THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

278-N-Trance-Set You Free.

1994-Number 39 single. When it was re-issued in 1995 it peaked at Number 2. In 2001 it was again re-issued with new remixes, and this time reached Number 4.

Best Bit-At 4.23. Because they made one of the best Dance songs of the 1990’s, I think we should forgive them for some horrendous cover versions.

N-Trance were formed in Oldham, England, in 1990 by the Electronic music producers Kevin O’Toole, and Dale Longworth. The pair met at Oldham College in Greater Manchester, where they were both studying sound engineering. They were initially signed to ‘380 Records’ which was a subsidiary of the ‘PWL’ label which at that time was owned by Pete Waterman, (see also best songs 627) but they were not happy with that labels marketing, so they moved to the ‘All Around he World’ label in September 1993.

N-Trance have released three studio Albums between 1995-2009, and a ‘Best of N-Trance 1992-2002,’ in 2001. They have also released 19 singles, including the three re-issues of ‘Set You Free,’ between 1994-2009, of which 13 have made the UK top 40. The duo of O’Toole and Longworth have also had a further UK top 40 hit using the alias ‘Freeloaders’ in 2005, when ‘So Much Love to Give,’ reached Number 9. N-Trance remain active with Kevin O’Toole now being the only constant, as Dale Longworth split from the group in 1999. Since 1991 Lee Limer, also from Oldham, has worked as a dancer for the group.

‘Set You Free’ was the debut single from N-Trance, and was added to their 1994 debut studio Album ‘Electronic Pleasure,’ both O’Toole. and Lomgworth, co-wrote, and co-produced the Album, and the single. The vocals on ‘Set You Free’ were provided by a then 16 year old Kelly Llorenna, who was born in Slough, England, in 1975, but raised in Oldham. Llorenna has explained how she first met ‘N-Trance,’They came to my college and asked if anyone sung, and everyone replied ‘Kelly sings!’ Llorenna has said of the song,’When people hear the opening, which features thunder, lightning and rain, their faces light up, and the’re transported back to where they were. Kelly Llorenna went on to record further songs with N-Trance, and also has achieved five solo top 40 singles on the UK top 40 between 2002-2004.

‘Set You Free’ was inspired by a night out at the ‘Hacienda’ club in Manchester that Kevin O’Toole had in 1989. He has said,’They used to pass round pints of water, and a woman came up to me and I felt her heartbeat through her top, the song created a diary of what was happening at the time.’ Initially only 500 12 inch vinyl copies were made for promotional use in 1992, but slowly the record grew in popularity, and was pushed to even greater success by several remixes, it has currently sold in excess of 600,000 copies in the UK.

‘Oh, oh, yeah. When I hold you baby, feel your heartbeat close to me, wanna stay in your arms forever, only love can set you free.’