Why is there this idea that electronic music went into hibernation in the '90s? It might have been the case with pop in the US, but globally I'd say if anything the 90s continued the 80s synth domination. The sounds just changed a bit, fewer big gated drums and square waves and more "organic" and distorted type stuff.

The 90's had dance music if that's what you mean?

The 90's had dance music if that's what you mean?


Yeah I guess just music with synthesizers. I guess you could say synths in rock were in decline in the 90s but in general I think music if anything has become increasingly synthesized from the 80s to the present.

Yeah I guess just music with synthesizers. I guess you could say synths in rock were in decline in the 90s but in general I think music if anything has become increasingly synthesized from the 80s to the present.


One example is C & C Music Factory.

I was actually just thinking about this.

Euro dance was HUGE in the '90s, even on pop radio especially from 1993-1997.  The '90s weren't all grunge and gangsta rap like is commonly remembered.  It was a very diverse decade musically.

There's groups like Snap and YA Kid K who also had that electronic sound during the 1990's.

If '80s electronic music is defined by synthpop, the '90s are known for Techno, House, Electronica, and Eurodance. One major difference is that instead of synths, computers would digitally produce sounds, and later in the '90s, ProTools got its start. It allowed a much more diverse array of sounds to be possible compared to the earlier synths that are more restrictive in their sounds, and is why many more genres came about. Its just that in America, outside of some urban areas, it seemingly fell due to MTV (still a big influence in music, especially with MTV2 later on) and pop radio not playing much in the way of electronic music. There were lots of cheesy pop divas and country crossovers on radio that haven't aged well, too. That said, the seeds of today's EDM scene came about with the '90s digital sounds.

The '90s weren't all grunge and gangsta rap like is commonly remembered.  It was a very diverse decade musically.


Thank you!!

The '90s weren't all grunge and gangsta rap like is commonly remembered.  It was a very diverse decade musically.

Thank you!!

I agree; it certainly was! :)

I have to say, even though music in the 90s was very diverse Electronic music was NOT popular or heard much. At least not with those of us who were teenagers during the 90s. Maybe older age groups did listen to it? I don't know.

I have to say, even though music in the 90s was very diverse Electronic music was NOT popular or heard much. At least not with those of us who were teenagers during the 90s. Maybe older age groups did listen to it? I don't know.


I think it's more of a geographical thing. I don't know where you're from but electronic music was not really embraced in America much at all until 2010, aside from some novelties like Real McCoy, Eiffel 65 and Cascada and a brief period around 1983-85 with new wave and 1990-93 with eurohouse.

Most of the rest of the world dug it in the 90s if I'm not mistaken, especially Europe and Latin America.

I think it's more of a geographical thing. I don't know where you're from but electronic music was not really embraced in America much at all until 2010, aside from some novelties like Real McCoy, Eiffel 65 and Cascada and a brief period around 1983-85 with new wave and 1990-93 with eurohouse.

Most of the rest of the world dug it in the 90s if I'm not mistaken, especially Europe and Latin America.


Oh lol, I meant REAL Electronic music! Real McCoy, and most of the music/bands mentioned on here were mainly Dance/Euro-dance/pop genres. 

Oh lol, I meant REAL Electronic music! Real McCoy, and most of the music/bands mentioned on here were mainly Dance/Euro-dance/pop genres.


and also C & C Music Factory.

Oh lol, I meant REAL Electronic music! Real McCoy, and most of the music/bands mentioned on here were mainly Dance/Euro-dance/pop genres.


They're still electronic music though. They're basically new wave influenced Hi-NRG with some rap influence.