Jan Smit (singer)
Encyclopedia
Johannes Hendricus Maria "Jan" Smit (born December 31, 1985 in Volendam
, Netherlands) is a Dutch pop music
and schlager
singer. He scored his first number one position in the Dutch charts with Ik zing dit lied voor jou alleen (I'm singing this song only for you) in 1997. Being 12 years of age at the time, he was known as Jantje ('Johnny') Smit.
, 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 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 90s, 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 the 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 moderate success.
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 seaside village of Volendam.
The reality soap became a TV hit and an accompanying album, 'Vrienden voor het leven' ('Friends 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, to appeal to his loyal 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" ('Then you follow her legs'), and the album charts also with the album "Op Weg Naar Geluk" which sold 160,000 copies in its first four days after being released, going 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". Later Smit recorded this song with his younger sister Monique Smit, who has 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 had 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.
'. After a while a commotion occurred with Dutch rapper ‘Ali B
’. Ali B voted Jan Smit out and spelled on his board 'Jan Shit' resulting in a fight with him.
Volendam
Volendam is a town in North Holland in the Netherlands, in the municipality of Edam-Volendam. The town has about 22,000 inhabitants .- History :...
, Netherlands) is a Dutch pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and schlager
Schlager
Schlager music is a style of popular music prevalent in Central and Northern Europe and the Balkans and also in France and Poland. In Portugal, it was adapted and became pimba music...
singer. He scored his first number one position in the Dutch charts with Ik zing dit lied voor jou alleen (I'm singing this song only for you) in 1997. Being 12 years of age at the time, he was known as Jantje ('Johnny') Smit.
Music
Smit was discovered by Dutch middle of the road band BZNBZN
BZN was a Dutch band.-History:BZN started out as a pop-rock band in their native Volendam in 1966, playing early-Bee Gees-like harmony pop...
, 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 to his grandmother. In 1997, Smit toured South Africa with popular Afrikaans singer Nádine
Nádine
Nádine is a South African Afrikaans singer, best known for the hit song Kaapse Draai. She has also recorded a number of songs in English.-Life and career:...
. In 2000, Smit won the Grand Prix der Volksmusik
Grand Prix der Volksmusik
The Grand Prix der Volksmusik is an annual regional song contest for folk music, first held in 1986. The countries taking part are Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy .-History:...
singing Ich zeig dir die Berge with Oswald Sattler for South Tyrol
South Tyrol
South Tyrol , also known by its Italian name Alto Adige, is an autonomous province in northern Italy. It is one of the two autonomous provinces that make up the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The province has an area of and a total population of more than 500,000 inhabitants...
. 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 90s, 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 the 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 moderate success.
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 seaside village of Volendam.
The reality soap became a TV hit and an accompanying album, 'Vrienden voor het leven' ('Friends 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, to appeal to his loyal 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" ('Then you follow her legs'), and the album charts also with the album "Op Weg Naar Geluk" which sold 160,000 copies in its first four days after being released, going 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". Later Smit recorded this song with his younger sister Monique Smit, who has 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 had 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.
Trivia
In March 2004 a special VIP broadcast was sent on the Dutch RTL 4-television program 'De Zwakste SchakelThe Weakest Link
The Weakest Link is a television game show which first appeared in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 14 August 2000 and will end its run in 2012 when its host Anne Robinson ends her contract. The original British version of the show airs around the world on BBC Entertainment...
'. After a while a commotion occurred with Dutch rapper ‘Ali B
Ali B
Ali B is a Dutch rapper of Moroccan descent. He has been noted as the first Moroccan-Dutch star in Dutch pop culture, "perhaps the most popular rapper in the Netherlands", and has performed together with Akon and Dutch artist Marco Borsato.-Personal life:Ali B married his then-manager Breghje,...
’. Ali B voted Jan Smit out and spelled on his board 'Jan Shit' resulting in a fight with him.
External links
- Jan Smit (official website)