First released as an instrumental in spring 1991, "Get Ready For This" received an immediate success (#2 in the UK charts). Conscious of their popularity, Wilde & De Coster wanted a more accessible, formatted formula for their project to grow. Raymond Lothar Slijngaard was then contacted to write lyrics and add a rap to the track. On his suggestion, Anita Dels (a singer from the Amsterdam club scene) joined in as the female vocalist. The new re-version of "Get Ready For This" was released in september 1991 and helped to perpetuate the success of 2 Unlimited around the world.
The following single, "Twilight Zone", did even better in the charts and became a well known club anthem. A full album announced two more succesful tracks: "Workaholic" and "The Magic Friend".
Their second opus, "No Limits!", was released in 1993. It's popularity was such that no more than five singles were taken out of it. Among them, "No Limit" and "Tribal Dance", now considered as Eurodance classics.
The decline of 2 Unlimited started as soon as their typical sound was reproduced by other Eurodance acts. By the time of "Real Things" (1994), their distinctive flavour was shared with hundreds of marketed clones.
In 1996, a complicated relationship between Ray and Anita precipitate the breaking of 2 Unlimited. For a moment, a background vocalist was due to replace Anita beside Ray, but ultimately, she refused the contract offered to her.
A relaunch attempt (2 Unlimited 2) featuring two female singers (Romy (2) and Marion Van Iwaarden) was tested, but only had a mitigated success. Both singers left once their contracts ended in 1998.
Recent petitions asking for the return of 2 Unlimited were ignored as Ray and Anita do not wish to work together again.
Click on "More Images" to see the performers through time...
The Netherlands techno/dance-pop phenomenon 2 Unlimited was one of the most popular groups in Europe during the early '90s, selling 18 million records and charting number one singles in every European country. (In England, 11 consecutive singles topped the charts.) America, however, remained unaffected, bringing only "Get Ready for This" to number 38 in late 1994, over two years after it was first released.
In 1990, producers Phil Wilde and Jean-Paul DeCoster had previously gained success with AB Logic, and were looking for another vehicle for their songs. 2 Unlimited formed when Wilde and DeCoster were introduced to rapper Ray Slijngaard (b. June 28, 1971, Amsterdam) and vocalist Anita Doth (b. December 28, 1971, Amsterdam) by Marvin D., who had featured both in his rap group in the past. In 1991, debut single "Get Ready for This" reached number two on several European charts; the following year Get Ready was released.
The modest success of the first few singles prepared the way for 2 Unlimited's 1993 sophomore album No Limits. The title track hit number one in 15 European countries plus Canada, and other singles from the album also did well, including "Faces," "Maximum Overdrive" and "Let the Beat Control Your Body." Third album Real Things and the singles "The Real One," "No One," "Here I Go" continued the hit-making. The best-of album Hits Unlimited was the group's last release, as Slijngaard left to manage his X-Ray label and Doth moved into TV and radio talk shows (though she has recorded with Mad Cobra.) ~ John Bush, All Music Guide (from mp3.com)
0 comments:
Post a Comment