Paul van Dyk classic ‘For An Angel’ turns 31 this year

A great song is much more than a snapshot of the era in which it was released; it continues to evolve and morph as it inspires listeners, new and old, to discover it through the years. Paul van Dyk found this sort of magic way back in 1994, delivering a timeless trance anthem that still resonates with millions of fans.

It’s somewhat hard to believe that 31 years have passed since Paul van Dyk released an anthem that would help drive and define the future of trance music. The music landscape at the time was still leaning hard into the punk and grunge acts that emerged in the early part of the decade and managed to push aside the excesses of hair metal from the previous era. Not that any of these elements were important to the underground club scene throughout Europe, where house and trance still dominated the collective scene. It was through this landscape that van Dyk unleashed his album 45 RPM and the hit song, For An Angel.

Before streaming, camera phones, and social media altered the entire landscape of music, For An Angel provided an honest escape for listeners, both on their own or shared with like-minded individuals at clubs and festivals. Last year, in honor of the track’s 30th anniversary, Paul van Dyk released fresh remixes of the song and delivered a special, limited edition vinyl. While the fanfare for 31 is not quite as high, the impact and importance of For An Angel is no less relevant. Revisit this timeless classic below!