Eurodance hits: Previously called fairground techno, today essential for the perfect 90s nostalgia party.
Fancy a little nostalgia trip? The third episode of the 90s podcast “Never Forget” by ME editors Fabian Soethof and Stephan Rehm Rozanes is all about the genre that most often booms out of the speakers of crowded 90s revival parties: Eurodance. Back then it was still called fairground techno, but today Eurodance has blossomed into the most recognizable genre of the decade, which combined new beginnings and ecstasy in such neon colors.
But right from the start: What defining characteristics does a Eurodance hit actually have? The beginnings of the genre can be dated to the end of the 1980s, when songs like “Pump Up The Jam” (1989) by Technotronic already showed clear connections to American house and techno, but were still strongly oriented towards hip hop. The first really big and quasi-official Eurodance anthem is “Rhythm Is A Dancer” by Snap! from 1992; The mixture of male rap interludes and soulful vocal parts from a female singer, accompanied by a techno-heavy beat, was quickly adapted by other producers and applied to other songs. Eurodance was born.
Regardless of whether you danced to “It’s My Life” at your high school party, listened to it while you were still in the child seat in the car, or were way too cool for the genre back then: here we present you ten Eurodance hits from the 1990s in chronological order -years that made it to first place in the German charts. Spoiler: “What Is Love?” by Haddaway and “Coco Jamboo” by Mr. President are not included – it was only enough for second place.
10 Eurodance hits from the 90s that landed at number 1 in the German charts:
1. Snap! – “Rhythm Is A Dancer”
The producer duo Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti could hardly believe their luck: After years of fine-tuning music projects with club legend Sven Väth, the two Germans succeeded with the Eurodance duo Snap! the international breakthrough. The first single “The Power” sold 20 million copies worldwide, the second hit “Rhythm Is A Dancer” from 1992 is still considered the official starting point of the Eurodance era and stayed at number one in Germany alone for 35 weeks charts. The main melody of the track, sung by Thea Austin and rapper Turbo B., is based on the song “Auto-Man” by the American electro group Newcleus from 1984.
2. Dr. Alban – “It’s My Life”
As Dr. Alban blew up the German charts with “It’s My Life” in 1992, the Swedish-Nigerian rapper and DJ could already look back on some success; including his own dental practice (yes, Dr. Alban actually has a doctorate), as well as a million copies sold of his debut album HELLO AFRIKA from 1990. But “It’s My Life” was supposed to surpass this – so the track ended up in Sweden, Austria and Germany reached number 1 on the charts and sold more than 1.6 million copies worldwide. The half-spoken, half-rapped vocals over a techno beat with dancehall elements had become his trademark since his student days.
3. Captain Hollywood Project – “More and More”
“More and More” by the Captain Hollywood Project was also written by a German producer team: dance songwriter Nosie Katzmann, who just a year later also produced the mega hit “Mr. Vain”, took on the music together with Giora Schein and Oliver Reinecke, while the lyrics were written by frontman Tony Dawson-Harrison. In July 1992, the song topped the German charts and achieved platinum status by the end of the year. Fun Fact: Captain Hollywood Project still exists – Dawson-Harrison and singer Shirin von Gehlen tour North America, Russia, Europe, South America and Australia annually to perform their greatest hits.
4. Culture Beat – “Mr. Vain”
In 1993, Nosie Katzmann worked with Steven Levis, Jay Supreme and producer Torsten Fenslau in a small studio in Darmstadt on a song that would change her life: “Mr. Like many previous Eurodance songs, “Vain” initially entered the German charts, but over the summer it was able to place at the top of the chart lists in a total of twelve countries. The song, performed by Tania Evans and Jay Supreme, became the best-selling single in Europe in 1993 and is still considered a classic Eurodance track from the 90s.