Eurodance Extravaganza: "Rhythm Is A Dancer," "Mr. Vain," and "Be My Lover"

Eurodance was one of those genres that came out of nowhere in the early 1990s.  The songs were interchangeable – they all had a similar, repetitive beat, easy-to-follow lyrics, and a R&B-style female vocalist. 

Exhibit A: "Rhythm Is A Dancer," Snap!

What made Eurodance so unusual was that its "stars" had no name recognition.  In fact, it wasn't even clear if the people in video were the singers and producers of the song.  Think of it this way:  17 million people have viewed Eurodance favorite "Mr. Vain" on YouTube, but how many of them could name the actual singer?  Probably very few.  (For those interested: it's Tania Evans.)    

Success came quickly to many Eurodance acts but often did not last very long.  One of the few exceptions was La Bouche.  Singer Melanie Thorton’s voice powered through hits like “Be My Lover” and “Sweet Dreams” – helping listeners forget about the often awkward lyrics. (Remember “loving you, not like your brother, awww yeah, wanna be your lover?”  Probably best not to.)

While Eurodance eventually decreased in popularity, the genre would set the stage for groups like Ace of Base, Aqua, and The Spice Girls to invade the radio airwaves in the mid to late 1990.  As more people become nostalgic for 90s music, Eurodance has become popular once again in clubs, turning the genre's biggest hits into unlikely modern classics.  


Want more Eurodance?  Check out our throwback on Ace of Base's "All That She Wants."