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.
Vieni sul mar
Jan Smit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sentirai l'ebrezza del tuo marinar
Deh, ti desta fanciulla, la luna
Spande un raggio si claro sul mar
Vieni meco, t'aspetta la bruna
Fida barca del tuo marinar
Ma tu dormi e non piensi al tuo fido
Ma non dorme chi vive d'amore
Io la notte a te volo sul lido
Ed il giorno a te volo col cor
Vieni zul mar, vieni a vogar
Sentirai l'ebrezza del tuo marinar
Addio alunque, riposa e domani
Quando l'aba a svegliarti vezza
Sopra lidi lontani lontani
L'infelice nocchiero sara
Ma tu dormi e non piensi al tuo fido
Ma non dorme chi vive d'amore
Io la notte a te volo sul lido
Ed il giorno a te volo col cor
Vieni zul mar, vieni a vogar
Sentirai l'ebrezza del tuo marinar
Da quel giorno che t'ho conosciuto
O fanciulla di questo mio cor
Speme e pace per te ho perduto
Peche t'amo d'un immenso amor
Fra le belle tu sei a piu bella
Fra le rose sei tu piu fin
Tu del ciel sei brillante mi stella
Ed in terra divina belta
Vieni zul mar, vieni a vogar
Sentirai l'ebrezza del tuomarinar
Jan Smit's Vieni sul mar is a touching and romantic song that speaks about the longing of a sailor for his beloved. The song begins with an invitation from the sailor to his love to come and sail with him, and to feel the excitement of the sea. He calls out to the girl to wake up and join him on his faithful boat that awaits her. The sailor expresses his deep love for her, saying that he flies to her at night and his heart flies to her during the day. But the girl sleeps on and doesn't think of her faithful lover. The chorus repeats the sailor's invitation to come and sail with him and feel the excitement of the sea. The song finishes with the sailor saying goodbye and that when he leaves, he'll become a unhappy sailor, but he'll still love her.
The lyrics in Vieni sul mar evoke the classic idea of the sea as a place of adventure, mystery, and romance. The sailor is presented as a romantic figure, deeply in love with his beloved, but also experiencing the thrill and excitement of the sea. The girl, on the other hand, represents the comforts, security, and pleasures of home. Though she is loved by the sailor, she is also seen as closing herself off from the world outside. The song is ultimately a plea for the girl to join the sailor and explore the world with him.
Line by Line Meaning
Vieni zul mar, vieni a vogar
Come to the sea, come and row
Sentirai l'ebrezza del tuo marinar
You will feel the thrill of your sailor
Deh, ti desta fanciulla, la luna
Oh, wake up, girl, the moon
Spande un raggio si claro sul mar
Spreading a clear light on the sea
Vieni meco, t'aspetta la bruna
Come with me, the dusk awaits you
Fida barca del tuo marinar
Faithful boat of your sailor
Ma tu dormi e non piensi al tuo fido
But you sleep and don't think of your faithful one
Ma non dorme chi vive d'amore
But who lives in love doesn't sleep
Io la notte a te volo sul lido
I fly to you on the shore at night
Ed il giorno a te volo col cor
And I fly to you with my heart during the day
Addio alunque, riposa e domani
Goodbye for now, rest and tomorrow
Quando l'aba a svegliarti vezza
When the dawn will wake you up
Sopra lidi lontani lontani
On distant shores
L'infelice nocchiero sara
the unhappy sailor will be
Da quel giorno che t'ho conosciuto
Since the day I met you
O fanciulla di questo mio cor
Oh girl of my heart
Speme e pace per te ho perduto
I have lost hope and peace for you
Peche t'amo d'un immenso amor
Because I love you with immense love
Fra le belle tu sei a piu bella
Among the beauties you are the most beautiful
Fra le rose sei tu piu fin
Among the roses you are the most delicate
Tu del ciel sei brillante mi stella
You are my shining star from heaven
Ed in terra divina belta
And on earth divine beauty
Contributed by Madelyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.