2 Unlimited

2 Unlimited are a Belgian-Dutch dance music act, founded by Belgian producers/songwriters Jean-Paul De Coster and Phil Wilde in 1991 in Antwerp, Belgium.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> From 1991 to 1996, Dutch rapper Ray Slijngaard and Dutch vocalist Anita Doth fronted the act. During these five years, 2 Unlimited enjoyed worldwide mainstream success. They scored a total of sixteen international chart hits, including "Get Ready for This", "Twilight Zone", "No Limit", and "Tribal Dance".<ref name="Allmusic">Template:Cite web</ref> The act has sold eighteen million records worldwide.<ref name="Allmusic"/> Although they enjoyed less mainstream recognition in the United States than in Europe, several of their tracks became popular themes in American sporting series, mainly in the NBA and NHL.

History

Formation

Jean-Paul De Coster and Phil Wilde met in their hometown of Antwerp, Belgium, and created 2 Unlimited in their studio, initially without any performers or vocalists.<ref name=":3" /> Their first collaboration under the name of Bizz Nizz resulted in a single called "Don't Miss The Party Line" which entered the top 10 in the UK.<ref name="Chartbusters">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="eNotes">Template:Cite web</ref> The two then decided to continue to work together.

De Coster and Wilde had initially created an instrumental track called "Get Ready for This" in May 1991, but they wanted to try out some rap vocals on it. De Coster recalls:

They were so pleased with the result that they agreed to work with them as a duo, and so 2 Unlimited was born.

Get Ready! (1991–1992)

2 Unlimited were signed to Byte Records (Belgium) and licensed to many other record labels worldwide, including PWL Continental in the UK, ZYX in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, Scorpio in France, etc.<ref name="Chartbusters"/> Their first single, "Get Ready for This", was well received in their home markets, peaking at No. 8 in Belgium, and No. 10 in the Netherlands.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It became a No. 2 hit record in both Australia and the UK.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="OCC">Template:Cite web</ref> The single worked its way up to No. 38 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, three years after its original release.<ref name="Awards">Template:Cite web</ref>

A follow-up single, "Twilight Zone", followed in January 1992, topping the charts in the Netherlands<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and performing well in many other markets, reaching No. 2 in the UK.<ref name="OCC"/> In the United States, it only reached No. 49 on the Hot 100 but got to No. 5 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart).<ref name="Awards"/> To capitalize on this success, the album Get Ready! was released on 24 February 1992, featuring the first two singles and seven more new tracks, including two ballads. Two further singles were released from the album: "Workaholic" and "The Magic Friend". In the US, the album received a Gold certification for sales of 500,000 units in 1995.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

No Limits! (1993–1994)

2 Unlimited's lead single from their second album, the similarly titled "No Limit", was released in January 1993. The repetitive nature of the song helped it become their most successful single to date and by far the best remembered by the general public.Template:Citation needed It topped the charts in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.<ref name="OCC"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Germany, it was certified Platinum for sales of 500,000 units.<ref name="Gcert">Template:Cite certification</ref> The track received modest airplay on North American radio stations, reaching the top 25 in the US dance charts.<ref name="Awards"/> By 1996, worldwide sales had reached 2.3 million units.<ref name="Chartbusters"/>

"Tribal Dance" was released as a single shortly before the album No Limits! hit stores in May 1993. It became a top 5 hit in Austria, Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.<ref name="OCC"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Germany, "Tribal Dance" was certified Gold for sales of over 250,000 units.<ref name="Gcert"/> Three further singles were issued from the second album: "Faces", which was considerably different in pace to previous releases; "Maximum Overdrive"; and a re-recorded version of "Let the Beat Control Your Body". For the French edition of this single, the lyrics were changed to "Let the bass control your body", in a version named "Bass Edit", to avoid any confusion with the slang word "bite" (meaning "penis").Template:Original research inline

In May 1993, the duo received a World Music Award for World's Best-Selling Dutch Artists.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

2 Unlimited's second album proved more successful than their first, entering the top five of album charts in Austria, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the UK, the album reached the top of the album chart.<ref name="OCC"/> By 1996, its total sales had reached three million units, including 592,000 units in the GSA region (Germany, Switzerland, Austria).<ref name="Chartbusters"/><ref name="Chartbusters2">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Despite the phenomenal success the duo were enjoying in the UK, they were criticised heavily by the music industry, and the British press dubbed them "2 Untalented".<ref name="eNotes"/>

Real Things (1994–1995)

In May 1994, the duo's tenth single, "The Real Thing", was released, and it proved that their fans were still interested, as they sent the single to No. 1 in the Netherlands, as well as the top 5 in Belgium, Germany, and Norway.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The same month, they received an award for World's Best-Selling Benelux Recording Artists at the World Music Awards.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

While the duo's third album, Real Things, shot to No. 1 in the Netherlands and the UK, it also managed to land in the top 5 in Austria, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland.<ref name="OCC"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The record was certified Gold in the UK for sales of over 100,000 units.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The second single from Real Things, "No One", despite being a straightforward pop song, didn't prevent it from reaching No. 2 in the Netherlands' sales chart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In March 1995, while the follow-up single, "Here I Go", was another top 5 hit in the Netherlands,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the band's commercial success seemed to be declining elsewhere—the song only made it to the top 20 in Austria, Belgium, and Sweden. The fourth and final single, the ballad "Nothing Like the Rain", was not as successful and was not released in many territories, including the UK.Template:Citation needed In May 1995, 2 Unlimited won their third World Music Award in a row, this time for World's Best-Selling Benelux Artist.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Hits Unlimited (1995–1996)

In October 1995, 2 Unlimited released their first compilation album, Hits Unlimited, prompting rumours that they were about to split up. The first single, "Do What's Good for Me", entered the top 5 in Finland, and the top 20 in the Netherlands and the UK.<ref name="OCC"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Despite their insistence that they were planning a world tour, in April 1996, shortly after the release of the single "Jump for Joy", both Slijngaard and Doth decided not to extend their five-year contract and left 2 Unlimited.

It later emerged that after having spent so much time together, they were no longer getting on as well as they once had, and there was disagreement about the future sound of the band. They had asked for more creative input and they also felt that they were not getting a fair share of the huge amount of money being earned by the project. As no agreement was reached, they each went their separate ways before a final single, "Spread Your Love", was released in June 1996.

II (1998–1999)

As they still owned the rights to the name 2 Unlimited, De Coster and Wilde recruited two new (again Dutch) singers, Romy van Ooijen (b. 18 November 1971) and Marjon van Iwaarden (b. 18 June 1974), in order to capitalise on previous success. The first single released under the new lineup, "Wanna Get Up", did well in the Netherlands, reaching No. 10. A remix by Sash!, for UK release, reached No. 38.

The album II was released in April 1998. It was not as successful as previous studio albums, nor were the subsequent singles, "Edge of Heaven" and "Never Surrender". In 1999, both van Ooijen and van Iwaarden left 2 Unlimited.

Remixes (2000–2006)

In 2000, Byte Records released the remix singles "No Limit" and "Twilight Zone". A remix album was to be released that year, but some master tapes were stolen from Byte and taken to Russia, where they were released as a bootleg compilation. Also that year, 2 Unlimited made their first appearance on the Eurodance compilation Dancemania series, specifically its Speed sub-series, with their song "Twilight Zone", 'B4 Za Beat Mix'.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2001, Byte finally released "Greatest Hits Remixes", featuring many new remixes. Some of the tracks from the stolen master tapes released in Russia were not included. The album was released solely in Japan. In 2002, Trance Remixes: Special Edition was released in Japan, featuring many more new remixes not included in the previous compilation.

In the following years, many "best of" compilations have been released in various territories, often with new remixes. Most notably, ZYX Records released "No Limit 2.3" in 2003 and it was a moderate hit, reaching no. 41 in the German singles chart. It was promoted by a new duo, Débora Remagen and James Giscombe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They were being lined up as a 2 Unlimited "version 3". They still perform, mainly in Eastern Europe, but are not allowed to use their own voices. This is due to copyright issues.

A new CD and DVD set containing all 2 Unlimited music videos, called The Complete History, was released in 2004, along with a single, "Tribal Dance 2.4" (originally released on 12" vinyl in November 2003 as "Tribal Dance 2.3"). 2005 saw the release of The Refreshed Album in Mexico, featuring stunning artwork, but the same remixes found on previous remix albums. In 2006, the DVD was re-packaged with a different CD, Greatest Remix Hits, and released in Australia. The following years saw this package re-released in Argentina, Denmark, Sweden, Asia, and South Africa.

Reunions (2009–2012)

Having both continued to perform their old hits separately in nightclubs and university student unions around the world, the original performers Slijngaard and Doth reunited on 11 April 2009, to perform together for the first time in 13 years at the "I Love the 90s" concert in Hasselt, Belgium.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to a radio interview with Slijngaard, Jean-Paul De Coster did not give permission for the duo to perform under the name 2 Unlimited; however, Phil Wilde attended the gig and provided help with preparing backing tracks.

On 30 April 2009, Slijngaard and Doth performed five songs at the Radio 538 Queen's Day concert at Museumplein in Amsterdam. On 8 June, they were awarded "Most Popular Act of the 1990s", based on the number of weeks in the Dutch Top 40; on 25 September, they performed as a support act for Milk Inc. at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp.

On 29 December 2009, it was announced that the duo would release a new single in 2010, called "In Da Name of Love",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as Ray & Anita. It was released as a CD single in the Netherlands through Spinnin' Records on 22 January 2010. It reached No. 6 on the Dutch Top 40 sales chart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 30 April 2010, a new single was presented during the Dutch Queen's Day, called "Still Unlimited".

In July 2011, Ray & Anita invited fans to be part of the video for "Nothing 2 Lose" in Amsterdam. Fans applied via email and were selected randomly. The video with the fans was shot on 28 July.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The single was released at the end of August 2011. The single is also the lead track for the soundtrack of the film Amsterdam Heavy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the same month, Ray & Anita headlined the "I Love the 90's" stage at Tomorrowland in Belgium.

Comeback (2012–present)

Ray & Anita live, 2016

On 11 July 2012, it was announced that Ray & Anita would be working again with Belgian producer De Coster under the name 2 Unlimited.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 30 March 2013, Slijngaard and Doth performed their first full concert as 2 Unlimited with their band in Belgium at Antwerps Sportpaleis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The duo released a remixed version of their very first single, "Get Ready for This", on 28 October 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The song was remixed by DJ Steve Aoki and was included on their Greatest Hits album.

In 2014, 2 Unlimited gave concerts at ten festivals that together made up Acceleration 2014, which combined top class car and bike racing with music and entertainment.

On 20 April 2016, 2 Unlimited announced that Doth was leaving the band at the end of 2016 to embark on a solo career.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Doth was to be replaced by another singer, whose identity was not revealed right away.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 13 August 2016, Kim Vergouwen was revealed as Doth's replacement via Slijngaard's Facebook page.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

Band members

Template:Unreferenced section Current

• Ray Slijngaard – rap (1991–1996, 2012–present)
• Michèle Karamat Ali – vocals (2022–present)Template:Citation needed

Former members

• Anita Doth – vocals (1991–1996, 2012–2016)
• Kim Vergouwen – vocals (2016–2021)
• Romy van Ooijen – vocals (1998–1999)
• Marjon van Iwaarden – vocals (1998–1999)

Supporting

• Jean-Paul De Coster – music producer (1991–1996, 1998–1999, 2012–present)
• Phil Wilde – music producer (1991–1996, 1998–1999)

Timeline

<timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:25 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:100 top:5 right:15 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1991 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1991 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1991

Colors =

 id:Producer        value:purple            legend:producer
 id:Rap             value:pink        legend:rap
 id:Vocals          value:red         legend:vocals
 id:Album           value:black       legend:Studio_albums
 id:bars            value:gray(0.9)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData =

layer:back color:album
 at:02/24/1992
 at:05/10/1993
 at:06/06/1994
 at:05/25/1998

BarData =

 bar:Jean-Paul    text:"Jean-Paul De Coster"
 bar:Phil         text:"Phil Wilde"
 bar:Ray          text:"Ray Slijngaard"
 bar:Anita        text:"Anita Doth"
 bar:Marjon       text:"Marjon van Iwaarden"
 bar:Romy         text:"Romy van Ooijen"
 bar:Kim          text:"Kim Vergouwen"
 bar:Michèle      text:"Michèle Karamat Ali"

PlotData=

width:11
 bar:Jean-Paul from:01/01/1991 till:07/02/1996 color:producer
 bar:Jean-Paul from:01/01/1998 till:07/02/1999 color:producer
 bar:Jean-Paul from:01/01/2012 till:end        color:producer
 bar:Phil      from:01/01/1991 till:07/02/1996 color:producer
 bar:Phil      from:01/01/1998 till:07/02/1999 color:producer
 bar:Ray       from:01/01/1991 till:07/02/1996 color:Rap
 bar:Ray       from:01/01/2012 till:end        color:Rap
 bar:Anita     from:01/01/1991 till:07/02/1996 color:Vocals
 bar:Anita     from:01/01/2012 till:07/02/2016 color:Vocals
 bar:Marjon    from:01/01/1998 till:07/02/1999 color:Vocals
 bar:Romy      from:01/01/1998 till:07/02/1999 color:Vocals
 bar:Kim       from:07/02/2016 till:07/02/2021 color:Vocals
 bar:Michèle   from:01/01/2022 till:end        color:Vocals

</timeline>

Discography

• Get Ready! (1992)
• No Limits! (1993)
• Real Things (1994)
• II (1998)

External links

• Official website
• 2 Unlimited on Discogs