One Lucky Soul: The Evolution of Dance Music Through 20 Years

The Evolution of Dance Music Through 20 Years [Videos] by Omar Cherif, One Lucky Soul

More than 15 years before falling in love with drum circles, I used to go out clubbing and dancing like many young people. Whether it was Fabric and Ministry of Sound in London, illegal raves in L.A, the 50,000-people/25-DJs Inner City in Amsterdam, or in Egypt, I sure loved to party. And in that regard, music was and still is everything.

Like other art forms, music alters our consciousness. For those who appreciate it, listening — and dancing — to music does take you places. Language, in contrast, is limited by words, grammar, sentence structures, as well as ideas and concepts; music isn’t. It’s more free, even more chaotic. In fact, music is one of the few activities that involves using the entire brain, and that is why it can also be therapeutic.

I gathered here a collection of those “classic” dance tunes, which will probably stay with me forever. The vocals in some of them have once tickled my core, and every time I re-listen I'm tickled all over again while being flooded by an intoxicating frozen-in-time mix of memories, sensations, and pure ecstasy. Others, it’s about the catchy beat that seems to be engraved on my nervous system. All, however, turn me on while reminding me of great times, trips, and certainly few people.

The fun part is, one is not alone. I couldn’t help but read some of the YouTube comments on the videos, which are full of oldskool people reminiscing about their youth and hey-daze. If you happened to party and/or dance in the 90s and early/mid 2000s, or simply go out, you’ll likely recognise some of the following beats. If not, well, you’re welcome for the introduction.

Note that most if not all of them are originals. Meaning, there are many other versions and DJ mixes that followed and are still following.

Interestingly, years later this entrancing music still inspires my drumming — even if subconsciously — as I was told by quite a few people.

More thorough research about music followed later. As in How Drumming Changed The Way My Brain Processes Music (2015), The Intertwining of Music and Sexuality ― A Djembefola’s Tale (2017), and Drum Circle Etiquette — The Do’s and Don’ts (2017).

There is also the photo-article A Wacky Day Out at LA Burning Man Decompression in Photos & Video. In addition, links to similar musical compilations here on One Lucky Soul can be found below at the very end.

Now here are the gems starting from 1989 till 2010. Enjoint and Dance On & On.

1989

Lil Louis ― French Kiss

1990

Technotronic ― Pump Up The Jam

SNAP! ― I’ve Got The Power

M.C. Hammer ― U Can’t Touch This

Vanilla Ice ― Ice Ice Baby
I still know 89% of the lyrics

Deee-Lite ― Groove Is In The Heart

1991

C+C Music Factory ― Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...

The KLF ― 3AM Eternal

1992

SNAP! ― Rhythm Is A Dancer

Ace of Base ― All That She Wants

House of Pain ― Jump Around

1993

US3 ― Cantaloop

Corona ― The Rhythm of the Night

Jaydee ― Plastic Dreams

1994

BABY D ― Let Me Be Your Fantasy

Jam & Spoon ― Right In The Night

Everything But The Girl ― Missing

La Bouche ― Sweet dreams

1995

Baby D ― (Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime) I Need Your Loving

Billie Ray Martin ― Your Loving Arms

Faithless ― Insomnia

Josh Wink ― Higher State Of Consciousness

1996

Underworld ― Born Slippy

I was lucky to watch Underworld Live in 2015 at the Hollywood Ball
and the experience turned out to be illuminating, resulting in
How Drumming Changed The Way My Brain Processes Music

Sash! ― Encore Une Fois

COCO ― I Need a Miracle

1997

DJ Santana ― Take Me Away

Candiflippin’ in Agami with Kawares (May He Rest In Love)

Space Frog ― I Feel Your Pain

1998

Stardust ― Music Sounds Better With You

Da Hool ― meet her at the Loveparade

The Sunclub ― Fiesta

RUN DMC & Jason Nevins ― It’s Like That

Sonique ― It Feels So Good

1999

Moloko ― Sing It Back

2000

Modjo ― Lady (Hear Me Tonight)
Insanely similar to The Music Sounds Better With You

Darude ― Sandstorm

Fatboy Slim ― Ya Mama

2001

Daft Punk ― One More Time

2005

Gorillaz ― Feel Good Inc.

2008

Fragma ― Tocas Miracle

After the 1996 version shared above here is another.
A true heart-warming memory from a London trip in 2008.

2010