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”.
Body Of Conflict
Armin van Buuren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't find my way
You're the light that leads to harbor
When I'm crushed can't find my strength
You are all elements of life
Giving me skin so warm so tender
Giving me deep a sense of believe
All I know, all there is
A reflection of you
A home to this body of conflict
Deep into my love
Deep into my heart
Deep into surrender
When I'm blocked
Can't find my words
You're the lines
Making a sentence
When I'm hurt
Can't find the sense
You're the sun
That heals all sorrow
All I know, all there is
A reflection of you
A home to this body of conflict
Deep into my love
Deep into my heart
Deep into surrender
The lyrics of the Armin van Buuren song "Body of Conflict" speak about finding comfort and strength in a relationship. The singer reveals that when they are lost, crushed or blocked, their lover is the one who helps them find their way. This person is the light that leads them to safety, the one who gives them a sense of belief and hope when they are at their lowest. They describe their lover as the "elements of life," giving them warmth, tenderness, healing, and strength. The singer repeats that their lover is a reflection of themselves and a home to their body of conflict, implying that being with this person brings them peace amidst their troubles.
Line by Line Meaning
When I'm lost
In moments where I am unsure of myself or direction, feeling disoriented and confused.
Can't find my way
Lacking a clear understanding of where to go or what to do in my current state.
You're the light that leads to harbor
The guiding force in my life that brings a sense of clarity and helps me find my way back to a stable state.
When I'm crushed can't find my strength
In moments of intense emotional strain where I feel depleted and incapable of facing further struggles.
You are all elements of life
You are the embodiment of all the aspects of existence that make it worth living.
Giving me skin so warm so tender
Providing me with a sense of comfort and security, like being wrapped in a warm embrace.
Giving me deep a sense of believe
Instilling within me a powerful belief in myself and my ability to overcome obstacles.
All I know, all there is
Everything that I understand or experience in this world.
A reflection of you
Is a reflection of the force that you represent, the guiding light or the nurturing warmth that guides me through life.
A home to this body of conflict
A safe haven for me to rest and heal from the constant struggles and conflicts in my life.
Deep into my love
Immersed fully in the depths and passion of my love.
Deep into my heart
Exploring the profound depths of my emotions and feelings.
Deep into surrender
Allowing myself to surrender and let go, to be vulnerable and receive the love and guidance that I need.
When I'm blocked
Feeling unable to access my creativity, motivation or expression.
Can't find my words
Unable to put into words what I am feeling or thinking.
You're the lines
The patterns and structure that give shape and form to what I am trying to express.
Making a sentence
Helping me to articulate my thoughts and feelings into coherent and meaningful expressions.
When I'm hurt
Experiencing pain, both physical and emotional.
Can't find the sense
Struggling to make sense of what has caused my pain or how to heal from it.
You're the sun
The source of warmth and light that brings healing and comfort.
That heals all sorrow
Guiding me through the process of healing from my pain and sadness.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ADRIAN BROEKHUYSE, CLAUS TERHOEVEN, RAZ NITZAN, STEFAN BOSSEMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind