When his first hit, "Ik Zing Dit Lied Vorr Jou Alleen," came out in 1997, Dutch pop and schlager singer Johannes Hendricus Maria Smit was a mere 12 years of age. Subsequent recordings found favor with both Dutch and German audiences, though it was in Germany where Jan Smit had his greatest success. After riding high for some time, Smit's popularity began to settle, but in 2005, Dutch station TROS created a reality television series based on his life. The show was a hit, and an album released in the midst of it, Vrienden Voor Het Leven, was a number one hit. By 2007, Smit was once again a repeat performer at the top of the charts in both the Netherlands and Germany.