"Blue Fear"
Single by Armin
from the album 76
Released13 October 1997
16 August 2004 (re-issue)
StudioArmin's parents home, Leiden
GenreEurotrance[1]
Length
  • 3:42 (Radio Edit)
  • 8:06 (Extended Mix)
  • 2:39 (2003 Edit)
  • 9:30 (2003 Mix)
Label
SongwriterArmin van Buuren
ProducerArmin
Armin singles chronology
"Check Out Your Mind"
(1996) 		"Blue Fear"
(1997) 		"Communication"
(1999)
"Blue Fear 2004"
2004 re-issue
Armin van Buuren singles chronology
"Burned With Desire"
(2003) 		"Blue Fear 2004"
(2004) 		"Intruder" / "Pound"
(2004)

"Blue Fear" is an instrumental composition by Dutch DJ and producer Armin. It was initially released on 13 October 1997 as 12" vinyl in the Netherlands by Cyber Records. It is the first track from Armin van Buuren which reached a significant success. The single was rereleased on 16 August 2004 by Nebula[2] as the fifth and final single from Armin's first studio album, 76.

Background and release

At the time of the original release of "Blue Fear", van Buuren was still living in Leiden and was studying law at Leiden University.[3][4] Dancing Astronaut described the track as a Eurotrance production and noted that it was made with an Akai S-2800 sampler, with delay as the only effect used.[3]

"Blue Fear" was first issued in the Netherlands on Cyber Records and was later released in the United Kingdom through Xtravaganza Recordings.[5] The track gave van Buuren one of his earliest international chart appearances when it reached number 45 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1998.[6]

The single was reissued in 2004 by Nebula as "Blue Fear 2004", following the release of van Buuren's debut studio album 76.[7] The reissue charted at number 52 on the UK Singles Chart, number 3 on the UK Dance Singles Chart and number 8 on the UK Independent Singles Chart.[8]

In 2020, Eelke Kleijn released two remixes of the track, titled the Day Mix and Night Mix, through Armind.[9]

Music video

A music video was realised by Ciro Ayala with the actress Calina Chan for the track 12 years after its official release. It was published on 23 November 2009 by Armada Music's Youtube channel.[10]

Track listing

Netherlands - 12" - Cyber (CYBER015)
  1. "Blue Fear" – 7:58
  2. "X Marks the Spot" – 7:37
  3. "Archeae From Space" - 8:21
UK - CD - Xtravaganza (0091305EXT)
  1. "Blue Fear" (Radio Edit) – 3:42
  2. "Blue Fear" (Extended Version) – 8:06
  3. "X Marks the Spot" – 7:37
  4. "Archeae From Space" – 8:27
UK - 12" - Xtravaganza (0091300EXT)
  1. "Blue Fear" (Extended Version) – 7:58
  2. "X Marks the Spot" – 7:37
  3. "Archeae From Space" – 8:21
Trouser Enthusiasts Mixes - UK - CD - Xtravaganza (0091485EXT)
  1. "Blue Fear" (Trouser Enthusiasts Edit) – 3:59
  2. "Blue Fear" (Trouser Enthusiasts E.B.E. Mix) – 9:01
  3. "Blue Fear" (Trouser Enthusiasts E.B.E. Instrumental) – 9:02
  4. "Blue Fear" (Original Extended Version) – 8:06
Trouser Enthusiasts Mix - UK - 12" - Xtravaganza (0091480EXT)
  1. "Blue Fear" (Trouser Enthusiasts E.B.E. Mix) – 8:59
  2. "Blue Fear" (Original Extended Version) – 7:57
Germany - 12" - Bionic Beat (BIO007)
  1. "Blue Fear" – 7:58
  2. "Blue Fear" (Chuck Mellow Remix) – 7:05
  3. "X Marks the Spot" – 7:37
"Blue Fear 2004" - UK - CD & Digital download - Nebula (NEBCD061)
  1. "Blue Fear" (Original 2003 Edit) – 2:39
  2. "Blue Fear" (Original 2003 Mix) – 9:30
  3. "Blue Fear" (Solid Globe 2004 Remix) – 7:33
  4. "Blue Fear" (Agnelli & Nelson 2004 Remix) – 9:52
  5. "Blue Fear" (Scott Mac New Fear 2004 Remix) – 8:56
"Blue Fear 2004" - UK - 12" - Nebula (NEBT061)
  1. "Blue Fear" (Original 2003 Mix) – 9:30
  2. "Blue Fear" (Solid Globe 2004 Remix) – 7:33
"Blue Fear 2004" (Remixes) - UK - 12" - Nebula (NEBTX061)
  1. "Blue Fear" (Agnelli & Nelson 2004 Remix) – 9:52
  2. "Blue Fear" (Scott Mac New Fear 2004 Remix) – 8:56
2006 Re-issue - Netherlands - Digital download - Armada digital (ARDI211)
  1. "Blue Fear 2003" – 7:33
  2. "Blue Fear" (Agnelli & Nelson Remix) – 9:56
  3. "Blue Fear" (Solid Globe Remix) – 7:37
  4. "Blue Fear" (Scott Mac Remix) – 8:56
Eelke Kleijn Mixes - Netherlands - Digital download - Armind (ARMD020R)
  1. "Blue Fear" (Eelke Kleijn Extended Day Mix) – 7:33
  2. "Blue Fear" (Eelke Kleijn Extended Night Mix) – 7:57

Charts

Blue Fear

Chart (1998) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 45

Blue Fear 2004

Chart (2004) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 52
UK Physical Singles (OCC)[13] 52
UK Dance (OCC)[14] 3

Release history

Year Title Region Format Label Catalogue number Ref.
1997 "Blue Fear" Netherlands 12-inch vinyl Cyber Records CYBER015 [5]
1997 "Blue Fear" United Kingdom CD, 12-inch vinyl Xtravaganza Recordings 0091305EXT / 0091300EXT [5]
1997 "Blue Fear" (Trouser Enthusiasts mixes) United Kingdom CD, 12-inch vinyl Xtravaganza Recordings 0091485EXT / 0091480EXT [5]
2004 "Blue Fear 2004" United Kingdom CD, 12-inch vinyl, digital download Nebula NEBCD061 / NEBT061 / NEBTX061 [8]
2006 "Blue Fear" Netherlands Digital download Armada Digital ARDI211 [5]
2020 "Blue Fear" (Eelke Kleijn Day Mix / Eelke Kleijn Night Mix) Worldwide Digital download, streaming Armind ARMD020R [9]

References

  1. ^ "Weekend Rewind: Armin van Buuren's 1995 breakout single "Blue Fear"". Dancing Astronaut. Leah Steffensen. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  2. ^ "Armin 'Blue Fear' to get a re-release". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  3. ^ a b Steffensen, Leah (24 March 2013). "Weekend Rewind: Armin van Buuren's 1995 breakout single 'Blue Fear'". Dancing Astronaut. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  4. ^ Dov, Yotam (10 November 2023). "Armin van Buuren 'Blue Fear': Looking Back at Trance Legend's 1997 Breakthrough Hit". We Rave You. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Armin – Blue Fear". Discogs. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  6. ^ "Official Singles Chart on 8/2/1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  7. ^ "Armin 'Blue Fear' to get a re-release". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  8. ^ a b "Blue Fear 2004 by Armin van Buuren". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  9. ^ a b "Blue Fear (Eelke Kleijn Day Mix / Eelke Kleijn Night Mix) by Armin van Buuren". Beatport. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  10. ^ Video on YouTube
  11. ^ "Official Singles Chart on 14/2/1998 – Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  12. ^ "Official Singles Chart on 28/8/2004 – Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  13. ^ "Official Physical Singles Chart on 28/8/2004". Official Charts Company.
  14. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart on 28/8/2004 – Top 40". Official Charts Company.