90s dance music is a genre that dominated the music scene for nearly a decade, providing people with tunes to dance, relax, and just have a good time. While different genres such as rock, pop, and hip-hop exploded during the same time, dance music was still highly popular. The 90s birthed a range of dance music styles enjoyed by millions of fans all over the world.
The Emergence of Electronic Dance Music
The electronic music scene that had initially risen to fame in the 1980s continued to grow in popularity in the 90s. The advancement of technology had enabled music producers to experiment with sounds and create beats that were hardly possible before. The growing popularity of house and techno that started in the 1980s would become mainstream in the 1990s.
Electronic music first appeared in the early 1900s with pieces such as “Poème électronique” created by composer Edgard Varèse. The music genre was however not widely accepted until the 1980s, which saw the emergence of acid house, a subgenre of house music featuring 303 synthesizers. The electronica music produced by this period was the foundation upon which 90s dance music would be built.
New genres such as trip hop, rave, happy hardcore, and drum and bass were also created during the decade. The rave genre, which began in acid house nightclubs in the late 1980s, featured an intense use of light and sound. DJs would use the music to create an immersive experience, with most parties lasting all night. Rave music was often played in underground clubs with the most popular DJs of the time being Carl Cox, Basement Jaxx, and the Chemical Brothers.
The Pinnacle of 90s Dance Music
One of the biggest hits of the 90s was the song “Finally” by CeCe Peniston. The song, which was released in 1991, saw international success with its infusion of soul and house music. It’s still a classic tune that gets people moving to date.
Another popular song of the 90s was “What is Love?” by Haddaway. The house and techno-infused tune that was released in 1993 became highly popular, mainly due to its use in the comedy film “A Night at the Roxbury.”
The 90s also saw the rise of Eurodance or Euro-house, which originated from Italy and Germany. Some of the popular Eurodance hits include “Rhythm is a dancer” by Snap and “Mr. Vain” by Culture Beat, among many others.
Legacy of 90s Dance Music
The 90s left a lasting impression on dance music, as many of the sub-genres that emerged through the classics continue to influence contemporary music today. The 90s gave birth to many iconic DJs who would shape dance music into what we know it to be today.
Carl Cox, for instance, gained popularity during the 90s rave scene and has since transformed into a household name in the dance music world. He has continuously produced music, performed at festivals, and hosted his radio show. The Chemical Brothers, who formed in the UK in 1991, also continue to impact the music scene today.
Conclusion
90s dance music was a genre of music that dominated the music scene for nearly a decade. It was characterized by the emergence and popularity of electronic music, with different subgenres such as house, techno, rave, and trip hop making a mark in the music industry. The 90s were, without a doubt, the golden era of dance music, and its impact continues to reverberate throughout the world of music today.
FAQ
What genre of EDM was popular in the 90s?
The 1990s marked the beginning of the contemporary electronic dance music (EDM) sounds. During this decade, the EDM scene saw the emergence and popularity of various electronic dance music genres, most of which still have a following today. The first sounds of electronic dance music that current EDM rave fans would recognize are those of techno music, house music, hardcore rave (hardstyle), dub, trance, and drum and bass.
Techno music, which originated in Detroit, Michigan, in the 1980s, experienced a rise in popularity in the 1990s. It is characterized by its repetitive beats, use of synthesizers, and other electronic instruments. The genre was considered the backbone of early electronic dance music and has since evolved to have sub-genres like acid techno and Detroit techno.
House music, on the other hand, emerged from Chicago in the early 1980s, and by the 1990s had become a global phenomenon. This genre features a repetitive 4/4 drum beat with simple melodies and complex drum patterns. The popularity of house music was mainly driven by its ability to cater to diverse audiences with the flexibility of producing different sub-genres like deep house, tech house, and soulful house.
In the 1990s, hardcore rave, also known as hardstyle, became another popular genre of electronic dance music, characterized by its fast and hectic beats and a harder style than its predecessors. It showcased a fusion of multiple genres, including techno, house, and electronic industrial dance music (EIDM).
Dub music, often described as a form of experimental EDM, is a sub-genre that emerged from mixing reggae with electronic music. Dub features a slower tempo and focuses heavily on the bass-line, with a reverb and echo effect on the base rhythm. The emerging fusion between dub and electronic music resulted in the creation of another genre called dubstep, which gained popularity in the early 2000s.
Trance, which has its roots in Europe, emerged in the early 1990s as a distinct style of music characterized by its euphoric melodies, progressive soundscapes, and an emphasis on the uplifting nature of its music. Lastly, drum and bass, also known as jungle, derived from the United Kingdom, features uptempo breakbeats with intense bass lines and often percussion-heavy melodies.
The 1990s were a remarkable decade for electronic dance music with the emergence of various genres that have since grown and evolved. The popularity of techno, house music, hardcore rave, dub, trance, and drum and bass cemented the place of electronic dance music on the global music scene.
What defines the 90s?
The 1990s was a decade of significant changes in politics, technology, and culture. It was a time of relative peace and prosperity, but it also marked the beginning of a new era of globalization and the spread of modern communications and entertainment.
One defining event of the 1990s was the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. This led to a shift in the global balance of power, with the United States emerging as the world’s sole superpower. The 1990s also saw a number of regional conflicts and interventions, including the Gulf War, the Bosnia War, and the Kosovo War, as well as the Rwandan genocide.
Technology played a significant role in defining the 1990s. The rise of the Internet and the World Wide Web revolutionized the way people communicate, do business and access information. This created new opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators, such as the development of online commerce and social media. It also contributed to the growth of the entertainment industry, with the introduction of DVD and video game technology, and the rise of blockbuster movies and TV shows.
The 1990s also saw significant changes in popular culture. It was a time of alternative fashion and music, with the emergence of grunge, hip hop, and electronic dance music. Popular TV shows like Friends and Seinfeld captured the spirit of the decade, and movies like Pulp Fiction and The Matrix redefined the art of filmmaking.
The 1990s can be defined as a decade of change and transformation, with political, technological and cultural shifts that continue to impact our world today.
Is 90s music considered classic rock?
The term “classic rock” generally refers to a specific era of rock music that peaked in popularity during the 1970s and early 1980s. This period is often characterized by bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and the Rolling Stones, as well as solo artists like Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty. However, as time has passed, the definition of “classic rock” has broadened to include other eras and styles of rock music.
In the twenty-first century, classic rock is a blanket term that describes American and British rock music through the early 1990s. Therefore, music from the 1990s can technically be considered classic rock. This includes bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden, who were popular during the grunge era of the early 1990s.
However, there is some debate over whether or not 90s music truly qualifies as classic rock. Some purists argue that classic rock should only refer to music from the 70s and early 80s, and that anything beyond that is simply rock music. Others argue that classic rock is simply a marketing term that record companies use to categorize music from a certain era, and that it doesn’t have any meaningful musical significance.
Whether 90s music is considered classic rock is largely a matter of interpretation. However, it is worth noting that the genre of classic rock continues to evolve and expand, and there may be new styles and eras of rock music that are considered classic in the future.