Sensation (event)

Sensation

Sensation 2009 Amsterdam Overview of the DJ Booth with butterfly wings
Genre Electronic dance music
Location(s) The Netherlands, International
Years active 2000-present
Founded by ID&T
Capacity different
Website
Official World-wide Site

Sensation is an indoor electronic dance music event which originated in the Netherlands and organized by ID&T. The original event, which ran exclusively in the Amsterdam ArenA for a period of five years until 2005, is now located throughout Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, United States, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Korea, Romania, Serbia, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, India, and United Arab Emirates. In 2008, it was announced that for the first time Sensation would be held on New Year's Eve in Melbourne, Australia,[1] as well as in Düsseldorf, Germany and Barcelona, Spain, but has not been in these countries since.

ID&T announced in 2011 that Sensation would tour the United States of America in 2012 for the first time. The first Sensation USA event took place back-to-back nights on 26 and 27 October at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City. The event was webcast on Xbox Live. ID&T also announced on 3 April 2012 that Sensation would also be making its debut in Asia, making stops in South Korea, Thailand, and Taiwan. In a press conference held in Seoul, Korea, it was revealed that the first Sensation Asia will be held in Seoul, Korea, on 21 July. After Sensation Korea the ‘Ocean of White’ show heads over to Bangkok, Thailand for a show on 18 August and to Kaohsiung, Taiwan on 29 September. All of which are a Co-Production between ID&T and Heineken Beer Company. On 5 February 2013 a Canadian debut was announced, presented by Bud Light Canada. It has been announced that Sensation will take place in Meydan Dubai, U.A.E on October 31, 2014, Monterrey, Mexico on November 8, 2014 and in Toronto, Canada on November 29, 2014. Sensation is taking place in Hyderabad, India on March 5th, 2016

History

In 2000 and 2001, it was made up of one edition, just called Sensation, but it has now been split up into two editions: Sensation Black and Sensation White. This was done to differentiate the music and feeling more than would have been possible if it were one event. Sensation Black focuses more on 'darker' music, like Hardstyle and Hardcore, whereas Sensation White focuses more on Trance music. Every year, Sensation also releases two doublediscs (Black and White) and two singles they call the Anthem. 2008 the names of both events have been changed: "Sensation" (formerly "Sensation White"), and "Black" (formerly "Sensation Black").

The first edition of Sensation, in 2000, did not sell out. The media announced that it was sold out in order to boost interest in the event, which eventually attracted 20,000 people. In this first edition, the DJs only used one side of the Amsterdam Arena as the stage. Later editions have the stage in the middle. This Sensation was the only one that did not have a dress code. All subsequent editions of Sensation White have sold out, usually well in advance (usually all 45,000 tickets are sold in a few hours). Sensation Black has not been as successful, but is usually either close to selling out, or sold out a few days before the event.

In 2005, Sensation White was also held in Belgium and Germany. In 2006, ID&T started Sensation International, an international tour, based on the simplified version which could be seen in the Amsterdam ArenA, in 2005. The first edition was held in the Antwerp Sportpaleis. In 2008 Sensation White was held at SCC Peterburgsky in Saint Petersburg, and a New Year version was held at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne on the 31 December 2008 (38,380 attendance). Sensation White's new anthem put place in 2014 is "Tremor" by Martin Garrix, and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and Sensation White's official slogan is "Be part of the night, dress in white".

Sensation (formerly known as Sensation White)

Sensation 2007
Attendees dressed in white
Sensation 2007 Latvia

Sensation White used to be a trance event, but in later years it has become a pure house event. All the attendees are required to wear white and the Amsterdam ArenA itself is decorated to match. Sensation White's slogan is "Be Part Of The Night - Dress in White". Every event has around 40,000-45,000 tickets available. The Amsterdam ArenA event takes place every year on the first Saturday in July while the German event in the LTU Arena in Düsseldorf is held on New Year's Eve. In 2009 it was organized for the first time on two subsequent nights on 3 and 4 July in the Amsterdam Arena where the opening of the Wicked Wonderland took place.

Notable DJs that have appeared at Sensation include Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, Swedish House Mafia, Hardwell, Martin Garrix, Nicky Romero, Afrojack, André Tanneberger, Darren Emerson (one of the Underworld members), David Guetta, NERVO, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Erick E, Erick Morillo, Ferry Corsten, Marco V, Paul van Dyk, Sven Väth, Johan Gielen, Sander Kleinenberg, Steve Angello, Fedde Le Grand, Sebastian Ingrosso, Sander van Doorn, Mason, Felix Da Housecat, Chuckie, Laidback Luke, Tocadisco, Rank 1, DJ Jean, Judge Jules, Carl Cox, Martin Solveig and Dada Life.

The event has recently been criticized by trance fans who think there is too much house and electro and too few trance DJs in the recent events. However, in the eyes of the organizers, the popularity of trance has been receding in the past few years, and therefore Sensation White has adapted to this by altering its programming to add house and electro house. Nonetheless, the popularity of trance and indeed the DJs associated with the genre still seem to be a major force in Europe. Trance Energy, with over 30,000 people, has been selling out faster than ever before. In the 2008 edition of Sensation, there was only one trance DJ present in the line-up: Marco V. In 2009, trance was left out completely in favor of house (classics) and techno, however the music of the 2009 Amsterdam event turned out to be more trance like again.

In 2010, Sensation, to enforce the notion that they are now a House event, came up with the theme "Celebrate Life with House". It featured performances by Chuckie, Swedish House Mafia, Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano, and Joris Voorn & 2000 And One. The event became exclusively a party for house music. This change in genre caused that for the first time since 2000, the tickets did not sell out the same day they went on sale, as audiences are much more demanding. In the end, about 35,000 people attended the festival held 3 July. To create interest in the now House event, Sensation came up with a contest where the fans, via the social networks, would vote for their favorite theme and make it the anthem for 2010. The competing songs, featuring a selection of house and minimal themes, were not well received by Sensation followers and the competition was eventually cancelled. During the main event in Amsterdam, Sensation decided to go back to its origins, by playing their trademark anthem "Superstring", reminding its fans that although it is now a House event, it stays true to its origins as promulgated by Ron Manager and the Three Musketeers.

BLACK (formerly known as Sensation Black)

BLACK slowly builds up the pace, starting from hard trance, hardstyle and then hardcore. Sensation Black is always held in the second weekend of July. All attendees are required to dress completely in black.

Notable DJs that have appeared at Sensation Black include Showtek, Angerfist, Headhunterz, Marcel Woods, Chris Liebing, DJ Lady Dana, DJ Luna, DJ Zany, The Prophet, Technoboy, Tommyknocker, Yoji Biomehanika and Mauro Picotto.

An incident occurred at Sensation Black in 2006, where DJ Rob Gee and his live band Ampt performed at the event against the recommendations of the majority of ID&T's staff, and were subsequently booed and catcalled during the performance, which was more rock/metal oriented. Slight mayhem ensued as a member of the audience climbed onto the stage and hit Rob Gee himself and was then repeatedly kicked and punched in the head by Rob and his band. The rest of Rob Gee's performance was cancelled and ID&T's manager, Duncan Stutterheim, later acknowledged his mistake in allowing Rob Gee to perform against the wishes of his employees.

The 2009 edition of BLACK was not held in the Netherlands, but only in Belgium because ID&T is looking for a better location. Additionally Sensation (formerly known as "Sensation White") was held on two subsequent nights in the Amsterdam ArenA in 2009, but will be sharing one of the two available night licences for the Amsterdam ArenA in 2010 with the one time replacement of BLACK called the "Feestfabriek" from ID&T's sister organisation Q-dance.

The Anthems

White

Black

1 In 2000 and 2001, Sensation was only one event.

TV Broadcast

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sensation Melbourne Australia

Sources

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