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Dance Music Network

1994

A lot of people, especially the millennials, praise 90s music. While I was growing as a musician and as an aspiring record producer in the 90s, I wasn’t accumulating a lot of new favorite bands, guitarists, singers or new songs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1991

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_number-one_R%26B_singles_of_1994_(U.S.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_number-one_dance_singles_of_1994

According to Billboard, soul music becomes black music in the early 80s and not long after that it becomes R&B and hip hop combined. Earlier I mentioned how the roots of 70’s black music had been removed by the mid 80s. Combining the prestigious long lived R&B genre with the brand new hip hop/rap genre, whether the comparison was in theory or aesthetically, was a mistake in my opinion, as both genres would inevitably be gentrified and go away almost altogether.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hot_Soul_Singles_number_ones_of_1975

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Black_Singles_number_ones_of_1982

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hot_R%26B_Singles_number_ones_of_1990

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hot_R%26B/Hip-Hop_Singles_%26_Tracks_number_ones_of_2000

By 1994, I found myself growing increasingly apathetic towards hip hop/rap but I did like some so-called R&B, including the vibrant New Jack Swing genre. My once beloved pop music genre began to feel overly manufactured and, as a result, considerably less interesting.

This year wasn’t black against white, it was dancers against the non-dancers.

In 1994 fewer artists had #1 records on the R&B charts as the songs stayed on top for weeks or months at a time. Compare 1994 to 1989, I can’t believe both came from Billboard.

So let’s officially make 1994 the year that my taste leaned very heavily towards House and Garage (sped up House).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_garage

I wasn’t in the clubs, I wasn’t going to raves but I was enjoying the house/garage scene through my headphones. 1994 is around the time I become curious about BPM as a fan and as a producer. My taste peaked around 130BPM and 121BPM was my go-to in the studio.

April 24, 2025
1993

I was pumped when I saw MAW on the dance charts. My enthusiasm quickly diminished. I find it exceedingly challenging to select three favorites from the music charts of 1993. I don’t remember many of the songs/records and I don’t remember loving too many on the list either.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_number-one_dance_singles_of_1993

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1993

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_number-one_R%26B_singles_of_1993_(U.S.)

https://rocklists.com/kroq-1993.html

Undoubtedly, many impeccable records were produced and worshiped in the dance clubs, yet they didn’t make the Billboard charts. From now on (90s-2000s) I’ll discover remarkable dance tracks care of aka Rex mixtapes. In 1993, I’m listening to KNHC exclusively going forward.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_You_Want_Me_(Felix_song)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Walk_Away_(Jade_song)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Got_a_Man

April 23, 2025
1992/Last Good Year for New Music?

I’m on the record saying, I don’t like hip hop or rap produced after 1992, C. Delores Tucker. More accurately, the change in hip hop and rap I witnessed in 1992 turned me off. Its trend for gratuitous sex and violence persists to this day.

According the Billboard charts in 1992, this may have also been around the time I stopped buying new music. When Tower Records went out of business in 2006, I was only buying records (often used) produced in the 80s.

In 1992, the music industry became a monopoly with Sony consuming the medium and more free thinking labels. Unsigned, independent and even underground, were words used to describe many of my peers who were desirous of a record deal but not planning on going through the system.

April 20, 2025
1992

This was a tough year to select three favorites using the criteria we stated earlier. Is this a fluke or are we on a roll downhill? To be determined.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1992

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_number-one_dance_singles_of_1992

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_You_All_My_Lifetime

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lovin%27_(You%27re_Never_Gonna_Get_It)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justified_%26_Ancient

April 20, 2025
The 90s/Deja Vu

I have previously created a musical memory timeline, where I articulated my favorite songs and the most remarkable tracks spanning from the 1970s to the 2000s. As I reflect upon the 1990s, I find myself experiencing a wave of sentimentality, largely due to the amount of life-altering experiences and pivotal moments that I encountered during that era.

Spoiler alert: The decade that has left the most important, indelible mark on my musical journey is undoubtedly the 1980s. I could easily dedicate months or even years posting and reflecting on the music from that impressive decade. Conversely, I have no strong attachment to anything that emerged post-2000. By 2010, I had largely disengaged from the majority of so-called popular music genres. This disconnection affected my development and sense of purpose as a musician, songwriter, and record producer.

I was particularly enamored with dance music—commonly referred to as club music—during the 1990s. Although I did not frequent clubs extensively, the sonic landscape of that time profoundly influenced my approach to arranging original music.

In 1992, my family underwent a significant transformation. I experienced a spiritual transformation as well, becoming a born-again Christian and adopting the moniker Boom!Slang to symbolize my baptism. It was during this decade that I began to mature, observing my friends aspiring to various professions, including careers in music.

April 18, 2025
1991

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_number-one_dance_singles_of_1991

According to the charts, 1991 was a very good year for dance music. Dance clubs, deejays and European producers are retaining my attention in the early 90’s. Hip hop is still bouncy. Prince is still climbing his way to inevitable genius iconic status. Most 80’s pop stars are still quite popular and successful in 1991. Grunge is rearing its pretty little head in 1991. Everything will be different by the end of the decade.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_of_Love_(Deee-Lite_song)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_a.m._Eternal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Move_Any_Mountain

April 18, 2025
1990

In 1990, I am beginning to leave alternative rock alone. I may have left the scene prematurely considering I was in Seattle when Grunge kicked off. Grunge being a revolution that lasted less than a decade. In 1990, I am starting to appreciate so-called black music again. This list did not include what most people would call R&B or Neo-Soul later but did include dance music. If the track was bouncy and up tempo, it caught my ear. Even hip hop was bouncy at the start of the 1990’s. At the end of the decade, hip hop dominated the charts world wide, but the production, lyrics and themes changed so much.

Throughout the 90’s I will select three records/videos I loved from said year(s).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_number-one_dance_singles_of_1990

https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-best-house-tracks-of-the-90s

https://www.whosampled.com/sample/64954/Doug-Lazy-Let-the-Rhythm-Pump-Funkadelic-One-Nation-Under-a-Groove

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everybody_Everybody

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masters_at_Work

April 14, 2025
The 90s

As we transition into the 90’s, I will begin searching for other music charts to refresh my memories of house music, the hi-energy and DJ culture which influenced me that decade. I predict most of the songs I post from the 90’s, missed the Billboard charts. To be determined.

A lot of the popular music from the 90’s was pretentiously produced and marketed for sales. Leading to the following decades (2000’s and beyond) music industry becoming unrecognizable. Many music experts say today’s music just doesn’t compare. Maybe the 90’s was the best and the beginning of the worst pop music in modern history. To be determined.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990s_in_music

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spice_Girls

April 9, 2025
1989

We are nearing the conclusion of the breathtaking, inspirational, and altruistic 1980s. Reflecting on the music charts of 1989, I’m not super impressed however, there are some remarkable developments are unfolding. All genres, in their authentic and talented manifestations, dominate the charts and airwaves. Pop reigns supreme, while the R&B charts are ablaze, poised to usher in the fabulous 1990s R&B era. My alternative rock station, KJET, is no longer broadcasting, and even though I am in college, I am becoming somewhat out of touch with the college radio and the alternative rock scene. I am preparing to abandon it soon in favor of underground dance music aka club music. I am tuning into C.89.5 in my car.

Surprisingly, I bid farewell to the 80s with three songs from the soul charts in 1989. Goodbye 80’s, I love you a lot. Thank God for music.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hot_Black_Singles_number_ones_of_1989

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Something_in_the_Way_(You_Make_Me_Feel)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_No_Crime

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_to_Life_(However_Do_You_Want_Me)

April 9, 2025
3 Women

The impact of women in music throughout the 80’s should be obvious with our girl Madonna dominating the charts going head to head with the biggest pop stars of all time including Prince and Michael Jackson. I could dedicate a top 10 list to my favorite female recording artists/songs from the 80s. Instead the three below represent my role models. The all-female band, alternative, record producer. That’s on my resume.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Belle_Stars

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoko_Ono

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Bush

April 8, 2025