Showtek’s “FTS” Finds New Fire in 2025’s Cross-Genre Sets

Eighteen years is a long time in dance music—long enough for an anthem to fade into the archives or, in rare cases, rise again with renewed force. Showtek ’s “FTS,” first detonated into the hardstyle scene in 2007 after a debut at Qlimax the year prior, falls firmly into the latter category. In 2025, it’s back in circulation, and this time it’s not just hardstyle diehards taking notice.

The track—infamous for its blunt, anti-establishment vocals and brash synth structures—is being reintroduced by a wide-ranging roster of DJs: techno purists like Charlotte De Witte, mainstage giants like Armin van Buuren, and bass disruptors like KAYZO. That diversity underscores the curious staying power of “FTS.” What was once niche now feels universal, at least in the context of global festival euphoria.

To mark the resurgence, Showtek dropped a short-form video exploring the track’s legacy and contemporary relevance. It’s a welcome companion to the music itself—measured, not nostalgic, and clearly aware of the track’s complicated identity. “Even though ‘FTS’ is a hardstyle track, it somehow cuts across genres and generations,” Showtek states in the film. Their reflection sounds like a recalibration of how the song fits in today’s ecosystem.

Much of “FTS”’s new momentum has been fueled by reinvention. Reinier Zonneveld’s remix, released in April, strips back the track to fit a more techno-centric set while retaining its unruly spirit. Sub Zero Project, by contrast, leans into the original’s adrenaline, adapting it for a new generation of hardstyle fans.f

For an act as seasoned as Showtek—responsible for cross-genre hits like “Bad” with David Guetta—this moment is about reengagement. In 2025, “FTS” is less a nostalgic throwback and more a mirror of modern rave ethos: collective rebellion, emotional release, and the thrill of hearing something familiar in a radically different context.