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. At the time of writing 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, but is not an official group member.

The discography of N-Trance includes three studio Albums released between 1995-2009, and 19 singles released between 1993-2009, there is also one official compilation Album ‘The Best of N-Trance 1992–2002,’ which was released in 2001. N-Trance have achieved 13 top 40 singles in the UK, which includes three different versions of ‘Set You Free,’ they have also had four hit singles which are cover versions, including ‘Stayin’ Alive,’ (see also best songs 211) (originally by the Bee Gees) ‘Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? featuring Rod Stewart, (originally by Rod Stewart) and ‘Paradise City,’ (see also best songs 8) originally recorded by Guns N’ Roses.’ Both ‘Set You Free’ featuring Kelly Llorenna, (1995) and ‘Stayin’ Alive’ featuring Ricardo da Force, (1995) (see also best songs 329) have peaked the highest on the UK top 40 at Number 2. In 2004 Kevin O’Toole, and Dale Longworth formed the side project ‘Freeloaders,’ releasing one studio Album called ‘Freshly Squeezed’ in 2006, and two singles, of which the first ‘So Much Love to Give’ in 2005, reached Number 9 in the UK, the project was brought to an end in 2006.

‘Set You Free’ was the first of five singles either released or added to ‘Electronic Pleasure,’ which was the debut studio Album by N-Trance, from November 1995, the song was co-written and co-produced by Kevin O’Toole, and Dale Longworth. The unaccredited vocals on ‘Set You Free’ were provided by a then 16 year old Kelly Llorenna, who was born in Slough, Berkshire, England, on May 1st, 1975, but raised in Oldham. Kelly Llorenna has explained how she first met ‘N-Trance, ‘They came to my college and asked if anyone sung, and everyone replied ‘Kelly sings!’ They then recorded Llorenna’s vocals for a demo of ‘Set You Free,’ and she joined N-Trance to perform live. Kelly Llorenna has said, ‘It was just me and five lads in a transit van going up to Belfast or Glasgow every week, playing the song for petrol money.’ She claims that when people hear the opening of ‘Set You Free’, which features thunder, lightning and rain, ‘Their faces light up, and they’re transported back to where they were.’

Kelly Llorenna would go on to provide vocals for other N-Trance songs, notably ‘Da Ya Think I’m Sexy,’ featuring Rod Stewart, which reached Number 7 in the UK in 1997. She has also had a successful solo career, releasing one Album ‘All Clubbed Up – The Best of Kelly Llorenna,’ in 2002, and 12 singles as the lead artist, and a further eight as a featured artist between 1995-2009. In the UK, Kelly Llorenna has had four solo hit singles, with ‘Forever,’ from 2003, peaking the highest at Number 6. As a featured artist away from N-Trance, her biggest commercial success is providing the vocals on the track ‘True Love Never Dies,’ for the English Electronic Dance Music duo ‘Flip & Fill,’ which made Number 7 in 2002.

‘Set You Free’ has stood the test of time, and is still one of the most popular songs to fill the dance floor when playing ‘1990’s classic Dance tracks.’ The song was the 17th best selling single in the UK in 1995, but due to it’s longevity, it has now sold in excess of 1,200,000 copies in the UK, making it one of the best selling singles of all time in that country. ‘Set You Free’ was inspired by a night out in the ‘Haçienda’ club in Manchester, England, that N-Trance’s Kevin O’Toole had in 1989 after a woman came up and hugged him tightly. 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 songs created a diary of what was happening at the time.’ It was the hug which inspired the songs opening line, ‘When I hold you baby, feel your heart beat close to me. Wanna stay in your arms forever, only love can set you free.’ 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.

‘When we touch each other in a state of ecstasy, want this night to last forever, only love can set you free.’