"Faces" is a song by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited.[2] It was released on 23 August 1993 as the third single from their second album, No Limits! (1993). Co-written by band members Ray Slijngaard and Anita Dels, it peaked at number eight in the United Kingdom and at number six on the Eurochart Hot 100.

"Faces"
Widely distributed variant of the standard artwork
Single by 2 Unlimited
from the album No Limits!
Released	23 August 1993 (1993-08-23)[1]
Genre	Eurodance
Length	3:48 3:30 (single remix)
Label	Byte Zyx PWL
Songwriter(s)	Phil Wilde Jean-Paul De Coster Ray Slijngaard Anita Dels
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

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. The UK album version instead deletes Ray’s vocals during the main raps, but kept Ray’s spoken vocals during the break.

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."[3] 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."[4] James Hamilton from the magazine's RM Dance Update described it as a "techno synth buzzed but unrushed tinkling blippy sweet loper".[5] 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".[6] Australian student newspaper Woroni picked "Faces" as an "obvious highlight" of the No Limits! album, together with "No Limit" and "Tribal Dance".[7]

Chart performance

"Faces" scored chart success in many European countries, peaking at number two in their homeland of the Netherlands, number three in Belgium, number four in Spain and number five in Finland. It also reached the top 10 in Austria, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania and the UK. In the latter, it peaked at number eight in its second week on the UK Singles Chart on 5 September 1993.[8] The single spent two weeks at that position. It was also a top-10 hit on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it made it to number six, and on the European Dance Radio Chart, where it peakead at number two. Additionally, the song was a top-20 hit in France, Italy and Sweden. 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". The backdrop of the video shows a desert landscape where Ray and Anita are surrounded by machines and screens where different faces are shown. Sometimes Ray and Anita are seen in black-and-white, with the surroundings still in colours. There were made two different edits of "Faces"; the rap version and the no rap version. The rap version was later published on 2 Unlimited's official YouTube channel in July 2014. It has amassed more than 1,2 million views as of April 2022.[9] The other version was published in June 2014.

Track listing

Charts

References