1. Johan is a Dutch … Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three artists called Johan.
1. Johan is a Dutch indie rock band, established in 1990 in the town of Hoorn, The Netherlands, by singer, guitarist and songwriter Jacob de Greeuw, who initially named the group Visions Of Johanna (after the Bob Dylan song of the same name).
The name was changed into Johan in 1996. That same year the band put out their début album, Johan, to overwhelming acclaim from the Dutch music press. The band underwent several personnel changes. De Greeuw soon was the only permanent member. Johan recorded and released three more studio albums of melodic, crafty, Beatle-esque guitar pop with English lyrics that often touched on De Greeuw's personal life. The frontman suffered several bouts of serious clinical depression, the subject of many songs on the Dutch indie classic Pergola (2001) as well as THX JHN (2006). By 2006 De Greeuw had re-located to Amsterdam and formed an Amsterdam-based line-up of the band.
The album 4 (2009) would be thought to be Johan's swan song: the band - to the surprise of many fans - decided to call it a day after a sold-out 'farewell show' at Amsterdam's Paradiso in December 2009. In 2018 they released their 5th studio album Pull Up(2018) All five of Johan's albums (particularly the first three) are regarded as Dutch indie gems, but Johan never made a mark outside of The Netherlands, which is why they are regarded by many (in spite of their domestic success and 'gold' certification for Pergola) as criminally underrated.
Frontman Jacco (or Jacob) de Greeuw is the only permanent Johan member. The first Johan line-up (the 'Hoorn line-up' of 1996) was completed by Remco Krull, Niels de Wit and Wim Kwakman.
The 'Amsterdam line-up' line-up that called it a day in late 2009 consisted of De Greeuw, Maarten Kooijman (guitar, vocals), Diets Dijkstra (guitar, bass guitar, vocals) and Jeroen Kleijn (drums).
De Greeuw's decision to call it quits was perhaps more of a surprise than his decision to re-form the band in 2018 after nine years of absence. The comeback album, Pull Up was regarded by most critics as 'just as good as the first three'. A long string of Dutch festival shows and sold out club gigs followed. The current line-up of Johan is the 'Amsterdam line-up' of 2009, with the exception of guitarist Maarten Kooijman, who penned several songs on 2009's 4. Robin Berlijn (previously in Fatal Flowers, Moke and Kane, amongst others) replaced him.
2. Johan is an American singer and music producer who, until 2010, had never seriously listened to any kind of popular music--he was fully immersed in the world of classical, as an award-winning composer and self-taught pianist. But then Johan was introduced to Kanye West's symphonic 2010 album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, while on acid at a house party in the suburban Massachusetts town where he grew up. Captivated, he immediately began teaching himself how to sing and produce contemporary songs.
In 2016, Johan became the composer for Yeethoven--a concert featuring the music of Kanye West and Beethoven juxtaposed and combined by a 50-piece orchestra. Johan's work soon caught the attention of Mike Dean and No I.D., both of whom he's worked with extensively since then on albums for Travis Scott (Astroworld), Teyana Taylor, Nas, Kanye West, Vic Mensa and others. His contributions on these records range from writing & production, to composing & singing grandiose choral atmospheres to orchestrating symphonic interludes.
Now, Johan is releasing new music of his own, featuring the same vocal and orchestral textures he contributed to these artists. They appear not as background components in his work, but as a central compositional feature--something Kanye West personally encouraged him to consider when working on Teyana Taylor's album.
Johan's songs, which he produces largely himself, explore a feeling of suburban ennui and anxiety about growing up, often viewed through a darkly humorous, self-deprecating lens.
3. Johan is also a Dutch folk/pub singer. His full name is Johan Hengeveld, 'Jij hebt de hemel verdiend' (2009) his best known song.
Walking Away
Johan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trading places, getting nowhere, what is it for?
You have changed in many ways, forever lost and found
Better face it, I don't know you anymore
Walking away, feel nothing, getting away from it all
Walking away, feel nothing at all
Finding places, living memories wasted before
You've become a stranger to, me we have grown apart
Can you face it, I don't know you anymore
Walking away, feel nothing, getting away from it all
Walking away, feel nothing at all
Search a way keep moving on, leave it all behind what's done
Clear your mind, you'll find out where you belong
People live in circles getting nowhere, lost in the dark
Follow traces not existing anymore
Walking away, feel nothing, getting away from it all
Walking away, feel nothing at all
Walking away, feel nothing
Running away from it all
Walking away, feel nothing
Running away from it all
Walking away, feel nothing at all
In Johan's song "Walking Away," the lyrics explore the theme of disconnection and loss in relationships. The lyrics describe people constantly moving, trading places and going in circles without any sense of direction or purpose. The singer of the song reflects on how his relationship with someone he once knew has changed and he feels like he doesn't know them anymore. The lyrics express a feeling of detachment and not being able to connect with the other person anymore. The chorus uses repetition to emphasize the act of walking away and feeling nothing, which could be interpreted as a defense mechanism to avoid feeling any pain associated with loss.
The lyrics also suggest a search for clarity and a sense of belonging. The singer acknowledges that the relationship is over and encourages the other person to let go of the past and move on. He advises them to clear their mind and search for their true purpose in life. The final verse emphasizes the idea of being lost and following traces that no longer exist. The singer's final message is to walk away from everything and start afresh, free from anything that is holding them back.
Overall, "Walking Away" is a poignant and reflective song that captures the feelings of detachment and loss that can arise in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
People running everywhere, just wandering about
People are aimlessly moving around without any sense of direction or purpose.
Trading places, getting nowhere, what is it for?
People are switching positions, but it is not leading to any progress or improvement.
You have changed in many ways, forever lost and found
You have undergone various transformations and it is difficult to understand or recognize you now.
Better face it, I don't know you anymore
It's time to confront the changes and accept that the person is no longer familiar.
People riding circles always end up at the start
People who keep moving in circles without a clear direction or objective, always end up where they began.
Finding places, living memories wasted before
Even after going to new places, there is no progress as the same old memories and behaviors are repeated.
You've become a stranger to me, we have grown apart
You and I no longer share the same wavelength and have lost the connection that we once had.
Can you face it, I don't know you anymore
It is crucial to accept the reality of the situation and acknowledge that the person is no longer the same.
Search a way keep moving on, leave it all behind what's done
One needs to find a way to move forward and leave behind the things that cannot be changed or undone.
Clear your mind, you'll find out where you belong
With a clear mind, it becomes possible to figure out one's true purpose and where they truly belong.
People live in circles getting nowhere, lost in the dark
People keep repeating the same patterns and not making progress, while also being unaware of where they are headed.
Follow traces not existing anymore
Trying to follow old trails that no longer exist or lead to anything worthwhile.
Walking away, feel nothing, getting away from it all
Leaving behind everything that is not conducive to personal growth with a sense of detachment.
Running away from it all
Escaping everything without properly dealing with the underlying issues.
Walking away, feel nothing at all
Leaving without any emotional attachment or baggage.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JACCO DE GREEUW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tyler Durden
Jaaaaaaaren geleden op 3fm gehoord, gelijk fan.. Geweldig talent
Carmen Araujo
Love it
А Щ
i do love this music.... like a reminder of a happy childhood..
Ivo
JOHAN. one of the best songs ever made. Thanks.
Jayne van der wijk
Wonderfull song and beautiful video!!!
Worsthoofd
Wow... This song is actually pretty dang awesome, and I never even heard of it (being a Dutchie I should have... I guess). Sounds quite a lot like Crowded House, I like that. :)
Amburgacker
De l'imagination, une musique et des paroles sympas, bien servies par cette vidéo originale qui nous déroute et nous étourdit: allez, en arrière, en arrière, encore en arrière.....
Sky
great music!
Marike Hazenberg
Heb niet veel Engelstalige cd's maar de cd's van Johan vind je d'r zeker wel tussen ! goeie muziek !!! en ook een mooie clip
Corry Severin
SUPER MUSIC ...PROUD!!!