He has been named number one in the prestigious DJ MAG Top 100 poll four times in a row, from 2007 till 2010 and for the 5th time in 2012. He's the first DJ in the history of the DJ Magazine to achieve that and an indication of his prolific output over more than 14 years he’s been dj’ing and producing. Being the official World’s Most Popular DJ is just one of his many achievements, but the driving force behind his success is an overriding passion for electronic dance music.
2008 began with the success that the number one DJ seems to attract; he was awarded with the prestigious Buma Cultuur Pop Award in January. This was followed by being voted as the Best Trance Artist in the Beatport Music Awards in March; judged on the musician’s artistic achievements, national and international success, it is evident that Armin van Buuren has become one of the decade’s most influential trance acts.
Even a basic list of recent successes reads like a lifetime of work: ‘Best Album’ for artist album ‘Shivers’ at both the Dutch Release Dance Awards and the prestigious Edison Awards; ‘Best Compilation’ for ‘A State Of Trance’, in 2006, claiming the ‘Best European DJ’ award in 2007 and ‘Best Mix Radio Show’ at the Miami Winter Music Conference in 2006 and 2007, for radio show ‘A State Of Trance’ – now broadcasting on a massive 40 FM stations as well as satellite and internet radio, with over 26 million listeners a week; a 5th year residency in Ibiza at Amnesia and over 50,000 downloads every week from podcasting high end chart-bothering positions all over the world for singles, albums and compilations , with single “Rush Hour” used as the theme tune to the UEFA European Youth Championship; the #1 entry in the Dutch album charts with his artist album ‘Imagine’, the #1 entry of the DVD registration of ‘Armin Only ‘ Imagine’ – the landmarks just keep coming!
The 350th episode and the 7th year of the hit radio show ‘A State of Trance’ was celebrated in May 2008 with an eight hour live broadcast from Antwerp in Belgium to over 40 radio stations internationally. Fans were invited to a free party with a line up that had been voted for by the show’s listeners; another example of the importance the DJ places on the satisfaction of his fans. Considering the popularity of the radio show the introduction of ‘A State of Trance Podcast’ was a natural progression. The weekly podcasts which contain highlights and Armin’s favourite tracks from the previous episode ensure that trance lovers across the world will never miss another episode!
Sold-out shows for Armin Only in 2005 and 2006 created eager anticipation of the third edition, which kicked off in a sold-out Jaarbeurs in Utrecht in 2008; over 16,000 fans attended and were enthralled by the DJ’s nine hour set. The theme of the night was ‘Imagine’, described by Armin as “the celebration of our sensations both in life and in clubland.” Fans all around the world should not despair, as ‘Armin Only’ tour dates have also been set for Romania, Poland, Belgium and Australia; the DJ will also be touring in England, Scotland, Ibiza, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, and the USA, with expected dates in, for an example, the Czech Republic.
Born in Leiden, Holland (on December 25, 1976) to a musical family, Armin indulged his passion for music from a young age. He spent all the money he earned with his paper round on records. His mum won a computer when he was 10, gaining Armin’s interest. “So as a little nerdy kid I was writing my own basic programmes, and learnt about the technology from there.” He progressed from making low-profile mix tapes for friends to higher profile mixes when he discovered experimenting with different sequences on his computer through his uncle. “I was so stunned by what I saw him doing on the computer, that I got addicted to creating music right there and then!”
“I loved dance music immediately – this great rebellious sound that was so different to the ‘beautiful’ songs of the years before”. Armin cites electronic pioneer Jean Michel Jarre as a major influence (famed for his awesome visuals as well as his groundbreaking synth sounds), as well as Dutch producer Ben Liebrand, who later mentored him in his mixing and producing.
In the early days, Armin thought it was wise to have something extra in case the DJ’ing didn’t work out. So he studied for a law degree. The final year of his course was inevitably stretched as he juggled his studies with his increasingly hectic schedule; his rise to fame included lots of productions and remixes, as well as playing out to packed clubs every weekend. It took him three years to graduate, but his determination made him succeed!
Armin’s own productions have all made a huge impact and quickly gain worldwide acclaim; his latest artist album titled ‘Imagine’ entered the Dutch Album Top 100 Chart at number one; this is the first time a dance producer has ever accomplished such a feat in the history of Dutch music. The first single to be taken from this album, ‘Going Wrong’ with DJ Shah featuring Chris Jones, entered the Dutch Singles Chart at number five. The ‘Armin Only DVD’ was also released and reached the acclaimed number one spot in its second week. His back catalogue includes Blue Fear, Communication, Sound of Goodbye, Shivers, Rush Hour, Burned With Desire, Exhale, Love You More, This World Is Watching Me, and Yet Another Day. While the remix offers flood in, Armin only takes on tracks that he really loves. He uses exactly the same criteria for his compilations, meaning that every release from Armin or his long-running Armind label is a bone fide stormer that’s earned its place. His output includes tracks for the cult TV series 24, and the likes of Motorcycle’s As The Rush Comes.
Armin is a dedicated trance lover, but isn’t imprisoned by a single genre, saying “What makes trance work so well is that it doesn’t stick to one style, and can incorporate electro, minimal, whatever it likes.” His desire to showcase more of the great music he hears, along with the number of people sending him tracks they wanted to release, led to the obvious step of starting his own label, Armada, in 2003.
The label is a joint venture between Armin, Maykel Piron (former head of A&R for Warner Music) and David Lewis, who'd previously managed Armin. "What we wanted was a company that could offer everything for an artist: representation, a booking agency, and a record company. Artists can choose full management, or to just release a record or play out at gigs. Armada lets the artists choose what they want without telling them what to do".
Armin is now a fully-fledged artist in his own right, having made his songwriting debut on his album, the award-winning Shivers; The events continue to get bigger and bigger, and Armin regularly headlines the likes of Sensation White, Global Gathering, Dance Valley, ZoukOut, Mysteryland, Coachella, Beats In Brazil, Trance Energy, Fort Dance, Summer Days – basically whether you’re in Australia, Russia, the Middle East, the US or Europe, you can catch Armin van Buuren at a club or festival near you!
"This is just what I really want," says Armin. "It’s not just love for music, it’s my passion. It goes beyond liking, and beyond a hobby, it’s about a way of living. Music is essential to my life”.
Alive
Armin van Buuren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Calling me over
You
Make me go under
Silhouettes dancing like shadow
Live in the nocturnal hours
You
Make me go under, yeah
All we do is la la la
Losing our mi-mi-minds
Waiting for the ni-ni-night
That's when we come alive
All we do is la la la
Losing our mi-mi-minds
Waiting for the ni-ni-night
That's when we come alive
All we do is la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
That's when we come alive
All we do is la la la
Losing our mi-mi-minds
Waiting for the ni-ni-night
That's when we come alive
All we do is la la la
Losing our mi-mi-minds
Waiting for the ni-ni-night
That's when we come alive
That's when we come alive
The moon
Is taking me over
Fools
Rushing like water
Pierce through the air like a siren
We come to break up the silence
You
Make me go under, yeah
That's when we come alive
All we do is la la la
Losing our mi-mi-minds
Waiting for the ni-ni-night
That's when we come alive
All we do is la la la
Losing our mi-mi-minds
Waiting for the ni-ni-night
That's when we come alive
The lyrics of Armin van Buuren's song "Alive" convey a sense of liberation and euphoria that comes to life in the nocturnal hours. The song speaks to the transformative power of music and the freedom it brings. The opening lines, "Lights, calling me over, you make me go under," suggest being drawn into a mesmerizing and immersive experience, where the external world fades away.
The lyrics emphasize the repetitive nature of the nights spent lost in music, with the lines "All we do is la la la, losing our mi-mi-minds, waiting for the ni-ni-night, that's when we come alive." This repetition accentuates the state of being consumed and liberated in the music, as if the mind goes on a journey of its own, leaving behind any inhibitions or worries.
The references to "silhouettes dancing like shadow" and "fools rushing like water" evoke a visual experience of freedom and movement. The song suggests that during these nights, the music breaks the silence and seduces the soul. It creates an atmosphere where everyone becomes alive, an exhilarating moment of unity and connection.
Overall, "Alive" by Armin van Buuren celebrates the power of music to transcend reality and transport individuals to a heightened state of being.
Line by Line Meaning
Lights
The bright lights are beckoning me towards a different reality.
Calling me over
They are summoning me to leave my current state and explore something new.
You
You, the person or entity that has an irresistible pull on me.
Make me go under
You have the power to plunge me into a deep state of change and transformation.
Silhouettes dancing like shadow
Figures moving gracefully, their forms blending into the darkness, creating an enchanting display.
Live in the nocturnal hours
Existing and thriving in the mysterious and captivating moments of the night.
You
You, the one who is responsible for pulling me under and delving into this new world.
Make me go under, yeah
You continue to draw me in, and I willingly surrender to your influence.
All we do is la la la
Our main pursuit is to immerse ourselves in the music, forgetting everything else.
Losing our mi-mi-minds
We surrender control of our thoughts and let the rhythm guide us, losing ourselves in the experience.
Waiting for the ni-ni-night
Anticipating the arrival of the night, which holds the promise of excitement and liberation.
That's when we come alive
The night is the catalyst for our transformation, allowing us to fully embrace our true selves.
La la la la la la
A rhythmic chant that symbolizes our immersion in the music and the euphoric atmosphere.
That's when we come alive
Once we let go of our inhibitions and surrender to the night, our essence truly awakens.
The moon
The celestial body that exerts its mesmerizing influence, heightening our desires and emotions.
Is taking me over
The moon's power is engulfing me, amplifying my yearning for change and adventure.
Fools
Those who rush forward without caution or hesitation.
Rushing like water
They move swiftly, akin to the flowing force of water, carried away by their impulsiveness.
Pierce through the air like a siren
Their presence disrupts the stillness, penetrating through the atmosphere with an irresistible allure.
We come to break up the silence
Our arrival signifies the end of tranquility, as we bring energy and excitement to the surroundings.
That's when we come alive
When we disrupt the silence and make our presence known, our true essence is fully revealed.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Amanda Kongshaug, Anders Grahn, Armin van Buuren, Aviram Saharai, Benno De Goeij, Jacob Werner, Nissim Kadosh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mohammedashik1745
Who's here in 2024?
@jyden_f8b
Let's gooo
@MrPuto-
It's unacceptable that almost 10 years later this song doesn't have millions of views. Lauren's voice is incredible. Wronged masterpiece
@nick347b
Can Armin not make one progressive house track without people complaining? This song is beautiful. Of course we all want him to continue making real trance but he's not obligated to stick to the same thing for every single track.
@cagermanboy
This video is beautiful and a sign of our times people. Lauren and Armin thank you for bringing to light the self-centered behavior that our American society has become. Time to reach out beyond ourselves and pay attention to those around us. You don't know how many lives you can touch or even save.
@gedelstein3000
This song is so beautiful after all these years I still love listening to it Lauren Evans has such a amazingly beautiful voice. I just had to close my eyes and listen to her sing.
@Slash1550
I remember listening to this song on the way to a job interview in 2014 knowing my life was about to change. This song is still so relevant and still a masterpiece 👌
@AsimNkosiMusic
This deserves way more recognition and views <3
@ginopanthers5070
agree. I watched it years ago and liked and came back again
@kirstidare6948
Sometimes people as brilliant as Armin are simply 10+ years ahead of the times. Heck, trance used to be 20+ years ahead. So, the gap is closing. I encouraged him to put this out there again in a message if he ever sees it. I believe if he pushed it out there now it would hit the top of the charts. ❤ It is time. The moments is now!