[Column] What was 90s Euro music? ──A feast of dance floors and melodies

Column en 90s Euro

18 Jul 2025

What was 90s Euro music? ──A feast of dance floors and melodies

Text: mmr｜Theme: The whole picture of Euro music culture in the 90s

What is the true identity of the music called Euro?

The ““Euro Music’’ of the 1990s was not a specific genre, but rather a general term for popular dance-pop music that developed mainly in continental Europe. The most iconic of these were ““Eurobeat” and ““Eurodance,” but other genres such as Eurotrance, high energy, and synth pop were also running around the same time.

In other words, the Euro of the 1990s was the ““pop image of modern Europe’’ that fused party culture, dance music, catchy melodies, and technology.

Main genre classification and characteristics

Genre	Features	Representative artist
Euro dance	Four beat, rap + female vocals, flashy melody	2 Unlimited / La Bouche
Eurobeat	High-speed BPM, mainly synthesizer, mainly produced in Italy, popular in Japan	Dave Rodgers / Domino
Eurotrans	Simplified version of trance, melodious, pop-oriented	DJ Quicksilver / Sash!
High energy	Gay club origins, flashy beats, continued from the late 1980s	Patrick Cowley / Hazell Dean
Italo Dance	Dance pop from Italy, fusion with Eurodance	Eiffel 65 / Prezioso
Europop	Mainly pop music, with R&B and Latin elements introduced	Ace of Base / Roxette

Common language between Europe and pop after the Cold War

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Europe rapidly transformed into a cross-border entertainment market. “Euro-pop sung in English” began to enter the international market even from non-English-speaking countries (such as Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and Sweden).

This means that Euromusic is a musical culture that prioritizes sensory pleasure over political boundaries. Rhythm, synths, and a simple, repeatable chorus. These have become a “common language” that transcends languages and borders.

Mainstream success stories (1990-1999)

● 2 Unlimited – “Get Ready For This” (1991)

From the Netherlands. “Eurodance anthem” is often used at sports venues and commercials.

● Ace of Base – “The Sign” (1993)

Swedish pop group. Ranked #1 on Billboard Hot 100 for 100 years.

● Corona – “Rhythm of the Night” (1994)

Made in Italy. It was also a hit in the Latin American market, demonstrating Eurodance’s versatility.

● Eiffel 65 – “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” (1999)

A masterpiece of Italo Dance. A fusion of digital voice and melody.

90’s sound distribution

● CD Maxi Single Culture

Multiple remixes and B-sides are included in one song, making it suitable for both clubs and homes.

●MTV Europe

A base for “visual dance culture” that sells video and music as a set.

● Super Eurobeat (Japan)

A series developed independently in Japan by Avex. Also linked to Initial D culture.

●Reimported disc produced in Europe and distributed in Japan

Produced in Italy and Germany, planned in Japan, domestic CD (e.g. MAHARAJA NIGHT)

Acceptance of the 90’s Euro in Japan

Eurobeat: Original development by avex

Impact on TRF, globe, and Komuro family.
At the core of Initial D and Parapara culture.

Eurodance: Disco-J-Pop hybrid

Japanese groups such as MAX and V6 have released many covers.

Fusion with visual culture: Non-Western Euro culture

It was also incorporated into anime OPs and game BGM, creating a “non-Western Euro culture.”

Why did the critics ignore it? ──”Lightness” and “Anti-Art”

Euro music was not well received by critics for a long time. The reason is as follows:

Simple structure, shallow lyrics (often nonsensical)
Mass production/anonymity (the presence of specific artists is weak)
Commercial success = disregard for artistry

However, on the other hand, it also proves that music can reach anyone.

Reappraisal and Revival: The Situation in the 2020s and Beyond

In recent years, Euromusic has been reevaluated in the following ways:

Euro dance as the origin of Hyperpop and Y2K sounds
90s return (Post-Eurodance) in the club scene
Like City Pop, Eurobeat from Japan was rediscovered by the internet generation.

Additionally, 90’s Euro is reaching a new audience with increased playback on Spotify and YouTube.

Euro music was “pleasure without borders”

Euro music in the 1990s was a phenomenon that turned dance, pleasure, and melody into an international language, not lyrics or politics. That lightness became a weapon that allowed him to transcend genre boundaries and values.

Now, once again, the “naive heat” of the Euro may be asking us a question that transcends genres and generations.

Is it nostalgia or newness for you?

List

Artist	Title	Format	Age/Characteristics
Rednex	Cotton Eye Joe	12″	Swedish euro house/synth pop
Masterboy	Different Dreams	CD	1994 German Eurodance masterpiece
VA	Maharaja Top 20 Vol.III	CD	90s not for sale compilation
Various	Overnight Remixes II	Vinyl	90s famous track compilation
MDC‑X‑Static	You And Me	Vinyl	90s Club Hit EP
Ziggy	No Police (Aztec Remix)	Vinyl	90s Eurobeat/Hi-NRG Rare Edition
Dr. Baker	Kaos	Vinyl	1990 UK release/Euro House
Tam Arrow	One Shot Girl	Vinyl	Made in Italy 2001 Euro Beat EP
Dao Dezi	La Jument De Mishao	12″	"94 deep Euro house release
E-Rotic	Sexual Madness	CD	1997 hit "Turn Me On" included
E-Rotic	Willy Use A Billy... Boy	Vinyl	90s classic single