| Wild Wild Son | |
| Cover: | File:Armin van Buuren Wild Wild Son.jpg |
| Caption: | Radio version |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Armin van Buuren featuring Sam Martin |
| Album: | Balance |
| Genre: | |
| Label: | |
| Producer: |
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| Chronology: | Armin van Buuren |
| Prev Title: | United |
| Prev Year: | 2018 |
| Next Title: | Lifting You Higher (ASOT 900 Anthem) |
| Next Year: | 2018 |
"Wild Wild Son" is a song recorded by Dutch DJ and record producer Armin van Buuren featuring American singer Sam Martin. It was released on 12 October 2018, through Armada Music. It was produced by the DJ himself and his frequent Dutch record producer Benno de Goeij and composed by Benno de Goeij and the two artists. Armin van Buuren also released a club mix on 19 October 2018[1] and a remixes pack on 18 January 2019.
Armin van Buuren premiered his song at his seven-hour set at the Untold Festival in Romania in August 2018. He also explained that it was composed for his 5-year-old son Remy.[2] He later told about the song :
The single was announced on Armin van Buuren's Instagram. It's about the bond between the DJ and his growing son and the lyrics about raising the small and the inevitable passage of time. On 20 November, Armin van Buuren shared a photo of himself and his son on his shoulders in the setting sun. He debuted a #WildWildSon movement, which consisted of sharing photos of moments between parents and their children.[3]
Franz from DJ Mag Germany called the song "a beautiful, calm future bass and pop ballad", which differs from the usual trance songs of the DJ. Nils from DJ Mag Germany described it as an "empathetic mix of pop and future house".[4] Writing for Dancing Astronaut, Farrell Sweeney described the song as "an emotive track" which is different from previous Armin's trance songs, and which "could find a home during a melancholy movie scene thanks to Sam Martin's heartfelt vocals".[5] Karlie Powell from Your EDM described it as a "heart-tugging ballad" which is different from the usual style of the DJ.[6]
Writing for Dancing Astronaut, Rachel Narozniak noticed that "the piano-driven original resembles a ballad in its slow-paced intro that gradually mounts, but ever attuned to the trappings of a dance floor filler, Armin van Buuren swaps out the elegant piano opener for an accelerated BPM and hits of low-seated synth work". She said that the DJ amplified the version's effervescence as the track progresses and this effect is accompanied by metallic synths which provide a tonal contrast as the club mix builds.
The official music video of the song was released at the same day through Armin van Buuren's YouTube channel. It was viewed over two millions times two weeks after the release. Dianne van Vugt from Zutphen, a fan of Armin van Buuren, accidentally drove past the recordings two weeks ago.She said : "We saw cameras and someone was filmed on the piano. We haven't stopped. That's the biggest mistake ever because it turned out to be Armin who recorded the clip for his new single." Van Vugt requested the single on the morning of 14 October "as a consolation" on Radio Gelderland.[7] The video shows a family having fun in a nature reserve in Leesterheide forest between Het Leesten and Den Ham, in Ugchelen, Netherlands.[8] Armin van Buuren wasn't present during the video was shot. He has thanked the ranch on YouTube in its comments. The ranch responded : "We are proud that our location has been used in the new video." Furthermore, Ilse DeLange came too in the ranch with candidats of The Voice of Holland, and Paul de Leeuw and Thomas Berge too recorded their clips in Het Leesten.[9]
| Chart (2018–19) | Peak position | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands (Dutch Dance Top 30)[10] | 8 | ||
| Romania (Airplay 100)< | --Please do not change this to Romanian Top 100 or Media Forest. The Airplay 100 is Romania's national singles chart from 2012 onwards. For further information, see WP:GOODCHARTS-->[11] | 42 |