Decade that saw post-grunge bands like Candlebox, Foo Fighters, 3 Doors Down and Bush enjoy widespread commercial success; witnessed the advent of alternative rock.
Popular 90 2000 dance music genres included Eurodance, Hi-NRG and trance. Additional upbeat genres that emerged during this period were progressive house, big beat, UK garage (or speed garage) and trip hop.
European Eurodance
In the 1990s, European Eurodance music experienced an explosive explosion of popularity. Characterized by catchy melodic hooks and strong bass rhythms, several European artists produced hits that remain timeless classics; these Eurodance classics can still be heard on radio or at parties today.
European Eurodance features an infectious four-on-the-floor beat and often incorporates echoed vocals and synth riffs, as well as rap sections and samples, creating a hybrid of several genres of dance music. Furthermore, its sound can be traced back to earlier house styles like Chicago acid house while also including elements similar to techno but with higher BPM levels like trance.
Eurodance was an extremely popular genre of dance music during its peak years and often top the RPM dance charts in Canada and the US. Additionally, its influence could be felt across Europe — particularly the Netherlands — where Eurodance saw great success during those early 1990s years and led to other styles like Trance music rising as a result of Eurodance success.
European Eurodance music is known for its high-quality production. Lyrically, lyrics typically consist of simple romantic phrases with upbeat melodies and often feature string sections and piano accompaniment that add depth to their overall sound while often including strong bass lines with classical-influenced melodies.
The 1990s were an unforgettable era to live through and dance through. There were classic hits like Koko’s Open Your Eyes from Koko and big hits from 2 Unlimited like No Limit (Da Ba Dee), DJ Company’s Rhythm of Love, Modjo Blue Da Ba Dee (Da Ba Dee), as well as Eiffel 65’s Sandstorm being some highlights of that decade’s music scene.
Unfortunately, many Eurodance artists were unable to replicate their initial single’s success in other releases and fell prey to one-hit wonder syndrome; DJ Sammy and Dirty Vegas being two examples who couldn’t repeat their success with future single releases.
European trance
As the decade rolled on, trance spread rapidly throughout Europe and even reached the UK; iconic tracks like Eiffel 65’s Blue (Da Ba Dee) reached number one in the charts. Meanwhile, Additive label introduced this genre to a wider audience and helped make it a global phenomenon; further development in sound was seen through productions by Commander Tom’s Are You An Eye and X-Cabs Neuro productions, along with songs such as Chicane’s Offshore which utilized haunting synthesizer pads.
Trance music initially found favor with an expanding young crowd, many still in their early teens at the time. Contrasting with more masculine forms like drum and bass and rave music of its time, such as Binary Finary’s For an Angel or Loft’s Mallorca, trance embraced spirituality more fully – as evidenced in its lyrics (such as For an Angel by Binary Finary or Mallorca by Loft). Furthermore, its appeal stemmed from tapping directly into people’s emotions to produce feelings of euphoria or exultation difficult with other dance genres.
Trance music continued its transformation through the 90s, as tracks like Future Sound of London’s “Papua New Guinea” illustrated a shift away from breakbeat techno towards more upbeat atmospheric pad sounds. German producers Jam and Spoon’s Hardtrance Experience album was also influential in shaping its development through its use of melodic synths and pianos.
By 1996, trance had made a noticeable impact in UK clubs as well, with tracks like Paul Oakenfold’s For an Angel and 20 4 Seven’s The Right Type of Mood making their way onto club charts. Furthermore, its influence began spreading into India’s Goa state which had long been known for psychedelic music.
As of the late 1990s, trance music had become the go-to choice in popular electronic music circles worldwide; such hits as Above and Beyond’s Silence and Faithless’ In The Name Of Love became smash hits worldwide. Although its popularity would diminish gradually over the following decade due to backlash against dance music and a revival in guitar pop and indie rock genres, Eurodance remains popular due to its melodic synths, captivating pianos, empowering lyrics, and inspiring raver appreciation that have endured since then.
European ballads
European ballads are an integral part of folklore, providing audiences with stories of sensuality, erotism, unfaithfulness, war heroes’ return from battle and impossible love. Influenced by Greek, Latin, Provencal, Norse and Celtic cultures they cover common themes like war, death and reincarnation while serving as an important form of folklore because these poems were written by everyday people and transmitted orally over generations.
Ballads typically consist of four-line quatrains with either ABAB or ABCB rhyme schemes and have rhymed second and fourth lines, making up this form of poetry that originated during the Middle Ages as a separate entity from epic poems. They eventually developed further than its parent genre as they evolved independently – even losing some original languages due to rearranging by singers who perform them – which contributes significantly to keeping folk songs alive today.
Print ballads in Europe, known as broadsides, were an integral part of European popular culture that spoke directly to various aspects of public interest around the globe through text, art and song. Broadsides could convey news, gossip and social commentary; sometimes with bitingly satirical lines like those seen today’s tabloid press; they even included stories involving child murder and other scandalous incidents.
These songs were performed both in the field and at home, often being revised in response to new situations or to meet the needs of different audiences. This highly inventive process often resulted in distinctive forms. Songs brought over from Europe changed through oral transmission processes as well.
Songs typically featured straightforward melodies that allowed even less experienced singers to participate. Conversely, classical music features complex tunes with specific rules attached that made singing them difficult for ordinary folk.
Eurodance remains popular today, although not as widespread. It still influences dance floors and mainstream radio programming alike. Eurodance artists such as Ace of Base, 2 Unlimited, ATC, Crush, La Bouche Eiffel 65 Haddaway SNAP! provide great alternatives to Lady Gagas, Katy Perrys, and Ke$has.
European pop
European pop music is an eclectic genre blending danceable beats with catchy pop melodies. The genre first gained widespread acclaim during the late 1980s and 1990s in Europe and is still highly popular today. While most pop artists focus on traditional instruments and lyrics, others incorporate electronic/dance influences into their work, which has resulted in hybrid genres like Eurodance combining elements of techno and Eurodisco into its sound.
Eurodance quickly established itself as a major force in European electronic dance music in the early 90s. Its upbeat beats and catchy vocals appealed to club-goers and radio listeners alike. Furthermore, this genre influenced mainstream songs from Roxette and Ace of Base; many dance tracks that fall under Eurodance category often contain synthesizers, acoustic guitars, or vocal samples as signature instruments.
Techno music quickly spread throughout Europe during this same time period and quickly found a foothold in America as well. Characterized by fast 4/4 beats and basslines, its sound has since become immensely popular here as well. Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May have all played instrumental roles in shaping its development as pioneers for new styles like Chicago house, electroclash and Detroit techno.
Disco music became immensely popular during the 1970s with its debut of drum machines that allowed musicians to create rhythms and beats without needing a drummer. Disco also featured string sections, horns, electric piano, and synthesizers, giving rise to artists such as ABBA, Donna Summer and the Bee Gees.
In the 1990s, dance music evolved into several distinct subgenres such as Drum and Bass (D&B) and Jungle, both heavily influenced by UK rave culture and sound system culture. Each genre boasts rapid breakbeats ranging from 150-200 BPM and features effects such as percussion loops, snare rolls and voice samples; furthermore both genres have given birth to their own respective sub-genres such as Ragga Jungle and Jump Up Drum and Bass.