iheartHazey's 90s EURODANCE PARTY: Wanna go for a rate? - THE END

Speaking of getting started, when did your passion for this music start poptarts? For me it started pretty late because we all know I was into nu-metal during my teens/college years and then I discovered eurodance through Cascada since "Everytime We Touch" was on the radio everywhere. I heard that and decided I needed everything that sounded like it. Eventually I started adding groups like Real McCoy and Culture Beat to my library and discovering other 90s acts. Later on, I joined the bubblegumdancer.com forums and learned about a specific brand of eurodance called bubblegum dance which was pioneered by Aqua and Toy-Box. Years of being introduced to new eurodance artists seemingly every day on that site and here I am today. However, I know your history with eurodance came much sooner, can you remind me exactly what sparked your obsession with it?​

I grew up with Eurodance. In Canada it was a thing. When I discovered the radio, there were no less than three dance stations for me to get my life to. (And one of them actually still kind of exists and does a lot of throwbacks and I live.) Dance Mix 95 (look it up, it's amazing, ask @LPMA) was the album to have. Aquarium was Millennium levels of massive. (This is why we're getting our own Aqua tour. My life will finally be complete.) I did my fourth grade gymnastics routine to 'Saturday Night' by Whigfield. (And got very good marks on it, just saying.) Emjay was technically the first popstar I saw live, because she opened for the Backstreet Boys at my first real pop concert. I always wanted to be like the people on Electric Circus (this 90s show where everyone went clubbing in the MuchMusic building), but I couldn't, because I was like 10. (And if I get my hands on a time machine someday, I promise you, Hazey, we're going on a 90s Euro trip.) So that was my life. And now we're going to rate it. Tell us a little about what we're rating?​

Okay, well it's as easy as saying Eurodance in the 90s but maybe it's not that simple. We've had calls for acts doing similar styles of music that aren't quite 'Eurodance', so I should probably explain it more. One common misconception is that Eurodance strictly means its European but that's not the case at all. In fact, the music can originate from anywhere, but it began in Germany in the late 80s so that's how it got its name. The characteristics of the music are the presence of synthesizer riffs, strong beats usually in the form of kick drums, rich melodic vocals (melody-driven music is a huge factor), often times a rapping vocalist, simple lyrics and choruses, positive upbeat lyrics about love (an idealistic approach to the subject), as well as partying and good times. Bands like Real McCoy and Culture Beat really took Eurodance to the mainstream after acts like Snap! and 2 Unlimited sparked the movement. The biggest off-shoot of Eurodance was a subgenre called "bubblegum dance" which took the uber-positive messages to another level by skewing things to a child-like level while at the same time turning up the sexual innuendo. Denmark as well as other parts of Scandinavia was the birthplace of this sound, pioneered by Aqua and later other artists such as Toy-Box, Bambee, Smile.DK, and many others. You'll find that each region will have a distinct sound and carry their own flag, representing what Eurodance means to them. This will keeps things fresh and interesting when you listen to the song list. We've also made sure we brought some of our underground and/or underappreciated favorites to the table. What are some of your personal additions to the rate, poptarts?​

Well, Hazey, I didn't need to add a lot to the rate, because the initial song list you came up with was so perfect. (*blush*) But I had to have my Ultimate PJ fave Whigfield and iconic BSB collaborators Fun Factory, and I'm pretty sure I insisted on a third Real McCoy song at some point! How about you?​

Me? Well let's just say I had you worried we'd end up with a 100 song list, so I did my best to limit things to 75. I think I was on the fence about adding Caramell to the list over Tiggy or Miss Papaya but since Eurodance is mainly a English-sung genre I decided against the Swedes even though they did much better in PJOPS than Tiggy did when I entered her (but I can't say I'll be able to leave "Caramelldansen" out in the 00s rendition so look forward to that because its a life-changer). Yes, most of the Bubblegum Dance classics are represented well here, I think my old bubblegumdancer forum buddies would be proud. As for pure Eurodance, E-Type, Capital Sound, Emjay, Solid Base, Reset, DJ Bobo, and T-Spoon were my ideas so you guys can blame me if they aren't to your liking, but unlike some of my fun yet random picks in the flop girl groups rate and teen-pop rate I think these are going to go over like "how come I never listened to them before?" or "where have you been all my life?" so I'm excited. Should we let everyone introduce their personal favorites during the rate too?​

Sure! If anyone out there has faves that didn't make the cut, feel free to PM us those too (with commentary, if you like) and we'll be happy to spotlight them along the way!​

Excellent! Now let's get down to business because the Vengabus is comin'!​

SONG LIST

Netherlands/Belgium (12)

2 Unlimited - Get Ready For This
2 Unlimited - No Limit
Alice Deejay - Better Off Alone
Alice Deejay - Back In My Life
Paradisio - Bailando
T-Spoon - A Part of My Life
T-Spoon - Sex On The Beach
Technotronic - Move This
Twenty 4 Seven - Slave to the Music
Vengaboys - We Like To Party
Vengaboys - Boom Boom Boom Boom
Vengaboys - We're Going to Ibiza

Italy (12)

Alex Party - Don’t Give Me Your Life
Ann Lee - 2 Times
Black Box - Strike It Up
Cappella - U Got 2 Let the Music
Cappella - Move On Baby
Corona - Rhythm Of The Night
Corona - Baby Baby
Eiffel 65 - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
Eiffel 65 - Move Your Body
Gala - Freed From Desire
Whigfield - Saturday Night
Whigfield - Think Of You

Germany/Switzerland (20)

Amber - This Is Your Night
Amber - Sexual (Li Da Di)
Captain Hollywood Project - More and More
Culture Beat - Mr. Vain
Culture Beat - Got To Get It
Culture Beat - Anything
DJ Bobo - Let The Dream Come True
Fun Factory - Close To You
Fun Factory - I Wanna B With U
Haddaway - What Is Love
Haddaway - Life
La Bouche - Sweet Dreams
La Bouche - Be My Lover
Le Click - Tonight Is The Night
Maxx - Get-A-Way
Mr. President - Coco Jamboo
Real McCoy - Another Night
Real McCoy - One More Time
Real McCoy - Run Away
Snap! - Rhythm Is A Dancer

UK/Canada (9)

Berri - Sunshine After the Rain
Capital Sound - Higher Love
Capital Sound - Your Love Is My Energy
Emjay - Sound of My Heartbeat
Emjay - In Your Arms
Gina G - Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit
Koko - Open Your Eyes
Livin' Joy - Dreamer
Livin’ Joy - Don't Stop Movin'

Denmark (11)

Aqua - Barbie Girl
Aqua - Doctor Jones
Aqua - Lollipop (Candyman)
Crispy - Licky Licky
Daze - Superhero
Hit 'n' Hide - Space Invaders
Me & My - Dub-I-Dub
Miss Papaya - Hero
Tiggy - Ring-a-Ling
Toy-Box - Best Friend
Toy-Box - The Sailor Song

Sweden/Norway (11)

Bambee - Typical Tropical
Dr. Alban - It’s My Life
E-Type - This Is The Way
E-Type - Angels Crying
Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe
Reset - Blue
Reset - Calling You
Smile.dk - Boys
Smile.dk - Butterfly
Solid Base - Come'n Get Me
Solid Base - Come On Everybody

Spoiler: PM-able List

Netherlands/Belgium

2 Unlimited - Get Ready For This
2 Unlimited - No Limit
Alice Deejay - Better Off Alone
Alice Deejay - Back In My Life
Paradisio - Bailando
T-Spoon - A Part of My Life
T-Spoon - Sex On The Beach
Technotronic - Move This
Twenty 4 Seven - Slave to the Music
Vengaboys - We Like To Party
Vengaboys - Boom Boom Boom Boom
Vengaboys - We're Going to Ibiza

Italy

Alex Party - Don’t Give Me Your Life
Ann Lee - 2 Times
Black Box - Strike It Up
Cappella - U Got 2 Let the Music
Cappella - Move On Baby
Corona - Rhythm Of The Night
Corona - Baby Baby
Eiffel 65 - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
Eiffel 65 - Move Your Body
Gala - Freed From Desire
Whigfield - Saturday Night
Whigfield - Think Of You

Germany/Switzerland

Amber - This Is Your Night
Amber - Sexual (Li Da Di)
Captain Hollywood Project - More and More
Culture Beat - Mr. Vain
Culture Beat - Got To Get It
Culture Beat - Anything
DJ Bobo - Let The Dream Come True
Fun Factory - Close To You
Fun Factory - I Wanna B With U
Haddaway - What Is Love
Haddaway - Life
La Bouche - Sweet Dreams
La Bouche - Be My Lover
Le Click - Tonight Is The Night
Maxx - Get-A-Way
Mr. President - Coco Jamboo
Real McCoy - Another Night
Real McCoy - One More Time
Real McCoy - Run Away
Snap! - Rhythm Is A Dancer

UK/Canada

Berri - Sunshine After the Rain
Capital Sound - Higher Love
Capital Sound - Your Love Is My Energy
Emjay - Sound of My Heartbeat
Emjay - In Your Arms
Gina G - Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit
Koko - Open Your Eyes
Livin' Joy - Dreamer
Livin’ Joy - Don't Stop Movin'

Denmark

Aqua - Barbie Girl
Aqua - Doctor Jones
Aqua - Lollipop (Candyman)
Crispy - Licky Licky
Daze - Superhero
Hit 'n' Hide - Space Invaders
Me & My - Dub-I-Dub
Miss Papaya - Hero
Tiggy - Ring-a-Ling
Toy-Box - Best Friend
Toy-Box - The Sailor Song

Sweden/Norway

Bambee - Typical Tropical
Dr. Alban - It’s My Life
E-Type - This Is The Way
E-Type - Angels Crying
Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe
Reset - Blue
Reset - Calling You
Smile.dk - Boys
Smile.dk - Butterfly
Solid Base - Come'n Get Me
Solid Base - Come On Everybody

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

Missing:

Berri - Sunshine After the Rain
Capital Sound - Higher Love
Capital Sound - Your Love Is My Energy
Emjay - Sound of My Heartbeat
Emjay - In Your Arms
Koko - Open Your Eyes
Miss Papaya - Hero
E-Type - This Is the Way
E-Type - Angels Crying
Reset - Calling You
Smile.dk - Boys
Smile.dk - Butterfly

DA RULES

• We don't think we'd be better off alone, so please make sure you send your ballots to BOTH @iheartpoptarts and @DJHazey.

• Don't make us feel like saying I'm blue da-ba-dee da-ba-daa by sending a troll ballot that we'd have to toss out. Just have fun and don't favor just one or two artists with your scores.

• While you're dancing free until the morning light, know that you must give all songs a score between 0 and 10, just limit the decimals to .1 or .25 (.1, .2, .25, .3, etc.)

• What is love, you may ask, well it's the kind of love you give to just one song, the one you give your 11 to.

• There's no no, no no no no, no no no no, no no there's no limit to the amount of commentary you send in. The more the merrier!

• It's your life, so vote for whatever versions/remixes you love best!

• So if we all come together because we know what to do, then things will go without a hiccup.

DEADLINE

TUESDAY JULY 24TH
11:59 PM EDT

Happy rating! Love y'all!

 

Voting Factions:

(what region got your highest average)



@berserkboi
@GhettoPrincess
@OspreyQueen
@2014
@geomixes
@A$AP Robbie
@phily693
@Remorque
@Conan



@roborovsky
@dancingwithmyself
@CasuallyCrazed
@sfmartin
@soratami
@Ray
@ThisIsRogue
@Sprockrooster



@WowWowWowWow
@P Grandson
@idratherjack
@LPMA
@Seventeen Days
@ohnoitisnathan

 

Voting Factions:

(what region got your highest average)



@Hudweiser
@Empty Shoebox
@Eric



@iheartpoptarts
@DJHazey
@Daniel_O
@31entrance
@One Stop Candy Shop
@Aester
@Untouchable Ace
@Cutlery



@Ana Raquel
@rav4boy

 

NETHERLANDS AND BELGIUM


Average: 7.385

#4. Vengaboys - Boom Boom Boom Boom - 9.050
#7. Alice Deejay - Better Off Alone - 8.833
#12. Vengaboys - We Like To Party - 8.408
#16. 2 Unlimited - No Limit - 8.200
#24. Alice Deejay - Back In My Life - 7.522
#31. 2 Unlimited - Get Ready For This - 7.325
#38. Paradisio - Bailando - 7.108
#44. Vengaboys - We're Going To Ibiza - 7.011
#56. T-Spoon - Sex On The Beach - 6.461
#63. Twenty 4 Seven - Slave to the Music - 6.292
#65. T-Spoon - A Part Of My Life - 6.231
#67. Technotronic - Move This - 6.178


ITALY


Average: 7.491

#3. Corona - Rhythm Of The Night - 9.054
#13. Corona - Baby Baby - 8.349
#19. Whigfield - Saturday Night - 7.740
#20. Gala - Freed From Desire - 7.597
#25. Eiffel 65 - Blue (Da Ba Dee) - 7.517
#28. Black Box - Strike It Up - 7.447
#32. Cappella - U Got 2 Let The Music - 7.318
#35. Alex Party - Don't Give Me Your Life - 7.161
#37. Ann Lee - 2 Times - 7.121
#39. Whigfield - Think Of You - 7.100
#43. Cappella - Move On Baby - 7.042
#58. Eiffel 65 - Move Your Body - 6.450


GERMANY AND SWITZERLAND


Average: 7.562

#1. Culture Beat - Mr. Vain - 9.142
#5. Snap! - Rhythm Is A Dancer - 9.036
#6. Haddaway - What Is Love - 8.989
#8. La Bouche - Be My Lover - 8.700
#11. Real McCoy - Another Night - 8.492
#15. Amber - This Is Your Night - 8.258
#18. Haddaway - Life - 7.800
#21. La Bouche - Sweet Dreams - 7.592
#22. Amber - Sexual (Li Da Di) - 7.583
#23. Real McCoy - Run Away - 7.524
#33. Mr. President - Coco Jamboo - 7.272
#36. Culture Beat - Anything - 7.136
#40. Culture Beat - Got To Get It - 7.094
#41. Real McCoy - One More Time - 7.086
#45. Captain Hollywood Project - More And More - 6.929
#46. Fun Factory - Close To You - 6.825
#51. Le Click - Tonight Is the Night - 6.617
#57. DJ Bobo - Let The Dream Come True - 6.458
#59. Fun Factory - I Wanna B With U - 6.432
#64. Maxx - Get-A-Way - 6.236​

 

UNITED KINGDOM AND CANADA


Average: 7.165

#2. Gina G - Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit - 9.057
#14. Livin' Joy - Dreamer - 8.311
#17. Livin' Joy - Don't Stop Movin' - 8.150
#26. Berri - Sunshine After The Rain - 7.500
#49. Koko - Open Your Eyes - 6.808
#55. Emjay - In Your Arms - 6.486
#61. Emjay - Sound Of My Heartbeat - 6.397
#68. Capital Sound - Your Love Is My Energy - 6.119
#72. Capital Sound - Higher Love - 5.658



DENMARK


Average: 6.861

#9. Aqua - Doctor Jones - 8.682
#10. Aqua - Barbie Girl - 8.665
#29. Daze - Superhero - 7.428
#30. Aqua - Lollipop (Candyman) - 7.342
#42. Me & My - Dub-I-Dub - 7.053
#48. Toy-Box - The Sailor Song - 6.817
#54. Hit 'n' Hide - Space Invaders 6.497
#69. Toy-Box - Best Friend - 6.118
#70. Crispy - Licky Licky - 6.108
#73. Miss Papaya - Hero - 5.478
#75. Tiggy - Ring-a-Ling - 5.289


SWEDEN AND NORWAY


Average: 6.506

#27. Dr. Alban - It's My Life - 7.479
#34. Reset - Blue - 7.186
#47. E-Type - This Is The Way - 6.819
#50. E-Type - Angels Crying - 6.728
#52. Solid Base - Come'n Get Me - 6.547
#53. Reset - Calling You - 6.522
#60. Smile.dk - Butterfly - 6.400
#62. Bambee - Typical Tropical - 6.303
#66. Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe - 6.228
#71. Smile.dk - Boys - 5.878
#74. Solid Base - Come On Everybody - 5.472


Artist Ranking

Spoiler

Snap! - 9.036
Corona - 8.701
Haddaway - 8.394
Livin' Joy - 8.231
Aqua - 8.230
Alice Deejay - 8.178
Vengaboys - 8.156
La Bouche - 8.146
Amber 7.921
Culture Beat - 7.791
2 Unlimited - 7.763
Gala - 7.597
Berri - 7.500
Dr. Alban - 7.479
Black Box - 7.447
Daze - 7.428
Whigfield - 7.420
Mr. President - 7.272
Cappella - 7.180
Alex Party - 7.161
Ann Lee - 7.121
Paradisio - 7.108
Me & My - 7.053
Eiffel 65 - 6.983
Captain Hollywood Project - 6.929
Reset - 6.854
Koko - 6.808
E-Type - 6.774
Fun Factory - 6.628
Le Click - 6.617
Hit 'n' Hide - 6.497
Toy-Box - 6.467
DJ Bobo - 6.458
Emjay - 6.442
T-Spoon - 6.346
Bambee - 6.303
Twenty 4 Seven - 6.292
Maxx - 6.236
Technotronic - 6.228
Smile.dk - 6.139
Crispy - 6.108
Solid Base - 6.010
Capital Sound - 5.889
Miss Papaya - 5.478
Tiggy - 5.289

 

Not sure if I'm going to be able to participate in this one but I'm following that Spotify playlist because it is ICONIC.

 

Aw, I hope you find the time, I'd love to have you participate. I enjoyed your input in the teen-pop rate and previously in the Hilary rate.

 

I'll try to participate, but as I'm not super into this kind of music in general, my averages might be a bit on the low side. I do see a few bops in the list though. At first glance I'm definitely Team Italy.

 

All kind of votes are welcome. Just give everything a fair shake. I'm not going to be aggressive about people's scores like I might have regrettably been in the Disney rate. This rate is all about everyone having a good time and remembering their favorite eurodance bops.

I'm certain you'll find a few new bops as well.

 

​

 

I’m already learning stuff!!! It pains me that the only Fun Factory we have on Spotify USA are awful re-recordings...

 

My scores are in



jk jk but also probably not that unlikely

 

Ooh, I didn't even get a chance to hear the Spotify versions for the most part (because most songs are already in my mp3 library) but that probably means the Fun factory songs I have in the playlist aren't correct.

 

Indeed, unfortunately they’re not the same as the versions in the videos. Close, but not quite.

The “real” versions also ended up on this compilation, although not available for us maybe they show up for the rest of the planet?

 

I grew up with this version and I wanna post it.

That reminds me... feel free to vote based on whatever alternate versions and remixes you love best, guys!

 

Yas. So glad it is happening!

 

*squeals*
I will DEFINITELY be a part of this glorious rate!

 

Yas welcome aboard the Vengabus. Love the username too!

 

Eurodance is my passion so count me in guys! Ugh so many childhood tunes are here..

Shame E-rotic is not part of this rate, they are the epitome of guilty pleasure emphasis on pleasure!

 

What? No Sash!?