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.
Talking in Your Sleep
Armand van Helden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it's down to the sound of a heartbeat
I can hear the things that you're dreaming about
When you open up your heart and the truth comes out
You tell me that you want me
You tell me that you need me
You tell me that you love me
Cuz I hear it in the night
I hear the secrets that you keep
When you're talking in your sleep
When I hold you in my arms at night
Don't you know you're sleeping in a spotlight
And all your dreams that you keep inside
You're telling me the secrets that you just can't hide
You tell me that you want me
You tell me that you need me
You tell me that you love me
And I know that I'm right
Cuz I hear it in the night
I hear the secrets that you keep
When you're talking in your sleep
When you close your eyes and you fall asleep
Everythng about you is a mystery
You tell me that you want me
You tell me that you need me
You tell me that you love me
And I know that I'm right
Cuz I hear it in the night
I hear the secrets that you keep
When you're talking in your sleep
The lyrics of Armand van Helden's "Talking In Your Sleep" describe a romantic scenario where the singer has a special connection with their lover. They are aware of what their partner is dreaming about because they are so in tune with each other. The singer talks about how, when their partner falls asleep, they can hear the secrets that they keep and the things they dream of. The singer believes that they are right in understanding what their partner wants, needs, and loves, because they hear it all when their partner talks in their sleep.
The song speaks about how the singer holds their partner close at night, and in their embrace, their partner feels like they are under a spotlight. The lyrics suggest that everything about their partner is a mystery to them because they can't always express it when they are awake. However, when they sleep, they reveal their innermost desires and secrets to their lover through their dreams. The singer feels empowered and sure of their relationship because they know the truth behind their partner's words and actions.
Overall, the lyrics of "Talking In Your Sleep" emphasize the deep bond that develops between two people who understand each other's emotions and thoughts. The song portrays a sense of comfort, trust, and intimacy, and reveals that true love is founded on an unshakeable connection that transcends the waking world.
Line by Line Meaning
When you close your eyes and go to sleep
When you shut out the world and drift off
And it's down to the sound of a heartbeat
The sound of your pulse propels you into slumber
I can hear the things that you're dreaming about
Subconsciously, you reveal your innermost desires to me
When you open up your heart and the truth comes out
When you let down your guard, you reveal what's really on your mind
You tell me that you want me
You communicate that you desire me
You tell me that you need me
You express that you require my presence
You tell me that you love me
You profess your affection for me
And I know that I'm right
I am certain of the veracity of your words
Cuz I hear it in the night
I perceive your words during the nighttime hours
I hear the secrets that you keep
I listen to the undisclosed information you hide in your sleep
When I hold you in my arms at night
When I embrace you as we rest
Don't you know you're sleeping in a spotlight
You're revealing yourself as if on a stage
And all your dreams that you keep inside
Even the visions you keep hidden emerge into view
You're telling me the secrets that you just can't hide
You reveal things to me you thought were buried deep inside
When you close your eyes and you fall asleep
As you enter the realm of slumber
Everythng about you is a mystery
Your thoughts and emotions are enshrouded in mystique
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GEORGE CANLER, JAMES MARINOS, MICHAEL SKILL, PETER SOLLEY, WALTER PALAMARCHUK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BELEN ARLETT FLORES CHAMBI
yea es un tema demasiado bueno , era magia en su momento
Heriberto Gonzalez
still fresh love this song I play it every time I like to hear a good music
KK
Yes! He sounds phenomenal! Ty
william coronado
A pocos vídeos les doy like, pero esta versión lo merece .
Mike Couchman
Awesome. Glad to see these guys. No one stays the same. Go role out.
Dustin Nunn (The Real Dustin Nunn)
Wow...these guys are getting up in their years! I barely recognize them!
Motor City Man
Doesn't time effect you Dustin?
White Ninja
. . . and so is their weight!
MmeDesgranges
You look just like '83?
flashy5150
Ha, that's awesome !!! I remember seeing these guys at Hamilton Place when this song was released. I have to say the singer still sounds the same --- unbelievable !!! Go Romantics !!!