New Beat
Encyclopedia
New Beat is a term that was used in the 1980s to refer to two different genres
of electronic dance music
. It also refers to an underground 1980s Belgian music
style.
during the early '80s. At the time, this New Beat music was a contemporary genre to Techno
from Detroit and House
from Chicago
, although not intrinsically linked. The Americans at the time used the term to describe those music styles that they never heard before. It was the new beat of the time, the new sound, very different from Hi-NRG
disco, New Wave
, Synth Pop, Rap. The term was soon replaced by other terms, so virtually any USA hits once described as "New Beat" are today considered a part of another music style, most of the time simply House or Techno.
The second time that the term New Beat used, was in Europe. First, appeared in Belgium, around 1987, to describe a local music style that mainly developed out of 'Bodybeat' heralded by the early formation of Front 242
and other such acts as Praga Khan
and Lords of Acid
.
When MTV Europe
began in the summer of 1987, it brought the term to the UK. In the UK, the term New Beat was used in 1987–1988 for various local Acid house
/ Techno Rave
productions, to point out that this was a new sound of dance music and a less commercial alternative to UK's Eurobeat
. Eurobeat was at the time used in the UK for the Stock Aitken Waterman
productions.
Eventually, the term became mainstream, especially between the summer of 1989 and the summer of 1990, but faded fast after Euro House took over.
Because of the relation of the "New Beat" and Acid house in the UK during 1988, the later commercial "New Beat" European productions, sported the Smiley
as symbol of love in the British related markets. Various British "New Beat" productions, eventually migrated to the 'Bacalao' scene in Valencia Spain
.
Before the term New Beat began to fade (during 1990-1991), it was used one last time to describe many Belgium and German dance groups like Technotronic
, Snap!
, Confetti's
, The adventures of Stevie V, McSar & the Real McCoy and Twenty4Seven on the minor European (and related) markets (Greece, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Israel, Southern France). The term in this case used again like the way it used in USA almost a decade before to describe the overall "new" dance sound of the time and not so much a music style. It was generally used to fill the "gap" between 80s Euro disco
and the 90s Euro-House).
USA fans of 90s Eurohouse (in the USA the term "90s Eurodance
" is used), testify that the term New Beat was also used for a short while during the early 90s, to describe various early 90s imports on the USA market, like 2 Unlimited
, Quadrophonia
, T99
, etc.
in the late 1980s, especially in 1987 and 1988.
The Belgian New Beat was an underground danceable music style, well known at clubs and discos in Europe. It is a local crossover of EBM, Acid and mid 80s underground House music. The 80s Dark Wave also became an aesthetic influence (especially Depeche Mode
's videos from 1985–1989).
At the time, EBM was popular in German speaking countries and The Netherlands, Acid / Acid Trance was popular in the UK, and House Music (in a 80s Eurodisco French twist) was popular in France. Belgium created this unique music sound, with huge underground success all over Europe.
Legend has it that the Belgian New Beat genre was invented in the nightclub Boccaccio
in Destelbergen
near Ghent
when DJ Marc Grouls played a 45rpm EBM record at 33rpm, with the pitch control
set to +8. The track in question was Flesh by A Split-Second
.
In addition to A Split-Second, the genre was also heavily influenced by other EBM acts such as Front 242
and The Neon Judgement
, as well as the likes of Fad Gadget
, Gary Numan
and Anne Clark
.
In 1989–1990, the genre spawned some short-lived sub-genres or successor genres Hard Beat and Schizzo - the latter being a techno-influenced style, considerably faster than the original slow new beat style.
The most commercially successful New Beat groups were Confetti's
and The Lords of Acid, which had heavy airplay on the MTV Europe show "Party Zone". MTV Europe's VJ Steve Blame
was a great fan of New Beat and through his position on MTV News, promoted the Belgium's New Beat sound through his reports.
Many Europeans consider New Beat as a forerunner of European House (Euro-House). Others consider "New Beat" to have been the first true European dance music style that had no Euro disco (Italo Disco
- Eurobeat) influences. New Beat incorporated more Techno and Acid house influences, as opposed to the Euro disco influences of Euro House.
Music genre
A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other types of music...
of electronic dance music
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
. It also refers to an underground 1980s Belgian music
Music of Belgium
The music of Belgium is a cultural crossroads where Flemish Dutch-speaking and Walloon French-speaking traditions mix with those of German minorities and of immigrant communities from Democratic Republic of the Congo and other distant countries....
style.
Terminology
The term New Beat was first used in the USAUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the early '80s. At the time, this New Beat music was a contemporary genre to Techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
from Detroit and House
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, although not intrinsically linked. The Americans at the time used the term to describe those music styles that they never heard before. It was the new beat of the time, the new sound, very different from Hi-NRG
Hi-NRG
Hi-NRG describes a form of high-tempo disco music as well as a genre of electronic dance music originating in the United States during the late 1970s...
disco, New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
, Synth Pop, Rap. The term was soon replaced by other terms, so virtually any USA hits once described as "New Beat" are today considered a part of another music style, most of the time simply House or Techno.
The second time that the term New Beat used, was in Europe. First, appeared in Belgium, around 1987, to describe a local music style that mainly developed out of 'Bodybeat' heralded by the early formation of Front 242
Front 242
Front 242 is a pioneering Belgian electronic music group that came into prominence during the 1980s. They are known for being the premier pioneer of electronic body music and as a major influence on the electronic and industrial music genres.-Formation:...
and other such acts as Praga Khan
Praga Khan
Praga Khan is a Belgian techno musician, primarily in the new beat style.-Overview:Praga Khan is one of the pioneers of the new beat / acid house / rave sound, and has contributed to the theatrical scene with his musical collaborations in The Next Dimension and Code Red.In the late 1980s, he...
and Lords of Acid
Lords of Acid
Lords of Acid is a Belgian-American post-industrial/techno band, led by musician Praga Khan. They debuted with the controversial new beat single "I Sit on Acid" in 1988...
.
When MTV Europe
MTV Europe
MTV Europe is a pan-European 24-hour entertainment cable and digital television network launched on August 1, 1987. Initially, the channel served all regions within Europe being one of the very few channels that targeted the entire European continent...
began in the summer of 1987, it brought the term to the UK. In the UK, the term New Beat was used in 1987–1988 for various local Acid house
Acid house
Acid house is a sub-genre of house music that emphasizes a repetitive, hypnotic and trance-like style, often with samples or spoken lines rather than sung lyrics. Acid house's core electronic squelch sounds were developed around the mid-1980s, particularly by DJs from Chicago who experimented with...
/ Techno Rave
Rave
Rave, rave dance, and rave party are parties that originated mostly from acid house parties, which featured fast-paced electronic music and light shows. At these parties people dance and socialize to dance music played by disc jockeys and occasionally live performers...
productions, to point out that this was a new sound of dance music and a less commercial alternative to UK's Eurobeat
Eurobeat
Eurobeat is a form of italo-disco/hi-NRG music that developed in the late 1980s.In the United States, Eurobeat was sometimes marketed as Hi-NRG and for a short while shared this term with the very early freestyle music hits....
. Eurobeat was at the time used in the UK for the Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman, sometimes known as SAW, were a UK songwriting and record producing trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. They had great success during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s...
productions.
Eventually, the term became mainstream, especially between the summer of 1989 and the summer of 1990, but faded fast after Euro House took over.
Because of the relation of the "New Beat" and Acid house in the UK during 1988, the later commercial "New Beat" European productions, sported the Smiley
Smiley
A smiley, smiley face, or happy face, is a stylized representation of a smiling human face, commonly occurring in popular culture. It is commonly represented as a yellow circle with two black dots representing eyes and a black arc representing the mouth...
as symbol of love in the British related markets. Various British "New Beat" productions, eventually migrated to the 'Bacalao' scene in Valencia Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Before the term New Beat began to fade (during 1990-1991), it was used one last time to describe many Belgium and German dance groups like Technotronic
Technotronic
Technotronic is a Belgian studio-based music project formed in 1988 by Jo Bogaert , who had already made his musical mark in the beginning of the 1980s as a part of a cover band and as a solo artist under various New Beat projects, including The Acts of Madmen and Nux Nemo...
, Snap!
Snap!
Snap! is a German Eurodance project formed in 1989 by Frankfurt-based producers Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti. The act has been through a number of line-up changes over the years, but was most successful when fronted by rapper Turbo B, who performed on the UK number 1 singles "The Power" and...
, Confetti's
Confetti's
Confetti’s was a Belgian New Beat band from the 1980s. Producers were Serge Ramaekers and Dominique Sas, sometimes credited as The Maxx...
, The adventures of Stevie V, McSar & the Real McCoy and Twenty4Seven on the minor European (and related) markets (Greece, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Israel, Southern France). The term in this case used again like the way it used in USA almost a decade before to describe the overall "new" dance sound of the time and not so much a music style. It was generally used to fill the "gap" between 80s Euro disco
Euro disco
Euro disco is an all encompassing colloquial term used to describe a variety of European electronic dance music that first originated from disco in the 1970s; incorporating elements of pop, New Wave and rock into disco-like continuous dance atmosphere...
and the 90s Euro-House).
USA fans of 90s Eurohouse (in the USA the term "90s Eurodance
Eurodance
Eurodance is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1980s or early 1990s primarily in Europe. It combines many elements from House, Techno, Hi-NRG and especially Italo-Disco...
" is used), testify that the term New Beat was also used for a short while during the early 90s, to describe various early 90s imports on the USA market, like 2 Unlimited
2 Unlimited
2 Unlimited is a Dutch Eurodance/Hi-NRG act formed in 1991. The project was the brainchild of Belgian producers Jean-Paul DeCoster and Phil Wilde, and was fronted by a Dutch duo, rapper Ray Slijngaard and singer Anita Doth. During five years of enormous worldwide popularity, the act scored 16 chart...
, Quadrophonia
Quadrophonia
Quadrophonia were a Dutch dance act, formed by Olivier Abbeloos and Lucien Foort in the late 1980s, with several of their tracks performed by Marvin D ....
, T99
T99
T99 was a Belgian techno band, best known for their rave anthem, "Anasthasia", which reached #14 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1991.T99 was initially Patrick de Meyer, who released three solo works under this pseudonym...
, etc.
Definition
The New Beat sound originated in BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in the late 1980s, especially in 1987 and 1988.
The Belgian New Beat was an underground danceable music style, well known at clubs and discos in Europe. It is a local crossover of EBM, Acid and mid 80s underground House music. The 80s Dark Wave also became an aesthetic influence (especially Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
's videos from 1985–1989).
At the time, EBM was popular in German speaking countries and The Netherlands, Acid / Acid Trance was popular in the UK, and House Music (in a 80s Eurodisco French twist) was popular in France. Belgium created this unique music sound, with huge underground success all over Europe.
Legend has it that the Belgian New Beat genre was invented in the nightclub Boccaccio
Boccaccio (nightclub)
Boccaccio was a nightclub in Destelbergen, near Ghent, Belgium.The club is known being the breeding ground for New Beat. It was a diamond shaped venue which was crowded at the time, with people from all over Europe wanting to hear this kind of new music. Based on electronic body music but played...
in Destelbergen
Destelbergen
Destelbergen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Destelbergen proper and Heusden and was created on January 1, 1977 by the fusion of these two municipalities...
near Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
when DJ Marc Grouls played a 45rpm EBM record at 33rpm, with the pitch control
Pitch control
A variable speed pitch control is a control on an audio device such as a turntable, tape recorder, or CD player that allows the operator to deviate from a standard speed . The latter term "vari-speed" is more commonly used for tape decks, particularly in the UK...
set to +8. The track in question was Flesh by A Split-Second
A Split-Second
A Split-Second was a Belgian electronic body music band. The duo — Marc Ickx and Peter Bonne — were active from their debut in 1986 until they split up in 1991, and A Split-Second continued as an Ickx solo project.After signing to Antler Records, A Split-Second made their debut in 1986...
.
In addition to A Split-Second, the genre was also heavily influenced by other EBM acts such as Front 242
Front 242
Front 242 is a pioneering Belgian electronic music group that came into prominence during the 1980s. They are known for being the premier pioneer of electronic body music and as a major influence on the electronic and industrial music genres.-Formation:...
and The Neon Judgement
The Neon Judgement
The Neon Judgement is a Belgian new wave band.The band was started in Leuven in 1981 by Dirk Da Davo and TB Frank.On the 21st of August 1985, the band opened a new alternative music festival, named Pukkelpop...
, as well as the likes of Fad Gadget
Fad Gadget
Fad Gadget is the stage name of Francis John Tovey , a British avant-garde electronic musician and vocalist. He was a proponent of both New Wave and early Industrial music....
, Gary Numan
Gary Numan
Gary Numan is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals.Numan is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music...
and Anne Clark
Anne Clark
Anne Clark is an English poet and songwriter. Her first album, The Sitting Room, was released in 1982, and she has released over a dozen albums since then....
.
In 1989–1990, the genre spawned some short-lived sub-genres or successor genres Hard Beat and Schizzo - the latter being a techno-influenced style, considerably faster than the original slow new beat style.
The most commercially successful New Beat groups were Confetti's
Confetti's
Confetti’s was a Belgian New Beat band from the 1980s. Producers were Serge Ramaekers and Dominique Sas, sometimes credited as The Maxx...
and The Lords of Acid, which had heavy airplay on the MTV Europe show "Party Zone". MTV Europe's VJ Steve Blame
Steve Blame
Steve Blame was MTV News Editor and Presenter between 1987 and 1994.Autobiography released 2010. : MTV, Deutschland und Ich. Relentlessly honest, relentlessly self-deprecating: the icon of the MTV generation grows up....
was a great fan of New Beat and through his position on MTV News, promoted the Belgium's New Beat sound through his reports.
Many Europeans consider New Beat as a forerunner of European House (Euro-House). Others consider "New Beat" to have been the first true European dance music style that had no Euro disco (Italo Disco
Italo disco
Italo disco encompasses much of the dance music output in Europe during the 1980s. It is one of the world's first forms of mostly electronic dance music and evolved during the late 1970s and early 1980s in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and other parts of Europe...
- Eurobeat) influences. New Beat incorporated more Techno and Acid house influences, as opposed to the Euro disco influences of Euro House.
Artists
- The 2 DJ's
- Lords of AcidLords of AcidLords of Acid is a Belgian-American post-industrial/techno band, led by musician Praga Khan. They debuted with the controversial new beat single "I Sit on Acid" in 1988...
- Cold Sensation
- Confetti'sConfetti'sConfetti’s was a Belgian New Beat band from the 1980s. Producers were Serge Ramaekers and Dominique Sas, sometimes credited as The Maxx...
- Amnesia
- Erotic Dissidents
- Heart Of Orion
- Fax Yourself
- Jade 4U
- Bizz NizzBizz NizzBizz Nizz was a Belgian dance act formed in 1989 by Jean-Paul de Coster, of Antwerp.The dancefloor filling single's, "We're Gonna Catch You!" and "Don't Miss the Party Line" were both substantional hits across Europe, including in the United Kingdom where "Don't Miss The Partyline" reached number...
- 101
- Dirty Harry
- In-D
- The Maxx
- Major Problem
- Miss Nicky Trax
- Morton Sherman BellucciMorton Sherman BellucciMorton , Sherman and Belluci were among the founders of the New Beat musical movement in Belgium in 1987. Combined, they released over 100 recordings under various names in less than a year during the peak of the movement....
- Nasty Thoughts
- Public RelationPublic Relation (band)Public Relation was an Belgian New Beat/EBM band.They are one of the earliest New Beat bands.Their most famous songs are "Eighty Eight" and "New Beat Mind".The members were : Daniël Holderberg, Didier Biot and Patrick Degraeve.-Discography-...
- Rhythm Device
- Taste of Sugar
- Tragic Error, formerly known as Fatal ErrorFatal errorIn computing, a fatal error or fatal exception error is an error that causes a program to abort and may therefore return the user to the operating system. When this happens, data that the program was processing may be lost. A fatal error is usually distinguished from a fatal system error...
- Praga KhanPraga KhanPraga Khan is a Belgian techno musician, primarily in the new beat style.-Overview:Praga Khan is one of the pioneers of the new beat / acid house / rave sound, and has contributed to the theatrical scene with his musical collaborations in The Next Dimension and Code Red.In the late 1980s, he...
- Olivier Adams
- T99T99T99 was a Belgian techno band, best known for their rave anthem, "Anasthasia", which reached #14 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1991.T99 was initially Patrick de Meyer, who released three solo works under this pseudonym...
- LA Style
- B-art
- NeonNeonNeon is the chemical element that has the symbol Ne and an atomic number of 10. Although a very common element in the universe, it is rare on Earth. A colorless, inert noble gas under standard conditions, neon gives a distinct reddish-orange glow when used in either low-voltage neon glow lamps or...
- Plaza
Video clips
- Reese & SantonioKevin SaundersonKevin Saunderson is an American electronic music producer. At the age of nine he moved to Belleville, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit where he attended Belleville High School and befriended two students, Derrick May and Juan Atkins...
- Rock To The Beat (coveredCover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by 101)
External links
- Dutch Belgian New Beat site
- New Beat: One Nation Under A (Slowed Down) Groove - From NME, issue no. unknown, 1991.
- New Beat Flashback - Interviews and Information about New Beat. On the 1.15 sec, V.J. Marcel Vanthilt from MTV Europe talks about New Beat and take interviews in English. The rest clip is in Flemish.
- Belgian Pop & Rock Archive
- jahsonic.com's New Beat History
- New Beat: The Sound of the Benelux A New Beat portal site created by V/Vm Test RecordsV/Vm Test RecordsV/Vm Test records is a record label based in Stockport, England and was started by James Kirby and Andrew Macgregor in 1996...
- Belgazone New Beat site in french. Many tracks and video clips
- This Is Belgium Part One: New Beat Radio Soulwax Video on New Beat