ID&T Yearmix 2001 - The Ultimate Dance Mix Of The Year

Martin van Zeelandt / TCD
May 16
4 min read

2001 was a great year for Dance music. I can wholeheartedly confirm this, as that's the year in which I decided to rave my arse off, more than before, and during that year I also bought most of the compilations out there, including the one you are about to listen to. It was also the year I went to Mysteryland 2001 at Six Flags theme park, in the Netherlands. That whole year was so damn good, and the year mix, which was released by ID&T, it summed up the year beautifully. To me, and probably many others too, it was a glorious year!

And I can't believe it's 25 years ago! That year was so mesmerizing for me, I can still experience it. If I only close my eyes, and let the music penetrate my skull, I am young again. But then I open my eyes again, and look in the mirror, and think ''fuck, what has happened?''. Time goes by too damn quick, and before you know it, you are old. And you never want the good years to end. You only realise that they did end, years down the line, when you are older, wiser, and look back with fond memories. And 2001 was certainly a great year for Dance music.

When I bought this album in 2001, I played it until it drove everyone around me nuts. I have always had a soft spot for megamixes, and they are just better. Sometimes you don't need a full length song, but just the best bits. And a megamix does provide you with just that. But also, sometimes the best bits aren't enough, and it made me search for the longer versions.

I still find this mix one of the finest released by ID&T. They have released so many mixes over the years, and I have always liked them. But this one, it is simply better than the others. Why? Well, two reasons: the mix was released in 2001, which was certainly the best year, and the second reason is: the music was much better. Timeless songs, that's for sure!

CD 1

Gypsymen - Babarabatiri
Deep Swing - In The Music
The Girl Next Door - Salsoul Nugget (If You Wanna)
Pound Boys - K-Pasa
Negrocan - Aquela Esquina
Cosmic People - Time To Hold On
Stuart - Now I'm Free
Warm - It's In The Music
Sono - Keep Control
Bastian - You Got My Love
Santos - Camels
Raven Maize - The Real Life
Architechs - Bodygroove
Jark Prongo - Rocket Base
Felix Da Housecat - Silver Screen Shower Scene
Green Velvet - La La Land
Rui Da Silva - Touch Me
Jakatta - American Dream
ATB - Let U Go
Banda Sonora - Guitarra G
Hatiras - Space Invaders
Fatboy Slim - Star 69
Orinoko - Island
Gigi D'Agostino - La Passion
Chocolate Puma - I Wanna Be U
Plaything - Into Space
Sister Bliss - Deliver Me (Geert Huinink Mix)
Depeche Mode - I Feel Loved
Safri Duo - Played-a-Life
DJ Jean - Lift Me Up
Barthezz - Infected
G-Spott - N-R-G
Lock 'N Load - House Some More
Hammer House - The Jumper
Zini & Katini - Kick Ass
Copycat - 2-2-2-2
Club Caviar - Game Over

CD 2

Way Out West - Intensify
Delerium feat Leigh Nash - Innocente (Falling In Love)
Coast 2 Coast feat Discovery - Home
Blaze feat Palmer Brown - My Beat (AMbassador Mix)
Ultra - Free
System F - Dance Valley Theme 2001
Mauro Picotto - Promixus
DJ Quicksilver - Ameno
Push - The Legacy
Ian Van Dahl - Castles In The Sky
Paul van Dyk - We're Alive
Sylver - Turn The Tide
Three Drives - Sunset On Ibiza
Push - Strange World
4 Strings - Into The Night
Perpetuous Dreamer - The Sound Of Goodbye
Out Of Grace - Obscura (Delivery 01)
DJ Tiesto - Suburban Train (Way Out West Mix)
Ratty - Sunrise
Rank 1 feat Shanokee - Such Is Life
Barthezz - On The Move
Svenson & Gielen - Twisted
Members Of Mayday - 10 In 01
Espuma - The Ultimate Trip
iiO - Rapture (Riva Remix)
DuMonde - Never Look Back
Katana - Fancy Fair
Collusion - Conspiracy
The Act - Something About You
Tomcraft - Prosac
Mauro Picotto - Komodo
Joy Kitikonti - Joyenergizer
Da Hool - Meet Her At The Love Parade 2001
Marco V - In Charge
DJ Tiesto - Flight 643
A*S*Y*S - Acid Nightmare
The Moon - Blow The Speakers

This makes me extremely happy. I am content, as some would say. My youth on two discs. Not my full youth, don't get me wrong. I've lived a very full life and danced throughout the 90s and 00s, so to single out one year, to embrace my youth, isn't fair. But it is by far one of the finest years. Would you agree or disagree?

ID&T already pushed away the harder styles, and went full AWOL on the harder styles. Especially Hardcore, which was a pity. But I did not mind them moving toward the House and Trance side, because it gave us new events to go to, like Sensation and Innercity. And where would we be without them?

It was a splendid year, and the two discs do show it. And now the difficult part, choosing a favourite song. One from each disc, here we go:

Jark Prongo - Rocket Base
Out Of Grace - Obscura (Delivery 01)

These two have certainly been with me the longest, and I still find these songs the coolest ones from 2001. There are also a few I do not get, like 'La La Land' and 'Ameno', I just don't see the hype. They are boring as fuck, especially 'La La Land'.

One of ID&T's finest megamixes. Maybe the Happy Hardcore megamix is just better, by an inch. But this bad boy remains in my top 10 of all time, as it has the right records, from one amazing year. And as said, it makes me happy. I am very content. And now I'm hoping that we do have the technology to go back in time, 25 years back in time. I want to rave like it is 2001, with the music from that year. Boy, I hate getting old.