PvD is renowned as one of the hardest working artists, with sold-out tours that cross each continent, headline spots at every major festival, and a hugely successful recording career. With over 3 million albums sold worldwide, van Dyk travels around the world over 16 times each year to sold out performances internationally. 2007 alone has brought us PvD remixes of Depeche Mode’s “Martyr”, Britney Spears’ „Gimmy more“ and Justin Timberlake’s “What Goes Around.... Comes Around”.
PvD received a Grammy nomination in 2005 for Best Dance/Electronic Album for his original album Reflections – this marked the first time NARAS recognized this category. His original productions from Reflections have been synced into major motion pictures such as Into the Blue, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, television’s Entertainment Tonight and MTV’s Cribs, and international ad campaigns for Motorola, HBO, Land Rover, Ski Vail and most recently for Jeep. This year he won the International Dance Music Award (IDMA) for Best Euro DJ.
Previously, PvD won four IDMAs in 2006: Best Global DJ, Best NuNRG/Euro Track, Best Producer and Best Mix Compilation for The Politics of Dancing 2. In addition, PvD was voted “America’s Favorite DJ” for 2004 and 2005 by BPM Magazine and was the big winner at the 2004 Dancestar Awards, taking home 3 awards: Best International DJ, Best Event and Best Music in a Commercial (Motorola). He also won the Mexican Oscar for his soundtrack in the film Zurdo in March 2004. Paul van Dyk was voted "Best Music Maker" by DJ Magazine, received the “Best International DJ Award” at the 1999 Music Awards in London, was named "Best International DJ" by Ministry of Sound Magazine, and Mixmag elected him as “Man of the Year”.
Aside from his musical activity, Paul van Dyk has always dedicated a significant part of his life to politics and social justice: from his youth, when he fled over the Berlin Wall to the West, to his children’s charity in India’s Mumbai, and his partnership scheme with the German Red Cross to help poor children in Berlin. In 2004, PvD was the only electronic artist involved in a nationwide tour with the Rock The Vote campaign, where he joined the likes of Bono, P Diddy, the Black Eyed Peas and George Clinton in campaigning for America’s youth to sign up to vote in the presidential election. In 2006 he received Berlin’s Medal of Honor (Landesverdienstorden) in recognition of his work with Ruckenwind, a charity organization he founded dedicated to helping poor children in Berlin. He joins a distinguished list of arts and political establishment figures with this honor.
Born in Eisenhüttenstadt, East Germany, Paul van Dyk grew up in communist East Berlin. Because his community did not have a true club culture, Paul van Dyk listened to the radio where he discovered his passion for music that extended beyond Techno music – he wanted to create a different, more unique sound. In the early 1990’s Paul van Dyk was spinning regularly at various clubs in Berlin before releasing his first album 45 RPM in 1994. But it wasn’t until the release of his second album Seven Ways which catapulted him into the Top 100, followed by the release of his hit single “For An Angel,” which began to earn him praise across the globe. By the time Paul van Dyk released Out There & Back in 2000, it became clear that the Berlin-based musician had far more to offer than his signature club sets and remixes that had already defined him as one of the most influential DJs and producers of all time. His first compilation mix CD Politics of Dancing was released in 2001, followed by Global in 2003 – a DVD which illustrates his own experiences traveling the world.
Paul van Dyk created the internet radio station VONYC.com focused on the electronic dance scene.
Paul van Dyk’s touring diary remains incredibly hectic with regular globetrotting stops at major venues across the globe from New York, London, Ibiza to India, China and Singapore. In the little time remaining between all the travel, Paul van Dyk resides in Berlin where he has his own radio show “Paul van Dyk’s VONYC Sessions” which airs weekly on Area 33 on Sirius Radio on Thursday nights at 6PM ET (and rebroadcasts Saturdays at 8PM ET and Tuesdays at Midnight ET) and Soundgarden which airs every Saturday 2pm – 4pm (EST) on Fritz radio and over the internet (www.fritz.de).
For more information, please visit www.paulvandyk.com or www.myspace.com/paulvandyk.
1991
Like a Friend
Paul van Dyk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we don't feel a thing
How can I make you think?
How can I make you change...lives?
Deliver new dreams
Give back a child and smile
Sending a wind of change
Stop turning over
It won't go away
If we don't do anything
It will always stay
But there's a way (mmmmm there's a way)
[Chorus]
Be aware of the world
And be true to your conscience
Be aware of its needs
Like a friend you can hold them
Be aware of the world
And be true to your conscience
Be aware of its needs
Have a care, have a conscience
There's anguish despair
And we don't feel a thing
How can I make you think?
How can I make you change? (How can I make you change?)
Deliver new dreams
Give back a child and smile
Sending a wind of change
To free another's, free another's world
What I'm going to tell you
You don't want hear
It's a million miles away
And a million tears
And a million tears
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Paul Van Dyk's song "Like a Friend" touch upon a theme that is universal - the need for empathy, compassion, and action to bring about change in the world. The lyrics express the pain and suffering that exists in the world, and the apathy and indifference that people often demonstrate towards it. The line "There's anguish despair, and we don't feel a thing" highlights the emotional disconnect that exists between people and the suffering of others. The singer asks the question "how can I make you think?" and "how can I make you change?" in an attempt to challenge this emotional indifference and encourage people to take action towards making a difference in the world.
The lyrics use powerful metaphors to draw attention to the extent and impact of the suffering in the world. The line "deliver new dreams, give back a child and smile" speaks to the need for hope and the restoration of the innocence of childhood that is often lost in difficult circumstances. The phrase "sending a wind of change" portrays the idea of a fresh and revitalizing force that can bring about positive change. The singer acknowledges that change is not always easy, and that there are often deep-rooted and complex problems that need to be addressed. However, he also acknowledges that there is always a way to make a difference, and that taking action is essential to bring about change.
Overall, "Like a Friend" is a powerful commentary on the need for empathy, compassion, and action in order to bring about positive change in the world. The lyrics acknowledge the pain and suffering that exists, but also express a sense of hope and a belief that change is possible if we are willing to act.
Line by Line Meaning
There's anguish despair
There is a sense of pain and hopelessness.
And we don't feel a thing
We are indifferent to these problems.
How can I make you think?
How can I make you aware of these issues?
How can I make you change...lives?
How can I make you care enough to make a difference in others' lives?
Deliver new dreams
Provide hope for a better future.
Give back a child and smile
Help a child in need and see the joy in their face.
Sending a wind of change
Effort to provoke a positive shift in society.
To free another's... world
To improve someone else's circumstances.
Stop turning over
Stop pretending that the problem doesn't exist.
It won't go away
The problem won't disappear on its own.
If we don't do anything
Inaction leads nowhere.
It will always stay
If no action is taken, the problem will persist.
But there's a way (mmmmm there's a way)
However, there is a solution.
Be aware of the world
Be conscious of the issues.
And be true to your conscience
Act in accordance with your moral compass.
Be aware of its needs
Understand what society requires.
Like a friend you can hold them
To care for others like you care for your closest ones.
Have a care, have a conscience
Be compassionate and moral.
What I'm going to tell you
The truth I'm going to share.
You don't want hear
You may not want to hear it.
It's a million miles away
The issue seems distant, but that doesn't mean it's not real.
And a million tears
This issue has caused countless tears and suffering.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JAN JOHNSTON, PAUL N VAN DYK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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There's anguish despair and we don't feel a thing.
How can I make you think? How can I make you change lives?
Deliver new dreams, give back a child a smile,
Sending a wind of change to free another world.
Stop turning over, it won't go away.
If we don't do anything it will always stay,
But there's a way (mmmmm there's a way)
Be aware of the world and be true to your conscience
Be aware of it's needs like a friend you can hold them
Be aware of the world and be true to your conscience
Be aware of it's needs, have a care, have a conscience
Be aware of the world and be true to your conscience
Be aware of the world like a friend you can hold them
Be aware of the world and be true to your conscience
Be aware of it's needs, have a care, have a conscience
Be aware of the world and be true to your conscience
Be aware of it's needs like a friend you can hold them
There's anguish despair and we don't feel a thing.
How can I make you think? How can I make you change?
Deliver new dreams, give back a child a smile,
Sending a wind of change to free another, free another world.
What I'm going to tell you, you don't want to hear, it's a million miles away
And a million tears, and a million tears...
Be aware of the world and be true to your conscience
Be aware of it's needs like a friend you can hold them
Be aware of the world and be true to your conscience
Be aware of it's needs, have a care, have a conscience
Be aware of the world and be true to your conscience
Be aware of the world like a friend you can hold them
Be aware of the world and be true to your conscience
Be aware of it's needs, have a care, have a conscience
Be aware of the world and be true to your conscience
Be aware of it's needs like a friend you can hold them
_
Songwriters: Jan Johnston, Paul Van Dyk.
Charlie Smolinski
One ☝️ of my all time favourite trance tracks. Classic PvD. In Trance We Trust!
Devin Gademan
The Production and the Vocals. Amazing. Bless you GERMANY
The First Lady Of Trance - Jan Johnston
Vocals Lyrics Melodies by Jan Johnston ❤️
Love it....
Carlos Oswaldo Ramos
To me this song and "Homage" are the best from "Reflections" album.
Charlie Smolinski
Agreed but really the whole album is awesome 👏!
Carlos Oswaldo Ramos
@Charlie Smolinski Of course! You're right. This album was my first electronic music disc that I had.
Carlos Oswaldo Ramos
@Ricardo Martins No. Why? Are you from Brazil?
Ricardo Martins
@Carlos Oswaldo Ramos yes, cause your name is a "very normal" name here.
Carlos Oswaldo Ramos
@Ricardo Martins Really? Well I don't know what to say about that. 😅 I am from Guatemala, Central America. And let me tell you that I like a lot portuguese language.
Ricardo Martins
Sublime!