History
Eurodance is a form of electronic dance music that began in Western Europe in the late 1980s s1. It mixes rap, techno and Eurodisco s1s2. Songs usually have a sung chorus and a rapped verse s1. The singer is often female and the rapper is often male s1. The music uses strong synthesizers, simple bass lines and a four-to-the-floor beat s1. The tempo is usually between 120 and 150 beats per minute s1. The lyrics are simple and often about love or partying s1. Groups such as Snap!, Corona and 2 Unlimited had big hits in the early 1990s s1. Eurodance was made for the charts and for radio s1. The name 'Eurodance' was used more after the style's peak in the mid-1990s s1. Compilation albums helped the name spread s1. The style later influenced hands up and other European dance music s1. It is still played at retro dance events today s1.
Sound
- A female sung chorus
- A male rapped verse
- A four-to-the-floor beat
- Bright synthesizer hooks
- A tempo around 120 to 140 beats per minute
Key figures
- Snap! — German group behind a classic Eurodance hit
- Corona — Italian act behind 'The Rhythm of the Night'
- 2 Unlimited — Dutch-Belgian duo with several Eurodance hits
- La Bouche — German-American Eurodance act
Labels
- Logic Records — Frankfurt , 1988
- Byte Records — Belgium , 1990
- ZYX Music — Merenberg , 1971
Defining tracks
Connections
Came from: Hi-NRG , Hip Hop Breaks , Synth-Pop
Led to: Hands Up , Makina , Vocal Trance
Sources
- Eurodance — Wikipedia
- Dance If You Cannot: The History of Eurodance — RX Music (2014)