2 Brothers on the 4th Floor

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AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:

2 Brothers on the 4th Floor

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  • Genres: Rock

Biography

Dutch techno group 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor joined their countrymen 2 Unlimited in the ranks of '90s dance acts popular on the charts as well in clubs across Europe. Brothers Bobby and Martin Boer began composing music in their bedroom and made the charts in 1990 with the single "Can't Help Myself." After initial play on Dutch radio stations, the song became a hit across Europe. The Boers recruited a rapper named Da Smooth Baron MC and vocalists Peggy "The Duchess" and Gale Robinson, releasing "Turn Da Music" the following year as 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor.

The second single proved less successful, so Bobby and Martin put the project on hold during 1992-93 while they worked at remixing as Dancability Productions (for Becky Bell and Twenty 4 Seven). By 1994, the pair re-formed 2 Brothers with rapper D-Rock and vocalist Des'Ray. The first single "Never Alone" became a Dutch hit with gold status; its follow-up "Dreams" entered the charts at #1, spawning the debut 2 Brothers album, also titled Dreams. Later singles -- "Fly (Trough The Starry Night)," "Come Take My Hand," "Fairytales" -- did well across Europe as well. Second album 2 was released in late 1996, with several megamix versions also available. ~ John Bush, Rovi
Wikipedia on Answers.com:

2 Brothers on the 4th Floor

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2 Brothers on the 4th Floor
Background information
Origin Utrecht, Netherlands
Genres Eurodance
Years active 1990-2001
Past members
Martin Boer
Bobby Boer
Desire Claudette

2 Brothers on the 4th Floor is a Dutch eurodance band, consisting of the brothers Martin and Bobby Boer. Since their creation in 1990, the group has been fronted by Dutch singer Desire Claudette.

Contents

Early career, 1990-1991

The Boer brothers had already been experimenting with music in a small bedroom when they finally gained note in 1990, when their single Can't Help Myself was picked up by Dutch radio stations and became an international hit. The brothers then brought together rapper Da Smooth Baron MC and singers Peggy "The Duchess" and Gale Robinson to form their stage act. The release of their next single, Turn Da Music Up was somewhat less successful, but helped the band to gain name recognition.

2 Brothers on the 4th Floor made two hit singles together before separating. Martin Boer moved into a new professional studio and started making remixes under the name Dancability Productions, making remixes for artists such as Becky Bell, Twenty 4 Seven and Luv' (for their Megamix '93), while Bobby Boer designed record covers and CD inlays for other artists.

1993-1994: Revival and Dreams

2 Brothers on the 4th Floor was revived by the Boer brothers in 1993. Bobby joined Martin in his studio and, after some time, released the single Never Alone. This single was the first to be launched with rapper D-Rock and singer Desirée Manders (stage name: Des'Ray). The song "Dreams", which the title song of the band's first album, was a song that captured the essence of Eurodance. Due to the genre's popularity when the song was released in 1994, the song became a hit both nationally and internationally. The band's renewed style and concept was accepted well by Dutch audience. Never Alone topped the charts for weeks and went gold. Dreams, the band's subsequent single, went straight to number one and remained on the charts for weeks (as well as reaching the top 30 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart in the United States) and Let Me Be Free, its successor, remained in the top ten nationally for some time.

1995-1997: 2

In 1995 and 1996, 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor further widened their success with the singles Fly (Through The Starry Night), Come Take My Hand and Fairytales, changing their genre in happy hardcore. These singles topped the charts in various European countries. At the end of 1996, the band released the single There's a Key and its second album, 2. After 2, the band shifted styles and first recorded the single One Day, an R&B track that departed from their typical Eurodance style, before going back to their previous Eurodance style with the single I'm Thinkin' of U.

1998-2001: Single releases

In March 1998, 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor released the single Do U Know, a mid to low tempo pop track. At the beginning of the fall of 1998, the single The Sun Will Be Shining was released. It contains remixes by Mark van Dale & Enrico[disambiguation needed ], Dance Therapy and the Dub Foundation. Packaged with The Sun Will Be Shining was a CD-ROM featuring the videos of "The Sun Will Be Shining" and "The Making Of".

On February 5, 1999, the single Heaven Is Here was released. October 29 of that year saw the release of the single Living In Cyberspace. On June 16, 2000, the single "Wonderful Feeling" was released. On June 29, 2001, the single "Stand Up And Live" was released.

2002-2008: Hiatus

2 Brother on the 4th Floor never released its third album due to problems with, among other things, record companies. Currently, the band doesn't seem to exist anymore, although it is unclear whether they have split up. Des'Ray has a solo career, and D-Rock is working with the band E-Life.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
NED
Dreams
  • Release date: 30 July 1994
  • Label: Lowland Records
  • Formats: CD
5
2
  • Release date: 30 November 1996
  • Label: Lowland Records
  • Formats: CD
18
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
Album
BEL
(Vl)

[1][2]
BEL
(Wa)

[1]
GER
[3]
ITA
[4]
NED
[1]
NOR
[1]
SUI
[1]
SWE
[1]
U.S.
Dance

[5]
1990 "Can't Help Myself" 19 32 6 6 Dreams
1991 "Turn da Music Up" 17 17
1993 "Never Alone" 3 18 2 38
1994 "Dreams (Will Come Alive)" 6 25 4 1 32 14
"Let Me Be Free" 8 43 11 7 23
1995 "Fly (Through the Starry Night)" 19 30 15 6 24 2
"Come Take My Hand" 9 16 4 12 28
1996 "Fairytales" 46 4 49
"Mirror of Love" 22 6 44
"There's a Key" 7
"Christmas Time" (Christmas version of "There Is a Key")
1997 "One Day" 15
"I'm Thinkin' of U" 48 20 Singles only
1998 "Do You Know?" 26
"The Sun Will Be Shining" 29
1999 "Heaven Is Here" 52
"Living in Cyberspace" 28
2000 "Wonderful Feeling" 44
2001 "Stand Up and Live"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References


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Copyrights:

Mentioned in

Goldene Europa 94 (1994 Album by Various Artists)
Trendance, Vol. 2 (1996 Album by Various Artists)