Johannes Hendricus Maria "Jan" Smit (born December 31, 1985) is a Dutch pop… Read Full Bio ↴Johannes Hendricus Maria "Jan" Smit (born December 31, 1985) is a Dutch pop music and schlager singer. He scored his first number one position in the Dutch charts with Ik zing dit lied voor jou alleen (I sing this song only for you) in 1997. Being 12 years of age back then, he was known as Jantje Smit.

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.

Op De Bühne
Jan Smit Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ieder mens heeft zo z'n eigen werk,
Van timmerman tot priester in de kerk.
Maar voor mij geldt dat niet, want waar jij mij ook ziet,
Ik zing overal het hoogste lied.

Want op de buhne, leef ik me uit.
Het hele land door, van noord-oost-west tot zuid.
In alle steden ben ik zowat geweest,

Maar elke avond is weer opnieuw een feest.

Heel vaak treedt ik op rond middernacht,
Als normaal m'n warme bedje op me wacht.
Maar pas dan kom ik los, gooi me haar in de wind,
Als de hele zaal dan met me zingt.

Want op de buhne, leef ik me uit.
Het hele land door, van noord-oost-west tot zuid.
In alle steden ben ik zowat geweest,
Maar elke avond is weer opnieuw een feest.

Al die mensen met stralende ogen, hun avond kan echt niet meer stuk.
Iedereen vrolijk en zo opgetogen, what is er mooier dan zoveel geluk.

Want op de buhne, leef ik me uit.
Het hele land door, van noord-oost-west tot zuid.
In alle steden ben ik zowat geweest,
Maar elke avond is weer opnieuw een feest.
(2x)

In alle steden ben ik zowat geweest,
Maar elke avond is weer opnieuw een feest...

Overall Meaning

The song "Op de Buhne" by Jan Smit talks about the joy and fulfillment that comes from performing on stage as an artist. The lyrics express that everyone has their own profession, but for Jan Smit, his job is to sing and perform on stage. He sings about how every night he performs is a new celebration, no matter where he is in the country.

Jan Smit describes how he feels the most alive on stage, and how he loves to travel and perform throughout the country. He even mentions how he often performs late into the night, long after his bed is calling for him. Jan Smit's passion for music and performing is evident throughout the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Ieder mens heeft zo z'n eigen werk,
Every person has their own profession,

Van timmerman tot priester in de kerk.
From carpenter to priest in the church.

Maar voor mij geldt dat niet, want waar jij mij ook ziet,
But it doesn't apply to me, because wherever you see me,

Ik zing overal het hoogste lied.
I sing the highest song everywhere.

Want op de buhne, leef ik me uit.
Because on stage, I live it up.

Het hele land door, van noord-oost-west tot zuid.
Across the whole country, from north, east, west and south.

In alle steden ben ik zowat geweest,
I've been to almost every city.

Maar elke avond is weer opnieuw een feest.
But every night is a new celebration.

Heel vaak treedt ik op rond middernacht,
I often perform around midnight,

Als normaal m'n warme bedje op me wacht.
When my cozy bed is normally waiting for me.

Maar pas dan kom ik los, gooi me haar in de wind,
But only then do I let loose, tossing my hair in the wind,