I have always been a big fan of Dutch-Belgian eurodance group 2 Unlimited, known in the USA for their international hits Get Ready (fka Get Ready for This), Twilight Zone and No Limit. I was such a big fan that I took it upon myself to form and run an internet-based fan club while in junior and senior high school.
Through the fan club, I met one of their producers, the original performers and a songwriter for the group. The original performers left in 1996 when their initial five-year contracts were up and pretty soon, the whole project died. 2 Unlimited again exists with the original rapper, but rather than actually put out, you know, new music, they are in fact limited….to performing at retro 90’s music festivals throughout Europe.
I received a lot of cooperation and assistance from the group’s US record labels and I and my fan club were recognized by various media outlets around the world, including my hometown newspaper. It is my belief that I am the first if not one of the first fans to form an internet-based fan club for a European dance music act.
My club had members throughout the world, including the United States. I was recognized by one of their US labels for organizing a campaign where all the US members would call their local radio stations and request whatever new single they had coming out. Those airplays resulted in sales at the record stores as buying music online was not a thing back then. Rough concept, huh?
Yes, it’s wonderful that new and old generations of fans can still hear their music, but it would be great to hear new music. Well, you can actually hear new 2 Unlimited music after all. Sort of.
We all know that AI has been taking over almost everything. That applies to music as well. I have come across at least two AI covers of 2 Unlimited songs, one being Twilight Zone and the other being Let The Beat Control Your Body. I hate to say it, and I never thought I’d live to see the day that I’d say something like this, but 2 Unlimited has officially been outsourced!
I’m also astounded that I am sitting here typing these words: the AI covers are actually better than the originals themselves! Since 2 Unlimited seems to limit itself to regurgitating past songs, some of us have to look elsewhere for new 2 Unlimited music and it seems that AI is the only option since they seem to be allergic to making money from new songs.
Come to think of it, I do know for a fact that there is at least one track that the original performers recorded for the new 2 Unlimited project that has not been released. I was able to hear a little bit of the song when I met with the rapper in New York City back in 2011.
Although I did not sign an NDA, I will not betray his confidences in regards to the song except to say that I recognized lyrics that he meant to be harmless that would cause serious issues today, at least here in the States. Maybe that’s why it’s never been released. What word was it? Well, I’ll just say the Black Eyed Peas used that word in one of their songs and had to make a different version for the radio because it’s that offensive of a word.
Then again, I throw the word around a lot here on this site, but I can do that. I gave him a heads up so the group wouldn’t get bad publicity here. But surely they could have resolved that by now! I am sure that there are plenty of other reasons, especially since Anita, the original singer, once again left the project for various reasons.
If you’re not familiar with what happened, the quick explanation is this:
- The original performers, Ray and Anita, were with the group from 1991 through 1996.
- Both performers opted to not renew their contracts.
- The producers replaced them with two female singers. That new project was a huge and embarrassing failure. I was embarrassed for them it was that bad.
- In 2009, Ray and Anita got back together and performed as….Ray and Anita, since the founder of the group held and holds the 2 Unlimited trademark.
- Through an arrangement that I will not reveal the details of, permission was given for Ray and Anita to perform under the 2 Unlimited name.
- Anita was replaced with Kim. She quit.
- Kim was replaced with Michelle. Does she have talent? No, no, no, no, no, no (if you know, you know, no?).
- The original producers are back in the picture. They and Ray are the only originals that remain to this day.
- Ray made it clear on TikTok that he thought about leaving 2 Unlimited last year because of all the personal and emotional tolls touring takes on he and his family. He was the one who spearheaded the revival of 2 Unlimited, so if he leaves, the project is dead. Anita was never replaceable. Neither is he.
- Yes, 2 Unlimited exists, but only on stage. It is interesting to note from their website that their bookings are becoming less frequent, so maybe 2 Unlimited’s time is up.
One thing that I enjoyed doing was helping one of the group’s founding producers secure a record deal for his solo project with a label here in the United States. It felt good to help him get more exposure here with what is perhaps the nation’s most successful dance music label.
I am looking for AI covers of other 2 Unlimited songs, but so far these two are the only ones I can find. It doesn’t seem as if the group is willing to put forth any effort to release to new music, so others are putting forth that effort and at this point, they’re making better 2 Unlimited music than, you know, the actual 2 Unlimited.
I guess there was a limit after all!