[Back to the ’90s!] Dance music in Western pop that was a hit in the 1990s
The 1990s were a period in which electronic music saw remarkable growth compared to any previous era.
Genres like Eurobeat and dance-pop attracted particular attention and went on to influence modern styles such as artcore and deep house.
In this piece, I’d like to introduce dance music from the 1990s.
Alongside global smash hits, I’ve also included more niche tracks with a Eurobeat flavor.
For those interested in the evolution of electronic music, there are many must-hear tracks here, so please take your time and enjoy.
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[Back to the ’90s!] Western dance music that was a hit in the 1990s (81–90)
Back to Life (However Do You Want Me) [feat. Caron Wheeler]Soul II Soul
![Back to Life (However Do You Want Me) [feat. Caron Wheeler]Soul II Soul](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TB54dZkzZOY/sddefault.jpg)
The British music group Soul II Soul.
They’re a group that has released many tracks in the genre known in Japan as “ground beat.” Their song “Back to Life (However Do You Want Me) [feat.
Caron Wheeler]” is very famous, so many of you may already know it.
They also won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance.
If you’re interested, be sure to check it out!
Mind Playing Tricks on MeGeto Boys
Featured on the 1991 album “We Can’t Be Stopped,” this track became the Geto Boys’ highest-charting single.
The reason this rap—depicting various mental states—gained popularity in the ’90s may be that the anger, aggression, confrontation, self-assertion, and strong beats characteristic of hardcore hip-hop resonated with young people.
It’s easy to see why a song that boldly makes its statement over such an infectious sound still has support today.
Guide My SoulTodd Edwards Presents the Messenger
Nervous Records is a prestigious label in house music.
The house tracks released from this label are full of classics, and this song is surely one of them.
Todd Edwards is a master of the UK Garage sound—a uniquely British style of house music—and an originator who had a major impact on the scene.
Its soulful, urban, and faintly melancholic mood is the hallmark of UK Garage, a house subgenre that in modern times has broken into pop through artists like Disclosure.
How BizarreOMC
A quintessential dance music classic of the 1990s.
Created by New Zealand’s OMC, it’s a track known for its catchy rhythm and memorable lyrics.
Released in December 1995 as the lead single from the album “How Bizarre,” it became a worldwide hit.
The lyrics, written by OMC’s Pauly Fuemana, who grew up in South Auckland, vividly depict strange situations drawn from his own experiences.
Its unique sound, close to the pop-rap genre, really stands out.
This song captures the extraordinary within the everyday, expressing the surprise of unexpected events.
It’s perfect for listening to while driving, and an ideal pick for anyone seeking a sense of discovery or adventure.
Bodyrock (Fire)Moby
Moby is one of the artists who defined dance music in the 1990s.
Released in 1999, this track features a unique sound that fuses electronica and hip-hop.
It incorporates samples from classic rap while delivering an impressive up-tempo rhythm.
It became a big hit in the club scene, reaching No.
38 on the UK Singles Chart and No.
6 on the U.
S.
Dance Club chart.
It was also used as the theme song for the TV shows Veronica’s Closet and Hype.
It’s a perfect track for when you want to get moving or are looking for something energetic!
Sure ShotBeastie Boys
Originally a punk band, they crafted a hybrid style by sampling classic rock tracks.
As the first white group to score a hit in hip-hop history, they influenced the scene that followed.
This is a track by the New York–based hip-hop group Beastie Boys, included on their 1994 album Ill Communication.
[Back to the ’90s!] Western dance music hits from the 1990s (91–100)
Still Not a PlayerBig Pun feat. Joe
Rising to prominence in New York’s underground scene in the early 1990s, he scored a 90s hit with a track released as the second single from his debut album, Capital Punishment.
The song is also known for including “Brazil rhymes,” and its appeal as a hit likely lies in that distinctive rap sound.