Eurobeat

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Image:Super eurobeat 160.jpg

The music sub-genre Eurobeat is closely related to Hi-NRG and disco. It is also very closely related to the Japanese Para Para dance culture.

Eurobeat, as the name implies, is a music genre from Europe. Stemming from Italo Disco, it is generally held to have originated in Italy in the late '70s and early '80s. Despite being European in origin, its main market has always been Japan, where its synthetic and emotionally upbeat stylings are popular. Even though many Europeans and Americans have heard Eurodance, Eurobeat is still a largely unknown genre in Europe where other types of music are dominant.

In its early days, the general tempo for Eurobeat songs was paced at 120BPM. Beginning in the 1990s, a mix of Eurobeat and Happy Hardcore called "Super Eurobeat" became the mainstay of Para Para dance nightclub events in Tokyo and around Japan. Tempo increased to 150BPM or sometimes even higher (so-called "Hyper Techno" or "Tech-Para" in Para Para culture) In around 2002 this was mixed with '90s-style trance music and re-named "Cyber Trance".

Although highly popular in Japan, Eurobeat has become more and more popular in the Western world in the past few years. The anime Initial D by Shuichi Shigeno uses Eurobeat music regularly in its episodes during racing scenes between the characters, and because of this it has come to the attention of some anime fans outside Japan.

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The Eurobeat Genre

Eurobeat can create a number of different genres, while still keeping its own originality intact. In the late 1970s and early 1980s there were many new genres emerging from the creation of electronic music. Disco was the beginning of a whole new era in music, with popular artists such as George Clinton and Earth, Wind & Fire. However when disco music quickly became unpopular in North America, it remained in the limelight in Europe.

While modern music is often recognized by its lyrics, Eurobeat is recognized not only by its lyrics but by its Saiba, which is the main harmony created by a synthesizer. This broad genre can create a great number of different "sub-genres" within it because of this combination of harmony and rhythm. Sometimes it can still sound like the old disco music we know, sometimes it can be very "fast and happy" like Happy Hardcore or Speed Music, and occasionally it even uses guitars as a method of Saiba.

One peculiar thing about Eurobeat is the fact that each artist is often credited with a variety of different aliases (See "Popular Eurobeat Artists" below for details). Artists usually adopt different stage names according to the mood of each song, or depending on who wrote their lyrics. For instance, Ennio Zanini has stated on the SCP Music website that he goes by the name of "Fastway" on songs which are more upbeat and sprinkled with high-pitched female backing vocals, and goes by "Dusty" on his more "serious" tracks. Also a popular theory is that Eurobeat artists such as Clara Moroni and Giancarlo Pasquini manufacture the same acts under many different names in order to "compete with themselves". (Compare to legendary House producer Thomas Bangalter, who is infamous for the same practice).

Eurobeat also has notoriety for name recognition, lifting titles from popular songs and using them as the names of Eurobeat tracks. Examples are "Like a Virgin", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", and "Station to Station." The Eurobeat songs that reuse song titles typically have nothing to do with the song it lifted its title from (i.e., not a cover).

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Major Eurobeat Labels

A-Beat C SCP Productions Delta Corp. Time Records S.A.I.F.A.M. Group (Includes Boom Boom Beat, Asia Records, etc.) HI-Site LED (Includes Eurobeat Masters, Vibration, NRJ Mania, etc.) HI-NRG Attack Akyrmusic Hearty Music

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Popular Eurobeat Artists

  • Annerly Gordon (A Beat C) - Credited as: Lolita, Virginelle, Ann Lee, Go Go Girls (group), Elena Gobbi, Happy Hour (group), Roxanne, A Beat C All Stars (group), Marlene.
  • Alessandra Mirka Gatti (A Beat C) - Credited as: Domino, Juliet, Mirka, Go Go Girls (Group), A-Beat Sisters (Group), Dynamika, 9 4 sale, Groove Twins, Eskimo.
  • Barbara Maniscalch (A Beat C) - Credited as: Valentina, A-Beat Sisters (Group).
  • Christian Codenotti (SCP Music) - Credited as: Ace, GO2 (Duet with Fastway).
  • Clara Moroni (Time Records; Flea; S.A.I.F.A.M. Group; A-Beat C, Delta) - Credited as: Vicky Vale, Leslie Parrish, Linda Ross, Cherry, Denise, Donna, Vanessa, Virgin, Priscilla, Pretty Woman, Delta Queens (Group), Name (Group), Newfield Moroni & Sinclaire, Mad Max (BG Vocals), 7th Heaven (BG Vocals), Denise, Paul Harris (BG Vocals), Candy Taylor, Buddy Bo, Madison, Gipsy & Queen (Group), Lisa Johnson, Drama, Suzy Lazy, Leila, Doki Doki, The Girls (Group), Jenny Kee, Les Blue Bells, Virgin, Kate & Karen (Duet), Terry Gordon, Drama, Bonnie.
  • Cristiana Cucchi (Hi-NRG Attack) - Credited as: Bazooka Girl, Samanta Claus, Chris, Cristiana.
  • Davide Budriesi (Delta) - Credited as: David "Off", Kevin Johnson, Buddy Bo, Allen Cox, Phil Jones, Chester, Tiger Shark, .
  • Davide Di Marcantonio (Time Records; SCP Music; LED; Akyrmusic) - Credited as: Dave McLoud, Jimmy Bravo (The Second), Jackie 'O (The Third), Captain America (The Second), Dee Dee, J.Rush, David, Chemical Boy, Eurobeat Lovers, John Desire, Tiger Shark, David Kane.
  • Denise De Vincenzo (A Beat C) - Credited as: Nuage, King & Queen (Group), Go Go Girls (Group)
  • Elena Ferretti (Time Records; A Beat C) - Credited as: Sophie, Alexis, Margaret, Queen of Times, Karina, Helena, Victoria, Valentina, Love & Pride (Group), Eurosisters (Group), King & Queen (Group), A-Beat Sisters (Group), Jilly, Rose, Kate & Karen (Duet).
  • Ennio Zanini (SCP Music) - Credited as: Fastway, Dusty, Go 2 (Duet with Ace), Doctor Stranger, Tomas Lee.
  • Fabio Lione (A Beat-C) - Credited as: J. Storm.
  • Federico Rimonti (Flea; Time Records; S.A.I.F.A.M. Group; Hi-NRG Attack) - Credited as: Franz Tornado, Jeff Driller, Mad Cow.
  • Fernando Bonini (Time Records; Delta) - Credited As: Mako, Maio & Co., Dr. Love, Nando, Atrium, Tommy K, Mike Hammer, Tokyo Future, Toby Ash, Edo Boys, Elvis, Stop Limit Line.
  • Francesca Contini (A Beat C) - Credited as: Norma Sheffield, A-Beat Sisters (Group), King & Queen (Group), Sonya, Sharon K.
  • Giacomo Caria (A Beat C) - Credited as: Giacomo Caria, Neo, G.Caria, Chris T..
  • Giancarlo Pasquini (Flea; Time Records; A Beat C) - Credited as: Dave Rodgers, Lucky Boy, Danny Wilde, Derreck Simons, Dr. Money, Robert Stone (the second), Chester, Patrick Hooley (the second), The Big Brother, Mario Ross (the second), Red Skins, RCS, Thomas & Schulbert, Aleph, RCS, Happy Hour, The Spiders from Mars, Romeo.
  • Gianni Coraini (Flea; Time; A Beat C; HI-NRG Attack; S.A.I.F.A.M. Group; LED) - Credited as: DJ NRG, KL Jones, Alvin, Jeff Driller (The First), Franz Tornado (The First), Danny Keith, Captain America (The First), Otello, Maxx Ducati, Jackie 'O (The Second).
  • Gino Caria (Time; A Beat C; LED) - Credited as: Gino Caria, Frank Torpedo (The First), Frankie Beat, Edo, Mike Skanner, Body Power, Jackie 'O (The First), Jimmy Bravo (The First), Geena.
  • Giordano Gambogi (Time Records) - Credited as: Kasanova, Mr.M, Bad Gang.
  • Greta Accatino (Hi-NRG Attack) - Credited as: Baby Bazooka.
  • Karen J. Wainwright (A Beat C) - Credited as: Karen, Kelly Wright, Wain L, A Beat Sisters (Group), A Beat Friends (Group), Jaz, Veronica Sales, Happy Hour (group)
  • Luca Torchiani (Delta; SCP Music; Akyrmusic) - Credited as: Paul Harris, Eurofunk (The Second), Van T.K., Lukator.
  • Matteo Setti (A Beat C) - Credited as: Matt Land.
  • Maurizio De Jorio (Delta; A Beat C) - Credited as: Niko, D. Essex, David Essex, Oda, Morris, Max Coveri (The Second), 7th Heaven, Cody, Tokyo Future (Group), Kevin Johnson.
  • Mauro Farina (Flea; Time Records; S.A.I.F.A.M. Group) - Credited as: Mark Farina, Max Casanova, Bombers, F.C.F., Mister Black, Ricky Davies, Oscar, Max Coveri (The First), King Kong and D Jungle Girls.
  • Roberto Tiranti (A Beat C) - Credited as: Powerful T., De La Vega, A-Beat Boys (Group).
  • Salvatore Brandoni (?) - Credited as: Spock, Digital Planet.
  • Susanna Del Gasso (A Beat C) - Credited as: Susan Bell, Monique, Donna Lee.
  • Tomas Marin (A Beat C) - Credited as: Mega NRG Man, Derreck Simons (The Second), Mr. Groove, DJ Zorro, Ricky M., Manuel, A Beat C All Stars (group).
  • Valeo Simone (Time Records) - Credited as: Dave Simon, Symbol, Lou Grant, Mike J, Big Town Guy, Sym 1, Time All Stars (group), Stylophones (group).
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Eurobeat Compilations

  • Aerobeat Eurobeat
  • Digibeat Presents EURO
  • Euro Panic!
  • Eurobeat Disney
  • Eurobeat Flash
  • Super Euro Christmas (Christmas song eurobeat-covers etc.)
  • Gazen ParaPara!!
  • Maharaja Night (House and Eurobeat compilations)
  • Maharaja Night Hi-Nrg Revolution
  • That's Eurobeat
  • That's Eurobeat Now
  • The Early Days of Eurobeat
  • Tokio Hot Nights
  • Super Eurobeat (often shortened to SEB)
  • Super Eurobeat presents (amongst others...)
    • JGTC/Super GT Special (A album compilation with a JGTC/Super GT theme. Tracks often have engine sounds added etc.)
    • Ayu-Ro Mix (Eurobeat-remix albums of Ayumi Hamasaki's songs)
    • Euromach (A popular energetic eurobeat album series from late 1999)
    • Euro Every Little Thing (Remixes of Every Little Thing's songs)
    • Various J-Euro albums
  • The Best Of Super Eurobeat
  • LovePara2
  • VIP Mega Euro Star
  • Dancemania Happy Paradise

And many more

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Eurobeat Labels

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External links

ja:ユーロビート sv:Eurobeat zh:歐陸舞曲

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