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.
Sta op
Jan Smit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sta op sta op rijk je hand naar mij
Sta op en voel je lekker vrij
Zonnetje scheen toen ik je daar zag
Ik vroeg me af waar gaat dat heen
Ik volgende je stiekem de hele dag
Tot jij uit het niks verdween
Me zoektocht naar jouw duurde een hele week
Toen ik je weer zag in een discotheek
Je was terug en je keek me lachend aan
Sta op sta op en dans met mij
Sta op sta op wand ik wil jouw en ja jij
Sta op sta op kom rijk je hand naar mij
Sta op en voel je lekker vrij
Sta op sta op en dans met mij
Sta op sta op wand ik wil jouw en ja jij
Sta op sta op kom rijk je hand naar mij
Sta op en voel je lekker vrij
De volgende dag duurde veel te lang
Nog nooit dacht ik zo aan een meid
Maar toch was ik een beetje bang
Meschien was ik je nu al kwijt
Een week lijkt een jaar als ik op je wacht
Klok lijkt steeds stil te staan
Maar eindelijk is het weer zaterdag
Wand met jouw kan ik de dansvloer aan
Sta op sta op en dans met mij
Sta op sta op wand ik wil jouw ja jij
Sta op sta op en rijk je hand naar mij
Sta op en voel je lekker vrij
Sta op sta op en dans met mij
Sta op sta op wand ik wil jouw ja jij
Sta op sta op en rijk je hand naar mij
Sta op en voel je lekker vrij
Ik wil je
Ik wil met jouw zo veder leven
Ja ik wil je
Zal je alles willen geven
Ik wil je
Met jouw wil ik dit leven delen
Ja ik wil je
Wand jij bent niet zo als velen
Sta op sta op en dans met mij
Sta op sta op wand ik wil jouw ja jij
Sta op sta op kom rijk je hand naar mij
Sta op en voel je lekker vrij
Sta op sta op 4x
Sta op sta op en dans met mij en blijf
Voor altijd aan me zij en voel je lekker vrij
The song "Sta op" by Jan Smit is a love song that encourages a person to stand up, dance, and feel free. It talks about how the singer followed someone he liked and wondered where they were going before losing track of them. He then spends a week searching for the person and finds them in a discotheque where they both dance together.
The song's main theme is about the importance of seizing the moment and not being afraid to take a chance on love. The singer's journey in the song represents the fear and uncertainty that people face when they are trying to make a connection with someone they like.
The chorus of the song, "Sta op sta op en dans met mij, rijk je hand naar mij, en voel je lekker vrij" is an invitation for the person the singer is interested in to dance with him and feel free. It is an expression of the singer's willingness to take a chance and let go of his fears.
Overall, the song is an uplifting and optimistic expression of love and the courage it takes to pursue it.
Line by Line Meaning
Sta op sta op3x
Encourages the listener to stand up and take action.
Sta op sta op rijk je hand naar mij
Asks the listener to reach out and connect with the singer.
Sta op en voel je lekker vrij
Encourages the listener to feel liberated and carefree.
Zonnetje scheen toen ik je daar zag
Describes a moment when the singer first saw someone in the sun.
Ik vroeg me af waar gaat dat heen
The singer wonders what the future holds for the two of them.
Ik volgende je stiekem de hele dag
The singer secretly follows the other person throughout the day.
Tot jij uit het niks verdween
The other person suddenly disappears, making the singer feel lost without them.
Me zoektocht naar jouw duurde een hele week
It took the singer a week to find the other person.
Je lijk opeens niet te bestaan
The other person seemed to disappear completely at one point, making the singer worry if they even existed.
Toen ik je weer zag in een discotheek
The singer finally finds the other person again in a club.
Je was terug en je keek me lachend aan
The other person returns and greets the singer with a smile.
De volgende dag duurde veel te lang
After the reunion, the singer longs to see the other person again.
Nog nooit dacht ik zo aan een meid
The singer has never thought about someone so much before.
Maar toch was ik een beetje bang
The singer is scared of losing the other person.
Meschien was ik je nu al kwijt
The singer worries that the other person may have already left.
Een week lijkt een jaar als ik op je wacht
Time seems to pass very slowly while waiting for the other person.
Klok lijkt steeds stil te staan
Time feels like it has stopped, making the wait even more difficult.
Maar eindelijk is het weer zaterdag
The singer is excited for a new opportunity to see the other person again on the weekend.
Wand met jouw kan ik de dansvloer aan
The singer feels confident dancing with the other person by their side.
Ik wil je
The singer expresses their desire for the other person.
Ik wil met jouw zo veder leven
The singer wants to spend their future with the other person.
Zal je alles willen geven
The singer is promising to give everything to the other person if they are together.
Met jouw wil ik dit leven delen
The singer wants to share their life with the other person.
Wand jij bent niet zo als velen
The singer thinks the other person is special and stands out among others.
Sta op en blijf voor altijd aan me zij
The singer is asking the other person to stand up and stay by their side forever.
Sta op en voel je lekker vrij
The singer wants the other person to feel free and happy with them.
Contributed by Lily C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kristel Van Droogenbroeck
Heel mooi! 💞♥️💖😍
Christa Christiaens
Mooi liedjes prachtig 🌹❤️😍
Christa Christiaens
Mooi liedje prachtig van jan smid 🌹
Christa Christiaens
Heel mooie liedjes prachtig mooi jan smid
Christa Christiaens
Mooie video prachtig liedjes
Christa Christiaens
Mooie liedjes prachtig jan smid
Christa Christiaens
Mooie liedjes prachtig jan smid
Christa Christiaens
Prachtig mooi liedjes
Antonietta Cremarossa
❤❤❤
Christa Christiaens
Mooi liedje jan smid fijne middag