Their first hit, Get Ready for This, was released in 1991 and took the European charts by storm, first as an instrumental version, then as a rap version. They are best remembered for No Limit, which was a world-wide number one hit in 1993, reaching number one in 35 countries. The group amassed a total of twelve Top 20 hits in the United Kingdom, and took two of their albums to number one as well.
Shortly after releasing a greatest hits album, they split up in 1996 due to conflicts over 2 Unlimited's future: Ray Slijngaard wanted to move more towards rap, whereas Anita Doth wanted the group to become an R&B-inspired group.
Anita initially started working for Dutch radio station Radio 538, later releasing a solo album called "Reality". Ray also tried to launch a solo career, which turned out to be commercially unsuccessful. The duo are thought not to have spoken to each other for ten years.
De Coster and Wilde brought in two new singers, Romy van Ooijen (b. 18th November 1971) and Marjon van Iwaarden (b. 18th June 1974) in 1998, but ultimately this new project was relatively unsuccessful, with single "Wanna Get Up" only managing to reach number 38 in the UK. After just one album, the new duo also parted in 1999.
More recently, remixes of "No Limit" and "Tribal Dance" were moderate hits in Germany and in 2004 a DVD featuring all their videos was released through ZYX Records. Anita still tours nightclubs around Europe, performing her old band's greatest hits and is also part of the group Divas Of Dance. A petition on the Internet for Anita to re-form 2 Unlimited has so far been unsuccessful.
Ray and Anita continue to perform their old hits separately in nightclubs and university student union clubs around the world. They both plan to release new solo material in 2009.
It was announced in the summer of 2008 by both Ray and Anita that they would reunite. On April 11th 2009 they will headline as 2 Unlimited at 'I love the 90's - The party' in Belgium.
In late 2009, 2 Unlimited reformed as Ray & Anita because their original producer own the rights to the 2 Unlimited name. On January 22, 2010, their first song recorded together in over a decade, titled "In Da Name Of Love" was released.
Rougher Than the Average
2 Unlimited Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once you're with me, you'll always wanna stay
'Cause I'll make you feel good, never blue
To put it simple, I'm a dream come true
Please baby, ya gotta let me go
Of course ya wanna stay, ha, I know
But time is precious, time is money
I live my life, do not interfere
Always tough, shed no tear
Bass in your face, the electric bomb
Don't just stand there, come on, come on
The contrast mega blast are for ever last
I'll put you down in a microphone contest
2 Unlimited put you to the test
Rougher than the average, yeah, we're the best
Rougher than the average, honey
Remember that, honey
Most guys I love, some guys I hate
?Cause some guys underestimate
The things I do and the things I care
Rougher than the average is what I am
Check me out while I'm coming on strong
This is the Ray, no, never do you wrong
Always the right girls spend the night
Take you down as quick as dynamite
Rougher than the average, yeah, that's me
Fresh and dope as you can see
Girl, in my room and in, out we go
Rougher than the average, let the bass go, aah
The lyrics in 2 Unlimited's song Rougher Than the Average are all about confidence and boasting about oneself. The song starts with the singer introducing themselves as "the A, the N, the I T A," which can be associated with their mentality of being above average. The singer tells the listener that once they're with them, they'll always want to stay because they make them feel good and elevate their mood. They see themselves as "a dream come true" and want their partner to understand that they're more valuable than anything else.
The next verse tells the listener that they should let go of the singer because time is money, and they're rougher than the average person. The singer says they live their life without interference and shed no tear, which indicates that they're independent and strong enough to deal with any situation. The lyrics are almost like a challenge to the listener to come and face their assertiveness and confidence, and the singer is confident in their ability to put others in their place.
In the final verse, the singer talks about how some people underestimate them, but they're "rougher than the average" and should not be underestimated. They talk about taking someone down as quick as dynamite and how they're "fresh and dope" and a step above the rest. Overall, the song is a mix of confidence, bravado and a message that the singer is not to be messed with.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm the A, the N, the I T A
I am ANITA
Once you're with me, you'll always wanna stay
When you're with me, you won't want to leave
'Cause I'll make you feel good, never blue
I'll keep you happy and never sad
To put it simple, I'm a dream come true
I am the perfect partner
Please baby, ya gotta let me go
Please let me go
Of course ya wanna stay, ha, I know
I know you want to stay
But time is precious, time is money
Time is valuable
I'm rougher than the average remember that, honey
I'm tougher than most people, remember that
I live my life, do not interfere
I live my own life without interference
Always tough, shed no tear
I am always strong and never cry
Bass in your face, the electric bomb
Loud bass music is playing
Don't just stand there, come on, come on
Don't just stand there, join in
The contrast mega blast are for ever last
The powerful contrast will always last
I'll put you down in a microphone contest
I'll defeat you in a microphone competition
2 Unlimited put you to the test
We challenge you to prove yourself
Rougher than the average, yeah, we're the best
We're tougher than most people and the best
Rougher than the average, honey
I'm tougher than most, honey
Remember that, honey
Don't forget it
Most guys I love, some guys I hate
I love most guys, I hate some
?Cause some guys underestimate
Because some guys think less of me
The things I do and the things I care
I have my own interests and values
Rougher than the average is what I am
I'm tougher than most people
Check me out while I'm coming on strong
Look at me, I'm being forceful
This is the Ray, no, never do you wrong
I am Ray and I'll never treat you badly
Always the right girls spend the night
Only the right girls stay with me
Take you down as quick as dynamite
I'll take you down quickly
Rougher than the average, yeah, that's me
I'm tougher than most people, that's me
Fresh and dope as you can see
I'm cool and great as you can see
Girl, in my room and in, out we go
We go in and out of my room
Rougher than the average, let the bass go, aah
I'm tougher than most people, let the loud music play
Lyrics © Kanjian Music
Written by: ANITA DOTH, FILIP DE WILDE, JAN VOEMANS, JEAN PAUL DE COSTER, RAYMOND SLLJNGAARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind