2 Unlimited
| 2 Unlimited | |
|---|---|
2 Unlimited performing in 1994
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1991–1996, 1998–1999, 2012–present |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | Ray & Anita |
| Website | www |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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2 Unlimited is a dance group founded in 1991 by Belgian producers Jean-Paul DeCoster and Phil Wilde and fronted by Dutch rapper Ray Slijngaard and Dutch vocalist Anita Doth. During five years of enormous worldwide popularity, the act scored 16 chart hits, including "Get Ready for This", "Twilight Zone", "No Limit", and "Tribal Dance". During their career, 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 US sporting events, particularly in the NHL
Jean-Paul De Coster and Phil Wilde met in their hometown of Antwerp, Belgium, and 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. The two then decided to continue to work together.
Jean-Paul De Coster and Phil Wilde initially had created an instrumental track they called "Get Ready for This" and they decided that it needed some vocals. De Coster recalls:
They were so pleased with the result that they agreed to work with them as a duo, and thus 2 Unlimited was born.
They were signed to Byte Records (Belgium) and were licensed to many other record labels worldwide, including PWL Continental in the UK, ZYX in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, Scorpio in France etc. Their first single, "Get Ready For This" was well received in their home market, Belgium, here it managed to peak at No. 8. It also peaked at No. 10 in The Netherlands and managed to climb to No. 2 in Australia and the UK. The single worked its way up to No. 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart only three years after its original release.
A follow-up single, "Twilight Zone", followed in January 1992 which topped the chart in the Netherlands. It also charted well in numerous markets including No. 2 in the UK. In the United States, it peaked at No. 49 on the Hot 100 (and No. 5 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart). To capitalize on this success, the album Get Ready! was released on 24 February 1992, which featured the first two singles and seven other brand 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.
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