How has dance music changed since the early '90s?

[fullhousefan]

is there a difference? i can't tell much of one.

[raindownlove]

Are you serious ... in early 90's everything sounded like Vogue

[daniel9]

heh!

[musicfan20]

Dance music has changed A LOT since the early '90s.

[sunpeach]

Unfortunately, very little or not at all- there have been no innovations in the genre. The remixes today sound just like the ones from the early 90's. it's the same damn backing that's been around forever- no one even attempts to try something new.

[Ace of Clubs]

Sunscreem, I think it rather obvious that you haven't been listening to dance music very long. True, there are songs from the early 90's that would probably sound just as "now" if they came out today (maybe "Pump Up The Jam" by Technotronic), but that is true of many genres. However, when you think of what the sound of the time was, there have been several distinct changes since then. The early 90's had some leftover breakbeat sounds from the 80's, along with that Stock Aitken Waterman sound, which was very noticeable because it only had a true beat on every other beat. Also, the early 90's were heavily influenced by Clivilles and Cole. "Everybody Dance Now" is a great song for the ages, but let's face it, it sounds nothing like today's dance music.

The mid-90's were Eurodance dominated. Real McCoy, LaBouche and Haddaway had the dominant sounds. You couldn't escape the Berman Brothers sound ("Another Night," "This is Your Night").

Into the late 90's and one song changed the landscape of dance music: "Believe" by Cher. Suddenly, that Metro sound was everywhere. One would be remiss to comment that the sounds of Thunderpuss dominated dance music during this time as well. In a way, their sound still resonates today, but with subtle changes due to other influences over the coming years, most noteably Trance and later Electro, which ironically is bringing the dance sound back to the 80's in many ways.

Today's sound is fairly generic, it's true. I don't really know what you would call it, but Electro is clearly a heavy influence. Circuit remains solid in many circles. We're also seeing many hip hop and pop groups returning a bit to dancier flavors. Thank God for Rihanna and the Black Eyed Peas.