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”.
Hold on
Armin van Buuren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I could walk alone on water
Ooh, I would
If I could set the moon on fire
Watch me shoot
But keeping up appearances is the first thing taught in school
You think I got my life all sorted? You're a fool
I'm not easy to be around
But it's not easy to live without
A warm embrace
Familiar face
A safer place
Hold on, hold on
We don't have to walk on water
Hold on, hold on
Our love is simple but that's enough
Can't you see, I am here
Hold my hands and keep me, dear
Hold on, hold on
Love is simple but that's enough
Oh, oh
Behind this simple smile
Is a complicated story
And we both know, baby
The truth is never pretty
But I'm scared as hell you won't like what you see
Are you sure? Are you ready for the real me?
I'm not easy to be around
But it's not easy to live without
A warm embrace
Familiar face
Saved by grace
Hold on, hold on
We don't have to walk on water
Hold on, hold on
Our love is simple but that's enough
Can't you see, I am here
Hold my hands and keep me, dear
Hold on, hold on
Love is simple but that's enough
Oh, oh
Hold on, hold on
We don't have to walk on water
Hold on, hold on
Love is simple but that's enough
The song "Hold On" by Armin van Buuren and Davina Michelle is about the struggles of maintaining appearances and the fear of not being accepted for who you truly are. The song explores the idea of wanting to be able to do the impossible, like walking on water or setting the moon on fire, but ultimately realizing that true love is enough to hold on to.
The first verse talks about the pressure of keeping up appearances and how it's not as easy as it may seem. The lyrics "But keeping up appearances is the first thing taught in school, you think I got my life all sorted? You're a fool" shows the struggle of putting on a façade of having everything together while trying to keep up with societal expectations. The second verse delves deeper into the idea that behind every simple smile, there is a complicated story. The lyrics "But I'm scared as hell you won't like what you see, are you sure? Are you ready for the real me?" showcase the fear of rejection and the uncertainty of whether someone will accept you for who you truly are.
The chorus emphasizes the idea of holding on to the simple yet important things in life, like love and human connection. The lyrics "Our love is simple but that's enough" and "Can't you see, I am here, hold my hands and keep me dear" highlight the importance of standing by someone through tough times and showing them that they are not alone.
Overall, "Hold On" is a heartfelt and emotional song that encourages listeners to embrace their true selves and to hold on to the important things in life, like love and human connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Mmm, mmm
The singer is making a sound of contentment.
If I could walk alone on water
The singer is fantasizing about being able to do impossible things.
Ooh, I would
The singer is expressing a desire to do the impossible thing she just mentioned.
If I could set the moon on fire
The singer is still fantasizing about doing impossible things.
Watch me shoot
The singer is confidently stating that if she could do impossible things, she would be able to accomplish anything.
But keeping up appearances is the first thing taught in school
The singer is acknowledging that society teaches us to project an image of perfection to others.
You think I got my life all sorted? You're a fool
The singer is telling the listener not to assume that she has everything figured out because no one does.
I'm not easy to be around
The singer is admitting that she can be difficult to deal with at times.
But it's not easy to live without
The singer is saying that despite her flaws, she is still a necessary part of someone's life.
A warm embrace
The singer is emphasizing the importance of physical comfort from another person.
Familiar face
The singer is highlighting the importance of feeling secure around someone you know well.
A safer place
The singer is indicating that being with someone you trust can make you feel secure and protected.
Hold on, hold on
The singer is encouraging the listener to persevere and not give up.
We don't have to walk on water
The singer is saying that they don't have to be able to do impossible things to be together.
Our love is simple but that's enough
The singer is emphasizing that their love may not be perfect, but it is enough for them.
Can't you see, I am here
The singer is reassuring the listener that she is present and available to them.
Hold my hands and keep me, dear
The singer is asking the listener to hold her hand and be with her through difficult times.
Love is simple but that's enough
The singer is repeating the idea that their love may not be perfect, but it is enough.
Oh, oh
The singer is making a sound of emotional intensity.
Behind this simple smile
The singer is suggesting that her outward demeanor does not reveal the full truth about her emotional state.
Is a complicated story
The singer is indicating that there is more to her than meets the eye.
And we both know, baby
The singer is directing her message to someone she is intimately familiar with.
The truth is never pretty
The singer is saying that revealing the full truth about herself may not be easy or pleasant for either of them.
But I'm scared as hell you won't like what you see
The singer is admitting to feeling afraid that the person she cares about may not accept her for who she is.
Are you sure? Are you ready for the real me?
The singer is raising questions about whether or not the other person can handle the full truth about her.
Saved by grace
The singer is suggesting that her love for the other person is due to divine intervention or fate.
Hold on, hold on
The singer is repeating her earlier message to the listener.
Oh, oh
The singer is again making a sound of emotional intensity.
Lyrics © PFIVE Entertainment Mexico, Cloud9
Written by: Michelle Davina Hoogendoorn, Sebastiaan Brouwer, Armin van Buuren, Benno de Goeij
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ThisisEnzoman
The greatest deejay of all time 🥰❤✌
@bilinasmini3480
I feel goosebumps all the times i hear this song.
@elianad2083
Disagree.. better DJ's ..Alpha 9, Above and Beyond, ATB, etc..
@elianad2083
@@bilinasmini3480 have you heard the song "Down to Love" Ana Criado mixed my Armin?
@aldilanovrizal9432
Dude you never listened to the "real" tiesto????😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Even this song is nothing to earlier armin😂😂😂😂
@kostaskakavoulis3190
When two great talents meet miracles happen! Amazing work! Lucky to have you both and holding on to this simple Love! Million congratulations
@benjaminblackburn7715
Armin Van Buuren is the best Dj in the world
@anderelectronics740
in the world and surroundings
🎶🎧😊
@janinarichter6479
👌👌👌💯💯💯🥰🥰🥰💫🍀👍
@nickpriz196
What a song!!!!What a vocal!!!!!Thanks Armin!!!!