Mike first became fascinated with music at the age of 8 years old. He would sit in his bedroom and pretend to have a radio show. Some of his favorite artists and groups were Men at Work, The Fixx, Kurtis Blow and Quiet Riot.
Mike’s interest in music took a turn when he began listening to a radio station called WBMX (which is no longer in existence). On that station, he would listen to programs like the Hot Lunch Mixes as well as the Friday and Saturday night mix shows. On these shows, you could here the likes of Farley ‘JackMaster’ Funk, Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley, and Frankie Knuckles. This is when Mike’s interest in DJ’ing was sparked.
It was not long after that Mike became interested in producing. He and his brother would experiment with a Roland TR-505 and a Casio sampler. Mike began producing on a more serious note in 1988. In mid 1989, he released his first 12’inch with a schoolmate named George titled “Make the Music” and “Uninhibited Desire” on the legendary Chicago Trax/Housetime label. The exuberance in releasing his first record soon turned into frustration from dealing with a ‘shady’ label.
In January of 1991, Mike teamed up with George again to release a three track EP. This EP was released on Warehouse/Muzique Records. Again the excitement led to disappointment.
Having released two records and seeing no return, Mike stop producing and DJ’ing and concentrated on obtaining a Degree in Communications-Media Studies from Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, IL. In March of 1992, while back in Chicago for the weekend, Mike visited a friend to listen to some records. While listening, he came across a record on the DJAX UP BEATS label by Terrace a.k.a. Stefan Robbers of the Acid Junkies. Impressed to find a label that was releasing that style of music, he prepared a demo and sent it to DJAX. Soon after, he received a call from Saskia Slegers a.k.a. Miss DJAX. He signed with DJAX and began a 4-year relationship with the label.
After signing with DJAX, Mike began to DJ throughout Europe. His first DJ gig in Europe was at rave in Paris, France for a crowd of about 7000 people. Other highlights include touring in Australia and Brazil, DJ’ing at Germany’s biggest rave MAYDAY 7 and performing live at MAYDAY 8. This was Mike’s first live performance in Europe. It was also broadcast live on Viva, Germany’s MTV equivalent and voted #8 in the top 10 international live performances of the year by FrontPage magazine, Germany’s leading dance magazine at the time.
Other noteworthy DJ gigs include Ministry of Sound in London, the Rex in Paris, Tresor Club in Berlin and MelkWeg in Holland. Mike has also played in other countries such as Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Norway, Spain and Portugal. In addition, Mike has played some of North America’s best clubs like The Limelight, Sound Factory and Twilo in New York, Shelter and Karma in Chicago and Industry in Toronto as well as many underground parties throughout the world.
Mike was also seen in the critically acclaimed documentary film “Modulations”.
Mike has remixed artists such as The Advent, Felix the Housecat, Gary Numan, Hardfloor, Joey Beltram, Robert Armani and Steve Stoll. Mike has headlined events worldwide with DJ heavyweights such as Carl Cox, Sven Vath, Daft Punk, Dave Clark and Westbam.
Mike graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Communications-Media Studies degree in December of 1995. He returned to the Chicago area in the summer of 1996. Soon after, he parted ways with DJAX Records and started two labels, Majesty Recordings and Majik Gruuv Records.
While Mike will be spending more time pursuing goals not related to music, he will continue to produce and DJ.
Moments
Mike Dearborn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Siempre fui firme en mis deciciones
De muy joven tome mi camino y me fui a california
Donde empeze a chambiar con la mota
Hice socios y varios negocios
Y asi es donde comienza mi historia
Se acabava el recurso y bricamos la linea a buscarle
Alla en mexico pude encontrarle
Cuando me agarraron
La libre y peke por un rato
Como perros me andavan buscando
Le batallaron un par de años
Se me fue una persona importante no voy a olvidarla
Un amor que no tuvo esperanza
De visita llegue con mis padres que los extrañaba
Pero jamas se lo imaginaban
Agentes llegaron a la casa y por primera vez me agarraban
La prision fue para mi una escuela
Cambiaron las cosas
Ahora los kilos eran de coca
Me enclique con la gente de arriba y me fui pa colombia
Con pablito escobar y la bola
Tuve mucho poder y respeto
Y me limite era el cielo
Las presiones tambien se asomaron y cai de nuevo
El dia de mi cumpleaños cayeron
Despues de que sali ya solo importaba mi princesa
Me pasaba el tiempo con ella
La acompañaba siempre a la escuela
Era feliz tan solo con verla
Tengo unos pendientitos y nos bamos pa california
Eso le prometi a mi princesa
Me conecte con viejos amigos pa aventarme un jale
Y en caliente levante una feria
Pero me dieron otra sorpresa
Y por tercera vez tras las regas
Cuantos errores he cometido
Recorde a mi padre
Cuantas veses que no le hice caso
No es real el dinero por fin comprendi lo importante
Al viejillo de veras lo extraño
60 años mi ultima sentencia
Ya se despide el americanoooo.
The lyrics to Mike Dearborn's "Moments" feature a story of a man who makes choices that lead him down paths of illegal activity and eventually end in multiple jail sentences. The lyrics detail the singer's journey to achieve wealth and success and the consequences he faces as a result of his decisions. From a young age, the singer decides that he will never be poor and begins dealing drugs, making business deals, and eventually becomes involved in the cocaine trade in Colombia. He faces imprisonment and reflects on his mistakes, realizing that money does not bring true happiness and that he regrets not listening to his father's advice. The lyrics end with the singer being sentenced again and reflecting on his life.
The story portrayed in the song highlights the dangers of pursuing a life of illegal activity and the consequences that can come as a result. It also emphasizes the importance of family and the regret that can come from not listening to their advice. The lyrics are a cautionary tale and remind listeners to weigh the potential consequences of their actions and make responsible choices.
Line by Line Meaning
Decidi desde niño que yo nunca seria pobre
I made the decision to never be poor from a young age
Siempre fui firme en mis deciciones
I was always resolute in my decisions
De muy joven tome mi camino y me fui a california
At a very young age, I took my path and went to California
Donde empeze a chambiar con la mota
Where I began to work with marijuana
Hice socios y varios negocios
I made partners and several deals
Y asi es donde comienza mi historia
And that is where my story begins
Se acabava el recurso y bricamos la linea a buscarle
The resources were running out, and we jumped across the border to go look for more
Alla en mexico pude encontrarle
Over there in Mexico, I was able to find it
Varias libras y un avion robado
Several pounds and a stolen airplane
Cuando me agarraron
When they caught me
La libre y peke por un rato
I was able to get away and hid for a while
Como perros me andavan buscando
They were searching for me like dogs
Le batallaron un par de años
They fought for a couple of years for me
Se me fue una persona importante no voy a olvidarla
I lost an important person who I will never forget
Un amor que no tuvo esperanza
A love that had no hope
De visita llegue con mis padres que los extrañaba
I came to visit my parents, who I missed
Pero jamas se lo imaginaban
But they never imagined it
Agentes llegaron a la casa y por primera vez me agarraban
Agents came to the house, and, for the first time, they caught me
La prision fue para mi una escuela
Prison was a school for me
Cambiaron las cosas
Things changed
Ahora los kilos eran de coca
Now, the kilos were of cocaine
Me enclique con la gente de arriba y me fui pa colombia
I got involved with the upper class and went to Colombia
Con pablito escobar y la bola
With Pablito Escobar and his people
Tuve mucho poder y respeto
I had a lot of power and respect
Y me limite era el cielo
And my limit was the sky
Las presiones tambien se asomaron y cai de nuevo
The pressures also emerged, and I fell again
El dia de mi cumpleaños cayeron
They got me on my birthday
Despues de que sali ya solo importaba mi princesa
After I got out, my only concern was my princess
Me pasaba el tiempo con ella
I spent my time with her
La acompañaba siempre a la escuela
I always accompanied her to school
Era feliz tan solo con verla
I was happy just to see her
Tengo unos pendientitos y nos bamos pa california
I have a few things to take care of, and then we will go to California
Eso le prometi a mi princesa
I promised that to my princess
Me conecte con viejos amigos pa aventarme un jale
I got in touch with old friends to do a job
Y en caliente levante una feria
And, in the heat of things, I made a lot of money
Pero me dieron otra sorpresa
But they surprised me again
Y por tercera vez tras las regas
And, for the third time, behind bars
Cuantos errores he cometido
How many mistakes I have made
Recorde a mi padre
I remembered my father
Cuantas veses que no le hice caso
How many times I did not listen to him
No es real el dinero por fin comprendi lo importante
Money is not real. I finally understood what is important
Al viejillo de veras lo extraño
I really miss the old man
60 años mi ultima sentencia
60 years, my last sentence
Ya se despide el americanoooo.
The American is bidding farewell.
Writer(s): Michael James Dearborn
Contributed by Charlie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.