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”.
Always A Fool
Armin van Buuren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't need a gun to blow my mind
Carrying crosses for the longest time
Why don't you see me go this way?
I'm watching me without you alone here in the cold
It seems so very real to leave
With scheming ideas to excuse
I'm always a fool and my eyes
Deserted from love they used to hang on
I started to watch myself with a mirrors eyes
And I begin to slip away
And no one's here to reach the other side with me
Why don't you see me go this way
I'm watching me without you alone here in the cold
It seems so very real to leave
I'm always a fool with my love
With scheming ïdeas to excuse
I'm always a fool and my eyes
Deserted from love they used to hang on
The lyrics of Armin van Buuren's song "Always A Fool" express the feelings of someone who is experiencing heartbreak and confusion in their relationship. The opening line "I took a walk down the street to a common place" suggests that the singer is trying to find solace and comfort in a familiar environment. However, the following line "Don't need a gun to blow my mind" hints at the emotional turmoil that they are going through. The idea of "carrying crosses for the longest time" implies that the singer has been struggling with the weight of their emotional baggage for a while.
The chorus of the song, which repeats twice, emphasizes the singer's self-awareness of being a "fool" when it comes to love. They admit to having "scheming ideas to excuse" their behavior, which suggests that they may be trying to justify their actions or find reasons for their failed relationship. The use of the word "eyes" in the last line of the chorus further emphasizes the emotional strain that the singer is experiencing, as it suggests that they no longer have the energy or desire to hold onto love.
The line "I started to watch myself with a mirrors eyes" in the second verse highlights the theme of introspection and self-reflection. The singer seems to be trying to understand where things went wrong and why they were unable to maintain their relationship. The final line "Why don't you see me go this way" is a plea for understanding and empathy. It suggests that the singer feels alone and in need of support.
Line by Line Meaning
I took a walk down the street to a common place
I wandered aimlessly through a familiar area
Don't need a gun to blow my mind
I can lose my sense of self without external factors
Carrying crosses for the longest time
I've been burdened with hardships for a significant duration
Why don't you see me go this way?
Why don't you understand my perspective and choices?
I'm watching me without you alone here in the cold
I'm observing myself without your presence, feeling isolated
It seems so very real to leave
Leaving seems tangible and feasible
I'm always a fool with my love
I'm consistently naive and unwise in matters of the heart
With scheming ideas to excuse
I often come up with justifications for my foolish behavior
I'm always a fool and my eyes
My foolishness extends to my gaze and perception
Deserted from love they used to hang on
My eyes no longer cling to love the way they used to
I started to watch myself with a mirror's eyes
I began examining myself through a detached and critical lens
And I begin to slip away
As I observe myself more objectively, I start to disconnect
And no one's here to reach the other side with me
I'm facing my struggles alone without support
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RALPH KYAU, STEVEN MOEBIUS ALBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Wegr0o
Lyrics:
I took a walk down the street to a common place
Don't need a gun to blow my mind
Carrying crosses for the longest time
Why don't you see me go this way?
I'm watching me without you alone here in the cold
It seems so very real to leave
I'm always a fool with my love
With scheming ideas to excuse
I'm always a fool and my eyes
Deserted from love they used to hang on
I started to watch myself with a mirrors eyes
And I begin to slip away
And no one's here to reach the other side with me
Why don't you see me go this way
I'm watching me without you alone here in the cold
It seems so very real to leave
I'm always a fool with my love
With scheming ïdeas to excuse
I'm always a fool and my eyes
Deserted from love they used to hang on
@ronskispeed4522
I’m 31, first heard this song when I was 19. I’ll be listening to this full blast when I’m 90.
@overdrivegain
Same
@Jay-gr9ij
Good lad
@LazarofShalev
Same same
@kILLuMBuS
still listening, what a tune.
@testdrive664
incredible! wow! nothing like today's factory pumped out music. music from the past always has the passion that is not captured in today's sound.
@elwilito
Long live trance! Long live music with class, style, rythm and sense
@kouroshbonyadi800
God I wish I could go back for just one day
@jimmydean7
Ohhhh maaaaan!! I'm LEGIT almost in tears....This track is my childhood.....SIGH SOOO Good!! 😌
@password.is.taco.
what happened to songs like this? songs that are deep and have meaning. songs that anyone can relate to. songs that can make us feel sad but still be so beautiful and uplifting