Review of Super Eurobeat 190's
The last few years in the Eurobeat world have been heavy in turmoil. The
appeareances of new labels combined with some of the older ones taking a step
backwards means the music also changes. Reaching an another important milestone
with Super Eurobeat 200 we can really take a look into the past and question
what on earth has happened that made the series go on for so long? Is the music
really so magical that it just needs to be produced and released for, what in
global terms is definitely a niche audience. Eurobeat itself has lately formed
to be a bit more mainstream with the structure staying faithful to its origins,
but the sounds being used are becoming more variable over time. The labels are
trying out new things constantly and introducing different new artists as well
as new styles makes the genre feel fresh. Yet occasionally you can't help but
wonder if anything really changed?
During the 190s we saw Time take a step backwards as they were
only present for 3 songs, but instead the newer introduction by S. Dall'Ora
is the Eurogrooves label. The label has a really similar sound to
the old Time, but still it feels different at the same time. As for the other
labels, the newest entries back in the 180's Dima Music and
SinclaireStyle are going strong with their acts which is refreshing since
variety is always the best for a genre. Limiting the material to only a few
labels would instantly cut out a lot of fans of specific styles and sounds.
While I myself am not the biggest fan of A. Leonardi's style in the
recent years, I'm aware how many people enjoy his productions a lot, which is
only for the best of the eurobeat industry. It's probably just a harsh reality
of life, but the older producers and artists will slowly fade away from the
scene, while new ones pop up at the same time. We've seen many of the loved old
names vanish and in the process have been introduced to many younger prodigies.
These days it seems the eurobeat labels are more willing to co-operate and that
has yielded some exciting and fun results. The collaboration projects as well as
the covers were fairly interesting. These ideas could be developed further to
mash up vocalists from multiple labels or actually having an eurobeat all-stars
choir with singers from all of the labels. Now who would not want to hear that?
Dave meeting once again with many of the older A-Beat C vocalists?
Or the bubbly girls of Go Go's Music moshing it up with Maurizio De
Jorio? With such a small production in the end, all of these ideas could
definitely be made reality. But I'm still happy with what this decade already
brought forward. A lot of good feel good music to keep people in high spirits.
I do have to admit that I was slightly disappointed by how the 190s as a whole
unveiled though. If we go back in time and compare how the 90s happened, the
whole thought of re-introducing old hits in a similar fashion would have been
very interesting. The thought of adding themes to each album worked fine on a
few of the albums, but you do have to wonder what per say Vitamin Pop
actually means? The music it offered was just so random I couldn't at least find
the whole point of it. What this decade felt like was just random. Maybe the
people at Avex had a hard time figuring out where they want to take the series
towards. The last 3 albums in nonstop format were interesting and entertaining
no doubt about it, but it still feels odd to suddenly go nonstop out of the
blue. I would appreciate a clear guideline for a decade rather than albums
switching back and forth. Then again, 180s had a similar trend when the last 3
albums suddenly changed to extended format...
These 9 albums during the 190s varied heavily both on the amount of labels each
album had and on level as well. This sort of variety is common for the Super
Eurobeat industry though, so I doubt anyone is surprised how it turned out. We
all will surely find our favorites among these albums and it just comes down to
preference. While I have always been a big fan of upbeat female eurobeat, this
decade was very heavy on more masculine output, that also worked out really
well. A few of the old favorite vocalists made a shift to different labels than
where we've gotten used to hearing them Nuage among others, this
definitely brings forth more fresh breezes and also offers some real variety.
The decade also saw the appeareance of one of the very best Super Eurobeat
albums ever, so it definitely can't be a bad year.
Also during this year the labels have shifted to releasing more material online.
Itunes and
Junodownload among
others have started to offer a lot of music for the fans in virtual format. A
lot of the old favorite vocalists have released collection albums that cover
music from a long period of time. Even some old time loved nonstop tracks have
made an appearance in full length finally. It's definitely worth checking out
the selection there, you just might have to be aware of what you really are
looking for. Check the forums out for the multiple threads regarding the
releases. HI-NRG Attack albums have already been partly added to
the database, but other labels also have a lot of music available online. Things
are definitely looking bright for the international fan, maybe soon we can
actually have a thorough catalogue of eurobeat online for downloading.
The actual review for the 190s can be found below. The decade really did make me
ponder my love for the genre as there were moments when I completely stopped
following what's being released and what's incoming. But the dark period in my
own life has subsided and I can again enjoy what the Italian masterminds offer
us...
Average Grade for 190's : 7½
As said before, with the generic level hovering around the usual kind, the
result ends up being somewhere around typical "Pretty good". The average for the
albums was actually above 8, but the fact is that I still didn't feel quite as
content with the finale results. While the decade had its fair share of ups and
downs my final feelings were slightly disappointed. As stated, I really was
looking forward to this decade having something big to offer before the
important Super Eurobeat 200, but none of that was offered. Instead we got
lamely named albums with barely 13 tracks and a (for the most part) pointless
nonstop mixture in there. On top of that the sudden change to switch to nonstop
albums all together for 3 albums was just odd. The problem also is that while
the nonstops themselves were actually pretty good, especially 197, the best
songs really need full length releases for a wider audience.
Back during when I was writing the review for the 180s I noticed I was fearing
for the worst for the 190s... And my fears were partly correct. The lacking
Super Eurobeat 193 made me feel pretty desperate as I basically stepped out of
the scene for quite a while. Only listened to a few songs here and there, even
had 2 of the albums in my shelf in their plastic wrappers for more than 6
months. But I guess everyone needs those times, when you dwell and brood on your
own thoughts. The upbeat and happy music isn't necessarily the best option then.
But time has really been gracious on a lot of these albums, since time has made
me rethink my initial opinions over. Super Eurobeat 194 became really good over
time, although I initially disliked pretty much everything about it. This just
makes me wonder whether I should write reviews with initial impressions
and then a look back after a long time. Could see how differently time treats
various songs... Well if I can manage to get back to release schedule with the
site I'll be happy ;)
|
Label |
191 |
192 |
193 |
194 |
195 |
196 |
197 |
198 |
199 |
Total |
| A-Beat C |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
17 |
| Asia/Saifam |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
8 |
| Delta |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
12 |
| Dima Music |
|
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
10 |
| Eurogrooves |
|
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
12 |
| Go Go's Music |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
13 |
| HI-NRG Attack |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
14 |
| SCP |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
17 |
| Sinclaire Style |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
7 |
| Time |
|
|
|
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
| |
| Avex |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
Label Reviews:
A-Beat C
Times really are changing, back in the 180s A-Beat C had clearly the highest
amount of songs, now they are actually tied on the top spot with SCP. What this
speaks of is a good question. Naturally with the change to 13 song format means
less songs for each label plus on top of that when we have more new labels
around they can't really hog such a huge piece of the cake anymore. This decade
Dave Rodgers was heavily present with 6 songs, but sadly not too many of
them could really offer the kind of quality he usually provides. But the same
problem was mostly going on for the label all through the year. The only real
sparkle of light was the ever so magnificent A Neverending Night by
Mickey B. The song really showed what a high quality eurobeat song can be.
The track sounded like eurobeat, but it still felt really fresh and like
something an even wider audience could enjoy. The styles the label has been
trying recently have been fairly questionable. Some of these new directions feel
fun and refreshing, but at the same time they feel kind of lifeless and hollow.
In the past the label could make songs feel really genuinely happy and positive,
now even the more upbeat tracks sound kind of forced and lacking in emotion.
Also one thing I really noticed lacking is the variety in vocalists. With 17
songs all together, there were only a handful of vocalists around which makes
the amount of variety kind of lacking. I do wish to see more of Matt Land
or Mickey B. in the future. I still feel the producers were really trying
hard to come up with new and addictive styles, so there's still hope to hear
more of that good old A-Beat C.
Three words to describe A-Beat C in the 190's: Tired, anxious & industrious.
Label Grade : 6½
3 Biggest A-Beat C hits in the 190's
1. Mickey B. - A Neverending Night (Super Eurobeat - 191)
There is no question about the best track of the 190s for A-Beat C. Mickey B.
threw such a memorable performance right at the beginning of the century the
label couldn't get anywhere near after that. The magical feeling the track
provides is something that can't be managed by many eurobeat songs. An excellent
chorus and the unique lyrics really provide this track so much extra value it's
definitely my pick for one of the best tracks all through the 190s.
2. Powerful T. - Into The Game (Super Eurobeat - 191)
When the 190s kicked off I was really full of hope as both of the A-Beat C's
best songs this decade were on 191. Into The Game is a powerful track
that is exactly the kind of material that has made Powerful T. an
eurobeat household name. Catchy beats and a great guitar riff combined with good
vocal performances, this track rises into the higher tier of Roberto's
performances. He has got the rhythm just below his ass.
3. Dave & Futura - Dance In My Town (Super Eurobeat - 199)
After quite a few misses with the new style at A-Beat C, they finally nailed it
with a great duet by the newcomer Futura and Dave. Dance In My
Town sounds giddy and has that sparkle the label used to have in the past.
The vocals work out fine together and the song also offers some really nice
synths to boot. The lightness might be a bit disturbing at times, but it's
definitely the right direction. Two thumbs up and hopes high for the future.
Honorable Mentions:
- Virginelle - Fantasy (Sweetest Mix) (Super Eurobeat - 194)
- Powerful T. Feat. Alex De Rosso - King Of The Race (Super Eurobeat - 197)
- Dave Rodgers - Love In The Elevator (Super Eurobeat - 196)
Asia/Saifam
With only 8 songs, I was contemplating whether I should write a separate
review for the label in the first place, but decided they do deserve some
credit. While I usually don't find myself enjoying the recent Saifam songs as
much as I did in the past, I do have to say right away that this decade was much
more enjoyable on their front than previous years. The label isn't hovering
anywhere near my favorites, but it did seem to freshen up a bit and actually
offered a real bull's eye they haven't done in ages. Ivanhoe really
managed to blow me away and worked out as one of the best tracks on 197, this
shows there's definitely light at the end of the tunnel, at times at least. I do
kind of wish their songs had more of that old fire, but instead the tracks seem
to be often infused with elements of other genres or alternatively they are flat
out covers. The label has a certain style of pushing out new songs, which in the
end turn out to be just reworked old hits... Which does get boring after a while
though. Also reworking their old hits seems to be common these days, which is
sort of sad since newer songs would always be much more entertaining. But still
a nice decade and some really enjoyable tracks from Saifam and Mauro.
Three words to describe Asia/Saifam in the 190's: Covered, boastful & equal.
Label Grade : 8-
3 Biggest Asia/Saifam hits in the 190's
1. Alphatown - Ivanhoe (Super Eurobeat - 197)
Some songs just instantly lure you into their trap. Ivanhoe with its
medieval athmosphere was a direct bull's eye for me. Everything about the song
sounded so much like that good old Saifam I've missed for ages. The song has a
really proud attitude to the anthem its performing which makes it really
powerful. Great and at the same time silly lyrics fit the track just perfectly.
If the label does produce more hits like this, then there's definitely a lot to
look forward to.
2. Mark Foster - Kiss Me Divine (Super Eurobeat - 191)
This song was initially kind of hard to get. The song relies so heavily on the
chorus that the other parts get so easily overshadowed. The fun part is though
that the verses and melody themselves are what make the song so enjoyable and
good. There's nothing specifically different about the production or styles, but
it just shows what a good melody means for a song. Strong vocals by Mauro
as always. And oh... that chorus, if it doesn't get stuck in your head instantly
you must be deaf.
3. Tipsy & Tipsy - Hung Up (Super Eurobeat - 193)
While Super Eurobeat 193 itself was quite a horrible piece of horse dung, there
were some jewels in there as well. Hung Up works surprisingly well as an
eurobeat version, it really did open my eyes to the fact that even widely
acclaimed pop tracks can work out fine in a slightly more simplistic eurobeat
form. An excellent rendition of Madonna's classic one of the more
important tracks on 193 definitely. A fun song which is fun to come back time
after time.
Honorable Mentions:
- Mister Max - Shine (Super Eurobeat - 195)
- Valery Scott - A Simply Melody (Super Eurobeat - 192)
- Peek-A-Boo - Koko Soko (Super Eurobeat - 198)
Delta
I have to admit right off the bat that my memory is short. I was initially
thinking bout the different labels and how they did. For Delta I was thinking
that they really haven't been as good as they were in the past. Then the reality
hit me. Hit after hit after hit. The 190s were especially strong for Delta, they
didn't have an excessive amount of songs but they really did provide high
quality material. Out of their 12 songs only 4 were so so, and the rest were
pretty god damn awesome. What also is worth noticing is that the label didn't
really release a single totally crappy song. The variety the label also provided
was overwhelming in contrast to some of ther labels. Everytime I felt the label
couldn't get any better, they release an even better track with more fire and
desire. The two appereances by Delta Queens were very impactful on me and
just shows how much I value the material the Delta masterminds are capable of
producing. The male vocalists didn't get much rest either since Kevin
Johnson, Daniel, Mad Max & Luke were all rocketing skyhigh with their
releases. A very strong decade yet again by Delta, but I can't help wonder why I
constantly still feel slightly negative about what they've done? Maybe there's
some sort of a loophole here that I haven't quite yet grasped... Yet this label
also felt to revolve quite closely around the same vocalists, which with only 12
songs is in a way understandable, but still does make you want to hear others as
well.
Three words to describe Delta in the 190's: Bubbly, international & inbred.
Label Grade : 9+
3 Biggest Delta hits in the 190's
1. Kevin Johnson - Tonight Tonight (Super Eurobeat - 192)
Choosing the best songs for Delta this decade was a hard task definitely. With
many full 10 grades there was a lot to choose from. In the end I decided to lean
towards the magnificent Tonight Tonight on 192. The song manages to
create such an intense athmoshpere not a lot of tracks can compete with it. The
melody is simply irresistible and the fact that the song goes on for more than 6
minutes without once losing its edge says a lot. A few songs can manage to go on
for such a long time without having some lowpoints. Exactly the kind of eurobeat
I consider introducing to people outside of the genre when they ask what the
music really is about.
2. Delta Queens - Summer Boy, Summer Girl (Super Eurobeat - 199)
After the more mellow Tonight Tonight the opposite end of the Delta scale
is Summer Boy, Summer Girl with Euromach-esque hyper attitude. The song
is so irresistible good spirited it will make you move no matter where you are.
And I have wittnessed this when the song popped up on my iPhone at work and I
basically started to jiggle on the chair while typing... There's pretty much
everything correct about this track, the vocals, silly lyrics, upbeat melody and
great sounds make this an important part of the 190s Super Eurobeat decade.
3. Delta Queens - Bye Bye Tokyo (Super Eurobeat - 196)
While Summer Boy, Summer Girl was an explosive pack of upbeat energy,
Bye Bye Tokyo follows the trend but with a slightly more serious tone. The
song has a really strong beat that will drag you in whether you want it or not.
The galloping bass makes the track feel rushed and hyper, but at the same time
so perfectly fitting. Occasionally having a track like this playing at the
background when you are in a hurry it'll definitely help you move faster.
Excellent chorus and fun engrish, all the pieces needed to create a Delta
Queens song.
Honorable Mentions:
- Daniel - My Gasoline (Super Eurobeat - 191)
- Queen 26 - Upside Down (Super Eurobeat - 196)
- Luke - The Champion (Super Eurobeat - 197)
Dima Music
The Davide Di Marcantontio stable has finally made sure to settle
down firmly on SEB. This decade brought them more into the spotlight with 10
songs that had generally a very high level, but with signs of inflation going on
towards the end of the decade. The first 4 performances were really powerful and
memorable, but after that the label was balancing out between material that was
rather generic and not too memorable. The distinctive style Davide has
going on for himself is definitely fresh in these times when the music does
occasionally feel like rehashes of older tunes, but when his style starts to
feel repetitive only after such a short period that does make you wonder. The
question currently in my mind is whether the label can actually offer such high
quality music for a long time, or will they result in a more repetitive kind of
a label. My feelings after the 190s were slightly contradicted. On one hand I
was happy the label was present and provided a different approach to eurobeat,
but on the other hand it felt like the magic is already wearing out. In the end
I was leaning slightly towards the uncertainty. A decent decade, but definitely
not as high level as I would've hoped it to be.
Three words to describe Dima Music in the 190's: Indesicive, youthful &
resourceful.
Label Grade : 7½
3 Biggest Dima Music hits in the 190's
1. David Dima - King Of The World (Super Eurobeat - 195)
This powerhouse of a song is definitely the key in figuring out what the label
is good at. The song has extra energy to spare for multiple tracks and with its
macho attitude you will either love it or hate it. King Of The World is
simple yet effective, the kind of material that steals the show on a club when
played randomly to an audience who loves action. Aggressive kind of eurobeat
often fails with unimaginative sounds, but this song has plenty of originality
and extra hooks to spare.
2. Stephy Martini - Fever Of Love (Super Eurobeat - 194)
While I was originally skeptical about the success of a eurobeat album with only
love songs, the reality was it turned out to be from the better end of the 190s.
Fever Of Love was definitely one of the highlights with a very effective
approach to love songs. An inspiring chorus with beautiful vocals help this song
become memorable. Top that off with a beautiful melody and great sounds, nothing
really to complain about.
3. David Dima - Save A Prayer (Super Eurobeat - 193)
The good part about Dima Music is that they haven't resolved to doing
many covers yet, as those tend to drag on a bit. But slightly surprising the
cover of Duran Duran's Save A Prayer on SEB193 turned out to be
_the_ biggest thing for me on the album. An excellent cover version which keeps
the originals edge intact and adds up a finetuned electro approach. Excellent
vocalwork with a good song to work as a base you get great results.
Honorable Mentions:
- Kate Rush - One Day (Super Eurobeat - 196)
- Aleky - Eternity (Super Eurobeat - 199)
- Krystal & Dima - Let The Music Play (Super Eurobeat - 199)
Eurogrooves/Time
With times changing also the older labels seem to wither away. Time
was only present with 3 songs this decade, but fortunately the writers just
decided to switch their name to Eurogrooves instead. This change didn't
necessarily bring forth much differences to the old styles the label has been on
safe grounds with. During the 190s S. Dall'Ora and his vocalists did
really offer quite a rollercoaster ride. The decade brought forward some really
awesome tracks that combat very strongly of the best track's title in the 190s,
but it seems that for every awesome song there also was one absolutely appalling
piece. Quite literally for every 10 there was a 5 to go with. So the level of
the productions was completely out of control. I do have to admit that although
the changes in production aren't very visible between Time and Eurogrooves, but
things did feel slightly more fresh under Eurogrooves, so maybe they did have
some spirit to actually push forward a new title. What I would like to note
though is that all of the best tracks the label released were performed by their
macho acts and all of the horrible acts were done by women... Maybe there's a
pattern here, hmmm. I wasn't too happy with the fact that out of 12 songs 5 were
covers... They need more original work in the future definitely.
Three words to describe Eurogrooves/Time in the 190's: Testosteronic, waverly
& zealous.
Label Grade : 7+
3 Biggest Eurogrooves/Time hits in the 190's
1. De Leo - Save Another Day For Me (Super Eurobeat - 195)
I have noticed that when Time manages to make a track that I enjoy, they
really go all the way and put all of their bets into a song. Save Another Day
For Me was a song that stood out of an excellent album without any issues at
all. A powerful melody with impressive vocalwork by Cristian De Leo is a
good combination, the powerful melodies just don't always function as well as in
this very song. With effective verses the song builds up energy that it
unleashes in the chorus that works as the cherry on top of the icecream
perfectly. Impressive work that shows there's still power in Dall'Ora.
2. Eurogroove - Euronight (Super Eurobeat - 192)
Can a song with so many euro words even fail? Like once or twice a year the new
releases have songtitles that you just know are gonna be epic. Euronight
was definitely one of the biggest prime examples of those songs. The song is
oozing with raw energy and eurobeat actions. From the funky intro to the
absolutely hillariously macho chorus, everything that worked out well for this
song. Definitely a track that should be an album opener for every nonstop Super
Eurobeat album.
3. Jordan - King Of Eurobeat (Super Eurobeat - 197)
This decade had many kinds of kings and the men with their macho attitude really
pulled off the big role well. King Of Eurobeat sounds every bit as
majestetic as the title promises. Powerful, passionate and memorable.
Eurogrooves can really pull off an impressive performance when they want to,
just need a great melody and one of their roaring men to take the mic. This was
a perfect ending for one of the better albums this decade.
Honorable Mentions:
- Lou Hunter - The Never Ending Story (Super Eurobeat - 193)
- Veronica - Mamma Mia (Super Eurobeat - 196)
- Kasanova - I Remember (Super Eurobeat - 194)
Go Go's Music
What Go Go's Music was doing right in the 180s is still very heavily
present. This decade basically had only huge hits by them, the grades the tracks
got really speak for themselves. The shortest straw was a 8½, which is still
nothing to frown upon on. The upbeat attitude and rich soundworlds help the
label's productions stand out on every album they appear on. There's just
something about the way Domino & Sandro Oliva produce their music
that instantly appeals to my taste. Maybe the attitude and lively attitude help
me love them so much, maybe it's the fact they have multiple of my favorite
vocalists or maybe just the reality that their tracks are so well produced, I do
not know, but I recon it's all of these put together. It was delightful to hear
Virginelle returning to the scene with her three songs (although one a
remake of an old song under A-Beat C), but still... the old flame is still
there, and burning hot. An excellent decade yet again by GGM, if they manage to
keep the same level up for long they are definitely going to become the biggest
and most important thing in the eurobeat world. Yet I can also feel that there's
slight inflation going on, maybe something new needs to happen in the future for
the label. Got to say that this decade was highly girly with only a few male
performances, but I'm perfectly okay with such!
Three words to describe Go Go's Music in the 190's: Dokidoki, wakuwaku &
parapara.
Label Grade : 9½
3 Biggest Go Go's Music hits in the 190's
1. Mari-San - Don't Belong (Super Eurobeat - 195)
The new comer Mari-San really deserves the spot at the top of the GGM
releases. Don't Belong presented us with such a powerful presentation
none of the other women can really compete. The vocalwork is just so strong and
distinctive she has a bright future ahead of her in the music industry if she
keeps going on for longer. Excellent chorus and slightly enigmatic sounds make
the song stand out from the masses and also from the otherwise strong Super
Eurobeat 195.
2. Virginelle - The Power Of Love (Super Eurobeat - 198)
Chirpy and upbeat Elena G. is finally back with a song that does justice
to her cheery persona. Powerful singing and a happy melody are the two things I
combine with the Virginelle title and this song is everything like that.
The song stood out from the otherwise slightly lacking 198 due to the powerful
performance that Elena put out. While there have been other songs
performed by her in the recent past, none of them have had a similar power
attached to them. Like the good old days!
3. Project 2 - Ultra Mi-Ha Deluxe (Super Eurobeat - 195)
This duet from 195 was lastly chosen as a track to be mentioned as the label's
highest tier. Ultra Mi-Ha Deluxe is an upbeat song which combines the
strong vocals by Marina Santelli and Silvio Rondelli to a
masterful showdown. Both of the vocalists bring out the best in eachother when
the deep Mari-San vocals meet the masculine and fierce Leo River.
An excellent piece of eurobeat art that functions well as an introduction to the
slightly happier style of eurobeat.
Honorable Mentions:
- Domino - Para Girl (Domino Girl's Pop Mix) (Super Eurobeat - 192)
- Domino & Kaioh - Nack 5 (Super Eurobeat - 192)
- Leo River - Don't Let Me Go (Super Eurobeat - 197)
HI-NRG Attack
These past few years I have noticed to growing slightly past the style HRG
has been pushing out. I am not sure whether it's a question of taste developing
away from a certain direction or if their material just hasn't been as ingenious
and memorable. The 190s did show there's still hope for the label though.
Although there is still a huge variety in the productions the overall feeling
the label left on me was positive. The great songs label released were inventive
and different from their regular standards which helps out keeping things fresh.
Also breaking out the old form definitely seems to be doing good for the label's
own image. They're not only about giddy parapara material but can produce a more
mature kind of song when they feel like it. As was with Eurogrooves, also HI-NRG
Attack seems to have a fair share of hits and misses. For every really good song
there's an opposing horrible performance to go. The biggest impact I honestly
felt with HRG was the slower love song influenced 194 where both of the label's
tracks really stood out for their own good. Even with the multiple bad tracks
available I was quite pleased with what the label eventually came up with. Not
maybe as high level as the 180s over all, but still decent enough.
Three words to describe HI-NRG Attack in the 190's: Experiemental, wacky &
colorful.
Label Grade : 7
3 Biggest HI-NRG Attack hits in the 190's
1. Pistol Girl - Si La Do (Super
Eurobeat - 194)
There's just something very peculiar about this song. It's not exactly all that
different from the usual material the label produces, but it still maintains a
really finetuned and polished mood. The song sounds like eurobeat alright, but
it still has a bit of a videogame music-like feel to it. As if the sounds could
easily be used for a boss fight or something, quite a funky feel in the end. Fun
and weird lyrics, good vocals and a good melody, not much more you need.
2. Rick Castle - Dolcevita Tonight (Super Eurobeat - 194)
Every once in a while HRG manages to surprise me completely. What they are
really good at is the intros... And when the spectacular intro is paired with a
great song on other terms as well there's nothing to really improve with. The
song stands out as one of the slightly faster tracks on 194 but it still fits
the mood perfectly. A love song with an upbeat approach to it, quite a blissful
package this is. Dolcevita Tonight is the kind of song that you need to
give some time before it really grows on you.
3. HI-NRG All Stars - Rumiringo Superstar (Super Eurobeat - 198)
The way HRG likes to dedicate songs to clubs, people and places has become sort
of their trademark. Rumiringo Superstar is fortunately from the better
end of their dedicated tunes. The song is blessed with a really cheery melody
and high pitched vocals that will definitely scare away the generic music
listener. But for the people who do enjoy this kind of wackiness are definitely
going to feel satisfied with the song. Simple but still variable enough to be
memorable.
Honorable Mentions:
- Black Eva - Wroom Wroom Supercar (Super Eurobeat - 198)
- Joe Banana - Wild Boy Bad Love (Super Eurobeat - 195)
- Mad Cow - I Feel Like A Molotov (Super Eurobeat - 197)
SCP
This decade I was quite truthfully expecting SCP to go downhill. Their high
level has been maintaining for so long it's only a matter of time before things
have to go down. Fortunately it wasn't just yet, since 190s carried on with the
similar level as the 180s. While this decade provided some actual duds as well,
they were few amongst really highly polished diamonds. The variety the label
offers is keeping things constantly fresh and that's what makes the label so
enjoyable. Also the introduction of new names every now and then keeps it
exciting, never know what kind of material we'll get next. The few duds this
decade weren't anything diabolically bad, but as opposed to the previous decades
it does feel that not every track the label releases is anymore an instant hit.
Also the bigger names like Go 2 are slightly losing the initial magic.
Though they did bring forth yet an another masterpiece at the end of the decade,
so can't go badmouthing them at all. Props for SCP in trying out duets and new
vocalist combinations, I definitely enjoy these highly.
Three words to describe SCP in the 190's: Variable, modern & vanguard.
Label Grade : 9-
3 Biggest SCP hits in the 190's
1. Irene - Food Fighter (Super Eurobeat - 192)
This track is definitely going to divide the listeners strongly. The people
who can't stand high pitched girls won't probably stand to listen to the song
excessively, but for the others... Well this is pure bliss. An inventive song
with wacky lyrics and a bubbly mood that's definitely edible. Whoever came up
with the idea to sing about food in this fashion should be awarded a metal. All
these specific themes help the tracks become memorable, now if this song sang
about your everyday babies and love, who knows if anyone would remember it in 10
years. But now... well it's delicious!
2. Fastway - Love Countdown (Super Eurobeat - 197)
With a long career and multiple hits in his sleeve, Fastway is definitely
a force to be reckoned with. Occasionally my pessimism takes over and I get the
feeling that the old legends can't get any better... I was really happy to be
proven wrong when Love Countdown was released. The song is everything a
classic Fastway track is about. The song brings forth so much energy and
passion it definitely climbs into the top tier with Shock Out and Make
Or Brake. Such fierce power is not easy to blast out so it's definitely easy
to notice how strongly Ennio feels about his music. An important
milestone on the career of one of the biggest eurobeat performers these days.
3. Scream Team - Kooky Spooky (Super Eurobeat
- 195)
The same reasons that applied for Food Fighter apply here directly. Songs
with specific themes are always more easy to grab a hold of and remember.
Kooky Spooky is not only memorable, it's also very catchy and fun to blast
out. The silly lyrics and Halloween-y sounds fit the track perfectly. It just
shows it's worth waiting for a long time for the new Scream Team
performance if the level is going to remain as high in the future as well.
Honorable Mentions:
- Go 2 & DJ Boss - Superstar (Super Eurobeat - 199)
- Jay Lehr - Bright Time (Super Eurobeat - 196)
- Go 2 - Don't Turn It Off (Super Eurobeat - 197)
SinclaireStyle
With only 7 songs during this decade I wasn't quite sure whether I should
review SinclaireStyle's performance or not, but then figured it'd be worth it.
Although the reality is that my general feelings towards the productions by SS
aren't too positive. The start of this decade looked really bad for Sinclaire
since the first 3 entries were all songs I pretty much disliked all the way. I
haven't been able to listen to the rather horrible rendition of Too Young To
Fall In Love, which strongly helped in me wanting to avoid eurobeat for a
while. But fortunately things did pick up for the better after that. The rest of
the decade looked a lot better and the label actually pushed forward a few
really excellent songs that showed there's still hope. The remake of King And
Queen was a definite highlight but also Maurizio's return with
Super Eurobeat was worth noting. The label is definitely something that
divides the listeners strongly. I have discussed with a lot of people about the
styles the label produces and some absolutely adore the distinctive synths and
sounds, but what do you do when you don't? Well, I'm still hopeful that the
future is going to be paved with yellow bricks.
Three words to describe SinclaireStyle in the 190's: Metallic, simple &
sympathetic.
Label Grade : 6½
3 Biggest SinclaireStyle hits in the 190's
1. Tora - King And Queen (Classic Mix) (Super Eurobeat - 196)
The importance of this original song for the eurobeat culture is quite a lot. It
getting a remake was no surprise, but what was surprising is that the cover
actually worked out really well. I was skeptical that the old classic could be
modernized without losing the old magic. Fortunately the song did turn out to be
really effective with good vocals that compete with originals and also provide a
nice extra boost. If only the annoying samples Sinclaire enjoys were stripped
out, this would've been a perfect 10.
2. Niko - Super Eurobeat (Super Eurobeat - 197)
With such a strong performer the songs are always bound to be somewhat of a
success (or so I thought until I heard Too Young To Fall In Love remake).
But Super Eurobeat is a completely different thing fortunately. The song
provides energy and action that is reminiscient to the good old 1990's style
Sinclaire had in control. Nowa days the songs that are fast still somehow feel
hollow, but this track manages to escape that trap. An effective eurobeat song
with a great chorus and powerful vocals.
3. Megan - I Will Survive (Super Eurobeat - 195)
This very song didn't initially sparkle all that much hope in me, but time
helped it develop a love affair with my mind. A simple upbeat song that features
a very catchy chorus and some nice vocalwork made this one of the better entries
by SS during the 190s. Nothing especially different from the norm but that still
works out fine when you start on a good chord.
Reviewed by Bore
