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 weg naar geluk
Jan Smit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je bent ontzettend aardig en zo cool
Loop al een hele tijd met een idee
Loop je even mee
Ik zou niet weten wat ik nu moet doen
Hoop op ooit van jou een eerste zoen
Ik ben bang om naar je toe te gaan
Zie je mij wel staan
Altijd zie ik je lopen
Aan je zij die ene man
Kan alleen nog maar hopen
Of het kan met jou
Ver van hier en toch dichtbij
Ben op weg naar wat geluk
Worden dromen werkelijkheid
Of drijven ze voor altijd voorbij
Als jij dan kijkt ontwijk ik je gezicht
Zie je beter met mijn ogen dicht
In gedachten zijn we met z’n twee
Denk je even mee
Ik zit gevangen in onzekerheid
Die gevoelens kan ik nergens kwijt
Je bent zo ver verwijderd hier van mij
Kom eens dichter bij
Altijd zie ik je lopen
Aan je zij die ene man
Kan alleen nog maar hopen
Of het kan met jou
Ver van hier en toch dicht bij
Ben op weg naar wat geluk
Worden dromen werkelijkheid
Of drijven ze voor altijd voorbij
Worden dromen werkelijkheid of
drijven ze voor altijd aan mij voorbij
The lyrics of the song Op weg naar geluk by Jan Smit are about a person who is in love with someone and is trying to express their feelings to that person. The singer is deeply smitten with the person they address in the song, but they are too afraid to tell them about their emotions. They are hoping for their first kiss with the object of their affection, and their feelings make them insecure and unsure of how to proceed. The singer often sees the person with someone else and wonders if their dreams of being together will ever come true.
The repeated line "Ben op weg naar wat geluk" (I am on the way to happiness) suggests that the singer is hopeful that they will be with the person they love, and they believe that their feelings will be reciprocated. However, doubts creep in as they wonder if their dreams will ever come true or if they will remain unfulfilled. Throughout the song, the singer is torn between their passion for the other person and their fear of rejection.
One interesting interpretation of the lyrics is that it is about unrequited love, where the singer is in love with someone who does not return their feelings. The lyrics suggest that the person the singer is in love with may be with someone else, and the singer is left to wonder if they will ever have a chance with them. The theme of insecurity and doubt is common in songs about unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
Ik zou je willen zeggen wat ik voel
I want to express my feelings to you
Je bent ontzettend aardig en zo cool
You are incredibly kind and cool
Loop al een hele tijd met een idee
I have had an idea for quite some time now
Loop je even mee
Will you walk with me?
Ik zou niet weten wat ik nu moet doen
I don't know what to do now
Hoop op ooit van jou een eerste zoen
I hope for a first kiss from you someday
Ik ben bang om naar je toe te gaan
I am scared to come to you
Zie je mij wel staan
Do you even notice me?
Altijd zie ik je lopen
I always see you walking
Aan je zij die ene man
With that one man by your side
Kan alleen nog maar hopen
All I can do is hope
Of het kan met jou
That it could be with you
Ver van hier en toch dichtbij
Far from here yet still close
Ben op weg naar wat geluk
I am on my way to find happiness
Worden dromen werkelijkheid
Will dreams become reality?
Of drijven ze voor altijd voorbij
Or will they drift away forever?
Als jij dan kijkt ontwijk ik je gezicht
When you look my way, I avoid your gaze
Zie je beter met mijn ogen dicht
I see you better with my eyes closed
In gedachten zijn we met z’n twee
In my thoughts, we are together
Denk je even mee
Will you think with me?
Ik zit gevangen in onzekerheid
I am trapped in uncertainty
Die gevoelens kan ik nergens kwijt
I have nowhere to place these feelings
Je bent zo ver verwijderd hier van mij
You are so far away from me
Kom eens dichter bij
Come closer to me
Worden dromen werkelijkheid of
Will dreams become reality or
drijven ze voor altijd aan mij voorbij
will they forever drift away from me?
Contributed by Mateo J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Zoë Saris
Dit is heel herkenbaar in mijn hoofd dan... Prachtige song ;)
SPOELIEWOELIE SPOELSTRA
Ik ben nog steeds op weg naar geluk
Christa Keil
Passt in die jetzige Zeitck...................
Christa Keil
Auch einer meiner momentanen LIeb.....lings Songsck.....
Christa Keil
Der Bliiiiiiiiiick sehr sinnlich, sehr schön anzusehen.........
Christa Keil
Ist schon ein ganz schöner großer" OHRWURM" gewordenck......
Christa Keil
Bei jedem anhören besserck..............................................................................................................
Christa Keil
ich kenn den text nicht, aber ist auch so mooi.......mooikc................................
Christa Keil
Wer oder du kommt ihr auf die schönen Melodien......das ist Gregor........
Miranda Bos
Zeer herkenbaar momenteel