Classic trance songs.
The short answer
Classic trance songs are the club records from roughly 1993 to 2005 that defined the genre: long breakdowns, big melodic leads and tempos around 128–140 BPM. The list below runs from 1995 to 2005 and includes Robert Miles' 'Children', Paul van Dyk's 'For An Angel', Binary Finary's '1998', ATB's '9 PM (Till I Come)', Darude's 'Sandstorm' and Tiësto's 'Adagio For Strings'. Each one links to a full write-up.
1990s
Classic trance songs of the 90s.
The decade the sound took shape, from Italian dream trance to German and British club records. For context, read the guide to 1990s trance music.
| Year | Song | Artist | Label | BPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Insomnia (Monster Mix) | Faithless | Cheeky Records | 127 |
| 1995 | Not Over Yet (Perfecto Allstarz Mix) | Grace | Perfecto | 130 |
| 1995 | Children | Robert Miles | DBX / Deconstruction | 137 |
| 1997 | Flaming June | BT | Perfecto | 138 |
| 1997 | Café Del Mar (Three 'N One Remix) | Energy 52 | Hooj Choons | 133 |
| 1998 | 9 PM (Till I Come) | ATB | Kontor / Sequential One | 137 |
| 1998 | 1998 (Paul van Dyk Remix) | Binary Finary | Positiva | 137 |
| 1998 | For An Angel (1998 E-Werk Club Mix) | Paul van Dyk | Deviant / MFS | 138 |
| 1999 | Saltwater | Chicane feat. Máire Brennan | Xtravaganza | 131 |
| 1999 | Sandstorm | Darude | 16 Inch Records | 136 |
| 1999 | Xpander | Sasha | Deconstruction | 128 |
| 1999 | Out Of The Blue | System F | Tsunami | 140 |
2000s
Classic trance songs of the early 2000s.
The peak and the end of the classic era: bigger vocals, superclub anthems and the move toward a harder sound. More on the period in early 2000s trance.
| Year | Song | Artist | Label | BPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Silence (Tiësto's In Search Of Sunrise Remix) | Delerium feat. Sarah McLachlan | Nettwerk | 138 |
| 2003 | As The Rush Comes (Gabriel & Dresden Sweeping Strings Mix) | Motorcycle | Ultra Records | 135 |
| 2005 | Adagio For Strings | Tiësto | Black Hole / Magik Muzik | 140 |
Notes
How to read this list.
Years are for the version listed, which is often a later remix rather than the first release. 'Café Del Mar', for example, came out in 1993 but is listed as the 1997 Three 'N One remix. Each song page explains which version it covers and why.
Frequently asked
What are the best classic trance songs?
There's no official list, but most fans start with the same records: 'Children' (Robert Miles), 'For An Angel' (Paul van Dyk), '1998' (Binary Finary), 'Out Of The Blue' (System F), 'Silence' (Delerium, Tiësto remix), 'Saltwater' (Chicane), 'Sandstorm' (Darude) and 'Adagio For Strings' (Tiësto). All of them are on this page.
What are the best 90s trance songs?
This list has 12 records from the 1990s, including 'Children' and 'Insomnia' (1995), 'Flaming June' (1997), '9 PM (Till I Come)' and '1998' (1998), and 'Out Of The Blue', 'Saltwater', 'Sandstorm' and 'Xpander' (1999).
Why is this list in year order rather than ranked?
Ranking songs from different styles against each other says more about taste than history. Year order shows how the sound changed. If you want a ranking, the G.O.A.T. page scores the canon on stated criteria.
What tempo are classic trance songs?
Most sit between about 128 and 140 BPM. Progressive records run slower, uplifting ones faster. The BPM for each song is listed next to it, and the BPM guide explains the ranges.