The Best of 90s Dance Electronic Music

The Best of 90s Dance Electronic Music is a blog dedicated to the best dance music of the 1990s.

Introduction

The 1990s was a great decade for dance music, with a wide range of styles and sub-genres emerging. Electronic dance music (EDM) became more popular and experimental, while club culture began to take off globally.

There were some amazing tracks released in the 90s, so it was difficult to narrow it down to just 10. But here are our picks for the best dance electronic tracks of the decade:

1. Orbital – “Chime” (1991)
2. The Prodigy – “Charly” (1991)
3. Underworld – “Born Slippy .NUXX” (1995)
4. The Chemical Brothers – “Setting Sun” (1996)
5. Fatboy Slim – “Praise You” (1998)
6. Daft Punk – “Around the World” (1997)
7. Air – “Kelly Watch the Stars” (1998)
8. Moby – “Go” (1991)
9. Leftfield – “Release the Pressure” (1995)
10. Aphex Twin – “Windowlicker” (1999)

The Early Days of Dance Music

Electronic dance music has its origins in the 1970s disco and nightclub culture. In the early 1980s, the first electronic music dance tracks began to appear. These tracks were characterized by a heavy bassline and synthesized drum sounds. By the mid-1980s, dance music had become a global phenomenon.

The Birth of House Music

The birth of house music is largely attributed to the club scene in Chicago in the early 1980s. House music was created by DJs who were looking for a new sound that would appeal to the growing number of clubgoers in Chicago. These DJs began experimenting with electronic music, using drum machines and synthesizers to create a new type of dance music.

The Rise of Techno

The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the rise of techno music, a type of dance music that was created using electronic instruments. This new genre of music was influenced by a number of other genres, including electro and house music. Techno quickly became one of the most popular genres of dance music, with artists such as Moby, The Prodigy, and Fatboy Slim achieving mainstream success.

The Golden Age of Dance Music

The early to mid nineties was the best time for electronic dance music. Many artists and DJs emerged during this time and changed the sound of dance music forever. Some of the most iconic tracks and artists came from this era. If you’re a fan of EDM, then you’ll definitely enjoy this list.

The Second Summer of Love

The Second Summer of Love was a period in late 1980s and early 1990s when acid house music and rave culture flourished in the UK. The first summer of love was in 1967, when young people gathered in San Francisco to listen to psychedelic rock. The second summer of love is often seen as a more underground phenomenon, as it was centred around illegal parties and raves rather than open-air concerts.

Acid house is a subgenre of house music developed in the mid-1980s by DJs from Chicago and New York. The style is defined by its use of the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer, which produces a distinctive squelching sound. Acid house tracks are often characterized by their sparse, minimalistic arrangement and hypnotic repetitiveness.

Rave culture is typified by the use of illegal drugs such as MDMA, LSD, and ketamine; loud, repetitive electronic dance music; and large open-air parties or nightclubs. Rave culture emerged from the acid house scene, and shares many similarities with the hippie subculture of the 1960s and 1970s.

The Madchester Scene

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Madchester scene was a musical and cultural movement centered on Manchester, England. The scene developed as a reaction to the UK government’s Thatcher-era policies, which many in the music industry felt were tone-deaf to the needs of working class people. The Madchester scene combined elements of house music, acid house, and rave culture to create a sound and style that was uniquely English.

Artists associated with the Madchester scene include Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses, Inspiral Carpets, 808 State, and Oasis. The scene was largely driven by nightclubs like The Haçienda, which became world-renowned for its cutting-edge music and hedonistic atmosphere. In the 1990s, the Madchester scene helped put Manchester on the map as one of the world’s most vibrant and exciting cities.

The Legacy of 90s Dance Music

The 90s were a golden era for electronic dance music. It was a time when the genre was just starting to gain mainstream attention and artists were experimenting with different sounds and styles. This led to the birth of some of the most iconic dance tunes of all time. From the hard-hitting beats of techno to the catchy melodies of trance, the 90s had it all. And while the music has evolved since then, the 90s will always be remembered as a pivotal time in the history of dance music.

The Impact of Dance Music on Popular Culture

Dance music has been a staple of popular culture for decades and its impact can be heard in everything from hip hop to pop. The genre has its roots in African American and Latino communities, but its reach is now global.

Dance music is often associated with nightclubs and parties, but it has also been used as a tool for social and political change. In the 1980s, for example, house music was used by the Gay Pride movement to promote tolerance and acceptance.

The 1990s saw a rise in popularity of electronic dance music (EDM), which was characterized by heavy bass and synth-based sounds. This new style of dance music quickly infiltrated the mainstream, thanks in part to films like The Beach and Trainspotting, which featured EDM tracks on their soundtracks.

The legacy of 90s dance music can still be seen and heard today, in everything from the chart-topping hits of Calvin Harris to the film scores of Hans Zimmer. It is clear that this genre has had a lasting impact on popular culture.

The Influence of 90s Dance Music on Today’s Artists

The legacy of 90s dance music is still very much alive today. Many of today’s top EDM artists are heavily influenced by the sounds of the 90s. The early 90s saw the rise of House music, which was quickly followed by techno and trance. These genres laid the foundation for what would become today’s massive Electronic Dance Music scene.

The late 90s saw the advent of drum and bass, which was followed by a new wave of techno and trance. These sounds would go on to influence many of today’s top EDM artists. The early 2000s saw the rise of Electro house, which was heavily influenced by the sounds of 80s New Wave and disco. This new sound would go on to influence many of today’s top DJs and producers.