Scroll through TikTok, and you’ll hear it: the iconic synth of Alice Deejay’s “Better Off Alone” or the pleading chorus of Haddaway’s “What Is Love.” 90s Eurodance is back, not as a fleeting meme, but as a full-blown cultural revival driven by Gen Z. This isn’t just simple nostalgia; it’s a perfect storm of a generation’s need for escapism, a music genre perfectly built for viral algorithms, and a co-sign from today’s biggest pop stars. The viral 2023 parody “Planet of the Bass” proved it: everyone is in on the joke, and they sincerely love the music. 1
What Is 90s Eurodance?
For those who missed its initial reign, Eurodance was the definitive soundtrack of 1990s Europe. Born from a post-Cold War wave of optimism, it was music engineered for the dancefloor. Its formula is simple but potent: 2
- High-Energy Beats: A driving four-on-the-floor rhythm, typically between 110-150 BPM, designed for non-stop dancing.
- Iconic Synths: The sound was defined by the cutting-edge synthesizers of the day, like the Korg M1, creating unforgettable melodic hooks.
- Rapper + Singer Duo: Most tracks featured a signature call-and-response between a male rapper’s verses and a female vocalist’s powerful, soaring chorus. 3
- Happy-Sad Euphoria: The music often paired melancholic minor keys with overwhelmingly positive lyrics about love and unity, creating a unique, euphoric feeling.
A Nostalgic Escape for Modern Anxiety
Gen Z’s love for Eurodance is a classic case of anemoia—nostalgia for a time you’ve never known. Having come of age amidst a pandemic, climate anxiety, and economic uncertainty, many in Gen Z romanticize the 90s as a “simpler time.” For a generation reporting high levels of stress, the unfiltered, defiant optimism of Eurodance offers a powerful form of escapism.
The genre’s “cringe” factor—the cheesy lyrics, the earnest music videos, the slightly broken English—is now seen as a sign of authenticity. In a world of polished influencers, the raw, unpretentious joy of acts like La Bouche or 2 Unlimited feels refreshingly real and ironically cool.
The TikTok Accelerator
While Gen Z created the demand, TikTok’s algorithm supplied the revival. Eurodance tracks are practically engineered for virality on the platform. Their structure—an immediate beat, a catchy synth hook, and a simple chorus—is perfect for grabbing a user’s attention in a 15-second video.
Tracks like “Better Off Alone” and Scatman John’s “Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)” became massive viral sounds, used in hundreds of thousands of videos for dances, comedy, and memes. The “For You” page acts as a digital DJ, noticing a user’s interest and feeding them a constant stream of Eurodance content, turning casual listeners into dedicated fans overnight. 4
From Viral Sound to Mainstream Smash
This revival isn’t just happening on social media; it has stormed the Billboard charts. Today’s biggest pop and EDM artists are sampling these 90s anthems to create modern hits.
David Guetta and Bebe Rexha’s “I’m Good (Blue)” heavily samples Eiffel 65, while their track “Baby Don’t Hurt Me” reworks Haddaway’s classic. Kim Petras and Nicki Minaj did the same with Alice Deejay on their 2023 song “Alone.” This trend introduces the melodies to a new audience, who then seek out the originals, creating a powerful feedback loop that solidifies the revival and makes the 90s sound current again.
A Movement, Not a Memory
The Eurodance revival is more than a trend; it’s a movement. It’s fueled by a generation’s search for joy, amplified by technology, and validated by the mainstream music industry. Gen Z has recontextualized the genre, turning what was once dismissed as cheesy pop into a soundtrack for resilience and authentic connection. In a complex world, the simple, euphoric beat of Eurodance feels more essential than ever.
- https://www.tiktok.com/music/Better-Off-Alone-6806509728378800901 ↩︎
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurodance ↩︎
- https://rxmusic.com/editorial/dance-if-you-cannot-the-history-of-eurodance/ ↩︎
- https://medium.com/@tesematuna/the-impact-of-tiktok-on-the-music-industry-how-tiktok-is-changing-the-way-we-discover-and-consume-73920f20fe55 ↩︎
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