Infos
| District: | Friedrichshain |
|---|---|
| Address: | Warschauer Platz 18 |
| Google Maps: | Route Planner |
| Opening Hours: | Mo – Sun 21: 00/22:00/23:00 |
| Floors: | 1-4 |
| Prices/Entrance:: | 0-10€ |
| Specials: | Open 365 days a year |
| Styles of music: | Black Music Crossover Disco Hip-Hop House Pop Rock R’n’B |
| Type: | Bar, Club, Liveclub |
| Website: | https://www.matrix-berlin.de/ |
Matrix – 365 days a year parties
The Matrix Berlin, filming location of rtl2 „Berlin Tag und Nacht“, is one of the biggest clubs in the capital! The ambience is distinguished and really metropolitan. Tourists and long-established party-goers feel equally at home here. Excellent light shows shine on no less than seven dance floors. DJs play mainly the latest hits from the charts, every day (or rather „every night“!) from 10:00 pm.
By <a rel=“nofollow“ class=“external text“ href=“https://www.flickr.com/people/drukmaas/“>Peter Mortensen</a> – <a rel=“nofollow“ class=“external free“ href=“https://www.flickr.com/photos/drukmaas/430237186/“>https://www.flickr.com/photos/drukmaas/430237186/</a>, CC BY 2.0, Link
And at nine bars, the bartenders are always eager to mix delicious cocktails for the guests. Those who have an occasion to celebrate (birthday, exam, anniversary …) or simply want to be „among themselves“ with a group of friends, can reserve one of the pretty lounges and may then feel like a real „VIP“! Six bars and seven dance floors, where not only the club typical drinks, but also 70 cocktail specialties are offered.
Large outdoor area
The outdoor area is open in summer for comfortable chilling.
In addition to the successful separation between lounge and dance floor, other corners invite you to chill out.
The disco is located in the district of Friedrichshain, namely at Warschauer Platz. Guests who like to come by public transport get off at the Warschauer Straße S-Bahn and U-Bahn station.
In the ’90s, the Matrix crew built out the more than hundred-year-old subway arches with great attention to detail, and then really took off in 1995. Conceived in the
early years as a club for electronic music lovers, such as rave, techno and electro, it is now considered a grown-up party location offering many different changing concepts.
Practically all the subway arches of the large discotheque will be transformed into a mysterious dance world, where men and women can dive and disappear.
Event concepts in line with the spirit of the times are implemented. It is considered an alternative for Berlin party culture away from dark cellars and bad music systems.
Guests are welcome, whom you can see that they want to party and who also dress up
sometimes.
Program
The program of the Matrix is very diverse:
There is a daily party, not only with the ever-popular residents, but also with many guests to celebrate each day.
On Monday, the DJs will provide hot current hits. SCANDAL : MONDAY CLASH is on the program.
ILUV2BANG – Tuesdays provide extremely hot beats, rousing performances for a wild party night.
Wednesdays Electric Girl – the ladies of the capital take the helm. The prices for the ladies are fair: they get free entry & drinks until 24h Happy Hour 2 for 1- Colorful, electric, fresh, exciting, jumping, big, crazy, dancing, thrilling, poppy, infectious, sympathetic, excessive.
By Peter Mortensen – <a rel=“nofollow“ class=“external free“ href=“https://www.flickr.com/photos/drukmaas/430275590/“>https://www.flickr.com/photos/drukmaas/430275590/</a>, CC BY 2.0, Link
Every Thursday UNITED CAMPUS :: UNI:REMIX. Free entrance + 1 Becks for free for students of Berlin & Brandenburg universities – this is the offer for the student heart.
Every Friday Generation Wild – the party on several floors – house meets r’n’b & clubbing hits. Free entry for ladies until 23:00 on Friday.
Saturdays BERL.INSANE. The mix on several floors In the Hall: house meets selected black & tune sounds. In the Studio : house/electro/techhouse In the M-Lounge : all time mix/pop/rock.
Also on Sunday there is a dance night on the program with free entrance until 23h. Fresh beats. Extremely danceable.
If that’s not enough, the nightlife has even more to offer.
Upcoming events:
Comments:
Sascha
The Matrix attracts a very young and mainly tourist audience, partly due to the many youth hostels in the area. Its popularity with young people is probably also due to a well-known German reality TV series that was partly filmed in the location: Berlin Tag & Nacht.
You won’t find a typical bar atmosphere here. It is rather in short, the biggest mainstream floor in the city.
On the other hand, the venue is quite large – seven rooms – and offers a heterogeneous, though mainly commercial music program.
DJ sets include the current sounds of the top 50 chartsn, here it’s not always about trendy electro beats and deephouse bass lines.
The entertainment temple first opened in 1994 in an old electricity plant in Mitte. It moved to its current location on Warschauer Platz under the 100-year-old underground arches in Friedrichshain Kreuzberg when the electricity plant was needed again.
House, R&B, rock & pop, black music. Two to seven dance floors depending on the evening. Open daily from 10 pm, mainly for a young and „trendy“ audience and a troupe of gogo dancers.
Sasha2
The Matrix is a famous discotheque in Berlin that manages to attract a larger audience of youngsters and teenagers year after year. So, if you try to enter, you will have to show a valid ID that proves you are of age.
It has several dancefloors aand rooms, and in each of them you can listen to a different style of music, so each of the available dancefloors offers the possibility to better adapt to the tastes of each visitor, varying genres between pop, rock, electro and techno.
As a fan of a diverse range of music genres, I was impressed with the options available to choose from room to room.
The history of this amusement bar:
It was inaugurated in 1994, almost many years ago, and over time it has become a real meeting place.Its location within the city is quite advantageous, as it is in the middle of one of the most important urban centers in Germany. This means that it is close to all the main sights and just a few steps away from other tourist attractions that might be interesting for newcomers looking for fun.
Founded in 1994, the Matrix opened its doors to the public only on weekends for increasingly wild nights. After this success, the creators decided to offer an evening every day of the week and now calls itself one of the first addresses for partying nights. The
best hits will be played by DJ’s for unforgettable moments. The famous gogos will be there, as well as sometimes acts of showgirls & laserboys & girls confetti, special effects and lightshows.
In addition, this attraction always offers a renewed program of shows and live performances that adapts to the fashion trend, offers customers the best DJ’s and incredible parties that can last up to twenty-two hours continuously, creating a great atmosphere.
Reike
Matrix – the club at the Warschauer in FriedrichshainWhat
belongs to a real holiday?
A visit to Alexander Platz, Checkpoint Charlie or Brandenburg Gate, yes. The East Side Gallery, of course.
A visit to Berghain, Tresor, the Ma Baker Party, Hafenbar or Kater Blau. You should have seen it all.
Young people from different countries come to dance and have fun at the different venues.
But the most important of all – you need a good and long party night in local style until dawn. There are various places here like parks, malls, clubs, bars and restaurants or other places of interest that will make your vacation a real experience and let you experience the crazy and lively evening experience first hand.
The weekend in the big city is already unique.
Today we would like to show you a dance hall, which has long been a standard and is only a stone’s throw away from S-Bhf. Warschauer Straße.
Almost every resident has been here at least once in life to have fun. It opened in 1994 and is located between the restaurant and pub district around Revaler Straße with the RAW area and Simon-Dach-Straße and the lively party district of Kreuzberg.
The music is varied between charts, black music, house and techno and is simply outstanding!
The famous Oberbaumbrücke and the East-Side Gallery are only a few minutes walk away.
The Matrix is open 7 days a week, there are 365 events a year here, that’s quite an announcement.
It is known among other things by the popular TV series „Berlin Tag & Nacht“, which is about everyday life Kreuzberg-Friedrichshain and shows many scenes from the lounge.
Why don’t you and your friends start an evening with a delicious dinner in Simon-Dach-Straße, go home or to the hotel or hostel to freshen up, and then party in the S-Bahn arches.
Which DJ is mixing on the main floor?
If you are lucky, DJ Size, one of the resident DJs, his passion for music and unparalleled enthusiasm have earned him fans all over Europe.
There are also regular cool specials here. For example, students get free admission and a free beer on Thursdays at the „United Campus!“ or free admission for ladies on Wednesdays until midnight at „Ladies First.“
This is a part of the events where more commercial music is played than at other venues in the city.
If it’s your birthday, you can enjoy even more special offers at Matrix – you get a free bottle of champagne as well as free entry for you and six girlfriends, at least that’s how it’s been for the last few years. Don’t nail me down on that. Just give it a try if you’re a birthday girl.
Not sure which day to go out?
Do not worry! The event location is open every day from 10 pm and every night there is a different theme. There are up to seven floors.
A colorful selection of DJs from different generations of clubbing present themselves in different areas with their own current sound palette.
From house, R’n’B and pop to funk and hip hop – there’s every style of music on the floors, so everyone will find something to dance to.
Sometimes DJs, whose subtle and varied taste in music allows to create an incomparable atmosphere, whether in the main hall, in the studio, in the M-Lounge or in the bar floor.
The guests are young and dynamic – you have to be 18 years old to be allowed in.
The Matrix is probably the most frequented disco by tourists who like commerce. Here you can enjoy a variety of music on the dance floors, from black music to techno and back to the dance of the 80s and 90s.
See for yourself and get to know the discotheque the next time you visit us in town! Party at the various schwoofs and specials. We wish you a lot of fun partying Berlin style.
Frankie
For those heading to Europe and looking for a nightclub that will give you a full European club experience, I recommend this dancefloor in the City.
The area is one of the largest discos in Berlin.
Celebrate and dance on several floors and every day with a new motto.
Since the first party in 1994, the Matrix quickly became one of the hottest addresses.
Few discos in the world can boast of opening every night of the year.
Since the fall of 1996, it has been in a permanent location between the Simon Dach neighborhood of the Mercedes Benz Arena and the Universal warehouse directly under the Warschauer Straße subway station, in ten vaults of the Warschauer Straße subway station.
Themed parties are usually held here, and there are always professional dancers to liven up the atmosphere. The light show is equally impressive and does the rest.
Up to 2000 guests can dance and celebrate here on seven days from 10 pm to mega music mix between Housestyle & Charts on up to seven floors.
The location is one of the oldest in the metropolis and has been a well-established nightlife fixture for
over 25 years, but today with a changed, current musical program.
On site are techno, – electro and house music at home.
Fans of hip hop or charts also get their money’s
worth, the palace has enough floors. It
became famous in the 1990s due to the big stars of the techno, electro and house scene, such as Marusha, WestBam, DJ Dick, Underground Resistance, Josh Wink, Sven Väth and Paul van Dyk, who were regular guests here.
Important was always the DJ style must have a club attitude and not just a disco style. It should be really entertaining and have nothing to do with a radio play list, the decisive factor was what a DJ makes out of a hit.
He also had his own float at the Love Parade. From 2003 the music offer was extended and with the „Narva Lounge“ the area got an extra area with its own concept. However,
the Narva Lounge is currently no longer played.
Well-known musicians, such as Sabrina Setlur, George Morel or Bushido like to be guests here. For most people, however, the building is probably known as the filming location for the RTLII early evening series „Berlin – Tag & Nacht“. Shooting began every Friday at 10 p.m. and lasted about two hours. For fans a possibility to be directly there!
When we were in front of the entrance and had a look at the program, it was clear that the show wouldn’t stop until 6 or 7 in the morning, so we decided to be casually late and not go there until 1 in the morning. As we walked in the door and rounded the corner, we hit our first stage. This stage was playing a nice mix of American pop music and a techno rave vibe.
It offers a varied program with various special events and live acts. On Mondays SCANDAL! with the freshest beats, on Tuesdays I love to bang, on Wednesdays the „Ladies“ can look forward to free admission until zero o’clock and hot GoGo Boys and on Thursdays stressed students can party their heads off in the „United Campus“.
On Fridays then rises GENERATION WILD and on Saturday ERL.INSANE, often ladies here also get free admission until 23h. Of course, there is also dancing on Sundays Motto here currently „Reloaded „
When we arrived around 1h, it should be mentioned that the square in front was crowded. People who come from all over the world like to
make the nightclub their party place because of the great variety of music and the friendly atmosphere.
Here, in addition to large dance floors and a great light show, there are also various lounges for a breather in between. The daily opening hours are of course ideal for tourists. In short, a well-trained bar team at nine bars provides suitable drinks and cocktails for a long wild danced through night.
The dance temple, although seen
from the outside at first glance a rather unimpressive club, offers a relaxed atmosphere, nice, mixed audience and first-class sounds for dancing.
Looking for an authentic Euro disco experience open every night from 10pm, myself, my friends and I decided after some recommendations from friends that Matrix is the place to party. The next night will be another night that will leave us dreaming for days.
A lot of hip hop, R&B and soul, but also charts and house are played here, besides sometimes business events, film shoots or performances are on the program, covering all musical directions.
To R&B, hip hop or, depending on the theme of the evening, other grooves, the resident DJs always find the right sounds to fill the dance floors with enthusiastic party people. Definitely worth a recommendation for fans of R&B and charts.
Several bars, cozy chill-out corners, and the dance floor of the main area, as well as other floors are waiting for dancers, and they have remained remarkably faithful since opening in the 90s – unusual for Berlin and a seal of quality for this location.
The club on Warschauer Straße, hip location in Friedrichshain, is open 365 days a year and offers plenty of space to party and dance on 7 floors.
henry
With great attention to detail, the crew upgraded the subway arches, which were over a hundred years old, and then really took off many years ago.
Conceived in the early years as a dance club for electronic music lovers, it is now a grown-up institution that scores with changing concepts. In the
immediate vicinity of the internationally known RAW site, this nightlife location
has established
itself. On at least 1000 square meters, people dance and party to rhythmic R&B, black music and house beats.
It applies here but daily: There is music for almost every taste.
The Matrix has been around since the mid-90s.
An age that can be multiplied by five in the gastronomic calendar of Kreuzberg, because only a few manage to remain interesting for so long, as the recent demise of various clubs proved. In addition to economic skills, cultural commitment is also an indispensable prerequisite for the „scene district“ to be able to rely on more than just tourists.
The door policy in the immediate vicinity of the S-Bhf. Warschauer Strasse is not exceptionally strict. No suit or tie is expected, but sleeveless shirts and casual wear are not as welcome.
Guests who can see that they want to party and who dress up are welcome! Young tolerant, characterful and party-hungry guests between 18 and 35 years.
However, once you have overcome the door, the night owl awaits a roaring pleasure, on the exuberant partying and dancing until the wee hours of the morning. In the summer openedin outdoor area for comfortable chilling.
In addition to seven dance floors, there are six bars offering not only the typical club drinks, but also 70 cocktail specialties.
The disco is built in the style of an old subway tunnel, with several large dance floors, many large and small, well-stocked bars and a cozy VIP lounge corner with ample seating and
a view of the hustle and bustle on the dance floor. It offers its predominantly younger audience the opportunity to continue partying after the nightlife pub crawl through Kreuzberg or Friedrichshain right on the spot until the early hours of the morning in a first-class atmosphere, musically accompanied by current house, black music and chart sounds.
Here you can party
on 7 areas to the sound of different styles, played by top Djs. The Matrix will blow you into the new year with style and incredible beats. Be part of a varied party with many specials.
For New Year’s Eve it’s : Celebrate New Year’s Eve in trendy Friedrichshain directly at the popular Warschauer Brücke.
And you will be invited to celebrate the turn of the year with thousands of guests and experience terrific clubbing New Year’s Eve specials like shows & live acts on several areas with many top DJs.
The Matrix is the place to go if you want to party hard again, without the pretentious chic-chic attitude of some other dance bars. There’s a show every night, and the drink prices are comparatively reasonable. Sometimes ladies get free admission. Check the program. The doors open daily, as I said, at 22:00 and an incomparable adventure is guaranteed.
To implement event concepts corresponding to the spirit of the times with heart and soul and to be understood as a figurehead for Berlin party culture away from dark cellars and bad music systems. Of course, the discotheque has a modern sound system and elaborate lighting technology. Do not expect
underground, here it is rather commercial.
Mr Big:
My trip to Berlin: nightlife and a few tips for outings.
We go deep into Berlin’s unique nightlife scene, where left-wing politics, gender experimentation, nudity and brutalist architecture on a grand scale are the backdrop for the German capital’s pumping techno.
On the first night, I hit the party mile on Warschauer Strasse and went to matrix.
And last but not least, the matrix club will always be there for you. Open 365 days a year, with 7 floors playing different styles of music, it is one of the non-techno clubsin the city and usually very busy.
The club is located in the basement vaults of the Warschauerstraße S-Bahn station and is usually relatively cheap to get into (€6 to €12) compared to other big clubs.
It’s definitely a place to end the night (or nights, depending on your stamina).
It’s important to keep this in mind when it comes to club door policies. As described many times before, Berlin is probably the only city where 180cm tall ladies in heels and short skirts go straight to the front and get turned away. Clubs need to find a balance between visibility and protecting and retaining their core clientele. Door policies are the most visible way they do this.
In the Matrix, things seem relatively loose as far as that goes.
But in fact, it’s much harder to leave a Berlin club than it is to enter one. It’s so easy to get sucked into the rooms, the sounds and the crowd, and if there was ever a crowd that knows how to party, this is it. However, with parties regularly running for days on end, it’s impossible to know when to draw the line.While Berlin has become a „playground“ for visitors from all over the world, it’s important to note that the long hours are related to the city’s combination of low cost of living and high unemployment. „People can stay away until Monday or Tuesday because they don’t have jobs,“ he told me.
I spoke to a Berliner who couldn’t understand why clubs in London only stay open until 5 or 6 in the morning. As she put it, scrunching her face up and saying she didn’t want to go out and party with someone telling me what I could do and when I had to go home.
This a little anecdote from another Berlin club.
The night at the Matrix was over and I went exploring the city and here are a few tips
and places to visit:
The attractions of the Citysind many, so many that you can not cover them all in one weekend. My tip for a great first impression is to take the Bus 100, a regular bus, and ride past the main sights of the city. It will take you past the State Opera, the Reichstag building, Bellevue Palace and so on. So you will get a great and affordable tour of Berlin. After that, it’s time to discover the other sights of Berlin. Below I have lined up all the must-see attractions for you!
One of the most visited buildings is the Berlin Cathedral. This stately church is truly beautiful, both inside and out. Admission is unfortunately not free, but this attraction is really worth it during your city break, a highlight for art lovers Admission costs under 10€ .
Weier goes to the Museum Island
This island in the Spree – in the middle of the city! – you will find the most important museums of Berlin. Take a look at the Old Museum, the Old National Gallery, the Bode Museum, the New Museum or the Pergamon Museum.
If you are looking for another place to have a nice stroll, I recommend Hackescher Markt. Visit this complex of eight backyards in a Berlin suburb after sunset. The walls in this old Jewish neighborhood are lit up at night and it gives a special effect. Close to each other you will find various small stores, boutiques, galleries, cinemas, nightclubs and beautiful houses.
My favorite park is the gigantic zoo. At 210 acres, the park is quite a bit larger than Hyde Park in London, for example. However, it is crisscrossed by a series of streets. I always enjoy being there, even though it can be a bit sad in the winter months. In the summer months, it looks absolutely beautiful to me.
The construction of the park dates back to 1527 and its name comes from the fact that in the past the game hunted by the local princes was released here. This was actually their private hunting ground. It was Frederick II of Prussia, who hated hunting, who in 1742 ordered the architect to remove the fence around the park and turn it into a landscape garden. Today, it reminds me a lot of a forest, and it’s always hard for me to imagine that I’m still in the bustling center of Berlin!
An absolute must-see is, of course, the famous Memorial Church. This beautiful church was built during the imperial era and was a special building on Kurfürstendamm. Unfortunately, the church was so badly damaged after a bombing raid that everything except the tower was demolished. The tower was preserved as a monument to the old church and as a reminder of the horrors of war. In the 1960s, a second, modern tower was built next to it, where church services are held. It is worth taking a look at it.
Kurfürstendamm with all its stores and shopping arcades is also a well-known attraction. Here you will find the Apple Store, the Bikini Berlin Concept Mall and brands such as Levi’s, Forever 21, And other Stories, the large Christmas store of Käthe Wohlfart (open all year) and much more. The highlight is of course the luxury department store of the West, also known as KaDeWe. A must for lovers of fashion and good food, the food department is a dream!
I was already late in the evening and I also wanted to party again on a Monday, so back to the Matrix, I knew for sure was open.
Black Music, Dance Classics, Crossover, Disco, House, RnB everything is offered here on different dance floors. Also this night ended again in the early morning…
The next day was again Sightseeeing announced.
Here and there you can still find remnants of the old Berlin Wall in Berlin. In the East Side Gallery you can find the biggest part, but also near Bernauer Straße you can find a part of the wall. The most famous and accessible part of the old Berlin Wall is the East Side Gallery. From 1989 this part was painted by 118 different artists. You can find the part near the Oberbaumbrücke and the Berlin Ostbahnhof. This part of the wall is known for the many escape attempts. This kind of remnants will make you think about the events during the Cold War. Everywhere in Berlin you will find reminders of where the Wall used to be. It is still impressive to experience that the city consisted of two or even four parts back then.
Since I was in the matrix I visited the Oberbaumbrücke also once again during the day. Personally, I find it the most beautiful bridge in the metropolis and also very photogenic. The Oberbaumbrücke connects the districts of Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain and consists of several levels. The subway lines run over this bridge. This bridge was also important during the Cold War. The bridge was located on the border between the Russian and American sectors and was closed in 1961 when the Berlin Wall was built. In 1963, the bridge became a pedestrian border crossing from West Berlin.
The viewpoint offers a great view of the wall and the city of Berlin.
Then I went on to Friedrichshain.
After all the sightseeing of the day, it’s time for a nice German beer. Walk across Bernauer Strasse towards Mauerpark, where you’ll find all sorts of artwork and informational posts about the Berlin Wall along the way. In about 20 minutes you will reach the Prater Biergarten. This is the oldest beer garden (1837) where you can enjoy German beers and German/Austrian food. In the evening, the garden is cozily lit and full of tourists and locals. Admission is free.
The thing that has always attracted me to Berlin is the city’s vibrant alternative culture. When I was in the city, I tried to visit different nightclubs and found that there is something for everyone here, my favorite club, as it is open every day, was Matrix. But as I said, I’m not such an electro freak either.
Renate
Those were the days when I went to the Matrix in the 90s.
It was the Eurohouse temple in Kreuzberg Friedrichshain on Warschauer Brücke.
Eurodance (also known as Euro-NRG, Euro or simply Dance) is a genre of electronic music that emerged in Europe in the late 1980s. The genre is known for having a dance-like focus, with a strong beat between 90 and 150 BPM (in 4/4 time) and with a female vocalist singing the chorus while the male vocalist only provides
rap or backing vocals.
The term „Eurodance“ gradually became associated with a particular style of dance music from Europe. During its heyday in the mid-1990s, it was known as „Euro-NRG“; in Europe it was often referred to as „dancefloor“ or simply „dance“. Although the term was initially used to refer only to dance music productions from Europe, there are some examples of bands/artists from the 1990s produced in the United States and other regions of the world that followed the same style of music and became popular in Europe in particular.
History
1987 – 1995: Upswing and popularity
The exact origin of Eurodance is still uncertain, but it is known that it was produced mainly in underground clubs and at raves in Germany from 1987 onwards. However, the genre did not have its own sound identity at that time. In 1988, the German pop group Milli Vanilli
released the song „Girl You Know It’s True“, which is considered by many to be one of the first Eurodance songs. The following year, the single „Ride on Time“, a song by the Italian band Black Box, was released. Ride on Time featured the Korg M1 „house piano“, which was later featured on many Eurodance releases. In the same year, the band Technotronic released the single „Pump Up the Jam“, a song that combined hip-hop and soul vocals and created a danceable, rhythmic atmosphere using computer technology and mixing electronic sounds, bass and drums. Thus the new genre Eurodance was born. In 1990, Snap! released their first single, „The Power“, which reached number one in the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.
Already the following year, 1991, the genre gained more prominence and space in the European music scene, thanks to the successful single „Get Ready for This“ by the Dutch band 2 Unlimited, which became a hit in several European countries and in a way helped to make the genre more popular in Europe. During the same period, other Eurodance artists emerged in Germany, such as La Bouche, Jam and Spoon, Magic Affair, Intermission and Culture Beat. After the breakthrough of the single „Rhythm Is a Dancer“ by Snap! in 1992 (number 1 in 12 countries and number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100), new groups emerged all over Europe, especially in Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Notable songs that defined the genre during this period, known as the „golden age“ or „classic phase“ of Eurodance, include „All That She Wants“ by Ace of Base, „Somebody Dance with Me“ by DJ Bobo, „More and More“ by Captain Hollywood Project, „Omen III“ by Magic Affair, „It’s My Life“ by Dr. Alban, „Because the Night“ by CO.RO, „Please Don’t Go“ by Double You, „Another Night“ by Real McCoy, „U Got 2 Let the Music“ by Cappella, „Dreams (Will Come Alive)“ by 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor, „The Color My Dreams“ by B.G., The Prince of Rap, „Feel The Heat Of The Night“ by Masterboy, „Saturday Night“ by Whigfield, „Cotton Eye Joe“ by Rednex, „Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)“ by Scatman John and „Set The World On Fire“ by E-Type, to name a few.
Songs like „Mr. Vain“ by Culture Beat, „What Is Love“ by Haddaway and „Rhythm of the Night“ by Corona are considered true anthems of Eurodance music. During the same period, the popularity of the genre also grew on all continents. Between 1992 and 1995, more precisely in 1993 and 1994, there were major production peaks in the genre, with Italy being the country where the most Eurodance was produced. Some of the outstanding producers in this genre were the Swede Max Martin and the Italian Larry Pignagnoli, who were both behind dozens of bands. The
sound could be heard in many locations in Berlin, Schöneberg, Prenzlauer Berg, Neukölln, Tempelhof, Charlottenburg or even Stegltz, no one could get past Eurohouse.
1996 – 2003: Climax and new ramifications
In 1996, Eurodance dominated the music charts in Europe with 5 top 10 singles. Despite its success, many Eurodance producers realised that the sound of the genre should evolve and incorporate elements of other music genres such as dance-pop, reggae, trance and house, but not all groups followed this trend immediately, such as the group 2 Unlimited, the singer Szandi, the singer Pandora and many other artists who wanted to stay within the classic Eurodance sound, even if it meant no profit or success. In 1997, however, Eurodance’s popularity slowly began to decline, both in Europe and in different regions of the world. The song „Scatman’s World“ by Scatman John was the last major original Eurodance hit in the Eurochart Hot 100. By the late 1990s, the „classic sound“ of Eurodance had all but died out, giving way to a new kind of genre that even then mixed elements of other electronic music genres with a light pop sound. Notable examples are „Coco Jamboo“ by the German band Mr. President in 1996, „Freed from Desire“ and „Let a Boy Cry“ by the Italian singer Gala Rizzatto in the same year, „Barbie Girl“ by the Danish group Aqua in 1997, „Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!!“ by the group Vengaboys in 1998 and „Blue (Da Ba Dee)“ by the Italian group Eiffel 65 in 1999.
In the early 2000s, the genre was completely reformulated with a more technical and modern sound and a more elaborated vocal solo. This new style of the genre was first popularised by artists such as ATB, ATC, Alice DJ, Darude, Groove Coverage, DJ Sammy, beFour and Fragma. During this period, some regional variants of the genre also reached their peak of productions and popularity, such as Bubblegum Dance, a musical subgenre of Eurodance that became very popular in the Scandinavian region;while Italodance, also a musical subgenre of Eurodance, became very popular in Italy. Both remained popular in Europe from 1998 to 2001. Despite the sharp decline in popularity, some hits helped the genre stay strong in Europe and beyond, such as singer Dannii Minogue’s „Hit Who Do You Love Now“ from 2001, Lasgo’s „Something“, O-Zone’s „Dragostea Din Tei“ from 2003 and singer Magic Box’s „If You…“ from the same year.
I remember great performances at the Brandenburg Gate, near the Reichstag or Checkpoint Charlie, or at Alexanderplatz, Hackescher Markt or Potsdamer Platz.
2004 – today: Third (and last) wave and decline in popularityIn the
years 2004 to 2006, the genre was re-introduced to the market and the music charts for the third and last time. Some hits also contributed to the renewed interest in Eurodance, such as „Axel F“ by Crazy Frog, „Listen to Your Heart“ by DHT, „Ding Dong Song“ by Günther, „Boten Anna“ by Basshunter, „Everytime We Touch“ by Cascada, etc.
In the mid to late 2000s and early 2010s, there was a strong movement of worldwide hits coming from artists from Romania, such as;. B; Edward Maya with „Stereo Love“, „This is My life“ and „Desert Rain“, all in collaboration with singer Vika Jigulina, through Akcent with „Thats My name“, „Stay Whit Me“ and „Love Stoned“ to Alexandra Stan with „Mr Sexobeat“, Dan Balan with Chica Bomb and with the singer Inna (who still enjoys relative success in some European countries and in Mexico), first with some singles from her 2009 album Hot and then with the album I Am the Club Rocker, released in 2011, both in collaboration with the producer trio Play & Win“, as an important reference. This period of success is mainly due to the musical mix of dance-pop with a local touch (melodies used in gypsy songs, in which the country has a considerable population), which was pejoratively referred to as „PopCorn“ by local critics. Pop singers such as Katy Perry and Rihanna also had great success with this genre in the same year.
Since the beginning of the 2010s, Eurodance has been considered more of a niche genre, rarely played on both radio and television, but still a fixture in nightclubs, as well as nostalgic concerts/tours that many renowned bands of this genre are currently staging, the most famous being „We Love The 90s“. The last notable release in this genre was the song „One Kiss“, a song by Scottish producer Calvin Harris and English singer Dua Lipa. Although this song mixes elements from other genres, Eurodance is simply the main genre.
Popularity
Europe
Since its inception, Eurodance has always been very popular on the European continent, even if it has lost a lot of its power nowadays. In the 1990s and 2000s, Eurodance was very popular in Germany and produced several established bands of the genre. However, the genre was produced most in Italy.
In countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland and France, Eurodance was also very popular and was also the most commercialised. In the 1990s, it was also moderately successful in the UK and was popularised
by artists such as Bus Stop, Undercover, Ann Lee, Lolly, The KLF and others.
Asia
In the late 1990s, the genre was quite popular on the Asian continent, especially in Japan, where Eurodance compilation albums were frequently released. The most famous was „Dancemania“, which brought together several songs from different well-known Eurodance/Europop artists from Europe (including E-Rotic and Captain Jack) in each edition.
Oceania
Eurodance was popular in Australia and New Zealand in the early 1990s, especially during the rise of underground parties and raves. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, its popularity declined in these countries.
America
Although it has been quite successful in Europe, Eurodance has never been the popular or mainstream genre in the United States, so it is not very well known there except in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami.
Only artists of the genre such as La Bouche, Scatman John, Cascada, 2 Unlimited, Real McCoy, Aqua, Culture Beat, Corona, Haddaway and Ace of Base have achieved some relevance in the American market. Despite the lack of radio advertising, many Hi-NRG and Eurodance songs are very popular at professional sporting events in the United States, especially ice hockey and basketball.
Canada
Unlike in the US, Eurodance became very popular in
Canada in the 1990s, spawning its own variant called Canadance (although it was mainly referred to as „Eurodance“ or „dance music“) through projects such as Capital Sound, Jacynthe, Shauna Davis, Emjay, Love Inc, Temperance, Jefferson Project, Big Bass, DFS, Kim Esty, The Boomtang Boys, Solina, Joée, Roxxy and BKS. Today, Eurodance is considered a „niche genre“ there.
Brazil
Between 1991 and 1992, Eurodance was on the rise in Brazil as the new music genre became very popular on radio stations and in nightclubs across the country. However, Eurodance did not become more popular until the mid-90s, thanks to some famous compilations of songs from the genre, often released by Jovem Pan and the now defunct Paradoxx music label, which played an important role in introducing and popularising the genre in Brazil. It was also common for some successful songs of the genre to be included in the soundtrack of some soap operas broadcast by TV Globo at the time.
The genre was so successful in Brazil that in 1995 the „Close-Up Dance Festival“ was created, a festival that focused entirely on Eurodance and brought together different artists of the genre. The event took place over two days, on the 18th at Vale do Anhangabaú in São Paulo and on the 19th at Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
There were also Brazilian Eurodance bands and artists like Sect, Gottsha, Hi-Tech, Dalimas, Anny and Kasino.
Features
Much of Eurodance is characterised by the influence of Hi-NRG, Euro-disco and house music; simple choruses; raps with male vocals; catchy hooks and a very strong beat that usually varies between 90 and 150 BPM (beats per minute), with riffs created by synthesizers. The sound is very positive, always accompanied by lyrics that deal with themes such as love, party and peace, always dancing and expressing emotions. Eurodance lyrics are almost always sung in English, regardless of the artist’s nationality. However, many artists release their songs in both English and their mother tongue, such as the Belgian group Paradisio, which combines Spanish lyrics with elements of Latin American music.
Most Eurodance songs are very melody-oriented and place more emphasis on percussion and rhythm. Unlike pop music, which is usually written in major keys, most songs in this genre are in minor keys, similar to techno. Together with the positive lyrics, this contributes to the powerful and emotional overall sound of Eurodance. Live performances are often done in playback, with the singer being dubbed on stage. Many Eurodance bands project a humorous image, such as Captain Jack, a humorous satire of a tyrannical military man, while Rednex iconically satirises North American country folk.
I was at street parties on Kurfürstendamm, in Spamdau, Pankow or even Tiergarten, everywhere this sound was playing.
But I was a regular at the Matrix Berlin and partied there for years.
German – English – French – Italian – Spanish