Roel van Velzen (artistname VanVelzen) was born on the 20th of March, 1978 … Read Full Bio ↴Roel van Velzen (artistname VanVelzen) was born on the 20th of March, 1978 in the Netherlands. Van Velzen is a singer/pianist.

On his highschool, the Christelijk Lyceum Delft, Van Velzen was in a couple of schoolbands. He composed his own music and he wrote the annual musical as well. When he went to college music was starting to become more and more important for him. He started his own band called "Goldfish" and he won the Heineken Student Music Award, in 1999.
Since 2002 Van Velzen is part of the theatregroup Op Sterk Water. He performed two times on Lowlands with this group.

After his study Van Velzen participated in the group Crazy Pianos in Scheveningen. While a performance in the Gelredome, Arnhem, he met his current manager, Ruud H. Vinke.
Van Velzen is noticed in 2005 by the Dutch producers Holger Schwedt (Anouk, Blof), Nando Eweg (Di-rect, Birgit) and John Ewbank (Marco Borsato), and with them he produces an album.

October, 2006. Van Velzen is starting to get familiar with the big mainstream audience after performing at the TMF Awards 2006, instead of James Morrison. Morrison called in sick that day.

At the 30th of June 2007, Van Velzen will be performing for a big crowd, because he will be playing at the second edition of Concert at Sea, Zeeland.
Van Velzen's first album will be released in March, 2007, called "Unwind". Twelve tracks are present on this album, written by himself, but also by John Ewbank and Andreas Johnson (known of the hit "Glorius"). The music is supported by the live-band of Anouk and Cor Bakker.

The first single of Van Velzen, "Baby Get Higher" came out in September 2006. His single was announced as the 3FM Megahit and became quite a good succes. The highest position in the Top40 was the 17th and this single was also used in a commercial for Q-Music. His second single "Burn" became the Alarmschijf.

I'll Stand Tall
Van Velzen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Life has run you over
Life keeps putting you down
All the weight on your shoulders
Leaves you to stare at the ground

You are in over your head
Don't see much of the sky
But I know you should know

Just look up when you're low
We'll spin this around
I can hear you call

Chorus:
When you fall
I'll rise and make you whole
I'll stand tall
You'll be safe and sound
Miles above the ground
I'll stand tall and make you high
Give you wings and make you fly
When there's no way out at all
I'll stand tall

Drive it out of the slow lane
Speed things up to your pace
There might only be four walls
You need a map of the maze

I can see that you suffer
But in time you will see
There's a new way to go
Just look up when you're low
We'll spin this around
I can hear your call

Chorus

When you fall
I'll rise and make you whole
I'll stand tall
You'll be safe and sound
Miles above the ground
I'll stand tall and make you high
Give you wings and make you fly
When there's no way out at all
wooohoho
wooohoho

wooohoho
wooohoho

Overall Meaning

Van Velzen's song, "I'll Stand Tall," speaks about the struggles of life and how individuals may sometimes feel like they have been run over and put down. The weight of the world can sometimes leave people feeling defeated with their heads hanging low. However, Van Velzen interprets the song to mean that even when people are in over their heads and can’t see much of the sky, they can always look up when they are low. Help is available to spin things around, and when people fall, the singer will rise and make them whole. They will stand tall and give them wings to make them fly. The chorus is sung with a sense of hope and awe-inspiring faith as the singer promises to be the ray of light for someone else.

The song potentially sends the message that despite our failings and faults in life, there are always breaks of sunlight over the horizon. No matter how low one is, they should reach up and look towards the direction of the sun with an enduring purpose of making every moment count. As opposed to embracing defeat, the song's message is a motivator to stay strong and steadfast in times of adversity.

Facts about the song "I'll Stand Tall" by Van Velzen include:

Line by Line Meaning

Life has run you over
Life has dealt you tough blows

Life keeps putting you down
Life continuously lowers your spirit

All the weight on your shoulders
You carry a heavy burden

Leaves you to stare at the ground
It's hard for you to find hope or positivity

You are in over your head
You're struggling and feeling overwhelmed

Don't see much of the sky
You feel trapped or limited

But I know you should know
I believe you should realize

Just look up when you're low
When you're feeling down, raise your head

We'll spin this around
I'll help you turn things around

I can hear you call
I'm aware of your needs and will respond