Van Helden was born in Boston on February 17, 1970 to a Dutch-Indonesian father and a French-Lebanese mother, but travelled around the world as a child spending time in the Netherlands, Turkey and Italy, as his father was a member of the US Air Force. At the age of thirteen, he bought a drum machine and started DJing two years later.
He returned to Boston in 1988 but also moonlighted as a DJ in Boston clubs. He attended Boston University. He quit his legal review job in 1989 to work as a remixer/producer for Mega-Mixx Productions DJ Remix Service (co-founded by his long time manager, Neil Petricone) where he reworked and re-edited a number of club records for the DJ-only service, including Shawn Christopher's "Another Sleepless Night." He also took up an occupancy at 'The Loft', Boston's leading nightclub.
Mega-Mixx's success was short lived. Mismanagement brought the company to a halt in early 1991. Later that year, he and Petricone, along with founding A&R coordinator, Tony Zeoli, launched X-Mix Productions, a similar DJ Remix service, which still exists today (http://www.xmix.com). Catching the attention of legendary Strictly Rhythm and Nervous Records A&R guru, Glady Pizarro, in 1992 Van Helden released his first official single "Stay On My Mind" under the psuedonym Deep Creed, through Nervous Records.
He released "Move It To the Left" (credited to Sultans of Swing) in 1992 on the Strictly Rhythm label, which became a moderate club hit. His first track to make the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart was "Witch Doktor" which made the top 5 in 1994.
The success of "Witch Doktor" led to opportunities to remix acts such as The Real McCoy ("Another Night", New Order ("Bizarre Love Triangle"), Blondie ("Atomic), Capella ("U Got To Know"), Lightning Seeds ("Jackie Lucky"), Deep Forest ("Marta's Song"), Jimmy Somerville ("Heartbeat"), Deee-Lite ("Dewdrops In The Garden") and Faithless ("Insomnia"). However, it was the "Professional Widow" remix that established him and became a dance hit around the world as well as a number one hit in the UK. Unfortunately, Van Helden did not receive a penny for this mix as he presented it uncommissioned, and thus was not entitled to compensation. However, it led to work remixing The Rolling Stones, Janet Jackson, Britney Spears and Puff Daddy as well as Daft Punk and the Sneaker Pimps, and adding to his reputation as one of the world's top house musicians.
Within dance music circles, Van Helden is widely credited for the introduction of the U.K. bred Speed Garage sound to the U.S. club scene with incredible set of remixes. The sound, identifiable by its deep bass subtones, long melodic breaks, and devestatingly hard hitting beats are exemplified in the following remixes beginning in 1995 with Jimmy Somerville "Heartbeat"; CJ Bolland's "Sugar Is Sweeter"; Faithless "Insomnia"; Tori Amos "Professional Widow"; Apollo 440 "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Dub"; and Sneaker Pimps "Spin, Spin, Sugar."
"Cha Cha" was another top ten dance hit from his first album Old School Junkies released in 1996, along with "The Funk Phenomena". A greatest hits album appeared the next year followed by a breakbeat album later in 1997. "U Don't Know Me," a collaboration with vocalist Duane Harden from the album, "2 Futur 4 U," was a number two hit on the Billboard dance chart, a Number one in the UK and a top 20 single on the pop charts in Australia and Canada.
In 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, Armand Van Helden explained, "You Don't Know Me was a perfect example of putting 2 simple things together, the beats from Jaydee's Plastic Dreams and a disco loop from Carrie Lucas."
Van Helden released the Killing Puritans album in 2000 which contained the dance hit "Koochy". His single "Why Can't You Spend Some Time" made the number 34 in the UK in 2001. His New York: A Mix Odyssey album released in 2004 produced two hits:
* "Hear my Name" reached number 7 on the Billboard dance chart, was top 30 on world and internet charts, made number 34 in the UK, and reached the top 40 in Australia; and
* "My My My" reached number 4 on the world internet charts, number 5 in the Belgian and Dutch charts, number 6 in Australia, number 15 in the UK and top 30 in the world dance charts.
In 2010 Van Helden teamed with A-Trak to form the duo Duck Sauce. They had an international smash hit with "Barbra Streisand," which used an ingenious sample from Boney M.
All Nite
Armand van Helden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All nite, all nite, all nite
Last night you told me that
I was gonna be your only love
You promised you would show me
'Coz you know that your words just ain't enough
To see exactly what you do
So can you prove that your love is real
And can you hold me all night long
'Coz I need you all nite
'Coz I want you all nite
'Coz I need you all nite
'Coz I need you all nite
'Coz I want you all nite
'Coz I need you all nite
'Coz I need you all nite
'Coz I want you all nite
'Coz I need you all nite
'Coz I need you all nite
'Coz I want you all nite
'Coz I need you all nite, all nite
Just when I decided
I wasn't gonna fall for love any more
You came through and ignited
A fire like I never felt before
I can't fight the way you make me feel
Your the one to give me love that's real
When we're together it feels so right
So come and stay with me tonight
'Coz I need you all nite
'Coz I want you all nite
'Coz I need you all nite
'Coz I need you all nite
'Coz I want you all nite
'Coz I need you all nite
'Coz I need you all nite
'Coz I want you all nite
(I need you)
'Coz I need you all nite
(I want you)
'Coz I need you all nite
'Coz I want you all nite
(I need you)
'Coz I need you all nite
(I want you)
So show me, show me something
'Coz words, it ain't gonna hold me down
You've got nothing to fear baby, just tell me where and when
And I'll be there tonight, tomorrow, whenever
'Coz I need you all nite
'Coz I want you all nite
'Coz I need you all nite
'Coz I need you all nite
'Coz I want you all nite
'Coz I need you all nite
The lyrics to Armand Van Helden feat. La Rocka's song All Nite speak to a lover who questions the authenticity of their partner's love. The singer expresses a desire to be held and loved all night long, and demands that their lover prove their dedication to the relationship. The lyrics depict a tug-of-war between doubt and hope that ultimately results in a rekindled sense of passion.
The first verse sets the stage for the song, with the singer recounting a conversation in which their lover promises undying love. Despite the promise, the singer doubts the authenticity of their partner's words, and decides to wait and see if their actions will match their claims. The chorus echoes this sentiment, with the singer expressing a desire to be loved and held all night long in order to truly feel secure in the relationship.
In the second verse, the singer admits to previously giving up on love, but then meeting someone who rekindled their passion. They can't resist the way their partner makes them feel, and acknowledges that their partner gives them a love that feels real. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the need for love and affection all night long.
In the bridge, the singer demands action from their partner, insisting that words alone are not enough to hold them down. They want their partner to show them how much they love and care, and pledge to be there whenever their partner needs them.
Overall, the lyrics to All Nite speak to the universal desire for love and connection, and the fear and doubt that can creep into even the strongest of relationships. Despite this doubt, there's an underlying sense of hope and optimism that love can prevail if both partners are truly dedicated.
Line by Line Meaning
All nite, all nite, all nite
Repetitive emphasis on the desire to be with the person all night long.
Last night you told me that
I was gonna be your only love
You promised you would show me
'Coz you know that your words just ain't enough
The singer was promised love by the other person, but words are not enough to prove it, actions are needed.
So I decided to wait for you
To see exactly what you do
So can you prove that your love is real
And can you hold me all night long
The singer decided to wait and see if the other person's love is real, and if they are willing to show it by physically holding them all night long.
'Coz I need you all nite
'Coz I want you all nite
'Coz I need you all nite
The artist emphasizes their desire to be with the other person all night long.
Just when I decided
I wasn't gonna fall for love any more
You came through and ignited
A fire like I never felt before
The artist was hesitant to fall in love again, but the other person sparked a new, intense feeling within them.
I can't fight the way you make me feel
Your the one to give me love that's real
When we're together it feels so right
So come and stay with me tonight
The singer cannot resist the feelings they have for the other person, and recognizes that being together feels right and real, urging them to spend the night together.
(...) And I'll be there tonight, tomorrow, whenever
The singer reassures the other person that they are ready and willing to be by their side whenever they want.
So show me, show me something
'Coz words, it ain't gonna hold me down
You've got nothing to fear baby, just tell me where and when
The artist asks the other person to show them something more than just words, because words are not enough to keep them apart. They encourage the other person to be bold and tell them where and when to meet up.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANA GARCIA, ARMAND VAN HELDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dessat83One
awesome!!!
vanessa southern
Class. Still.
houze
is this freestyle? it sounds like it.
j wrisk
i'd say so