| Twilight Zone | |
| Cover: | 2 Unlimited - twilightzone.gif |
| Caption: | Standard worldwide artwork |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | 2 Unlimited |
| Album: | Get Ready! |
| Genre: |
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| Label: | Byte |
| Producer: |
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| Prev Title: | Get Ready for This |
| Prev Year: | 1991 |
| Next Title: | Workaholic |
| Next Year: | 1992 |
"Twilight Zone" is a song by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance act 2 Unlimited,[2] released in January 1992 by Byte Records 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. The music video was directed by David Betteridge.
"Twilight Zone" was a commercial success in many European territories, topping the singles charts of Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands, and reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart. It 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]
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]
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 Weeks RM Dance Update stated that Stock & Waterman's "Belgian" act "returns with another synth stabbed simplistic Mecca-aimed raver, jerkily galloping through".[8] Siân Pattenden from Smash Hits viewed it as "an averagely bouncy rave tune."[9]
"Twilight Zone" peaked at number one in Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands (2 weeks), and entered the top 10 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. In the UK, "Twilight Zone" peaked at number two during its third week on the UK Singles Chart, on 2 February 1992. It was held off the top spot by Wet Wet Wet's "Goodnight Girl". On the Music Week Dance Singles chart, it peaked at 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 Canada's RPM Dance/Urban chart, numbers five, 22 and 49 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play, Maxi-Singles Sales and Hot 100 charts, and number eleven in Australia.
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".
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. The St. Louis Blues play it at home games when the team goes on the power play. It has also been used in NHL 11's "EA Trax" soundtrack. The song was remixed as "Techno Syndrome" by the Immortals, the main theme of the Mortal Kombat franchise.[10] Immortals members Olivier Adams and Maurice Engelen have claimed the resemblance to be a coincidence, and that no legal action was taken.[11]
"Twilight Zone" won an award in the category for Best Techno 12-inch Single on the 1993 WMC International Dance Music Awards.[3] Billboard magazine ranked it number 43 in their list of "The 100 Greatest Jock Jams of All Time" in February 2024.[12]
(Note: Track 1 is the PWL 7-inch edit, which is based on the Rave Version but adds some of Anita's vocals, specifically her "This is the twilight zone" chorus from the vocal arrangements to give it a slight "verse-chorus-verse" arrangement.)
| Chart (1992) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[13] | 4 | |
| Europe (MTV European Top 20)[14] | 6 | |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[15] | 1 | |
| Greece (IFPI)[16] | 2 | |
| Ireland (IRMA)[17] | 1 | |
| Portugal (AFP)[18] | 7 | |
| Spain (AFYVE)[19] | 3 | |
| UK Dance (Music Week)[20] | 4 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[21] | 49 | |
| US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)[22] | 5 | |
| US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[23] | 22 |
| Chart (1992) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[24] | 68 | |
| Belgium (Ultratop)[25] | 8 | |
| Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[26] | 5 | |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[27] | 30 | |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[28] | 85 | |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[29] | 11 | |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[30] | 9 | |
| UK Singles (OCC)[31] | 26 |
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 13 January 1992 | PWL International | |||
| Japan | 25 April 1992 | Mini-CD | Mercury | [32] |
| Millennium remixes | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | 2 Unlimited |
| Released: | 2000 |
| Label: | Byte |
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.