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.
Pushem' Up
Armand van Helden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
push em up everybody push em up
son, yo check it
The opening lines of Armand van Helden's "Pushem' Up" signify a tribute to the appreciation of the house side of hip hop. The song's primary directive is to ignite the audience to get on their feet and push up their hands; this is done through the repetition of the phrase "push em up." The utilization of the command has an energizing effect that's aimed at the bulk of the crowd. Throughout the song, Armand van Helden's lyrics have a link to house music culture as he continues with this command while tuning the track's irresistibly rhythmic beat. The core message here is that you are part of the crowd, and the crowd has time to have. Hence, put your hands in the air and have the time of your life.
The following lines "son, yo check it" are a shout out to hip hop's beat-driven musicality. It is a classic call to action in hip hop songs that propels its audience to join in and dance. Armand van Helden further emphasizes the music's hypnotic power as he implores the audience to lift their hands and follow his lead. The song is an embodiment of a single idea; the energetic sound and the lyrics' theme in return establish a vivacious clubbing experience for the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
yo this album right here
Hey, listen up! I want to draw attention to this particular album.
this joint is going out to all the people
This track is dedicated to and made for all the people.
that all the heads that resent the house side of hip hop
I am addressing individuals who do not enjoy the house style of hip hop music.
push em up everybody push em up
Lift your hands in the air, everyone! Show your support and enthusiasm for the music we're playing.
son, yo check it
Listen, my friend, I have something important to say and you need to hear it.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ARMAND VAN HELDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@El.Duder-ino
Armand's background in hip hop beats is evident and so so much awesome! Much love!
@YepEva
I love so much this album.
@El.Duder-ino
Indeed excellent album!
@Hyperslayer95
This slaps
@atlantisfunktions
heat