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LGBT+ Music in the 1990s
After the flamboyance of the 80s new romantic, hi-NRG and acid house movements, LGBT nightclubs and club nights had a wealth of styles to draw on. One of the most prominent was the synth-heavy, melodic European dance tracks coming across from countries such as Italy, Belgium and Germany. The 'euro' sound dominated the clubs throughout the decade, first through 80s synth legends such as the Pet Shop Boys, SAW and Erasure, then with the catchy pop sounds of Motiv8, JX and Alex Party among many others. The sound became more trance-heavy as the Millennium approached, with the likes of Sash!, ATB and Robert Miles being huge club and chart hits.
Deeper underground though, a darker sound was emerging. Starting in 1990, London's Turnmills nightclub launched their long-running club night Trade, which popularised a harder, darker style of house music that became known as 'Nu-NRG' or 'hardbag'. DJs such as Tony De Vit, Tall Paul and Mark Moore (previously of S'Express) embraced the sound and many events would carry on through till sunrise early in the morning!
This 'twisted' sound was also hugely popular in the fetish clubs, where acts such as Baby Doc and Stewart Who? tended to appear. The scene was documented in the 1997 film Preaching to the Perverted, bringing the BDSM scene to the masses along with an excellent soundtrack. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this mischievous era for dance music appealed to the likes of Boy George and his late 80s More Protein crew. George was a big-name DJ during the decade, as well as his More Protein label releasing some classic LGBT hits. These included lesbian anthem 'Liberation' by Lippy Lou and the crazy 'Everything Starts With An E' by E-Zee Posse.
By the end of the decade, the hardbag sound had begun to meld into the mainstream hard house scene, and trance had turned pop. The only true LGBT music left was that of hi-NRG, the 80s staple for the gay dancefloor. Klone Records released literally hundreds of records during the 90s and noughties, fulfilling every LGBT DJ's needs with bouncy, upbeat covers of big chart hits. Their cover of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' even reached the Top 40! Their long-lasting CD series Mad About the Boy started in 1997 and their unashamedly camp sound continued through to the 2010s.
Go back to the 1980s or forward to the 21st Century, or have a look at our classic LGBT+ hits of the decade below...
LGBT+ Hits of the 1990s
1990
Madonna - Vogue
George Michael - Freedom '90
Kylie Minogue - Better The Devil You Know
Divinyls - I Touch Myself
Queen - These Are The Days Of Our Lives
1991
Ce Ce Peniston - Finally
Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy
1992
Erasure - Take A Chance On Me
Felix - Don't You Want Me
kd Lang - Constant Craving
Shakespears Sister - Stay
1993
Robin S - Show Me Love
Glam - Hell's Party
Urban Cookie Collective - The Key The Secret
4 Non Blondes - What's Up
Freddie Mercury - Living On My Own
1994
2wo Third3 - I Want The World
JX - Son of A Gun
OT Quartet - Hold That Sucker Down
Sophie B Hawkins - Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover
Lisa Loeb - Stay (I Missed You)
Green Day - Coming Clean
1995
Saint Etienne - He's On The Phone
Coming Out Crew - Free, Gay & Happy
Junior Vasquez - Get Your Hands Off My Man!
Nicki French - Total Eclipse of the Heart
1996
Spice Girls - Wannabe
Gina G - Ooh Ahh (Just A Little Bit)
Belvedere Kane - Never Felt As Good
Skunk Anansie - Brazen
1997
Ultra Nate - Free
The Cardigans - Lovefool
En Vogue - Don't Let Go (Love)
White Town - Your Woman
No Doubt - Don't Speak
Placebo - Nancy Boy
1998
Cher - Believe
Dana International - Diva
All Saints - Lady Marmalade
Natalie Imbruglia - Torn
1999
Adam Rickitt - I Breathe Again
Shania Twain - Man! I Feel Like A Woman
Armand Van Helden - You Don't Know Me
Madison Avenue - Don't Call Me Baby
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