Happy hardcore explained

Happy hardcore
Cultural Origins:Early 1990s, UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany
Derivatives:UK hardcore

Happy hardcore, also known as 4-beat or happycore, is a subgenre of hardcore dance music or "hard dance". It emerged both from the UK breakbeat hardcore rave scene, and Belgian, German and Dutch hardcore techno scenes in the early 1990s. The thing that makes happy hardcore stand apart from Gabber, is that happy hardcore tends to have breakbeats running alongside the 4/4 kick drum.

History

Origins

The breakbeat hardcore rave scene was beginning to fragment by late 1992 into a number of subsequent breakbeat-based genres: darkcore (tracks embracing dark-themed samples and stabs), hardcore jungle (reggae basslines and influences became prominent), and 4-beat also known as happy hardcore where piano rolls and uplifting vocals were still central to the sound. DJs such as Slipmatt, DJ Sy, DJ Seduction, Wishdokta, DJ Dougal, and DJ Vibes continued to play and put out music of this nature throughout 1993/94 – notably Slipmatt through the SMD releases, Wishdokta as "Naughty Naughty", and Seduction on the Impact label.[1]

1990s growth

The sound of happy hardcore changed in the 1990s, with tracks increasingly losing their breakbeats towards a stomping distorted 909 4/4 kick drum pattern, with more original vocal leads and stab patterns. DJs and producers that began to come through included Hixxy, Breeze, Force & Styles, DJ Sharkey, and DJ DNA,[2] and tracks that started to define the genre included "Heart of Gold", "Pretty Green Eyes", "Cloudy Daze", "Sunshine after the Rain", "Above the Clouds", "Discoland", "Love of my Life", "Techno Wonderland", and "Hardcore Fever".[3] Throughout the mid-late 1990s, the compilation series Bonkers would be commercially popular and showcase the latest happy hardcore music. Bonkers only really came into being due to the record label React showing interest in Toy Town, and Hixxy and Sharkey convincing the label to do a compilation album deal instead.[4]

2000s

In the UK, the scene received its own special on BBC Radio 1 called John Peel Is Not Enough (named after a track by CLSM) in 2004.[5] The scene continued to expand, with compilations such as Clubland X-Treme Hardcore, and an evermore youthful audience.[6] In 2009, DJ Kutski hosted a show featuring hard dance and hardcore on Radio 1.[7]

Happy hardcore compilations

Notable happy hardcore compilation albums include:

See also

References

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Gone To A Rave: High On A Happy Vibe – The Rise And Fall Of Hardcore. Ransom Note . 29 January 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160820152038/http://www.theransomnote.com/music/gone-rave/gone-to-a-rave-35-high-on-a-happy-vibe-the-rise-and-fall-of-hardcore/ . 20 August 2016.
  2. Web site: White gloves on, whistles out: Photos capturing the thrill of hardcore rave. 21 February 2020. Louis Pattison. RBMA Daily. 23 May 2020. 23 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200523152800/https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/hardcore-rave-photos-tristan-o-neill. live.
  3. Web site: The 20 best happy hardcore records of all time. Mumdance. 4 September 2014. FACTmag. 20 February 2020. 20 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200220210252/https://www.factmag.com/2014/09/04/the-20-best-happy-hardcore-records-of-all-time/10/. live.
  4. Web site: Roberts . Joe . Happy hardcore will never die: An ode to the Bonkers series . . 1 February 2023 . 10 March 2019 . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201201713/https://djmag.com/content/happy-hardcore-will-never-die-ode-bonkers-series . live .
  5. Book: Wall, Mick. John Peel: A Tribute To The Legendary DJ and Broadcaster. Orion Books. 2004. 978-0-7528-7212-4.
  6. Web site: Hodgson . Jaimie . 'Why Don't We All Go Bonkers?' – The Rise and Fall of Happy Hardcore . . 1 February 2023 . 20 July 2021 . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201201712/https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvzy5z/happy-hardcore-history-trivia-slipmatt-dougal-hixxy-sharkey . live .
  7. Web site: Kutski's Biography . . 2 February 2023 . 22 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181022191712/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/kutski/biography.shtml . live .
  8. Web site: dance mania speed 6 . . 2 March 2024 . 2001 . highest ranking 31st place . 2 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240302224655/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/52027/products/434416/1/ . live .
  9. Web site: Looking back on Anabolic Frolic, Happy 2b Hardcore in Canada. Metafilter. 14 March 2017. 3 October 2015. 15 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170315001505/http://www.metafilter.com/153533/Looking-back-on-Anabolic-Frolic-Happy-2b-Hardcore-in-Canada. live.
  10. Web site: HARDCORE EUPHORIA . . 2 March 2024 . 2 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240302224617/https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/various-artists-hardcore-euphoria/ . live .
  11. Web site: HARDCORE HEAVEN 3 – VARIOUS ARTISTS - Official Charts . . 20 May 2024.

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