News

DJs Unite For Love Parade Charity Song

• 3rd Sep 2010

Paul Oakenfold, Armin van Buuren and Paul van Dyk have collaborated on a track called ‘Remember Love’, an homage to the 21 victims and visitors of this year's Loveparade event. All proceeds will be donated to charity.

July 24th 2010 is a date the dance scene will never forget. At the Loveparade, celebrated in Duisburg, Germany, more than 500 people were injured and 21 people were killed after panic broke out due to overcrowding in the tunnel entrance of the festival terrain. The Loveparade attracted more visitors than it could handle, resulting in mass hysteria and the death of 21 young dance lovers. Organiser of the Loveparade, Rainer Schaller, declared that the event would not be held again. The dance scene, along with its DJ’s, has been in shock ever since and to help remember the spirit of the famed dance event, three world-famous DJ’s have now united to create awareness and support the victims family-members and those injured.

Paul Oakenfold, Armin van Buuren and Paul van Dyk have all played various times at Loveparade, some of them in the early years, when the it was still held in its original concept, in Berlin. They joined forces to produce a track, ‘Remember Love’. The initiator of the track was Paul Oakenfold. “I think the Loveparade represents a big part of the essence of the dance movement”, he explains.“It’s a gathering for people from all over the world to come together to share their love for electronic music. I was watching television and a newsflash came up about the Loveparade. I really felt for the people that were there. I just thought we should do something to help them. In many other music genres artists come together, like ‘Live Aid’ and after the Haïti-disaster. We should do something. So I wrote this song and contacted Armin van Buuren and Paul van Dyk. I asked them if they were interested, cause I thought it was a good idea to have England, Holland and Germany coming together. Us coming together to do a track and all the money goes to help people. I think this is the first time this has ever been done in the dance scene, to give back, to help people.”

Both Paul van Dyk and Armin van Buuren joined the project immediately. Armin van Buuren, confirms: “For the first time an Englishman, a German and a Dutchman teamed up and became united in the studio, creating a track that I hope people will love and treasure. Our purpose was united in the sense that we wanted to pay homage to those whose lives were lost, and to have their memories live on in the spirit of our record.”

Paul van Dyk, who has been part of the Loveparade since the start, when it was still a political demonstration for peace and international understanding through music, was devastated when he heard about the Duisburg tragedy: “In its last years outside Berlin, the vibe of the Loveparade was a far cry from its original spirit. With ‘Remember Love’, we want to recapture the essence of the Loveparade and try to assist those who suffered by donating all proceeds to charity. It was a great honor to work with Armin van Buuren and Paul Oakenfold on this very important project. Please help us help others.”

‘Remember Love’ will be available under the collaborative name of DJ's United from September, 11th on, exclusively on Beatport for 2 weeks. The collaboration is, according to Oakenfold, a true mix of the sounds of the three DJ’s/producers. Oakenfold:”’Remember Love’ has the melodic feel which represents my sound, the emotion and movement which I love of Armin’s sound and the energy and uplifting touch that no one does better than Paul van Dyk. I think it’ll be interesting for people to hear how three artists come together making one song.”
Andreas Meiwes, Chairman of the Association of Non-statutory Welfare in North Rhine-Westphalia:

“The victims of the Loveparade disaster should not be carelessly dismissed from our minds and memories. Dedicating a charity single to them is an idea that we highly appreciate and that deserves all acknowledgement and support. I'm delighted that three stars of the international Dance scene are joining forces to take a stand for the victims. The proceeds will be of considerable help in giving financial aid to the victims, their families and those in need of medical or psychological support.“

All proceeds will be donated to the Association of Non-statutory Welfare in North Rhine-Westphalia Germany (LAG), which started an appeal to support the victims family-members and persons injured.