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”.
By Your Side
Armin van Buuren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blaze, from the sunshine
Standing, skin on skin
Hands dancing over me
Here, where love can grow
Clear, still waters
Blue, from a summer sky
Gazing at a perfect sky
Close my eyes, and I'll be there by your side
Dreaming of the days gone by
Take me back to when I was by your side,
By your side
Breathing in and breathing out
This is what life's all about
Lost inside my inner mind
Leaving all the haze behind
Gazing at a perfect sky,
Close my eyes, and I'll be there by your side
Dreaming of the days gone by,
Take be back to when I was by your side,
By your side
In Armin van Buuren's "By Your Side," the singer reflects on the beauty of the world around them, even in moments of haze and confusion. The first stanza describes a moment of bliss between two people, hands dancing over the singer's skin. The second stanza reflects on the clarity of love and the beauty of nature, with clear, still waters and a blue summer sky. The singer believes that true words never die, offering a sense of hope even as they navigate difficult times.
The chorus then transports the singer back to a time when they were with their loved one, dreaming of a perfect sky and feeling like they are by their side again. In the third stanza, the singer reflects on the cyclical nature of life - breathing in and breathing out - and the value of leaving behind the "haze" of anxiety and confusion. Finally, the chorus repeats once more, offering a sense of comfort and nostalgia for the happiness of the past.
Overall, "By Your Side" is a song about finding peace and beauty in a world that can be chaotic and uncertain. Through the lens of a previous romance, the singer finds hope and comfort in the natural world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Haze, with no air to breathe
Feeling suffocated and unable to breathe due to confusion and uncertainty
Blaze, from the sunshine
Feeling warmth and brightness from a source of light, like the sun
Standing, skin on skin
Being close and intimate with someone, feeling the warmth of their skin against yours
Hands dancing over me
Experiencing physical touch and feeling someone's hands moving gently over your body
Here, where love can grow
In a place where love is possible and can thrive
Clear, still waters
Peaceful and calm surroundings that enable clear thinking and reflection
Blue, from a summer sky
Feeling free, open and limitless, like the vast expanse of a clear blue sky
True words never die
Authentic and meaningful expressions of love or friendship are forever remembered and cherished
Gazing at a perfect sky
Looking up at a beautiful sky that symbolizes hope, freedom and possibility
Close my eyes, and I'll be there by your side
Imagining being with someone you love and feeling their presence, even if you're physically apart
Dreaming of the days gone by
Remembering moments of happiness and longing to relive them
Take me back to when I was by your side,
Wishing to go back in time to a moment when you were with the person you love
Breathing in and breathing out
Taking in air and releasing it, which represents the simplicity and necessity of life
This is what life's all about
Suggesting that life is about the simple things like breathing and being present in the moment
Lost inside my inner mind
Feeling overwhelmed and being consumed by your thoughts
Leaving all the haze behind
Feeling a sense of clarity and releasing yourself from feelings of confusion or uncertainty
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RENEE ANDREA NEUFVILLE, JEAN EVALYN NORRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheLonely2468
Appreciate you going back to EDM. Loved all the Love Regenerator stuff too.
@quispemamaniperuanazoo8569
Hace 7 horas ?
@TheWayOfAlex
How was Love Regenerator not EDM?
@hebergee
Love regenerator is better. This sounds like a request from the record label.
@6314680
@@bixbaxbanibu rogered.
@moadot720
Me, too!
@chicken
Its March 2024, let's see how many legends are listening to this incredible song ❤
@zaydpeer
This song always uplifts my mood! Great tune.
@gemstar7286
It has such a positive feel to it .
@Me-td1vi
This is the music that we all need this 2021 and onwards.
Catchy, positive vibes, mood booster, full of energy and happiness. Perfect reliever from stress, sorrow, depression, anxiety, sadness, and grief. A song for all ages.🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭