Twilight Zone (2 Unlimited song)

"Twilight Zone" is a song by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance act 2 Unlimited,[2] released in January 1992 via various labels as the second single from the act's debut studio album, Get Ready! (1992). The UK release of the single was the first 2 Unlimited single to include the vocals of Anita Doth, as they had not been featured on their breakthrough hit "Get Ready for This". However, Ray Slijngaard's rap verses were once again removed. The instrumental "Rave" version of the song sounds different from the original "Not Enough" version, with a more hi-NRG style with more bass and added cowbells.

"Twilight Zone (dance song)" redirects here. For other songs, see Twilight zone (disambiguation) § Music.
"Twilight Zone"
Standard worldwide artwork
Single by 2 Unlimited
from the album Get Ready!
Released13 January 1992 (1992-01-13)
Genre
Length4:09
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Carlos Meire
  • June Rollocs
  • Jean-Paul De Coster
  • P. De Meyer
  • Phil Wilde
Producer(s)
  • Phil Wilde
  • Jean-Paul De Coster
2 Unlimited singles chronology
"Get Ready for This"
(1991)		 "Twilight Zone"
(1992)		 "Workaholic"
(1992)
Music video
"Twilight Zone" on YouTube

"Twilight Zone" was a commercial success in many European territories, topping the singles chart in both Finland and the Netherlands. It was the act's second consecutive single to just miss out on the top spot on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number two. "Twilight Zone" was 2 Unlimited's biggest hit on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart, reaching number five, and it won an award in the category for Best Techno 12-inch Single on the 1993 WMC International Dance Music Awards.[3] Its music video was directed by David Betteridge.

Background and release

The song is written by Carlos Meire, June Rollocs, Jean-Paul De Coster, P. De Meyer and Phil Wilde, while De Coster and Wilde produced it. De Coster said in an interview with Music & Media, "The new single "Twilight Zone" is even more accessible than its predecessor. We call it 'happy house'. In fact, it all comes from the same origins. Just like rock 'n' roll, this music always evoluates."[4] Wilde told Melody Maker in 1994, "We mixed "Twilight Zone" on a pretty small DNR desk, which is Dutch. It was in-line with 20 channels, which gave you 20 inputs in the mix. Unfortunately, I needed about 70. It ended up taking five days to mix, but that was okay. It was a hit."[5]

Critical reception

Victoria Thieberger from The Age wrote, "The track is propelled by a high-tech beat and dramatic changes in melody and attitude that make it sound like three songs tacked together, punctuated by an occasional "whoo!"" rap in the vocal mix "gives it a harder edge, providing a central focus for the variations that spin around it. The end result is an entertaining dance track of more than average complexity and a decided lyrical development from "Get Ready for This"."[6] Larry Flick from Billboard deemed it "a swirling techno rave that is etched with sweet and tuneful pop/NRG nuances. Tough enough to please hardcore punters, though mainstreamers will find track palatable as well."[7] James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update stated that Stock & Waterman's "Belgian" act "returns with another synth stabbed simplistic Mecca-aimed raver, jerkily galloping through".[8] Sian Pattenden from Smash Hits viewed it as "an averagely bouncy rave tune."[9]

Chart performance

"Twilight Zone" was very successful on the charts across several continents. In Europe, it peaked at number-one in Finland and the Netherlands. Additionally, it entered the top 10 also in Austria (10), Belgium (5), Greece (2), Portugal (7), Spain (3), Sweden (9) and the United Kingdom, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100 and MTV's European Top 20. In the UK, "Twilight Zone" peaked at number two in its third week on the UK Singles Chart, on February 2, 1992.[10] It was held off reaching the top spot by Wet Wet Wet's "Goodnight Girl". On the UK Dance Singles Chart, it hit number four. "Twilight Zone" was also a top 20 hit in Germany (20), Ireland (20) and Switzerland (15). Outside Europe, the single reached number-one on the RPM Dance/Urban chart and number 15 on the RPM Top Singles chart in Canada, number five on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, number 22 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart and number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. In Australia, it went to number eleven.

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Twilight Zone" was directed by British director David Betteridge. He had previously directed the video for the band's first hit, "Get Ready for This". "Twilight Zone" was later made available on 2 Unlimited's official YouTube channel in 2014 and had generated more than 17 million views as of October 2023.[11]

Appearances

The song has become a staple of National Hockey League teams, as many of them play an instrumental loop of the song during games. Its popularity in the NHL may have been inspired by Ray Slijngaard wearing a Los Angeles Kings hoodie in the music video. It has also been used in NHL 11's "EA Trax" soundtrack.

The song's B4 Za Beat Mix (2:15) was included on Dancemania's Speed 5 and Speed Best 2001.

The song appeared on Witch, the third episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, playing for a cheerleading hopeful whose hands spontaneously combusted in the middle of her tryout.

The song was remixed as "Techno Syndrome" by the Immortals, the main theme of the Mortal Kombat franchise.[12] Immortals members Olivier Adams and Maurice Engelen have claimed the resemblance to be a coincidence, and that no legal action was taken.[13]

Track listings

Charts

Millennium Remixes
"Millennium remixes"
Single by 2 Unlimited
Released2000
LabelByte Records

Following the bleak success of the "No Limit" single came the "Twilight Zone (Millennium Remixes)". It had the same success as its predecessor, although the remixes were more commercial and radio-friendly. It received good airplay in Europe but had very little success in the charts.

Track listings

References
  1. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 11 April 1992. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  2. "2 Unlimited biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  3. Flick, Larry (20 March 1993). "Dance Trax: Miami Meet Works To Clear Commercial Cloud" (PDF). Billboard. p. 30. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  4. "Spotlight: 2 Unlimited" (PDF). Music & Media. 25 January 1992. p. 17. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  5. Horkins, Tony (14 May 1994). "Techno! Techno! Techno! Techno! A step-by-step guide to making a Eurobeat chart hit". Melody Maker. p. 43. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  6. Thieberger, Victoria (15 May 1992). "Singles". p. 4. The Age.
  7. Flick, Larry (11 April 1992). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  8. Hamilton, James (18 January 1992). "DJ Directory: Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 6. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  9. Pattenden, Sian (8 January 1992). "Review: Singles". Smash Hits. p. 45. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  10. "Official Singles Chart Top 75 02 February 1992 - 08 February 1992". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  11. "2 UNLIMITED - Twilight Zone (Rap Version) (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  12. Oyama, Jonathan (October 5, 2010). "Origins of the Mortal Kombat theme song". VentureBeat. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  13. Grebey, James (April 21, 2021). "The Team Behind the Mortal Kombat Theme Song Had No Idea They'd Created a Knockout". Vulture.
  14. "2 Unlimited – Twilight Zone". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  15. "2 Unlimited – Twilight Zone" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  16. "2 Unlimited – Twilight Zone" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  17. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 2014." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  18. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 7. 15 February 1992. p. 25. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  19. Musik-Charts durchsuchen
  20. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  21. "2 Unlimited – Twilight Zone" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  22. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 9. 29 February 1992. p. 34. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  23. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Twighlight Zone". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  24. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 12, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  25. "2 Unlimited – Twilight Zone" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  26. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 21. 23 May 1992. p. 36. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  27. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  28. "2 Unlimited – Twilight Zone". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  29. "2 Unlimited – Twilight Zone". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  30. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  31. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 1 February 1992. p. 20. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  32. "2 Unlimited Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  33. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  34. "Top 100 Singles of 1992" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  35. "The RPM Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1992" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 56, no. 25. 19 December 1992. p. 25. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  36. "1992 Year-End Sales Charts – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. 19 December 1992. p. 17. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  37. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  38. "Single top 100 over 1992" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  39. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1992" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  40. "Year End Charts: Top Singles". Music Week. 16 January 1993. p. 8.
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