Eurodance: Dreams of a Better World | Spiritual Themes in 90s Dance Music

Eurodance: Dreams of a Better World is a reaction and commentary on a playlist of influential Eurodance and Electronic tracks from the 1990s. The host explores the spiritual themes present in many of the songs, highlighting how they reflected a generation's search for meaning and how some young adults of the 90s may have been seeking alternatives to traditional Western spirituality, using music and dance culture as an outlet.

Playlist:
The Beloved - The Sun Rising (1989)
The ethereal vocal sample in this ambient house classic has a centuries-old secret. It's a snippet from "O Euchari," a song composed way back in the 12th century by the German abbess Hildegard von Bingen, blending early house music with a medieval, spiritual feel.

Adamski ft. Seal - Killer (1990)
Perhaps the track that launched Seal's career? Reportedly producer Adamski had an instrumental called "Killer," and by pure coincidence, Seal had written lyrics for a song he also titled "Killer." He recorded his powerful vocals in a single take, launching him onto the global stage.

The KLF - Justified & Ancient (1991)
This track features one of music's most unlikely collaborations: the anarchic duo The KLF and American country legend Tammy Wynette. The subtitle, "(Stand by the JAMs)," is a direct nod to her hit "Stand by Your Man." The idea was a whim, but one phone call to Nashville made it happen, leading to a number one hit in 18 countries.

The Future Sound of London - Papua New Guinea (1991)
The haunting, otherworldly vocal in this ambient classic isn't from Papua New Guinea. It's a sample of Lisa Gerrard from the group Dead Can Dance. This was fused with a bassline from Meat Beat Manifesto's "Radio Babylon," creating a sound that helped define the electronic landscape of the early '90s.

Opus III - It's A Fine Day (1992)
This global dance anthem began as a simple a cappella piece from 1983. The vocalist, Kirsty Hawkshaw, was discovered at a rave and happens to be the daughter of Alan Hawkshaw, the composer of the iconic Countdown and Grange Hill TV themes. A reversed sample of her vocals was later used by Orbital for their classic track "Halcyon."

Urban Cookie Collective - The Key, The Secret (1993)
The powerful voice behind this Eurodance smash belongs to Diane Charlemagne. While she hit the pop charts here, her incredible range meant she was also the lead singer of the '80s jazz-funk band 52nd Street and later became the iconic voice of the drum and bass scene, singing on Goldie's legendary track "Inner City Life."

2 Brothers On The 4th Floor - Dreams (Will Come Alive) (1994)
This Eurodance group's name has a very literal origin. It was formed by producer brothers Bobby and Martin Boer, whose bedroom studio was located on the fourth floor of their apartment building. "Dreams" became their most successful single and a number-one hit in their native Netherlands.

Ice MC - Think About the Way (1994)
Though credited to rapper Ice MC, the powerful chorus that made this song a hit was sung by Italian vocalist Alexia. Her contribution was so significant that in the UK and US, the track was released as "Ice MC featuring Alexia." Its legacy was cemented when it was featured in the iconic 1996 film Trainspotting.

Chicane - Saltwater (1999)
The haunting vocal in this trance classic comes from a very special source: Máire Brennan, the lead singer of the legendary Celtic band Clannad. The lyrics are adapted from the Clannad song "Theme from Harry's Game," blending a traditional Irish melody with progressive trance to create a timeless anthem.