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”.
Alone
Armin van Buuren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the ghosts that are shattered, barely alive
Even time's in a rush
But it's going nowhere
Everyone's connected but no one is connecting
The human in me is long and missing
Tell me, have you seen it?
Or are we alone?
I need something to believe in
Tell me, are we alone?
Where is the love? Where is the feeling?
Is anybody out there?
Is anyone listening?
Is anyone left in this whole world?
Or are we alone?
Alone
Where is the feeling?
Everybody needs to love
Somebody who cares, just a friendly face
You can trust who'll be there, I'm too afraid to move on
And not be a stranger
'Cause everyone's connected but no one is connecting
The human in me is long and missing
Tell me, have you seen it?
Have you seen it?
Or are we alone?
I need something to believe in
Tell me, are we alone?
Where is the love? Where is the feeling?
Is anybody out there?
Is anyone listening?
Is anyone left in this whole world?
Or are we alone?
Alone
Is anyone left in this whole world?
Or are we alone?
Alone
The song "Alone" by Armin van Buuren is a reflective and emotional piece that deals with the theme of loneliness and disconnection in society. The opening lines, "Everyone is broken, only day in your life, like the ghosts that are shattered, barely alive," paint a bleak image of the state of humanity, where people are struggling and disconnected from one another. The song speaks of a rush of time that leads nowhere, where everyone is connected but no one is connecting. The singer expresses a need to believe in something, a need to feel loved and accepted, but is unsure if anyone is listening or if they are alone.
The chorus is particularly powerful because it is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the idea that humans are searching for meaning and connection, but often feel like they are alone in their struggles. The lines "Is anybody out there? Is anyone listening? Is anyone left in this whole world?" are haunting and speak to the fragility and vulnerability of humans. The song ends on the same note, with the repeated question, "Is anyone left in this whole world? Or are we alone?" leaving the listener with a sense of uncertainty and contemplation.
"Alone" is a poignant piece of music that resonates with many listeners as it speaks to a common feeling of loneliness in today's world. It is a reminder that despite living in a connected and globalized world, we can still feel disconnected and alone. The song highlights the need for human connection, empathy, and kindness in a world that is often harsh and indifferent.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone is broken, only day in your life
All people are damaged in some way, and you only have one chance at life
Like the ghosts that are shattered, barely alive
People are like broken spirits, barely holding on to life
Even time's in a rush
Time seems to be rushing by quickly
But it's going nowhere
However, time is not leading to any significant destination
Everyone's connected but no one is connecting
Although everyone is linked through various means, actual connections between individuals are rare
The human in me is long and missing
The humanity within the singer is absent or lost
Tell me, have you seen it?
Asking if anyone has observed the missing humanity
Have you seen it?
Repeating the previous question
Or are we alone?
Questioning whether people are truly alone or not
I need something to believe in
The artist desires something to have faith in
Where is the love? Where is the feeling?
Wondering about the absence of love and emotion
Is anybody out there?
Asking if anyone is present or listening
Is anyone listening?
Repeating the previous question
Is anyone left in this whole world?
Asking if there are any individuals remaining in the world
Alone
Repeating the title of the song
Everybody needs to love
It is necessary for all people to experience love
Somebody who cares, just a friendly face
This can be found in someone who cares for you and offers a kind, supportive presence
You can trust who'll be there, I'm too afraid to move on
Looking for someone reliable and trustworthy, as the singer is feeling scared of moving forward alone
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sentric Music, Peermusic Publishing, Fintage House Publishing
Written by: BENNO DE GOEIJ, VICTORIA HORN, LAUREN EVANS, ARMIN J J D VAN BUUREN, EMILE DERNST
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!