel de wereld stil
Dan slaat mn hoofd op hol,
voelt alles in m'n lichaam beter aan
Jouw blik die mijn gevoelens kent,
ik word ineens verlegen van je lach
Dan gaat m'n hart tekeer,
en voel ik nieuwe vlinders telkens weer
Ik droom vaak in de morgen, middag,
avond in de nacht van elke keer dat jij me kust heel zacht
Dagdromen kan ik elke moment,
want ik zie jou staat heel de wereld stil
Dan slaat mn hoofd op hol,
voelt alles in m'n lichaam beter aan
Jouw blik die mijn gevoelens kent,
ik word ineens verlegen van je lach
Dan gaat m'n hart tekeer,
en voel ik nieuwe vlinders telkens weer
The lyrics of "Nieuwe Vlinders" by Jan Smit express the feeling of infatuation and falling in love. The singer is deeply attracted to someone and is overwhelmed by their presence. The opening lines invite the person closer, asking them to hold and never leave the singer alone. The presence of the person makes the singer forget the passage of time and they lose themselves in the moment.
The chorus of the song repeats the idea that the singer can daydream at any moment because the person they are infatuated with makes the whole world stop. The singer's senses become heightened in their presence, with their body responding to every feeling. The person they are singing about seems to understand their emotions, and the singer feels nervous but excited around them.
Throughout the lyrics, the singer expresses their desire for the person and how everything feels brand new like "new butterflies". The song expresses how falling in love can make you feel young again in the blissful moments of being around the person you love.
Line by Line Meaning
Kom dichterbij, kom dicht bij mij en sla je arm om me heen
Come closer to me, wrap your arms around me and hold me tight
Hou mij eens vast, hou mij maar vast en laat me nooit meer alleen
Hold me, never let me go, and promise to always be by my side
Ik vergeet de tijd in jouw aanwezigheid, ik verlies mezelf spontaan
I lose track of time when I'm with you, and I can't help but be myself
Dagdromen kan ik elke moment, want ik zie jou staat heel de wereld stil
I can daydream whenever I want, because when I'm with you, everything else fades away
Dan slaat mn hoofd op hol, voelt alles in m'n lichaam beter aan
My mind spins, and every sensation in my body feels heightened
Jouw blik die mijn gevoelens kent, ik word ineens verlegen van je lach
Your gaze understands my emotions, and I suddenly become shy from your laughter
Dan gaat m'n hart tekeer, en voel ik nieuwe vlinders telkens weer
My heart beats fast, and I feel new butterflies every time
Dagen voor bij, verloren dagen zijn het als 'r niet bent
Days pass by, but they feel lost without you
Jij bent degeen, degeen die al mijn stoutste dromen kent
You are the one who knows all my wildest dreams
Ik droom vaak in de morgen, middag, avond in de nacht van elke keer dat jij me kust heel zacht
I often dream in the morning, afternoon, evening, and night, of every time you kiss me softly
Writer(s): Thomas Tol, Jan Smit, Cees Tol
Contributed by Jackson E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Romy.paarden Horses
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