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.
Waarom jij
Jan Smit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je gaat nu met een ander om
Ik houd me groot en bekijk jij het maar
Verdwijn maar met de noorderzon
Maar gister dacht ik weer aan jou
En belde voor het slapen gaan
Maar een vreemde stem zei zacht
Maar waarom, waarom voel ik zo'n pijn
Wanneer ik 's nachts niet bij jou kan zijn
Misschien maak ik mezelf opnieuw wat wijs
En blijf je weg bij mij
Maar waarom, kan ik niet zonder jou
Kom zeg mij, wat ik je zeggen zou
En fluister dan heel zacht
Blijf bij mij vanacht
Is de liefde voor ons nu echt voorbij
Jij weet het, maar je zegt het niet
Ik zag je lopen, dus riep ik je naam
Zo hard ik kon, maar je zag me niet
Maar als ik droom, dan droom ik van jou
Je kust me en je lacht naar mij
En je zegt begrijp me goed, ik wil jou
Ik wil die ander niet
The song "Waarom jij" by Jan Smit is about a man who had a relationship with a woman that is now with someone else. He tries to act like he's moved on and doesn't care, but he can't help but think about her and feel the pain of not being with her. He calls her one night but a stranger answers and tells him that she's with him for the night. The man is confused about why he still feels so much for her and wonders if he's fooling himself. He wants her to stay with him that night, but he's not sure if he should ask her to come back to him or if it's really over between them.
The lyrics of the song explore the complex emotions that come with heartbreak and trying to move on from someone you still love. The singer's vulnerability and longing are palpable in the way he sings the words, and the melody adds to the melancholy mood of the song. Ultimately, the song captures the universal experience of unrequited love and the pain that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Ik heb jou al zolang niet meer gezien
It has been a long time since I saw you
Je gaat nu met een ander om
You are now with someone else
Ik houd me groot en bekijk jij het maar
I keep up a facade and let you do what you want
Verdwijn maar met de noorderzon
Disappear without a trace
Maar gister dacht ik weer aan jou
But yesterday, I thought about you again
En belde voor het slapen gaan
And called you before going to sleep
Maar een vreemde stem zei zacht
But a strange voice whispered softly
Ze is van mij, ze blijft de hele nacht
She is mine, she will stay with me all night
Maar waarom, waarom voel ik zo'n pijn
But why, oh why do I feel such pain?
Wanneer ik 's nachts niet bij jou kan zijn
When I can't be with you at night
Misschien maak ik mezelf opnieuw wat wijs
Maybe I am fooling myself again
En blijf je weg bij mij
And you stay away from me
Maar waarom, kan ik niet zonder jou
But why can't I live without you?
Kom zeg mij, wat ik je zeggen zou
Come on, tell me what I should say to you
En fluister dan heel zacht
And then whisper very softly
Blijf bij mij vanacht
Stay with me tonight
Is de liefde voor ons nu echt voorbij
Is the love between us truly over now?
Jij weet het, maar je zegt het niet
You know it, but you don't say it
Ik zag je lopen, dus riep ik je naam
I saw you walking, so I called your name
Zo hard ik kon, maar je zag me niet
As loud as I could, but you didn't see me
Maar als ik droom, dan droom ik van jou
But when I dream, I dream of you
Je kust me en je lacht naar mij
You kiss me and smile at me
En je zegt begrijp me goed, ik wil jou
And you say, "Understand me correctly, I want you"
Ik wil die ander niet
I don't want the other one
Contributed by Leo G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Saleti Hartmann
Desde criança, Jan Smit traz uma voz repleta de sensibilidade e canções que nos levam às lágrimas. Mas, são lágrimas de lembranças boas, de memórias inesquecíveis.... sentimentos que nos fazem "humanos". Parabéns!
Vesna Covo
Fantastische Stimme.❤️❤️❤️😘😘😘.
Vesna Covo
Schönste Stimme Weltweit.❤️❤️❤️😘😘😘.
mokkel reiziger
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Ria Aerts
Jan ik hoor u liedjes allemaal graag
Ria
Anouschka Winkels
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smacilda Oliveira
💓💓💓💓💓💓💓
Monica S
😘❤
Nigek Van Der Star
En mooi