1990s House Music: The Hits You Know and Love
Contents
Looking for a blast from the past? Check out our list of the best 1990s house music hits! You’ll love these classics!
Introduction
The 1990s was a decade of great change for house music. The genre became more popular and accessible than ever before, with hits crossing over into the mainstream charts on a regular basis. At the same time, the scene was evolving and diversifying, with new sub-genres and subcultures emerging. This decade was truly a golden age for house music, and one that any fan should make sure to explore.
In this article, we’ll be taking a look at some of the biggest and best house hits of the 1990s. So whether you’re a diehard fan or just getting into the genre, there’s sure to be something here for you to enjoy. So kick back, put on your dancing shoes, and let’s take a trip down memory lane…
The Beginnings of House Music
In the late 1980s, the first house music tracks began to appear on the radio. These early tracks were influenced by electronic dance music styles of the time, such as disco, techno, and electro. House music quickly became popular in clubs and soon spread to other countries. By the early 1990s, house music was one of the most popular genres of music.
Where it all started
In the late 1980s, a wave of new Chicago house tracks appeared on the radio, clubs and records stores. These tracks were written and produced by a new generation of house music artists that were influenced by the original pioneers of the genre. The sound was rawer and more underground than the traditional Chicago house sound, and it quickly gained popularity with clubgoers and DJs.
The first house music tracks
In the early 1980s, Chicago clubs began playing house music, a style of electronic dance music created by DJs and producers. House music quickly spread to other clubs in the city and then to other cities in the United States and Europe. By the 1990s, house music was one of the most popular genres of dance music.
The first house tracks were created by DJs who took existing disco tracks and manipulated them using a technique called “sampling.” By sampling a small section of a track and then repeating it over and over, DJs were able to create new tracks that were different from the original but still had the same general feel.
One of the earliest and most influential house tracks was “Frankie Knuckles Presents Satoshi Tomiie – Tears” (1989), which was based on a sample from the Pet Shop Boys’ track “You Were Always On My Mind.” This track helped to define the sound of early house music and established Knuckles as one of the genre’s most important pioneers.
Other important early house tracks include:
– “Adonis – No Way Back” (1985)
– “Marshall Jefferson – Move Your Body” (1986)
– “Sleezy D – I’ve Lost Control” (1986)
– “Mr. Fingers – Can You Feel It” (1986)
The Rise of House Music
House music first rose to prominence in the 1980s, but it really exploded in the 1990s. At this time, the music was characterized by a strong 4/4 beat, often with a looped bassline. House music quickly became a staple at clubs and parties, and soon everyone was dancing to the same beat.
The birth of Chicago house
Chicago house is a type of house music that was developed in the city of Chicago, Illinois in the 1980s. The style is characterized by a tracky, four-on-the-floor beat and often sampling disco or funk tracks. House tracks are often repetitive, with basslines and drum patterns that stay the same for extended periods of time. Chicago house was one of the first styles of house music to gain popularity, and it went on to influence other subgenres such as acid house and deep house.
The UK house music scene
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the UK house music scene was thriving. The rise of acid house and rave culture had a huge impact on the music industry, and many of the biggest hits of the era came from British artists. The following is a list of some of the most popular UK house music hits of the 1990s.
-“Pump Up the Jam” by Technotronic
-“Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good)” by Rozalla
-“Finally” by CeCe Peniston
-“Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” by C+C Music Factory
-“Set You Free” by N-Trance
-“Rhythm Is a Dancer” by Snap!
-“What Is Love?” by Haddaway
The Golden Age of House Music
The 1990s was a golden age for house music. The genre exploded in popularity and produced some of the most iconic tracks of the decade. If you’re a fan of house music, then you’ll know all of the hits in this article.
The Second Summer of Love
The Second Summer of Love was a term used to describe the period in the late 1980s and early 1990s when house music became mainstream in the UK. The first Summer of Love took place in 1967, when young people congregated in San Francisco to celebrate peace, love, and counterculture. The Second Summer of Love saw London become the new epicenter of club culture, as young people flocked to clubs like Shoom, Spectrum, and Heaven to hear the latest beats and see the newest fashions.
While house music had been popular in Chicago and New York for years, it wasn’t until UK DJs like Paul Oakenfold and Danny Rampling started playing it that it really took off. These DJs brought the sound of acid house to Britain, and its popularity quickly spread. By the early 1990s, Britain was in the midst of a full-blown house music craze. Clubs were packed every night with people dancing till dawn, and fashion shows featured models strutting down the runway to thumping basslines.
The Second Summer of Love came to an end around 1994, as drug use began to rise and public interest began to wane. Nevertheless, house music continued to be popular in underground circles, and its influence can still be felt today.
The birth of trance music
Trance music is a genre of electronic music that began in the early 1990s. It is characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 160 BPM, repeating melodic phrases, and a musical form that tends to build up over time. The genre’s popularity grew in the mid-1990s, particularly in Europe, where it became one of the main elements of the so-called “second summer of love”.
The Legacy of House Music
House music first became popular in the 1980s, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that it really exploded onto the scene. In the 1990s, house music artists like Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers, and Fatboy Slim released some of the genre’s most iconic tracks. These tracks helped to define the sound of the 1990s and solidified house music’s place in pop culture.
The influence of house music
In the 1990s, house music became more mainstream with the help of artists like Madonna, who included house tracks on her albums. This helped to introduce a new generation of listeners to the genre and cement its place in popular culture. By the end of the decade, house music was being played in nightclubs all over the world and had become one of the most popular genres of dance music.
Today, house music remains a popular genre with many subgenres emerging over the years. Its influence can be heard in other genres such as electronica, techno, and trance. Many of today’s top DJs and producers began their careers spinning and making house music, and the genre continues to evolve and reinvent itself.
The future of house music
As the 1990s came to a close, so did an era in house music. The genre had grown steadily throughout the decade, with DJs and producers experimenting with new sounds and styles. But by the end of the 1990s, many of the original house music pioneers had moved on to other genres or retired from the music industry altogether.
That doesn’t mean that house music died in the 1990s. Far from it – the genre continued to evolve and grow, with new artists emerging who would take it in fresh directions. The 2000s saw a new wave of house music producers who would go on to have a huge impact on the genre. Here are just a few of the most influential house music producers of the last 20 years.
