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.

Van die dagen
Jan Smit Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Je kent dat wel zo'n nare dag
waarop het even niet
zo gaat zoals het hoort te zijn
en iedereen ziet het

Je band lek en je telefoon
verloren in de zee
je wacht met smart op morgen

want vandaag zit het niet mee

Dat zijn van die dagen
die je snel moet vergeten
altijd na regen
komt de zon weer voorbij

Kijk maar vooruit
en heb plezier in het leven
weg met al die narigheid
en terug naar het geluk

De stroom valt uit, je komt te laat
de derde keer op rij
dat is de druppel voor je baas
je bent voorlopig vrij

Je vrouw heeft thuis voor jou
de deur maar open laten staan
ze was niet echt tevreden
en is bij je weg gegaan

Het valt niet mee als het weer tegen zit
hou de moed erin, dan komt het goed

want na verloop van tijd zal het je beter gaan
is alles op de rit

Overall Meaning

Jan Smit's song "Van die dagen" is a poignant reflection on those days when things simply don't go as planned. The lyrics capture the feeling of frustration, disappointment, and stress that can come when life doesn't go our way. The first stanza talks about a bad day where everything that isn't supposed to go wrong does go wrong. From a flat tire on your car to losing your phone in the sea, everything seems to be going against you, and there's no escape from it. You're just waiting for tomorrow to arrive because today isn't it.

However, the chorus follows that you must put these silly bad days behind you, and tomorrow is just another day. Life is full of ups and downs, and sometimes things don't go as planned, but it is important to focus on the positive and know that the sun always comes out after the rain. The second verse talks about how things at work don't go as planned either, and your boss unexpectedly gives you a day off or how your wife leaves you, disappointed about something. The song ends on a more positive note, emphasizing that even though it may take time, things will eventually work out.

Line by Line Meaning

Je kent dat wel zo'n nare dag
You know that feeling of a bad day

waarop het even niet
When everything doesn't go

zo gaat zoals het hoort te zijn
Like it's supposed to be

en iedereen ziet het
And everyone can see it

Je band lek en je telefoon
Flat tire and lost phone

verloren in de zee
Lost in the sea

je wacht met smart op morgen
And waiting eagerly for tomorrow

want vandaag zit het niet mee
Because today isn't going well

Dat zijn van die dagen
Those are the kind of days

die je snel moet vergeten
That you should quickly forget

altijd na regen
Because after the rain