eurobeat • ユーロビート
A music style characterized by fast beats per minute,
heavy synthesizers, occasional guitars, and dramatic vocals. Originally spawned off of Italo disco with a handful of
Italian labels pioneering the genre; now an international
cult sensation, with the majority of it's creators releasing songs primarily in Japan.
In the west the style is mainly known via Dance
Dance Revolution and other rhythm games, as
well as the Initial D animation; both which showcase a wide variety of artists.
Avex Trax holds the longest running anthology of eurobeat, with its Super Eurobeat (SEB) series. Vocaloid, Touhou, and even automobile franchises have all sprouted their very own spin of Eurobeat,
eg. Toho Eurobeat (TEB).
Often compared to Pop, Electronic Dance Music, House,
Dubstep, and R&
B; due to the ambiguous and niche nature of the genre, it's hard to pinpoint and classify it, making it one the most versatile musical styles in the world.
The dancing style Para Para is often associated with Eurobeat.