Faces (2 Unlimited song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Faces"
2 Unlimited Faces Single Cover.jpg
Widely distributed variant of the standard artwork
Single by 2 Unlimited
from the album No Limits!
Released23 August 1993
Recorded1993
GenreEurodance
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Phil Wilde
  • Jean-Paul De Coster
2 Unlimited singles chronology
"Tribal Dance"
(1993) 		"Faces"
(1993) 		"Maximum Overdrive"
(1993)
Music video
"Faces" on YouTube

"Faces" is a song recorded by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited.[1] It was 2 Unlimited's seventh single released on 25 August 1993 as the third single from their second album, No Limits!. On the Eurochart Hot 100, the song reached number 6.

Release and reception[]

The single version of "Faces" is a radio edit of the album version included on the No Limits! album internationally. "Faces (Radio Edit)" substitutes the less-palatable, harsh synth lead with a milder rendition of the same riff. In the United States, this radio edit of "Faces" was included on the No Limits! album instead of the album version found on all international pressings. In the UK, the radio edit of "Faces" omitted the main rap, but like "Tribal Dance", the song left in more vocals from Ray Slijngaard.

Music writer James Masterton said in his weekly UK chart commentary, "This new single if anything contains more depth than their average work, with changes of tempo rife throughout."[2] Alan Jones from Music Week wrote, "A more complex than usual offering from the Dutch duo who eschew their simple and highly effective straight-ahead rave style in favour of a tempo-changing and less instant song. They'll pay the price at retail with one of their smaller hits to date, though the Top 20 is still a cert."[3] James Hamilton from the magazine's RM Dance Update described it as a "techno synth buzzed but unrushed tinkling blippy sweet loper".[4] Toby Anstis reviewed the song for Smash Hits, stating that "this is just a taster of what the album sounds like". He added that "it'll be a hit".[5] Australian student newspaper Woroni picked "Faces" as a "obvious highlight" of the No Limits! album, together with "No Limit" and "Tribal Dance".[6]

Chart performance[]

"Faces" scored chart success in many European countries, peaking at number 2 in their homeland of the Netherlands, number 3 in Belgium, number 4 in Spain and number 5 in Finland. It also reached the Top 10 in Austria, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom. In the latter, it peaked at number 8 in its second week on the UK Singles Chart on 5 September 1993.[7] The single spent two weeks at that position. It was also a Top 10 hit on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it hit number 6, and on the European Dance Radio Chart, where it peakead at number 2. Additionally, the song was a Top 20 hit in Denmark, France, Sweden and Italy. Outside Europe, it reached number 54 in Australia.

Music video[]

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by British director Nick Burgess-Jones. He also directed the videos for "No Limit" and "Tribal Dance". There were made two different edits of "Faces"; the rap version and the no rap version. The rap version was published on 2 Unlimited's official YouTube channel in July 2014. It has amassed more than 850,000 views as of September 2021.[8] The other version was published in June 2014.

Track listing[]

  • 7" single
  1. "Faces" (Radio Edit) (3:37)
  2. "Faces" (Album Version) (3:49)
  • Belgian 12" maxi
  1. "Faces" (Radio Edit) (3:47)
  2. "Faces" (Extended) (5:55)
  3. "Faces" (X-Out Remix) (5:17)
  4. "Faces" (Trance-Aumatic Remix) (5:20)
  5. "Faces" (Automatic Breakbeat Remix) (5:30)
  • Netherlands 12" maxi
  1. "Faces" (Extended) (5:55)
  2. "Faces" (X-Out Remix) (5:17)
  3. "Faces" (Trance-Aumatic Remix) (5:20)
  4. "Faces" (Automatic Breakbeat Remix) (5:30)
  • UK 12" maxi
  1. "Faces" (Extended) (5:55)
  2. "Faces" (X-Out Remix) (6:17)
  3. "Faces" (Trance-Aumatic Remix) (5:20)
  4. "Faces" (Automatic Breakbeat Remix) (5:30)
  5. "Faces" (Original Version) (4:43)
  • US 12" maxi
  1. "Faces" (Extended Mix) (5:55)
  2. "Faces" (X-Out Remix) (5:17)
  3. "Faces" (Radio Edit) (3:37)
  4. "Faces" (Trance-Automatic Remix) (5:20)
  5. "Faces" (Automatic Breakbeat Remix) (5:30)
  6. "Faces" (Spanish Radio Version) (3:37)
  • UK CD single
  1. "Faces" (Edit) (3:34)
  2. "Faces" (Extended) (5:57)
  3. "Faces" (X-Out Remix) (5:18)
  4. "Faces" (Trance-Aumatic Remix) (5:22)
  5. "Faces" (Automatic Breakbeat Remix) (5:32)
  6. "Faces" (Original Version) (3:47)
  • European CD maxi
  1. "Faces" (Radio Edit) (3:37)
  2. "Faces" (Extended) (5:55)
  3. "Faces" (X-Out Remix) (5:17)
  4. "Faces" (Trance-Aumatic Remix) (5:20)
  5. "Faces" (Automatic Breakbeat Remix) (5:30)

Charts[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Allmusic: 2 Unlimited (Biography)". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-05-06.
  2. ^ Masterton, James (1993-09-29). "Week Ending September 4th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  3. ^ Jones, Alan (1993-08-28). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  4. ^ Hamilton, James (1993-08-28). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 6. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  5. ^ "New Singles". Smash Hits. 1993-08-18. p. 47. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  6. ^ "MUSIC". Woroni. 1993-09-01. p. 35. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  7. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 75 05 September 1993 - 11 September 1993". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
  8. ^ "2 UNLIMITED - Faces (Rap Version) (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 2014-07-26. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  9. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Faces", in various Singles Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved February 15, 2008)
  11. ^ "Ultratop.be – 2 Unlimited – Faces" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  12. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 1993-09-25. Retrieved 2018-03-06.
  13. ^ "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. 1993-10-16. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
  14. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  15. ^ German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de Archived December 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
  16. ^ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie Archived 2009-06-03 at WebCite (Retrieved February 15, 2008)
  17. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – 2 Unlimited – Faces" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  18. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  19. ^ UK Singles Chart Everyhit.com (Retrieved February 15, 2008)
  20. ^ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 4 September 1993. p. 26. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  21. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1993" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  22. ^ "1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 18 December 1993. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  23. ^ "Top 100 Singles – Jahrescharts 1993" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  24. ^ "Single top 100 over 1993" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  25. ^ "JAAROVERZICHTEN - Single 1993". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 28 November 2019.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""