Robert Miles’ ‘Children’ celebrates 31 years since the track became one of the most successful instrumental dance records of the 1990s
When Robert Miles released Children internationally in November 1995, the instrumental stood apart from much of the dance music reaching mainstream charts at the time. Its recognisable piano melody sat over a steady electronic beat, giving the track a sound that worked in clubs while still reaching radio audiences across Europe. Within months, Children had become an international hit and introduced Robert Miles to listeners far beyond the club scene.
The Personal Story Behind the Piano Melody
The origins of Children stretch beyond its later success. Robert Miles, born Roberto Concina, drew part of his inspiration from photographs his father had taken during humanitarian work in the former Yugoslavia, where the impact of war on children left a lasting impression on him.
Another influence came from Italian nightlife in the early 1990s, when young people often faced dangerous journeys home after long nights in clubs. Robert Miles wanted DJs to have something calmer to play towards the end of the night, and that idea became part of the thinking behind Children.
