Eurobeat
Located in 2 routes
Eurobeat is high-speed Italo-derived dance music with fast tempos, galloping bass, bright synth brass, dramatic key changes, and shouted English hooks. It is more frantic and guitar-solo-flashy than mainstream Eurodance, and it often feels like racing music even outside anime context. The vocals, riffs, and energy are exaggerated on purpose.
History
Eurobeat began from Italo disco and Hi-NRG producers, then became especially important in Japan through Avex's Super Eurobeat series, para para dancing, and Initial D. Dave Rodgers, Max Coveri, Leslie Parrish, Niko, Edo Boys, Marko Polo, Mega NRG Man, Manuel, Go2, m.o.v.e, Aleph, and Mike Hammer became key names or aliases in the culture. Initial D made the genre newly famous worldwide by tying Eurobeat's tempo and melodrama to mountain-pass racing scenes.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- Super Eurobeat / Initial D soundtrack listings
- Avex release histories
- Eurobeat-Prime style references
- para para and Discogs release records