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.
Hear My Name
Armand van Helden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
nothing has to change
take it all - the pain in me
but what if that's all there is?
a-a-a-all the way and we would
a-a-a-all the way and we would
are you all there is in my heart
it does believe that you are - just my age.
here my mind is empty
oh nobody comes away
here time is ending
here I'm gonna stay.
hear my name
doesn't anybody want to play
hear my name
can anybody find a way.
say my name now baby
loud and clear
say my name now baby
say it so I can hear your voice.
all I wanna do is get next to you!
all I wanna do is get next to you!
all I wanna do, wanna do, wanna do......
all I wanna do is get next to you!
here my mind is empty
oh nobody comes away
here time is ending
here I'm gonna stay.
hear my name
doesn't anybody want to play
hear my name
can anybody find a way.
here my mind is empty
oh nobody comes away
here time is ending
here I'm gonna stay.
hear my name
doesn't anybody want to play
hear my name
can anybody find a way.
[[if you wish to correct this song, please mark correction with a * ]]
The lyrics to Armand van Helden's song "Hear My Name" speaks to the idea of feeling alone and searching for connection. The opening lines, "you've been through it all, nothing has to change, take it all - the pain in me, but what if that's all there is?" suggest that the singer has experienced hardship but is struggling to find meaning in their pain. The repetition of "a-a-a-all the way and we would" suggests a desire for someone to share the journey with, to find connection and understanding. The line "are you all there is in my heart, it does believe that you are - just my age" further emphasizes the desire for connection with someone who understands them and their experiences.
The chorus, "hear my name, doesn't anybody want to play, hear my name, can anybody find a way" speaks to the idea of wanting to be heard and recognized, to find someone who wants to engage with them. The lines "say my name now baby, loud and clear, say my name now baby, say it so I can hear your voice" also emphasize the desire for recognition and connection. The repetition of "all I wanna do is get next to you!" reinforces the desire for intimacy and closeness.
Overall, the lyrics of "Hear My Name" speak to the universal desire for connection and understanding, particularly in times of hardship and loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
you've been through it all
You have experienced a lot of things in life, good or bad.
nothing has to change
There is no need to change anything even after experiencing the ups and downs of life.
take it all - the pain in me
Accept all the pain that I am feeling inside.
but what if that's all there is?
But what if the pain is all that's left and there is nothing else?
a-a-a-all the way and we would
We would go all the way.
a-a-a-all the way and we would
We would go all the way.
are you all there is in my heart
Do you occupy all the space in my heart?
it does believe that you are - just my age.
I believe that you are just as old as I am.
here my mind is empty
My mind is blank in this particular moment.
oh nobody comes away
Nobody comes out of this situation unscathed.
here time is ending
Time feels like it is running out in this situation.
here I'm gonna stay.
I am going to stay in this situation.
hear my name
Pay attention to me and acknowledge my presence.
doesn't anybody want to play
Is there no one who wants to engage or interact with me?
can anybody find a way.
Can anyone come up with a solution to this situation?
say my name now baby
Address me by my name, baby.
loud and clear
Speak clearly and loudly so that I can hear you properly.
say my name now baby
Address me by my name, baby.
say it so I can hear your voice.
Say it in a manner where I can hear the sound of your voice.
all I wanna do is get next to you!
All I want is to be close to you.
all I wanna do is get next to you!
All I want is to be close to you.
all I wanna do, wanna do, wanna do......
All I want to do is be near you, again and again.
all I wanna do is get next to you!
All I want is to be close to you.
here my mind is empty
My mind is blank in this particular moment.
oh nobody comes away
Nobody comes out of this situation unscathed.
here time is ending
Time feels like it is running out in this situation.
here I'm gonna stay.
I am going to stay in this situation.
hear my name
Pay attention to me and acknowledge my presence.
doesn't anybody want to play
Is there no one who wants to engage or interact with me?
can anybody find a way.
Can anyone come up with a solution to this situation?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network
Written by: ARMAND VAN HELDEN, MARY LOUISE PLATT, NICOLE LOMBARDI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aintcare_PhD
You've been through it all
Nothing has to change
Take it all - the pain in me
But what if that's all there is?
A-a-a-all the way and we would
A-a-a-all the way and we would
Are you all there is in my heart
It does believe that you are - just my age.
Here my mind is empty
Oh nobody comes away
Here time is ending
Here I'm gonna stay.
Hear my name
Doesn't anybody want to play
Hear my name
Can anybody find a way.
Say my name now baby
Loud and clear
Say my name now baby
Say it so I can hear your voice.
All I wanna do is get next to you!
All I wanna do is get next to you!
All I wanna do is get next to you!
Here my mind is empty
Oh nobody comes away…
Daaver Ali
I have you, all you
I have you, all you
I have you, all you
I have you, all you
I have you, all you
I have you, all you
I have you, all you
I have you, all you
I have you, all you
I have you, all you
I have you, all you
I have you, all
You've been through it all
Nothing has to change
Take it all the pain in me
But what if all there is?
A-a-all the way and we would
A-a-all the way and we would
Are you all there is in my heart
It does believe that you are just my age
Here my mind is empty
Oh, nobody comes away
Here time is ending
Here I'm gonna stay
Hear my name
Doesn't anybody want to play?
Hear my name
Can anybody find a way?
Say my name now, baby
Loud and clear
Say my name now, baby
Say it so I can hear your voice
All I wanna do is get next to you
All I wanna do is get next to you
All I wanna do, wanna do, wanna do
All I wanna do is get next to you
Here my mind is empty
Oh, nobody comes away
Here time is ending
Here I'm gonna stay
Hear my name
Doesn't anybody want to play?
Hear my name
Can anybody find a way?
Here my mind is empty
Oh, nobody comes away
Here time is ending
Here I'm gonna stay
Hear my name
Doesn't anybody want to play?
Hear my name
Can anybody find a way?
Find a way? Find a way?
Find a way? Find a way?
Find a way? Find a way?
Find a way?
Robyn Banks
There are 29 dislikes..... are they deaf? Armand Van Helden is a legend and has many killer tracks even No 1's. They probably listen to pop music.
ECLECTO
A No 1 would imply pop music no ? As in the pop charts No 1???
Abel Garcia
One of my go to songs ! This song is extraordinary .
leon davies
this tune is a classic never gets old. such good memories of this tune. care free life life was simple then.who ever knew that it was going to be like this. we are so lucky to of experienced this music
OMatti
Thank you very much for sharing. The song brought back a lot of memories and inspired me to create one of my house-mixes.
Renan Azevedo
Will never get old. 😌
RM Gs49 api
Stunning crazy work 😍 💕
Nathan Kauschke
been loving this for ages
Luke A
Still loving it in 2021!
Aintcare_PhD
You've been through it all
Nothing has to change
Take it all - the pain in me
But what if that's all there is?
A-a-a-all the way and we would
A-a-a-all the way and we would
Are you all there is in my heart
It does believe that you are - just my age.
Here my mind is empty
Oh nobody comes away
Here time is ending
Here I'm gonna stay.
Hear my name
Doesn't anybody want to play
Hear my name
Can anybody find a way.
Say my name now baby
Loud and clear
Say my name now baby
Say it so I can hear your voice.
All I wanna do is get next to you!
All I wanna do is get next to you!
All I wanna do is get next to you!
Here my mind is empty
Oh nobody comes away…