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”.
Flow
Armin van Buuren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you hold me
Oh oh, when you hold me
The sound
Is it possible I could feel this cool
I could really love you the way I do
Is it possible I could feel this good
See me (within the light)
Flowing (take me to you)
Like the river to the sea
You come down (I'm in the light)
You cover (pull me to you)
And the waves rush over me
I feel a love light rush over me
I feel the love turn to me
And then your love just creeps over me
Over me and I won't let you go
I won't let you go
And I won't let you go
I won't let you go
Take up your love
Take up your love
Take up your love
And come to me
This love's not a liar
To cold, it's a fire
I'm on the run
And it's a comfort to me
The lyrics in Armin van Buuren's song "Flow" describe the intense feeling of love and the desire to hold onto it forever. The first verse expresses the possibility of feeling such intense emotions for someone and loving them to the fullest extent. The chorus highlights the sensation of being immersed in love and the feeling of it rushing over oneself, making it impossible to let go. The subsequent verses maintain the same sentiment and reinforce the idea that love is a powerful force that cannot be denied.
The lyrics also carry an underlying theme of the transformative nature of love. Lines such as "Take up your love and come to me" convey the sense of completeness and fulfillment that comes with finding love. It's a feeling that changes a person for the better and provides comfort.
The chorus is particularly impactful and effectively communicates the depth of emotion that comes with being in love. The repetition of "I won't let you go" indicates the fear of losing the person who has become an integral part of the singer's life.
Overall, "Flow" is a love song that conveys a sense of urgency and appreciation for the power of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh baby, mm
Expressing pleasure and excitement about the situation or the person being alluded to.
When you hold me
Acknowledging the intense emotional bond between the singer and the person being referred to.
Oh oh, when you hold me
Re-emphasizing the power of the emotional bond between the singer and the person being referred to.
The sound
The melody or cadence of the music.
Is it possible I could feel this cool
Wondering whether it's possible to experience such a cool, overwhelming feeling of love.
I could really love you the way I do
Expressing the depth of the singer's love for the person being referred to, and emphasizing its genuineness.
See me (within the light)
Invoking an image of the singer being seen clearly, within bright light, as if to demonstrate openness and honesty.
Flowing (take me to you)
Suggesting a sense of movement and progress towards the person being referred to, in the form of a metaphorical flow.
Like the river to the sea
Comparing the singer's journey towards the person being referred to, to that of a river flowing seamlessly into the ocean.
You come down (I'm in the light)
Visualizing the person being referred to as descending towards the singer, who is basking in a state of illumination, as if to underscore the idea of them approaching each other.
You cover (pull me to you)
Implying a sense of protection and safety in the person being referred to, who is pulling the singer towards them as a metaphorical force.
And the waves rush over me
Envisioning a tidal wave of emotions washing over the singer as they approach the person being referred to, as if to suggest a euphoric feeling of bliss.
I feel a love light rush over me
Reiterating the idea of a strong emotional current washing over the singer, using an image of light to illustrate it.
I feel the love turn to me
Feeling a sense of connection and sense of being loved and appreciated by the person being referred to.
And then your love just creeps over me
Evoking a sense of stealth and surprise, as if the love of the person being referred to has sneaked up on the singer unawares.
Over me and I won't let you go
Affirming commitment and loyalty to the person being referred to, and vowing not to lose them.
Take up your love
Urging the person being referred to to express their love in its fullness.
And come to me
Inviting the person being referred to to come closer and deepen their connection.
This love's not a liar
Emphasizing the sincerity and truthfulness of the emotions being expressed by the singer.
To cold, it's a fire
Depicting love as a transforming agent that can turn the coldness of a situation into a warmth of feeling.
I'm on the run
Acknowledging a sense of movement and restlessness within the singer, as if they are in search of something or someone.
And it's a comfort to me
Suggesting that the energy and restlessness being experienced by the singer is somehow making them feel supported or fulfilled.
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: GUY WILLIAM LAWRENCE, HOWARD JOHN LAWRENCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind