Eurodance - what it is?
Eurodance is a subgenre of electronic dance music, which has been popular worldwide since the early 1990s. It originates from House, Hip-Hop, and Hi-NRG music.
Eurodance music is heavily influenced by the utilization of rich melodic vocals and to a lesser extent, rapping. This is combined with synth, strong bass rhythm and melodic hooks.
definition
The term "Eurodance" gradually became associated with a specific style of European dance music over time. During its ascendant years in the 1990s it was just as likely to be referred to as "Euro-House" or "Euro-NRG"; in Europe it was often called "Dancefloor" or simply "Dance".
While some use a much broader definition of what is considered "Eurodance", over time, the term particularly came to refer to an NRG-based genre from the 1990s which included a solo vocalist or a rapper/vocalist duet and is also used to describe later European dance acts such as Cascada.
Eurodance is nightclub-oriented music that is usually produced somewhere in Europe and sounds commercial enough to be played by radio stations and music television. Some of the more prominent Eurodance songs go international, especially if an act manages to score more than one hit.
Characteristics of the music
Most Eurodance is characterized by synthesizer riffs, female vocals with simple chorus, male rap parts, sampling, and a strong beat.
Vocals
Eurodance is often very positive and upbeat; the lyrics often involve issues of love and peace, dancing and partying, or expressing and overcoming difficult emotions. The early 1990s Eurodance vocals were frequently done by a solo vocalist or a mixed rapper-vocalist duet. Many projects utilized variations of the rapper-vocalist theme, such as a German rapper with American singers (Real McCoy), or the use of reggae rap as in Ice MC and Fun Factory, or scat singing as in Scatman John. Solo singing artists such as Alexia, Tess, Blümchen, and Double You also contributed to the genre. Eurodance lyrics are almost always sung in English, regardless of the artist's nationalities. However, some artists release their songs in both English and their native languages.
Percussion
Almost all Eurodance emphasizes percussion and rhythm. Eurodance percussion is generally a "kick" bassdrum with some variations on a 4/4 time signature. While the percussion is always done by synthesizers, it is a sound more typical of dance music and not the "beat box" sound typical of rap music. The beats per minute varies from 110 to 150, but a BPM of about 135 is very typical.
Melody
Most Eurodance is also very melody-driven. Besides the contribution of the female vocals, there is often a noticeable use of rapid synthesizer arpeggios. This is a very distinctive feature of Eurodance that separates it from Hi-NRG disco. The synthesizer often has a piano or barrel organ sound but sometimes mimics other instruments, such as calliope (e.g., "Touch the Sky" by Cartouche). There is often a short, repetitive riff, while other times there is a whole tour de force of synthesizers (e.g., Close To You by Fun Factory). Some songs have a second riff cycling in between verses.
Characteristics of the music
Eurodance is widely commercialized. Some producers, like Max Martin or Larry Pignagnoli, have fronted dozens of bands. From thousands of records released, only a few bands have existed in the mainstream beyond two records. Many acts, such as Captain Jack and Jonny Jakobsen (Dr. Bombay), had a carefully planned humoristic image. A group called E-rotic received attention with sexually provocative lyrics and music videos.
While Eurodance singles regularly went to Gold, Platinum or multi-Platinum status, it had been more difficult to get a full length album to get to the same level of success. Typical problems cited include the album as a whole not up to the strength of the singles, the performers not being charismatic enough to hold the attention of millions of people past a song or two, or weak promotion of the remainder of the album after the singles have become hits.
history
1991 - was being of eurodance. First eurodance act came, 2 Unlimited with track "Get Ready for This". 1992 - Dr. alban released track "It's My Life" in April of 1992. This song was in highest position all over europe, #1 in Israel, #2 in UK, #1 in Germany and Europe. 1993 - In 1993 group Culture Beat from Germany was released track "Mr. Vain" which was major hit in all over world. This was break through of eurodance, new music genre was born. 1994 - was the greatest year to classic eurodance. Many artists in Europe was moved to eurodance genre, because it was the thing. In 1994 was released the hundreds and the hundreds eurodance albums. This was the golden age of the eurodance. 1995 - Eurodance fever was still going strong. Many new groups was born and albums was came out everyday. Many artists and groups was use rap part in their songs. 1996 - This year was a somekind cornerstone between classic eurodance and eurodance. Many artists was still believed power of the classic eurodance. 1997 - Classic eurodance was dead, only some artists had the courage use rap in their songs. 1998 - This year was disasterous to eurodance music, Eurodance was almost totally dead. Only BubbleGum music style was survived, thanks to Aqua, Daze, Hit'N'Hide, Me & My etc. 1999 - Many old groups does not exists any longer and group which was still exists, their was change music style to pop music. 2000 - Eurotrance music style start conquering to dance charts. Only few new dance groups was borned in this year, like ATC etc. 2001 - A period of the Eurotrance. 2002 - A period of the Eurotrance. 2003 - Eurodance start coming back. Some old eurodance artists are back and big Eurodance hits of the past are being remixed and re-released, like groups 2 Unlimited, Culture Beat, Snap, Loft etc. E-Rotic is only classic eurodance group which is survived all this years. 2004 - Eurodance will be coming back a little by little, but we never catch up the favour what it was between 1994 and 1996. Remember keep the eurodance alive. 2005 - Many old eurodance acts released brand new music, like Loft, Ice Mc, Basic Element, Heath Hunter, DJ bobo etc. 2006 - New hope to the eurodance genre. We wait and see... 2007 - It seems the second wave of the eurodance has start coming. Few big names is back in the business, like, Basic Element, E-Type, Sex Appeal etc. 2008 - This year really confirms the idea that the eurodance is coming back.