The track that made me fall in love with trance music.
Robert Miles - Children [1995]
- Thread starter BladeRunner_
- Start date
-
- Tags
- 1996 children robert miles
Electronlyman
Senior Member
- Jul 14, 2020
- 877 Posts
- 696 Thanked
I was not even a teenager when this was getting massive radio play.
Heard it mostly in the local bookshop, where my father spent hours with me. Children was being aired multiple times in the space of just a few hours,
every time I have been to that place. This and Cher - Believe.
The build up with the thunder hits always gave me the creeps when I was small haha.
Only started to love the track many years later, when I properly discovered Trance music.
Heard it mostly in the local bookshop, where my father spent hours with me. Children was being aired multiple times in the space of just a few hours,
every time I have been to that place. This and Cher - Believe.
The build up with the thunder hits always gave me the creeps when I was small haha.
Only started to love the track many years later, when I properly discovered Trance music.
Gijs
Senior Member
I believe the original version was the first trance track I've ever heard in my life at the age of 6 or something. My parents had the CD-single of it, but I didn't know how to describe it to them later and I had no idea about it for a long time. I found it back almost 9 years later in 2019 and yes, it is definitely one of the staples of this genre in my opinion.
Progrez
Legendary Member
- Jun 17, 2022
- 3,674 Posts
- 2,102 Thanked
I posted an interview he had back in 1996 in this thread. He was also front cover of the magazine.
Link appears to be dead as well.
Link appears to be dead as well.
TRANCEBLASTER
Elite Member
- Jul 21, 2020
- 1,699 Posts
- 2,362 Thanked
'Children' is 30 years old this year (released on November 13, 1995, pls change the year in the title)
7 weeks the No. 1 hit in Germany, all big major record labels realized they no longer need to invest in attractive lip-syncing performers and sexy dancers. the stage is now being taken by the man with a synthesizer, or rather, the DJ. 'Children' opened the doors to all guys who came after, ATB, Dj Quicksilver, Dj Sakin, etc etc.
also the two biggest labels, immediately created new CD compilations dedicated to this "new" genre, 'Sony Music' created the successful 'Dream Dance' series, while 'Universal Music' introduced 'More Than Miles', a collection that was limited to only four volumes.
7 weeks the No. 1 hit in Germany, all big major record labels realized they no longer need to invest in attractive lip-syncing performers and sexy dancers. the stage is now being taken by the man with a synthesizer, or rather, the DJ. 'Children' opened the doors to all guys who came after, ATB, Dj Quicksilver, Dj Sakin, etc etc.
also the two biggest labels, immediately created new CD compilations dedicated to this "new" genre, 'Sony Music' created the successful 'Dream Dance' series, while 'Universal Music' introduced 'More Than Miles', a collection that was limited to only four volumes.
Last edited:
TheTranceHistorian
Senior Member
- Aug 23, 2022
- 279 Posts
- 259 Thanked
I'll chime in.
Children is a track so densely interwoven with trance history that one could easily dedicate several pages to it alone. Few compositions sit at the crossroads of so many cultural, musical, and historical threads.
1 - The origins and social impact of the track
Miles originally composed Children in response to a tragic pattern in Italy: people were dying in car accidents after leaving raves in an overstimulated, euphoric state. The track was intended as a closing piece — a calming, emotionally grounding comedown that helped listeners settle before driving home. Once the press caught wind of this narrative, they amplified it, and that attention propelled the track far beyond the electronic scene. It eventually broke through genre boundaries and became a global phenomenon.
2 - Its debated place in genre history: dream trance vs. dream house
Many point to Children as the birth of the dream trance style, though the situation is more complex. At release, Robert Miles allegedly described the track as dream house, implying that it's a track built on house foundations but with the support of an airy, dreamy, hazy soundscape. At the same time, dream trance — a nebulous, contested, and sparsely populated subcategory — had arguably already surfaced in 1993 with Roland Brant – Nuclear Sun (Gianni Parrini Remix).
3 - Posthumous reevaluation and the question of legacy
After Miles’ passing, the track experienced an enormous retroactive surge in recognition: it suddenly reached the #1 position in the A State of Trance Top 1000 and jumped from roughly 20 million to over 300 million views in a short period. This raises a legitimate question: to what extent is this renewed reverence a reflection of the track’s musical quality and rightful place within the trance canon — and how much of it stems from the emotional weight of losing its creator?
4 - The track that killed trance?
If I'm not mistaken, several artists — including Oliver Lieb — have referred to Children as “the track that killed trance” in the book Hypnotized. The interpretation of this statement remains ambiguous: it may be symbolic, suggesting that by pushing trance into the mainstream, Children set in motion an inevitable cycle of commercialization that would later dilute the genre. Or it may be meant more literally, implying that Children itself represented an already watered-down, commercially digestible, and fundamentally misunderstood portrayal of trance, one that misguided the public and distorted the genre’s identity.
---
Some other thoughts about Dream Drance A.K.A. Italo Trance in general as I think it's relevant here
Influenced by the melodic sensibilities of Italo Disco and the uplifting energy of Italo Dance, Italian trance is notable for its soft, tender melodies and an overall dreamlike atmosphere. These tracks often emphasize emotion over energy, delivering a gentle yet immersive listening experience, and in general, are characterized by a blend of musical elegance and subtle drama. Signature elements include delicate piano sections, sometimes paired with occasional saxophone solos, which add a warm, soulful touch to the electronic soundscape. It's not uncommon to hear opera samples or classical influences subtly woven into the structure, reinforcing a sense of theatricality and grandeur.
Vocals, when present, are frequently processed through vocoders or pitch correction tools, resulting in robotic or otherworldly textures that enhance the surreal, introspective quality of the music. Rather than aiming for dancefloor impact, Italian trance often feels like an invitation to drift — evoking nostalgia, longing, and serenity through sound. It stands apart for its ability to merge electronic sophistication with heartfelt expressiveness, embodying a uniquely Italian emotional depth within trance music. However, it is also true that Italo Trance and Dream Trance tracks can sometimes feel understated or even dull, functioning as the antithesis of trance itself because they often lack the energetic drive typically associated with the genre.
Children is a track so densely interwoven with trance history that one could easily dedicate several pages to it alone. Few compositions sit at the crossroads of so many cultural, musical, and historical threads.
1 - The origins and social impact of the track
Miles originally composed Children in response to a tragic pattern in Italy: people were dying in car accidents after leaving raves in an overstimulated, euphoric state. The track was intended as a closing piece — a calming, emotionally grounding comedown that helped listeners settle before driving home. Once the press caught wind of this narrative, they amplified it, and that attention propelled the track far beyond the electronic scene. It eventually broke through genre boundaries and became a global phenomenon.
2 - Its debated place in genre history: dream trance vs. dream house
Many point to Children as the birth of the dream trance style, though the situation is more complex. At release, Robert Miles allegedly described the track as dream house, implying that it's a track built on house foundations but with the support of an airy, dreamy, hazy soundscape. At the same time, dream trance — a nebulous, contested, and sparsely populated subcategory — had arguably already surfaced in 1993 with Roland Brant – Nuclear Sun (Gianni Parrini Remix).
3 - Posthumous reevaluation and the question of legacy
After Miles’ passing, the track experienced an enormous retroactive surge in recognition: it suddenly reached the #1 position in the A State of Trance Top 1000 and jumped from roughly 20 million to over 300 million views in a short period. This raises a legitimate question: to what extent is this renewed reverence a reflection of the track’s musical quality and rightful place within the trance canon — and how much of it stems from the emotional weight of losing its creator?
4 - The track that killed trance?
If I'm not mistaken, several artists — including Oliver Lieb — have referred to Children as “the track that killed trance” in the book Hypnotized. The interpretation of this statement remains ambiguous: it may be symbolic, suggesting that by pushing trance into the mainstream, Children set in motion an inevitable cycle of commercialization that would later dilute the genre. Or it may be meant more literally, implying that Children itself represented an already watered-down, commercially digestible, and fundamentally misunderstood portrayal of trance, one that misguided the public and distorted the genre’s identity.
---
Some other thoughts about Dream Drance A.K.A. Italo Trance in general as I think it's relevant here
Influenced by the melodic sensibilities of Italo Disco and the uplifting energy of Italo Dance, Italian trance is notable for its soft, tender melodies and an overall dreamlike atmosphere. These tracks often emphasize emotion over energy, delivering a gentle yet immersive listening experience, and in general, are characterized by a blend of musical elegance and subtle drama. Signature elements include delicate piano sections, sometimes paired with occasional saxophone solos, which add a warm, soulful touch to the electronic soundscape. It's not uncommon to hear opera samples or classical influences subtly woven into the structure, reinforcing a sense of theatricality and grandeur.
Vocals, when present, are frequently processed through vocoders or pitch correction tools, resulting in robotic or otherworldly textures that enhance the surreal, introspective quality of the music. Rather than aiming for dancefloor impact, Italian trance often feels like an invitation to drift — evoking nostalgia, longing, and serenity through sound. It stands apart for its ability to merge electronic sophistication with heartfelt expressiveness, embodying a uniquely Italian emotional depth within trance music. However, it is also true that Italo Trance and Dream Trance tracks can sometimes feel understated or even dull, functioning as the antithesis of trance itself because they often lack the energetic drive typically associated with the genre.
Some notable examples I can think of from the early '90s:
- R.A.F. By Picotto - Ocean Whispers (Dream House Mix) [1996]
- Robert Miles - Children (Dream Version) [1995]
- Robert Miles - Fable (Dream Version) [1995]
- Andrea Verona Project - Alien Waters (Mystic Voices) [1996]
- European Associated - Mystic Force [1994]
- Roland Brant - Nuclear Sun (Gianni Parrini Remix) [1993]
- Dream Planet Project - Planetarium (Planet Mix) [1995]
- DJ Dado - Twin Peaks Theme [1995]
- Coverdrive - Trip For Your Brain (Dream Version) [1995]
TRANCEBLASTER
Elite Member
- Jul 21, 2020
- 1,699 Posts
- 2,362 Thanked
'Dream House' had its peak between 1989 and 1994, I believe 'Dreamatic - Audio Trip' is the most loved track worldwide from that era:
Dreamatic - Audio Trip [DFC] 1991
the melodic, trancy style was called 'Mediterranean Progressive', at least in Italy. 'Dream Trance' was a term made by the media in the other European countries..
from where is this info from? maybe he refers to the original version:
Robert Miles - Children (Original Version) [DBX] 1995
Dreamatic - Audio Trip [DFC] 1991
the melodic, trancy style was called 'Mediterranean Progressive', at least in Italy. 'Dream Trance' was a term made by the media in the other European countries..
from where is this info from? maybe he refers to the original version:
Robert Miles - Children (Original Version) [DBX] 1995