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.
Wat ik van jou wil weten
Jan Smit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ben ik stout gebleken, heb verkeerd gekeken, misschien wel daarom
steeds als ik jou wil vragen, wat ik je heb misdaan
dan zie je me niet meer staan
wat ik van jou wil weten, hoe dit verder gaat
ga jij me zo vergeten, sta ik straks op straat
vertel toch je plannen, krijg ik nog een zoen
wat ik van jou wil horen, ben jij nog van mij
gaat alles nu verloren, is het einde nabij
vertel toch je plannen, krijg ik nog een zoen
want in mijn onzekerheid, weet ik niet meer wat te doen
blijf je mij negeren, wordt ik uitgedoofd
kan ik hiervan leren, moet ik me bekeren, het speelt in m'n hoofd
steeds als ik jou wil vragen, of ik al weg moet gaan
dan zie je me niet meer staan
wat ik van jou wil weten, hoe dit verder gaat
ga jij me zo vergeten, sta ik straks op straat
vertel toch je plannen, krijg ik nog een zoen
want in mijn onzekerheid, weet ik niet meer wat te doen
wat ik van jou wil horen, ben jij nog van mij
gaat alles nu verloren, is het einde nabij
vertel toch je plannen, krijg ik nog een zoen
want in mijn onzekerheid, weet ik niet meer wat te doen
weet niet wat ik moet doen
In "Wat ik van jou wil weten," Jan Smit sings about feeling insecure and uncertain about his relationship with a partner who seems to be withdrawing from him. He admits to having behaved badly in the past few weeks, though he's not sure why, and is now worried that his partner is planning to leave him. He asks for reassurance, for an explanation of what's happening, and for a sign of affection to help him feel more confident, but his partner ignores him every time. Jan wonders if he should learn from the experience or if he should beg for forgiveness and try to win back his lover's heart.
The song's lyrics capture the kind of desperate confusion that can arise when people are afraid of losing someone they love. The lines, "vertel toch je plannen, krijg ik nog een zoen" (tell me your plans, give me another kiss) reveal Jan's fundamental need for clarity, communication, and emotional validation. He cannot handle the uncertainty of not knowing where he stands, and he is frustrated by the fact that his partner is unwilling or unable to give him the support he craves.
Line by Line Meaning
sinds een aantal weken, vraag me niet waarom
It's been a few weeks and I don't know why, but I have been acting out and may have looked at someone else, which seems to have affected our relationship.
ben ik stout gebleken, heb verkeerd gekeken, misschien wel daarom
I have acted poorly and may have even acted out of character, hence why I may have looked at someone else.
steeds als ik jou wil vragen, wat ik je heb misdaan
Whenever I try to ask you about what I may have done wrong, you seem to ignore me and not acknowledge my presence.
dan zie je me niet meer staan
You seem to not want to talk to me or acknowledge me when I ask about what's going on between us.
wat ik van jou wil weten, hoe dit verder gaat
I want to know from you what the future looks like for our relationship and where it's headed.
ga jij me zo vergeten, sta ik straks op straat
I'm worried that you may soon forget about me entirely, leaving me feeling lost and without a home.
vertel toch je plannen, krijg ik nog een zoen
Please tell me what your plans are for us and if you are still committed to our relationship, and if so, could I please have a sign of affection?
want in mijn onzekerheid, weet ik niet meer wat te doen
I am feeling very uncertain about our relationship and could use some reassurance to know where we stand.
blijf je mij negeren, wordt ik uitgedoofd
If you keep ignoring me, I feel like I will slowly fade away and stop trying to reach out to you entirely.
kan ik hiervan leren, moet ik me bekeren, het speelt in m'n hoofd
I am trying to understand what I could do better and if I need to change or apologize in some way. These thoughts are constantly on my mind.
of ik al weg moet gaan, dan zie je me niet meer staan
If I ask if I should leave, you once again seem to ignore me and not acknowledge my presence.
weet niet wat ik moet doen
I am feeling lost and uncertain about what to do next in our relationship.
Contributed by Dominic K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@margitgombar5987
❤
@vesnacovo9896
❤️❤️❤️😘😘😘.
@floriansantos2657
love uour songs Jan Smit. 💝💝💝
Gilda Cayetano listening 10 April 2022