No Limit (2 Unlimited song)

"No Limit" is a song by Belgian-Dutch Eurodance group 2 Unlimited, released in January 1993, by Byte Records. It was their fifth single in total and the first to be released from their second album, No Limits! (1993). Co-written by the group's Ray Slijngaard and Anita Doth, the song became one of their most commercially successful singles, topping both the Dutch Top 40 and Single Top 100 charts. Internationally, "No Limit" topped the charts in 35 countries,<ref name="robberttilli">Template:Cite magazine</ref> including Austria, Denmark, France and the United Kingdom, and peaked within the top ten of the charts in several others, including Australia, Germany and Italy.

Like previous releases, the UK version of the single removed all of the raps from Slijngaard, leaving just Dels' vocals. One word from the rap was kept, the word 'Techno' (from the line "I'm making techno and I am proud") which was looped and repeated during the middle of the song, turning the line into "Techno! Techno! Techno! Techno!" and giving the song an extra vocal hook. Its accompanying music video was directed by Nick Burgess-Jones, depicting the group inside of a giant pinball machine. It received heavy rotation on MTV Europe.<ref name="mtveurope">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Composition

"No Limit" started as an idea to do a high-speed techno track and was written in one evening by Dels and Slijngaard. Dels told in an interview, "When we made 'No Limit', we were working on the LP. We'd done everything but one bit, and we didn't know what to do — Ray and I made up the title quickly and then wrote the song in one evening. We didn't expect anything, and we were surprised when the producer wanted to release it as the first single."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Producer Phil Wilde explained to Melody Maker in 1994, "Like most techno, 2 Unlimited's material floats somewhere between 125 and 148bpm; 'No Limit' came in at 144." Wilde programmed the rhythm with hand claps every four beat. He had the groove and went searching in his sound library, starting jamming with sounds. He explained in the same interview, "For 'No Limits' we started jamming with sounds. Then I got the sound which we used for the main melody in that song...it's mostly a combination of sounds. It's so important to have a good sound, and not so easy to fine one. On 'No Limits', the sound came, then the melody. We already had the bass and the drums, and the sample for the lead sound in the end was just a sample. But I'm not going to tell you what it was."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "After several weeks at the top of Britain's pop charts, European rave duo is ready tackle the U.S. radio market with a bright ditty that melds techno, hi-NRG, and rap elements. The hook is irresistible, and the pace is heart-racing. Will please fans of last year's hit, 'Twilight Zone', while reeling in newcomers."<ref name="larryflick"/> Tony Parsons from The Daily Telegraph named it a "high-speed anthem".<ref>Parsons, Tony (8 May 1993). "The Arts: Terence gets back to his eyelashes". The Daily Telegraph.</ref> Per Reinholdt from Danish Gaffa called it a "dance-powerhit", noting its "inciting up-tempo" and a rhythm and theme "with the same temper as a dressed beeswarm". He also named the song a "piece of pop art".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In a Guinness World Records review, the sound of 'No Limit' was compared to "the sound giant dinosaurs might make stomping on cities".<ref>Guinness Rockopedia 1998, p. 456.</ref> A reviewer from Irish Independent described it as "a humungous global hit".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "Of all the techno-rave dance acts, 2 Unlimited are the most successful, notching up 5 hits in a row with all making the 20. 'No Limit' being the latest and most frantic".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Stud Brothers of Melody Maker praised it as "magnificently kitsch".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Alan Jones from Music Week viewed it as "obvious pop fare".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update named it "madly catchy" and a "tuneful techno pop galloper" in his weekly dance column.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Johnny Lee from Smash Hits called it a "stormtrooper", adding that it has "a keyboard that sounds like it's being played by a robot with boxing gloves."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Australian student newspaper Woroni complimented the song as "tremendously exciting and highly recommended",<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> naming it an "obvious highlight" of the No Limits! album.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Chart performance

"No Limit" peaked at number one in 35 countries.<ref name="robberttilli"/> In Europe, it reached number one in Austria,<ref name="austria"/> Belgium,<ref name="belgium"/> Denmark,<ref name="denmark">"No Limit" spent 2 weeks at number one on the Danish singles chart in April and May 1993.

• Week 1: Template:Cite magazine
• Week 2: Template:Cite magazine</ref> Finland,<ref name="finland">"No Limit" spent 2 weeks at number one on the Finnish singles chart in February 1993.
• Week 1: Template:Cite magazine
• Week 2: Template:Cite magazine</ref> France,<ref name="france"/> Ireland,<ref name="ireland"/> the Netherlands,<ref name="netherlands"/> Norway,<ref name="norway"/> Portugal,<ref name="portugal">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Spain,<ref>"No Limit" spent 3 weeks at number one on the Spanish singles chart in March and May 1993.
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• Week 3: Template:Cite magazine</ref> Sweden,<ref name="sweden"/> Switzerland,<ref name="switzerland"/> and the United Kingdom, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100. In the UK, the single reached number one during its third week on the UK Singles Chart, on 7 February 1993,<ref name="UK"/> after entering at number four and then climbing to number two. It stayed at the top of the chart for five consecutive weeks. Additionally, it entered the top 10 in Germany,<ref name="germany"/> Greece,<ref name="greece">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Iceland,<ref name="iceland">Template:Cite news</ref> and Italy.<ref name="italy">Template:Cite magazine</ref> "No Limit" debuted on the Eurochart Hot 100 at number 13 on 6 February after charting in Ireland, Sweden and the UK.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> It peaked at number one six weeks later, on 13 March, and stayed at the top for nine consecutive weeks.<ref>"No Limit" spent 9 weeks at number one on the Eurochart Hot 100 in March, April and May 1993.
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• Week 9: Template:Cite magazine</ref> During the same period, it topped the European Dance Radio Chart.<ref name="europeandancereadio">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In Canada, the song peaked at numbers one and two on The Record Retail Singles chart and the RPM Dance chart, respectively. It also reached number 21 on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart.<ref name="canadadance"/><ref name="usd"/> In Oceania, it reached numbers seven and 50 in Australia and New Zealand, respectively,<ref name="australia"/><ref name="newzealand"/> while in Zimbabwe, it peaked at number 16.<ref name="zimbabwe">Template:Cite book</ref> The song was awarded with a gold record in Australia, Austria, France and Germany, a silver record in the UK, and a platinum record in the Netherlands and Switzerland. In 2003, "No Limit 2.3" peaked at number 41 on the German Top 100 singles chart.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Impact and legacy

NME ranked "No Limit" number one in their list of "Top Five Euro-Hits of All Time" in December 1993.<ref name="nme">Template:Cite magazine</ref> NME editor Paul Moody wrote, "The ultimate piece of pop existentialism as Anita and Ray suggest the whole world is one huge playground of hedonistic excess. All to a video set within a huge pinball machine. Sublime."<ref name="nme"/> The song was ranked number 65 in BuzzFeedTemplate:'s list of "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s" in 2017. Stopera and Galindo said that "this is possibly the most aggressive beat from the '90s. It's like they're strumming a GIANT rubber band."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger felt the track's "echoey hi-hat hits and the union of steam-hammer bass and rubber-ball synths" carry the industrial, "piston-powered aggression" of Belgian rave music. He also noted the presence of a cowbell in the back of the track.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2015, Graham Clark from The Yorkshire Times stated that "the track at the time sounded unlike anything else but you can hear how it has influenced so many of today's electronic dance music tracks".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Music video

The accompanying music video for "No Limit" was directed by Nick Burgess-Jones<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and filmed in London.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It features group members Anita Dels and Ray Slijngaard performing inside what appears to be a giant pinball machine,<ref name="nme"/> wearing leather apparel.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "No Limit" received heavy rotation on MTV Europe in March 1993.<ref name="mtveurope"/> Burgess-Jones also directed the videos for 2 Unlimited's next two singles, "Tribal Dance" and "Faces".

Track listings

Original version

• CD single

1. "No Limit" (Radio Edit No Rap) (3:08)
2. "No Limit" (Radio Edit Rap) (3:30)

• CD maxi

1. "No Limit" (Radio Edit) (3:15)
2. "No Limit" (Extended Mix) (5:40)
3. "No Limit" (Automatic Remix) (4:54)
4. "No Limit" (Rio and Le Jean Remix) (3:53)
5. "No Limit" (Automatic Breakbeat Remix) (4:45)

• CD maxi

1. "No Limit" (Radio Edit No Rap) (3:08)
2. "No Limit" (Extended No Rap) (5:44)
3. "No Limit" (Extended Rap) (5:55)
4. "No Limit" (Rio and Le Jean Version) (3:57)

• 7-inch single

1. "No Limit" (3:15)
2. "No Limit" (Rio and Le Jean Remix) (3:53)

• UK 7-inch single

1. "No Limit" (3:15)
2. "No Limit" (Automatic Breakbeat Remix) (4:45)

• 12-inch maxi

1. "No Limit" (Extended) (5:44)
2. "No Limit" (Extended Rap) (5:55)
3. "No Limit" (Rio and Le Jean Remix) (4:56)

• 12-inch maxi Italy

1. "No Limit" (Extended No Rap 2) (5:55)
2. "No Limit" (Extended Rap) (5:55)
3. "No Limit" (Rio and Le Jean Remix) (4:56)
4. "No Limit" (Automatic Remix) (4:54)
5. "No Limit" (Automatic Breakbeat Remix) (4:45)
6. "No Limit" (Radio Rap Edit) (3:30)

Millennium remixes

• CD single

1. "No Limit" (Moon Project Edit) (3:50)
2. "No Limit" (Starfighter Remix Edit) (3:15)

• CD maxi

1. "No Limit" (Starfighter Remix Edit) (3:15)
2. "No Limit" (Starfighter Remix) (7:55)
3. "No Limit" (Push's Transcendental Rmx) (8:26)
4. "No Limit" (Moon Project Remix) (7:43)
5. "No Limit" (Razzor and Guido Remix Dub) (10:38)

• 12-inch single

1. "No Limit" (Starfighter Remix) (7:55)
2. "No Limit" (Razor and Guido Dub) (10:38)
3. "No Limit" (Push's Transcendental Remix) (8:26)
4. "No Limit" (Moon Project Remix) (7:43)

No Limit 2.3

• CD single

1. "No Limit 2.3" (Master Blaster Radio Edit) (3:12)
2. "No Limit 2.3" (Master Blaster Remix) (5:25)
3. "No Limit 2.3" (DJ Digress Hamburg Style Remix) (7:23)
4. "No Limit 2.3" (DJ Sputnik Remix) (6:54)
5. "No Limit 2.3" (Original Extended Mix) (5:42)

• 12-inch single

1. "No Limit 2.3" (Master Blaster Remix) (5:25)
2. "No Limit 2.3" (Marco De Jonge Club Mix) (5:38)
3. "No Limit 2.3" (DJ Digress Hamburg Style Remix) (7:25)
4. "No Limit 2.3" (Original Extended Mix) (5:40)

Charts

Weekly charts

Template:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chart

Weekly chart performance for "No Limit"

Chart (1993)	Peak position
Canada Retail Singles (The Record)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1
Denmark (IFPI)<ref name="denmark"/>	1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref name="HOW">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1
Europe (European Dance Radio)<ref name="europeandancereadio"/>	1
Europe (European Hit Radio)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	19
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)<ref name="finland"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	1
Greece (Pop + Rock)<ref name="greece"/>	2
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref name="iceland"/>	4
Italy (Musica e dischi)<ref name="italy"/>	8
Portugal (AFP)<ref name="portugal"/>	1
Spain (AFYVE)<ref name="HOW"/>	1
UK Airplay (Music Week)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	22
UK Dance (Music Week)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	7
UK Club Chart (Music Week)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	17
US Dance Club Play (Billboard)<ref name="usd">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	21
US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	25
Zimbabwe (ZIMA)<ref name="zimbabwe"/>	16

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "No Limit"

Chart (1993)	Position
Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	30
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	7
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	26
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1
Europe (European Dance Radio)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	12
Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	5
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	42
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2
Sweden (Topplistan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	7
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	4
UK Singles (OCC)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	4

Decade-end charts

Decade-end chart performance for "No Limit"

Chart (1990–1999)	Position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	94

Release history

Release dates and formats for "No Limit"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Template:Abbr
United Kingdom	18 January 1993	Template:Hlist	PWL Continental	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Australia	30 January 1993	12-inch vinyl	Liberation	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
	8 February 1993	Template:Hlist		<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Japan	25 March 1993	CD	Mercury	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Smurfs covers

A Dutch cover version by Irene Moors en de Smurfen topped the Dutch charts for six weeks in 1995. A French version by Les Schtroumpfs, titled "No No No No Limit", was also successful in France and the Walloon region of Belgium, peaking in the top ten in both territories.

• Standard CD single

1. "No Limit"Template:Nbsp– 3:05
2. "Ga Je Met Ons Mee (Naar Smurfenland)"Template:Nbsp– 2:53

• CD maxi-single

1. "No Limit" (radio edit)Template:Nbsp– 3:05
2. "No Limit" (Smurf the House mix)Template:Nbsp– 4:46
3. "No Limit" (karaoke)Template:Nbsp– 3:05
4. "Die Dal Dee"Template:Nbsp– 3:28

• French CD maxi-single

1. "No No No No Limit" (radio version)Template:Nbsp– 3:12
2. "No No No No Limit" (extended version)Template:Nbsp– 5:20
3. "Le monde merveilleux"Template:Nbsp– 2:53

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Weekly charts

Chart (1995)	Peak position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	57

Year-end charts

Chart (1995)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	46
France (SNEP)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	51
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	4

beFour cover

beFour (2008)

"No Limit" was covered by German band beFour on their fourth studio album Friends 4 Ever, and as a single in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The song entered the German Singles Chart in 2009.

Track listings

• CD maxi

1. "No Limit" (Single version) (3:25)
2. "No Limit" (Remix) (3:41)
3. "All Around The Planet" (3:53)
4. "No Limit" (Video) (3:25)

• Digital download

1. "No Limit" (Single version) (3:25)
2. "No Limit" (Remix) (3:41)
3. "All Around the Planet" (3:53)

Charts

Template:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chart

Chart performance for "No Limit" by beFour

Chart (2009)	Peak position

See also

• List of number-one hits of 1993 (Austria)
• List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 1993
• List of European number-one hits of 1993
• List of number-one singles of 1993 (France)
• List of number-one singles of 1993 (Ireland)
• List of number-one songs in Norway
• List of number-one singles of 1993 (Spain)
• List of number-one singles and albums in Sweden
• List of number-one singles of the 1990s (Switzerland)
• List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1990s