| Jan Smit | |
|---|---|
Jan Smit during a concert in Zwolle in 2006 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Johannes Hendricus Maria Smit |
| Also known as | Jantje Smit |
| Born | December 31, 1985 |
| Origin | Volendam, Netherlands |
| Genres | Pop music, schlager |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Years active | 1996 – present |
| Website | www.jansmit.com |
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.
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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 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.
In March 2004 a special VIP broadcast was sent on the Dutch RTL 4-television program 'De Zwakste Schakel'. 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.