The history of Dance Music on Ibiza 1995 to the present day

The most influential hits of the past Summers:
(click and listen) - Real Audio format

We had great fun compiling this section, we hope you have as much fun listening. I'll try not to go overboard with the comments, but these are classic tunes, so forgive us if I get carried away ;-)

1995

Aside: For us, 1995 was the year that coined the phrase Ibiza Anthems. I remember coming home after the summer of 1995 and the DJ mix album had simply taken off. The best Anthems here, the best anthems there...Brandon Block, Seb Fontaine, Judge Jules - the same names as we see on every album cover these days ;-)

More importantly it gave you something to listen to and dream about as those cold winter nights quickly dispelled any thought of summer, cocktails and dancing on an Ibiza beach. And I think Anthems is exactly the right word for these tunes below. Beautiful melodies, haunting trance - these are timeless classics you can hear again and again. Probably the biggest difference to the music heard now is the lack of bass. (Although do enjoy the fattest of basses on De'Lacy's Hideaway, from deep prog remixing specialists Deep Dish - 6 years ago!)

Everything but the Girl 'Missing'
This Todd Terry remix is a beautiful tune which graced every club in Ibiza!

Jamiroquai 'Space Cowboy'
Wonderful clubbed up remix, perfect for those blissful sunday mid-afternoons on the terrace

Josh Wink 'Higher State of Consciousness'
Absolutely wicked - this song brought on fullscale madness everywhere they played it

De'Lacy 'Hideaway'
Beautifully sexy house remix from an as then unknown American remixing duo - Deep Dish (eh?)

OT Quartet 'Hold that Sucker down'
Don't know about you lot, but this has sunrise at Privilege written all over it - what a tune.

Mori Kante 'Yeke Yeke'
Wonderfully haunting psychedelic trance tune played all over (often dusted off and brought out by discerning DJs today too).

1996

Aside: 1996 was the year that put trance on the map, bringing it out of the underground and into the mainstream. The songs below could be heard everywhere from Pacha, to Privilege to Space. And who could ever forget songs like Insomnia and Children - songs which have probably had a bigger impact on the current day trance movement than any others. I still remember going completely wild upon hearing Insomnia in Privilege, and crying after hearing Children for the first time.

Faithless 'Insomnia'
Still one of the greatest trance songs ever made

Robert Miles 'Children'
Ditto

BBE 'Seven Days and 1 Week'
fantastic melody and very fat bass

Tori Amos 'Professional Widow'
Armand Van Helden mix which tore up discos everywhere. Great bass line!

Hysteric Ego 'Want Love'
Very big house hit playing to the popularity of speed garage at that time

1997 to follow shortly...

1998

Aside: Trance anthems and beach parties are our fondest memories of 1998. I still get goosepimples thinking about those beach parties at La Escollera (Es Cavallet) on Sunday evenings after Space, with music from the Italian duo Sergi and Betto. For us this was the first 'Year of Trance' - Agnelli and Nelson, Marc et Claude, Café del Mar, York, et al. Some cracking house hits too - all in all a top year for dancing!

Energy 52 'Café del Mar'
Strictly speaking this should actually be from '93 or so, but the remix from 1998 stormed every disco on the island. We dare you not to get up and dance after the breakdown ;-)

Stardust 'Music Sounds Better With You'
Beautiful sexy, summer house, with one of the catchiest base riffs ever! Everyone loved this one.

Three drives on a Vinyl 'Greece 2000'
Another haunting trance classic. The waterfall song, as many of my friends called it. Absolutely divine.

Mousse T 'Horny'
Strut your funky thang on the terrace in Space! One of the biggest cheers I have ever heard anywhere is when Mousse T dropped this (his own song) in Space one Sunday this year.

Nalin and Kane 'Beachball'
Beautiful song even your gran would like. On the beach, at Bora Bora, in all the discos - very classy trance.

1999

Aside: This was the year of ATB, the 'Sun is Shining', and the year that Bora Bora moved out of the underground. Home@Space became the party everyone had been waiting for. None of the 'where do we go now? Space has shut' decisions - Space simply stayed open... 22 hours non-stop. Oakenfold, Sasha, Cox, Morillo, Basement Jaxx, Laurent Garnier.... Made Sundays fun again.

Full Intention 'Spanish Hustle'
Take some bongos, a catchy little melody, a groovy disco bassline and what have you got - a classic Ibiza hit. If only it was as easy as it sounds. (This has summer in Ibiza written all over it - wonderful)

ATB '9pm 'til I come'
You either like it or you don't. This was such a popular hit in Space, Amnesia, Privilege, in fact just about everywhere you went.

Bob Marley vs. Funkstar Deluxe 'Sun is Shining'
Every bedroom Dj's / producer's dream. Little known Danish producers Funkstar Deluxe grabbed the rights to use this old Bob Marley track, caught a flight to Ibiza with a handful of copies and started giving them away to the island's DJs. The rest is history. Summer in a song!

David Morales 'Needin U'
Classic house tune which we heard everywhere. Just been given a new release (2000) and is doing the rounds on MTV, etc.

Pete Heller 'Big Love'
Another classic house track, typical of the smooth and groovy tunes played in Pacha, on the Space Terrace, El Divino... Very popular in bars and pre-parties too.

2000

Aside: Can it get any larger? 2000 proved that it could. Renaissance gave us the surprise of the summer by moving to Privilege and inviting top live acts Leftfield, Moby, and Kylie Minogue (!) to perform alongside DJs Dave Seaman, Carl Cox and friends. Gatecrasher was forced into a midseason move from Pacha to new boys Eden, and smaller clubs, Konga and DC10 vied for attention.

Musically 2000 has been the best summer since 1995 (well our opinion). We dare you to disagree ;-)

DJ Rolando 'Knights of the Jaguar' Try not to smile as you here this classic space terrace tune. One of the biggest tunes here this summer.

Josh Wink & Lil' Louis 'How's your evening so far?' This was big 10 years ago, and the remix has ripped up Ibiza everywhere, being played both inside Space and outside on the terrace. (Remember how 'Higher State of Consciousness' did the same 5 years ago. Josh Wink seems to have a knack for crossing the bridge between house and techno.)

Black Legend 'You see the trouble with me' The Walrus of Love Barry White croons his way to this summer special. Space terrace pure

Bob Sinclair 'Feel for you' Can this man do no wrong? Another summer classic for the beach, the terrace and any number of discos.

Azzido Da Bass 'Doom's Night (Timo Maas)' Probably the producer of the year here on Ibiza. This is typical of his dark and twisted sound. Although he's been around producing great records for many, many years; this year has been the breakthrough. Hope we hear more.

Storm 'Time to burn' The men who invented trance as we know it, Jam El Mar and Marc Spoon, tear up dancefloors everywhere with this massive hard house cut. Top fact: Marc Spoon's real surname is Löffel - the German translation of spoon!!

Mojo 'Lady' Sexy, smooth and perfect to groove away the summer evenings.

2001

Aside: Wow! What a summer - a summer of superlatives, a summer of extremes. I don't know where people get the energy from (as I am wacked after a whole day @ Space on Sunday ;-), but this year's HIT was DC10, which only gets going after Space has shut! And everywhere was full! The Space terrace was uncrossable, Amnesia and Privilege were penalised by the local councils for ignoring their legal capacities (by a mile!). Musically, the summer hasn't really inspired us at Spotlight as in recent years. We loved X-Press 2, both as DJs and for producing some really good 'back to the roots' house; and 'Another Chance' and 'Finally' are true classics, but? You be the judge:

Kings of Tomorrow 'Finally'
This was massive in Miami, and has taken Ibiza by storm this year. Voted the Ibiza anthem of the year at this year's DJ awards at Pacha - this was Tenaglia's climax at the opening of Sundays@Space, and at his last terrace appearance in September.

Roger Sanchez 'Another Chance'
Beautiful melody, smooth beats and a male vocal have made this one of the anthems of the summer. Hear this wherever you go. Now moved into the mainstream charts, just as Spiller's Groovejet last year

X-Press 2 'Muzikizum'
And another Miami hit which was many DJs tune of the season. House like it used to be - raw, tough and extremely danceable

Raven Maize 'Real Life'
Joey Negro samples Queen for this classic tune. Very summer.

Static revenger 'Happy People'
Very popular early in the season. Another Miami hit gone ballistic in the Balearics.

Depeche Mode 'I feel love'
Deep, deep Tenaglia style. Great Space favourite.

2002

There were many good tunes out in 2002, including our favourite - Underworld's 'Two Months Off' - which was hammered by everyone from Sven Väth to Sasha. There were also plenty of remixes, notably 'I Feel Love' and 'Sweet Dreams (not included below) and lots of 'almost there's' - at least that's our opinion.

The summer will also go down in history as the most outrageously expensive one. The advent of the Euro gave most business, clubs and bars a 'licence to hike their prices' - which meant paying up to 30% more than in previous years for both drinks and entrance tickets! Hmmmmph. It also saw the rise to international stardom for DC10 (and the accompanying ticket price increase, grrrrr!) whilst new club Pin-Up (ex-Konga) combined a sexy terrace with some great invitational DJs and respectable prices - we are sure to hear more from them!

Thomas Bangalter & DJ Falcon 'Together - So Much Love To Give'
Vocal house end-of-the-night stormer from Bangalter of Daft Punk and DJ Falcon - can't help but like this cheeky number - always brings the terrace down when played - normally towards the end of the night ;-)

Felix da Housecat 'Silver Screen Shower Scene'
Very interesting house tune from a real legend. Classic house with a modern feel to it, this has been in every set we can remember this summer!

Donna Summer 'I Feel Love'
At last we've found this Danny Howells remix which has been ripping up Bora Bora and Space since the season started - Ibiza just can't get enough of this one!

Tomaz vs. Filterheadz 'Sunshine'
Nice Ibiza crossover tune which has been banged out by DJs as diverse as Doc Martin and Paul Oakenfold.

Layo and Bushwacka 'Love Story'
warm, melodic prog from two of this year's hottest DJs / Producers. You'll hear this classy track everywhere you go. Layo and Bushwacka have been around for simply ages, and its only now they are getting the public recognition they deserve. Catch them most weeks at Sundays@Space

Tim Deluxe 'Just Won't Do'
Tim Deluxe is one half of Underwater (with Darren Emerson), and this tune not only rocked Miami this winter, but is fast becoming the hit of the summer here on Ibiza. Summery sounds, horns, fat basses and a bit of 'je ne sais quoi' - Bora Bora, Pacha, Manumission (alleged 7 times in one night), Space terrace, etc, etc.

Narcotic Thrust 'Safe From Harm'
Another very smooth chunk of deep proggy house - this has Pacha written all over it. Very popular with member of our clubbing forums!

2003

2003 was a summer when club music took to the dancefloors and really gave it some.

Hed Kandi landed at El Divino and took the island by storm - so good in fact that Mixmag voted it the Best Newcomer in Ibiza award. Every week, clubbers just loved the intimate atmosphere and the big tunes. Instant success !

Meanwhile, Plastik opened up to bring a much needed touch of class to the West End. Another place to dance and enjoy great music with plenty of great looking people.

So ... another great year, with some more amazing tunes to enjoy ...

Junior Jack ´E-Samba´

A fantastic piece of summer latin magic from Junior Jack that had everyone moving their hips this year.

Very addictive and as hot as an afternoon at Bora Bora.

Mighty Dub Katz ´Let The Drums Speak´

If your body had recovered from the magic of E-Samba, then it was really put to the test when this awesome tune from the Mighty Dub Katz (aka Fatboy Slim - can he do no wrong ?) took you over and flipped you inside out.

Kurtis Mantronik / Chamonix ´How Did You Know´

How Did They Know this was gonna be a summer club hit ..?

Well, with good vocals and catchy strings this one was never going to fail. Should revive failing memories of Ibiza 2003 and beyond.

Lee Cabrera ´Shake It´

This tune just makes you want to go dancing, with it´s funky piano riff and thumping bass.

Ibiza was Shaking It to this everywhere, from Space to Eden, Amnesia to Pacha ... and every other bar in between.

Cassius ´The Sound of Violence´

Steve Edwards provided the vocals and top French electronic rockers, Cassius, did the rest - the result being a huge dancefloor track enjoyed by everyone.

Who knew that violence could sound so good.

David Guetta ´Just a Little More Love´

This was David Guetta´s first single release and despite being released two years prior, was still ripping up the dancefloors in Ibiza this summer and every year since !

White Stripes ´Seven Nation Army (Tim Deluxe remix)

There wasn't a club, bar or radio that wasn't playing this remix during the summer.

But did we tire of it ... no way, we just kept marching on !

Rune ´Calabria´

Arguably, we´ve saved the best for last ... this horn-led anthem is one of the definitive clubbing anthems, subject to many remixes and covers.

But not many come close to the rawness and originality of the original, which had everyone going crazy for in 2003.

2004

2004 was a quieter year in Ibiza, with fewer Brits and a party season that only really got going in the middle of July. With changes to music and club regulations, the authorites were trying to improve the public image of Ibiza.

Certainly, when Bora Bora was shut down people noticed things were starting to change.

However, the music was better that it had been for a few years. And it was business as usual for some of the biggest parties on the island. Judgement Sunday, Manumission and Cream continued to entertain full houses each week.

Milk & Sugar ´Let The Sun Shine In´

When German duo Milk & Sugar remixed this they created one of the best Ibiza feel-good songs of all time and a chorus you can never tire of. Just feel the sunshine !

Axwell ´Feel The Vibe´

Full on, up-front and energetic ... Axwell's funked up house anthem got us all feeling the vibe this summer.

Alter Ego ´Rocker´

More twisted than a Curly Wurly could have been the strapline for this fantastic acid house tune that was one of the year's defining anthems.

Strap yourself in for safety.

Yoshimoto ´Du What Yu Du (Trentmoller remix)´

Another melodic yet pretty eerie electro-house offering that drove everyone crazy this summer.

Trentmoller does a fine remix of an already immense tune.

Deep Dish ´Flashdance´

Possibly the biggest club tune of 2004 and didn't Deep Dish just nail it with Flashdance. Great vocals and such an addictive riff, the Ibiza dancefloors just lapped this baby up.

Fortunately we were spared the 80's kids in leggings.

Shapeshifters ´Lola's Theme´

If Flashdance was the biggest club tune, then undoubtedly Lola's Theme was the dance hit of the year.

A great summer anthem that never failed to get people right up there and vocals so catchy you'd be tapping your toes in your sleep. That's if you ever went to bed of course !

Soulcentral ´Strings Of Life´

Strings of Life is one of the greatest tracks ever made and one of those songs that will never be matched again.

But Soulcentral did a good enough job with this remix to make into our hallowed list of Ibiza, and in 2004 pretty much the whole of Ibiza agreed.

Michael Gray ft Shena ´The Weekend´

When this record made its rounds in the clubs, we were all licking our lips in anticipation.

Why ?

Because in Ibiza every single day is the weekend of course !

Junior Jack ´Stupid Disco´

Another awesome floor filler from our man Junior Jack which was only slightly overshadowed by the video where wrestling beauties Miss DD and Nasty Nancy fight it out.

2005

2005 was a political year in Ibiza and making the news first was the controversial move of Defected, from El Divino to Pacha.

And to make the feud a little more interesting, there was a new player in town ... Ibiza Town in fact ... as Penelope set up shop just down the road from Pacha.

There was more chaos in September, when Penelope, Pacha, Privilege and Amnesia were forced to close at the legal hour of 6 am, with many lost clubbers looking for a lost hour of partying.

Chaos aside, it was a very successful year for everyone and the Brit tourists were back in force. And of course, this year was once again full of amazing tunes.

Moby ´It's Raining Again (Steve Angello remix)´

Surely the most emotional track of 2005, Angello's remix never failed to bring the best out of everyone. Hugs, kisses, screams and shouts ... this was a winner wherever it was played.

We expect this one to get the same reaction for many years to come. A true Ibiza classic.

Lifelike & Kris Menace ´Discopolis´

A beast of a track that was unleashed to everyone in Ibiza clubland this year.

But instead of running scared in all directions, the deep bass and funk overtones meant that we gave it a happy home in our hearts and named it Fido. Probably.

SIKK ´My Washing Machine´

With a washing machine that doesn't work, this tune was always going to be dirty.

But none-the-less, it wasn't too filthy for the Space massive to embrace it fully ... sweat stains or not.

Martin Solveig ´Everybody´

Guitar riffs were back in a big way as Martin Solveig got everybody raving to this rock-tinged floor filler and chart success followed immediately.

Booka Shade ´Mandarin Girl´

A great year for Booka Shade also saw them release this little baby. Totally addictive and driving techno that you just never want to end. Ever.

One of our favourite dance tracks since the invention of the needle.

Blaze ft Barbara Tucker ´Precious Love´

Another re-visit to this classic vocal anthem, updated and re-vitalised for everyone to enjoy.

They don't often come more club friendly that this.

Herd & Fitz ´I Just Can't Get Enough´

Wow.

In a summer full of uplifting vocal classics, the brilliant vocals and seductive lead synths on this one meant it stood out the most.

The only thing you would have heard more often were the voices in your head telling you not to stop. But of course, we didn't listen.

M.A.N.D.Y. vs Booka Shade ´Body Language´

Officially the Ibiza tune of 2005 and who are we to argue.

Ame ´Rej´

Minimal techno at it's best from this German producer and surely a track that will be hitting the dancefloors for many years to come.

Wonderfully gritty yet with such an angelic melody. Awesome.

Stonebridge ´Put 'Em Up´

The ultimate feel good tune of the summer, just one listen to this was good enough to pick you up from whatever hole you were in.

A perfect tune for chilling by the pool or grooving to in the club ... and a massive hit worldwide.

Above & Beyond vs Andy Moor ´Air For Life´

Even if trance isn't your thing, this was a momentous track that was loud, pounding and nothing short of brilliant.

Will inspire memories of many a lost night at Cream and for that we are grateful.

Dennis Ferrer & Jérome Sydenham ´Sandcastles´

A awesome progressive house number that takes an eternity to kick in ... but when it does you´re wondering what hit you !

2006

It was the year of the World Cup and Italy took away the sought after title of World Champions ... adding some more to the party vibe in the Ibiza clubs, Italians were singing and chanting everywhere they went.

There was chaos at Manumission as 1,000´s of clubbers were turned away at the door one night ... a nightmare for all involved but thankfully resolved for the following week.

Meanwhile, Paul van Dyk performed an exclusive sunset session at Kanya that was one of the highlights of the summer !

For the rest of us it was business as usual, meaning lots of clubbing and making plenty of new friends along the way ... and of course, making those dancefloors our summer home with tunes like these ...

Red Carpet ´Alright´

When this came on you didn't know whether to throw your hands in the air or grab hold of the person next to you and tell them you loved them. We did both.

Absolutely one of the most beautiful tracks of the summer and will surely become a timeless classic.

Justice vs Simian ´We Are Your Friends´

French electro-rock funk duo, Justice, performed the remix magic on the original Simian song, Never Be Alone, a couple of years previously but it was 2006 when it made the big time.

Just 5 seconds into this tune, you're already hooked by the twisted bass and energetic vocal coming your way. One of the years biggest hits.

Fish Go Deep ´The Cure And The Cause´

Like many club classics, this took a couple of releases to finally make it. But thankfully Defected added the magic touch and we didn't miss out on this gem of house tune.

With truly hypnotic vocals from Tracey Kelleher and an addictive bass, this was equally as powerful in the club or chilling at the beach.

Bob Sinclar ft Steve Edwards ´World Hold On´

Just one year after the massive Love Generation and Bob Sinclar was whistling at us again.

Fortunately, this year the whistles were just as good but combined with a thick and funky bassline plus the powerful singing of Steve Edwards, we had a real Ibiza smash right here.

Bodyrox ft Luciana ´Yeah Yeah´

One of the sexiest tunes of the summer, with the even sexier Luciana promising to teach us a thing or two. Oh how we wish she would.

Absolutely huge this summer.

Dave Spoon ´At Night´

At night was when this track really came alive ... with a totally infectious kick and enough power to hotwire a small Polo.

Sander Kleinenberg ´This Is Ibiza´

This is not Vienna, this is not Shanghai. This is not Las Vegas, this is not Dubai.

This is Ibiza !

In 2006 this tune was literally all over the world.

Solu Music ft Kimblee ´Fade´

Originally released in 2001, this beautiful song took another 5 years before it really got the success it deserved.

Kimblee adds the dreamy vocals to this funky number and we all just closed our eyes and got lost in the moment.

Eric Prydz vs Pink Floyd ´Proper Education´

"We don't need no education" was what they cried in 2006 and we must have agreed.

Eric Prydz once more conjured some remix magic with this Pink Floyd classic.

Fedde Le Grand ´Put Your Hands Up For Detroit´

Love it or hate it - and we´re sitting on the fence on this one - this tune was played out at pretty much every bar or club you could make it to.

2007

2007 was the most controversial year we´ve seen in Ibiza for a few years, as the local authorities started the season off with the enforced closure of Amnesia and DC10 for offences over the years.

Then it all kicked off at Privilege as Manumission finally made the decision to move on after a string of disputes. Amnesia was the new venue for the infamous Mish parties and the show could once again go on.

Meanwhile, Tiesto arrived at the island for two amazing sell-out events at Privilege – leading to his residency for 2008 – and Ibiza Rocks was up there with the big boys, putting on some amazing live gigs.

Despite the early problems, it was another massive summer for the most of the big club nights in Ibiza, including some huge parties at Cream, Judgement Sunday, Hed Kandi, Cocoon, Carl Cox, We Love Space and many more ...

Axwell ´I Found You´

Undoubtably THE tune of 2007 and yet another Ibiza smash for Axwell. This was the most played tune of the summer yet still never failed to leave people begging for more.

The mix of terrific vocals and uplifting piano made this track more contagious than the measles.

Dubfire ´Roadkill´

Industrial strength baselines as Dubfire (one half of Deep Dish) carved up the club dance floors with this tech-house juggernaut.

D Ramirez & Mark Knight ´Colombian Soul´

Big room electronic house with a twist of tribal from two of 2007's top producers.

Sammin ´Heater´

Another one that you either loved or hated ... there was no escaping this massive tune in 2007. You could hear this catchy accordian led floor filler being played from Space to Amnesia, from Bora Bora to the stereo of a passing Audi.

Hard-Fi ´Suburban Knights (Angello & Ingrosso remix)´

No one is safe from the re-mixing skills of the Swedish Mafia, and this time it was Steve Angello and Sebastien Ingrosso who beefed up this Hard-Fi release.

We defy anyone not to chant along as you ride away into the night.

David Guetta ´Love Is Gone´

This man certainly knows how to produce a dancefloor hit - Love Is Gone is just one of several Guetta productions to make it big in the clubs, and later the charts.

A quirky uplifting track with great vocals that you couldn't avoid.

Red Hot Chilli Peppers ´Waiting For (Rene Amesz & Peter Gelderbloms remix)´

At the start of 2007 this was being belted out everywhere and, despite waning slightly toward the end, proved to be one the summers true anthems.

A big favourite on the Sunset Terrace at Space, where the crowd never had to wait for long to enjoy a hands in the air moment.

Show Me Magenta ´Arno Cost & Arias vs Robin S (Dave Spoon remix)´

This Robin S classic first got a facelift courtesy of Cost & Arias, but it was Dave Spoon who really put it on the clubbing catwalk.

As it dropped into a set you tried to disguise the shivers it sent down your spine by singing along with the entire crowd. Beautiful.

The Classics

These are the ones you hear time and time again. DJs just love to take them out, dust them off and drop 'em in - guaranteed floor-fillers

Morels Grooves 'Let's Groove'
Timeless classic house for Pacha, El Divino, the Terrace - Groooooovy.

Robert Armani 'Circus Bells'
What a killer acid line. From 1989 we think! Cool. I heard Brandon Block drop this on the terrace one Sunday afternoon when it was pissing down with rain, and he and Alex P could hardly stand - the place went absolutely mental!

Taiko 'Echo Drop'
Get that tough and funky bass line.
'Another classic gets the crowds screaming on the Terrace'.

Jaydee 'Plastic Dreams'
No selection would be complete without this gem. Erick Morillo dropped this at the closing of Space 2001 - with New Order's 'Blue Monday' playing underneath. (I notice a definite Terrace bias here - Ed.)

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