Within Temptation is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded in April 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. They have been classified by critics as gothic metal and symphonic metal, although each album contains other influences outside these genres. Their most prominent and well-known sound is described as symphonic metal, although their earlier material, such as debut album Enter, was mostly gothic metal, with Enter also having a hint of doom metal. In an interview, den Adel said they fell into a symphonic rock genre with various influences. In a later interview with Dutch music platform 3VOOR12, den Adel stated that "We consider ourselves more an atmospheric melodic symphonic metal/rock band... In my opinion, we are not a gothic band but we have gothic elements".
2 Unlimited is a Belgian/Dutch dance act founded by Belgian producers/songwriters Jean-Paul De Coster and Phil Wilde in 1991 in Antwerp, Belgium. Dutch rapper Ray Slijngaard and Dutch vocalist Anita Doth fronted the act from 1991 to 1996. During the five years of 2 Unlimited's worldwide mainstream success, the act scored a total of 16 chart hits, including "Get Ready for This", "Twilight Zone", "No Limit", and "Tribal Dance". They have sold 18 million records worldwide. Although they enjoyed less mainstream recognition in the United States, many of their songs have become popular themes at American sporting events, particularly in the NHL and the NBA.
Eurodance is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1980s in Europe. It combines many elements of hip hop, techno, Hi-NRG, house music, and Euro disco. This genre of music is heavily influenced by the use of rich vocals, sometimes with rapped verses. This, combined with cutting-edge synthesizers, strong bass rhythm and melodic hooks, establishes the core foundation of Eurodance music.
"Gangsta's Paradise" is a song by American rapper Coolio, featuring singer L.V. The song was released on Coolio's album of the same name, as well as the soundtrack for the 1995 film Dangerous Minds. It samples the chorus and instrumentation, and includes some of the lyric, with altered meaning, of Stevie Wonder's 1976 song "Pastime Paradise". Stevie Wonder apparently used 'past-time paradise' in an ironic reference to squandering of the present on nostalgically 'living in the past'. Coolio apparently deplores an ostensibly paradisiacal but factually dangerous and time-wasting 'gangsta' lifestyle.
Culture Beat is a German Eurodance project formed in 1989 by Torsten Fenslau. The act has gone through a number of lineup changes over the years; they achieved the most success whilst fronted by singer Tania Evans and rapper Jay Supreme. Their 1993 single "Mr. Vain" was a number-one hit in eleven European countries, and the act is thought to have sold more than 10 million records worldwide.
"Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)" is a song by American Eurodance musician Scatman John. It was released in November 1994 as a single, and was later re-released in July 1995 for his second album, Scatman's World. The song is described as "a blend of jazz scatting, rap, and house beats". It reached number-one on the charts in at least nine countries and also won the March 1996 Echo Award in Germany for the best Rock/Pop single.
"Get Ready for This" is a song recorded by Belgian/Dutch music group 2 Unlimited. It was released in 1991 as the lead single from their debut album, Get Ready!. Originally, the single was produced as an instrumental, titled the "Orchestral Mix". It became a hit and conscious of their popularity, Wilde & De Coster wanted a more accessible, formatted formula for their project to grow. Ray was then asked to write lyrics and add a rap to the track. On Ray Slijngaard's suggestion, Anita Doth joined as the female vocalist.
No Limits, sometimes No Limits!, is the second studio album by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited, released in May 1993. The album yielded five singles, including "No Limit", which reached number one in many European charts. The album went platinum in several countries.
"Breathe" is a song by English band the Prodigy, released in November 1996 as the second single from the album The Fat of the Land. It became the group's second consecutive number-one in the United Kingdom and also topped the charts in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden. The song features a drum break from the song "Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed" of the group Thin Lizzy. The whiplashing sword sound effect is a sample of the song "Da Mystery of Chessboxin", by Wu-Tang Clan. As in "Firestarter", Jim Davies played the guitar in the song. In 2003, Q Magazine ranked "Breathe" at number 321 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever".
"Let the Beat Control Your Body" is a 1994 song recorded by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited. It is the fifth and final single taken from their second album, No Limits. The album version was largely instrumental and contained just a few spoken words from Ray and Anita. The single version, however, contained full verses rapped by Ray, and a new chorus sung by Anita. It scored chart success in many European countries, peaking at number two in the Netherlands, and within the Top 10 in Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain and the UK. And it was also nominated for Best Song on MTV Awards.
"Here I Go" is a song recorded by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited. It was released in March 1995 as the third single from their third album, Real Things. In the US the song was released as a double a side single with 2 Unlimited's next European single, "Nothing Like the Rain". It was a Top 10 hit in Belgium, Finland the Netherlands and Spain.
"Nothing Like the Rain" is a song recorded by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited. It was released on 10 June 1995 as the fourth and final single from their third album, Real Things. In the US, the song was released as a double a side single with the European hit single "Here I Go". It peaked within the Top 20 in at least four countries, and was the first single by 2 Unlimited that was a pop-ballad. The single was not released in the UK.
"Mr. Vain" is a song by German group Culture Beat, released as the lead single from their second studio album, Serenity (1993). It was written by Steven Levis, Nosie Katzmann and Jay Supreme, and produced by Torsten Fenslau. Tania Evans is the lead vocalist and Supreme is the rapper. The song achieved huge success worldwide, reaching number-one in at least 12 countries. In the United States, it peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. The song earned an award at the German Echo Award in 1994, in the category for "Best International Dance Single".
"Got to Get It" is a song by German group Culture Beat from their second studio album, Serenity (1993). Written by Nosie Katzmann, Jay Supreme, Torsten Fenslau and Peter Zweier, it was released as the second single from the album on 13 September 1993. It was a hit in many European countries, and reached number-one in Belgium and Finland. "Got to Get It" was also a top 5 hit in Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK. In both the US and Canada, the song peaked at number-one on the dance music charts.
"Anything" is a song recorded by the German Eurodance band Culture Beat. It was released in December 1993 as the third single from their second album, Serenity. Written by Nosie Katzmann with Jay Supreme, Torsten Fenslau and Peter Zweie, the single was very successful on the charts in Europe. It reached the top 5 in at least nine countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. A music video was produced to promote the song, filmed in London.
"Move Your Ass!" is a song by the German band Scooter. It was released in January 1995 as the second single from their first studio album ...and the Beat Goes On!. In October of the same year, a Move Your Ass EP was marketed in United Kingdom and Ireland.
"Release Me" is a pop song recorded by Swedish singer Agnes Carlsson taken from her third album, Dance Love Pop. The track was written by Carlsson, Anders Hansson and Sharon Vaughn. It was released as the album's second single in Sweden and as Agnes's debut single internationally. "Release Me" was another top ten hit for Agnes in Sweden and also charted in Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Worldwide, the single sold over 900,000 copies, making it Agnes' biggest hit to date.
"Crying in the Rain" is a song recorded by the German eurodance band Culture Beat. It was released in February 1996 as the second single from their third studio album Inside Out.. The single charted in many countries, and the single's best chart positions was in Hungary, Germany and Denmark where it reached the Top 10. It also reached number-one on the RPM Dance chart in Canada. A CD Maxi Single containing remixes of "Crying in the Rain" was also released under the name "Crying in the Rain Remixes".
"Omen III" is a song recorded by German Eurodance band Magic Affair, which consists of vocalist Franca Morgano and rapper A.K. Swift. It was released in January 1994, as the lead single from the debut album, Omen (1994). The song is their most successful song, peaking at number-one in Germany, and number two in Austria and Finland. It has sold 750,000 copies in Germany alone and Gold status on the single were achieved within just eight weeks of release. In the official UK Singles charts it reached number 17 and sold under 180,000 copies, missing the silver certification just barely. Magic Affair won the 1994 Echo award in Germany, for the best German dance single with "Omen III".
Studio Killers is the debut studio album of electropop virtual band Studio Killers, released digitally on 14 June 2013, and physically on 15 July. An instrumental version of the album was released on 16 December. The songs were written, produced and performed by the group, with Chubby Cherry as vocalist and lyricist and Dyna Mink and Goldie Foxx producing the instrumental beats. The album also features mixing and additional production from James F. Reynolds, additional songwriting from Rob Davis and Chris Smith, and mastering from Dick Beetham and Ted Jensen.
