In And Out Of Love

Rivo's rework of "In And Out Of Love" reinterprets the original's trance anthem melancholy through a contemporary Afro House lens. The core meaning of the song remains centered on the torment of a fluctuating and uncertain love affair. The lyrics articulate a deep sense of emotional turmoil, where the protagonist is caught in a cycle of loving and falling out of love. The phrase 'See the mirror in your eyes, see the truth behind the lies' powerfully conveys the theme of betrayal and the pain of seeing deception in someone you love. These lies become a 'haunting' presence, indicating deep emotional scars. The repeated chorus, 'Falling in and out of love', isn't just a statement but an encapsulation of the relationship's instability and the emotional exhaustion it causes. It speaks to a love that is both irresistible and unsustainable, a source of both connection and pain. The narrator’s plea, 'Why can't you see it? Why can't you feel?', underscores a feeling of being emotionally invisible to their partner, adding a layer of desperation and loneliness to the narrative. Ultimately, the song is a poignant exploration of a love that is fundamentally broken, where the connection is undeniable but the foundation of trust has been shattered, leading to a desire to 'let it fade away' and escape the painful cycle.

The song narrates a tumultuous emotional journey of a love that is constantly fluctuating. The central theme revolves around the painful and confusing state of being 'in and out of love'. It begins with the imagery of looking into a lover's eyes, which are described as a 'mirror'. However, this reflection is not one of clarity, but one that reveals 'the truth behind the lies'. These falsehoods are a source of torment, 'haunting' the narrator. The lover's eyes are also where the narrator seeks reasons and answers to the unspoken 'why', but this search only intensifies the haunting feeling. The recurring chorus, 'Falling in and out of love', acts as the emotional anchor of the song, emphasizing the cyclical and unstable nature of the relationship. It's a constant push and pull, a state of being unable to fully commit to either staying or leaving. This repetition mirrors the relentless and exhausting pattern of their love affair. The lyrics also express a desperate plea for the lover to see and feel the narrator's turmoil. The questions 'Why can't you see it? Why can't you feel?' highlight a profound sense of disconnection and emotional invalidation. The narrator is caught in this cycle, while the partner seems oblivious or indifferent to the pain it causes. Towards the end, there's a sense of resignation and a desire for release. The lines 'It keep keep runnin', It keep keep fallin', Let it fade away' suggest a yearning to let go of the hurt and the chaotic emotions. The repetition of 'away' creates a mantra-like effect, as if trying to will the pain into non-existence. The song captures the internal conflict of holding on to a love that is both cherished and destructive, a paradox that leaves the narrator in a state of perpetual emotional limbo.

This version of "In And Out Of Love" is a rework by French DJ and producer Rivo, officially released on June 28, 2024, via Armada Music. The original track is a renowned trance anthem by Dutch DJ Armin van Buuren featuring vocals from Sharon den Adel of the band Within Temptation, released in 2008. Rivo's inspiration for the rework came after hearing the original song in a club. He was 'instantly mesmerized by the voice and the emotion', describing it as 'the chant of a mermaid'. He promptly created a rough demo and tested it live that same night. Following a positive reception, he posted a clip on TikTok, which quickly went viral, amassing over 15 million views across social media platforms. The overwhelming online response caught the attention of Armin van Buuren himself, who reached out to Rivo just three days after the initial post. Armin van Buuren expressed his excitement about the fresh energy Rivo brought to the classic track and his support for new talent, leading to the official collaboration and release on his own label, Armada Music. The producers credited on this rework are Rivo, Armin van Buuren, and Benno de Goeij, who was also a producer on the original version. The songwriters are Armin van Buuren, Benno de Goeij, and Sharon den Adel.

The song's lyrical structure features a simple, effective rhyme scheme that enhances its memorable and haunting quality. The primary rhyming couplet is found in the verses: 'See the mirror in your eyes / See the truth behind your lies'. This AABB-like structure within the stanzas makes the lyrics direct and impactful. The rhythm of the lyrics is conversational and follows the phrasing of the vocal melody. In Rivo's rework, the rhythmic focus is on the interplay between the vocals and the Afro House beat. The tempo is set at 122 BPM, characteristic of the deep and afro house genres, providing a steady, danceable pulse. The time signature is a standard 4/4. The percussion is likely built around a gentle, syncopated pattern that gives the track its characteristic groove. The vocal phrases are often placed to weave in and out of this rhythm, creating a sense of space and atmosphere. The repetition of the titular phrase 'In and out of love' creates a rhythmic motif that is central to the track's hypnotic feel, with the rhythm of the vocal delivery becoming as important as the melody itself.

Rivo's rework of "In And Out Of Love" is notable for its stylistic shift from trance to Afro House, creating a new sonic context for the original's emotive vocals.

• Musical Arrangement: The track is built upon a gentle, rolling Afro House rhythm, which contrasts with the high-energy, driving beat of the 2008 original. Warm piano chords provide the harmonic foundation, giving the track a deep, atmospheric quality. This choice of instrumentation creates a more introspective and emotionally nuanced backdrop for the vocals.
• Vocal Processing: Sharon den Adel's iconic vocals are treated differently in this version. The description of her voice being treated 'like a programmable synth' suggests the use of techniques like sampling, chopping, and looping to create new melodic and rhythmic patterns from the original vocal line. This recontextualizes the vocal, making it an integral part of the track's groove rather than solely a lead melody.
• Repetition and Buildup: The song utilizes repetition, particularly of the main vocal hook 'Falling in and out of love', to create a hypnotic and immersive experience. The structure likely follows the classic DJ-friendly format of introduction, buildup, breakdown, and climax, designed to work effectively in a club setting. The extended mix, in particular, would emphasize this gradual layering of elements to build and release tension on the dancefloor.
• Lyrical Repetition: The lyrics themselves rely heavily on repetition of key phrases like 'haunting me' and 'in and out of love', which serves as a literary device to mirror the obsessive and cyclical nature of the thoughts and feelings being described.

While Rivo's 2024 rework is recent, it builds upon the significant cultural legacy of the original 2008 track by Armin van Buuren and Sharon den Adel. The original "In and Out of Love" is considered a masterpiece of the trance genre and one of Armin van Buuren's biggest hits. Its music video became a massive phenomenon on YouTube, gathering hundreds of millions of views and becoming one of the most-watched trance videos ever. The song's success solidified its place as a timeless anthem within electronic dance music. The track has been covered by other artists, notably a symphonic metal version by Visions of Atlantis in 2019, and sampled by British rapper Dave. Rivo's rework gained immense traction on social media platforms like TikTok even before its official release, with teasers accumulating over 15 million views, demonstrating the original's enduring appeal and the power of social media in modern music promotion. The official release on Armada Music, Armin van Buuren's own label, and his support signifies a passing of the torch and an embrace of new interpretations of classic tracks within the electronic music scene. The rework's popularity indicates a successful bridging of the gap between the classic trance audience and a new generation of listeners enjoying the Afro House sound.

The lyrics of "In And Out Of Love" employ powerful and direct metaphors to convey the song's emotional landscape.

• The Eyes as a Mirror: The opening line, 'See the mirror in your eyes', is a central metaphor. Eyes are traditionally seen as windows to the soul, but here they are a 'mirror' that reflects not the narrator's love, but the 'truth behind the lies'. This suggests that the partner's deception is so clear it's impossible to ignore, turning what should be a symbol of intimacy into a painful reflection of betrayal.
• Haunting Lies: The phrase 'Your lies are haunting me' personifies the deceit, turning it into a ghostly, persistent presence. It's not just a memory of being lied to, but an active and tormenting force that the narrator cannot escape, contributing to the song's dark and troubled atmosphere.
• Cyclical Love: The recurring phrase 'Falling in and out of love' serves as a motif that symbolizes the toxic, cyclical nature of the relationship. It's a metaphor for an emotional trap, a continuous loop of connection and disconnection that is both addictive and destructive. The repetition emphasizes the feeling of being stuck in this unending pattern.

The most prominent recurring motif in the song is the lyrical phrase 'Falling in and out of love'. This phrase is repeated throughout the track, serving as the central theme and the main hook. Its constant recurrence drills home the central conflict of the song: the inability to find a stable emotional ground in the relationship. It represents the emotional whiplash of being pulled back and forth between affection and disillusionment. Another key recurring phrase is 'Your lies are haunting me'. This motif underscores the source of the emotional turmoil – betrayal and deceit. Its repetition emphasizes the inescapable and torturous nature of these memories. Musically, Rivo's rework establishes a recurring warm piano chord progression and a consistent Afro House beat, which acts as a musical bed for the looped and re-contextualized vocal samples. This creates a hypnotic and atmospheric musical motif that defines the rework's unique character.