Bubblegum Dancer | Album & Single Reviews

I was first introduced to this bubblegum dance artist by a few online friends and I have to say I love it, I don’t know much about the artist except that she made this album called Mermaid that is pretty cool, very traditional bubblegum dance music.

1. 1, 2, 3, 4, 007- Definitely very upbeat and catchy, it has a great upbeat bass beat, great chorus very silly but catchy, great sound effects and great use of the popular horn sound, her voice is pretty energetic and bubbly with just the right touch of femininity, there are also very cool synths in the song definitely one of my favorites.

2. Kiss Me- this starts with a very unique style of synths mixed in with the bass beat and the synths are faded out and the bass beat continues an introduces the song, her vocals in this are very mellow her voice doesn’t do anything special, really upbeat but sung like a ballad almost, very unique production, I really loved the synths and bass beat in this they truly make the song amazing, as for the chorus just a little catchy but not memorable.

3. Supernova- this does live up to the name, when I read “Supernova” I had immediate high hopes for this song and let me just say I was not disappointed, really catchy and great beat with great sound effects, definitely another favorite, if you love bubblegum dance there is no way you’ll hate this, vocally it meets the requirements bubbly, happy, and energetic, the synths of course are great and really completes the song.

4. Dabbi Doo- as I’ve said before I’m a sucker for scats in songs and this has a scat as the title so you know I loved it way before I heard this, when you listen to it is very Aqua styled beat and vocally it falls in the style of Bambee and Miss Papaya very high pitched and happy, the song starts with her vocals and jumps into a very synthesized bass beat, with a very happy energy she begins the song and the chorus blows your mind because is very catchy definitely a song you’ll play back to back.

5. Little kitty Mine- this starts out vocally together with the bass beat and the synths are really cool in this, her tone of voice is less energetic or high but it definitely goes with the style of the song, very amazing chorus, such a cute girlie song about a kitty cat I assume unless that’s the pet name for a boyfriend, the beat is really consistent but great.

6. The Message- this song is my favorite its amazing in beat, synths and vocals, the bass beat is very cool and bouncy, the scat in this is very cool and the whole song is great, definitely a song I’ve played a lot, vocally not so high but her tone of voice is amazing and perfect, silly lyrics about getting a message in her mail box I say are perfect for the style.

7. Holiday- this also has a really bubbly style, her vocals are mild and high, very great beat and synths tweaked perfectly and great background sound effects, this song if I didn’t know it was Ni-Ni I would swear it was Bambee, just as I thought this song was very consistent in beat it fuses in an amazing Oriental style beat sequence a little after the half mark and blows you away, I did not expect that beat that plays again towards the end and concludes the song.

8. Spacey Crazy Girl- the beat to this reminds me of Bambee- Il Ritmo De’l Amore and since that’s my favorite song by her I obviously love this, vocally it doesn’t resemble Bambee it has it’s own style very cool and catchy song, the beat is very consistent in two parts one is very synthesized and upbeat and the second is just a simply bass beat with a lot of great sound effects, the vocals are consistent but the chorus is definitely amazingly catchy.

9. Time and Space- starts out vocally like a ballad and jumps into a mildly bubbly beat with great horn sounds in the background, this is not as energetic but surprisingly just as amazing, very cool how this girl knows how to really stay in sync with the theme and style of the album, this is one of those songs that surprise you because you don’t expect it to be in the album or that you’ll like it very much.

10. Living Without You- back to the bubblegum, really high energy bass beat and synths, vocally very cutsie tootsie, really tweaking her voice to sound a little childish which works really well for her and for the chorus she really normalizes her voice and of course some great Dum Dum Da Da Da Dum scats that just push this over the limit, the horn sound in the background also really just works to making this really amazing, I love this very much is like nothing I’ve heard by any of the other bubblegum dance acts, finally she has a styled song she can call her own.

11. Sunrise- this is a mix of the Alice Deejay horn sound and bubblegum dance styled bass beat, vocally its very bland she could have been more girlie but still very cool, I would just say this is just a Euro-Dance song which don’t get me wrong I love, but I think shes just not very into this song, she doesn’t seem excited or very alive for a song titled “sunrise”, but just for the beat I love this because its amazing, I had heard this on a DDR machine before but when your playing that game you’re really not so focused on the vocals, so before I used to think it was amazing but it is just not vocally.

12. A Mermaid’s Tale- starts out with an oooooh oooooh scat and dolphin crys in the background, the beat is very well themed to the song, very cool and fun song, after the first chorus there is a change in beat and there is a mild oriental influence and fades out into the chorus, very cool bubblegum dance song and well mixed and put together, at some point there is a cool beat that gives the illusion of the beach and summer, how, I don’t know I heard it and immediately associated the beat with that, definitely one of my favorites and my 3 year old niece loves it too.

13. Be Together- Last song on the album and its labeled as a bonus track, it has a completely different styled beat, really great smooth cool funky bass beat, the chorus is very energetic and perky, great song the synths are great in this too very amazing, great bonus track I do have to say and again a song that has no resemblance to any other dance act so its another track to call her own, if you love dance music you can’t hate this.

Ni-Ni has an amazing Bnubblegum Dance album with no slow songs, its dance music straight through, very cool a must have for any Euro-Dance fan, this is available on itunes but it doesn’t include the bonus track, but hey is still worth it, very cool and well produced album, such a treat when I heard it for the first time and still is such a treat to have, it definitely satisfies my Euro & Bubblegum dance craving.

OSCILLATOR X – SILICON SAMURAI (2010)
Reviewed by: Mitch Andrews

1. Robot World
2. Have A Good Time
3. Never Been In Love
4. The Message
5. Japanese Girlfriend
6. Together With You
7. Oasis
8. Just Don’t Stop
9. Without U
10. Party People (Hands Up Mix)
11. Do It My Way
12. Shine (Breakz Mix)
13. I Can’t Be The One
14. Dynamo (Aqua Star Mix)

OSCILLATOR X’s second album release, the oddly titled “Silicon Samurai” is an exciting and varied release that incorporates many different styles.  Two years after their last album release, fans are excited to hear what new sounds the techno gurus Kyle Ward and John Mendenhall have contrived.  Highlight tracks include “Together With You, “Just Don’t Stop,” “Robot World,” and a cover of the popular QT/Ni-Ni song “The Message.”

The first track on the album, “Robot World” sums up the popular electro style of today.  The grunting beats in combination with a catchy melody have guaranteed this song a favourite among dance fans and DJs.  “Robot World” was one of the final tracks written by Oscillator X, and coincidently turned out to be one of the best songs on the album.  The unique vocals in this song were creating using a technique known as “talkboxing,” which involves sticking a pipe deep into your mouth and singing through it.  “Robot World” is a fresh hit that has been received very well by fans.

“Have A Good Time” is the first pop/dance song on the album and is riddled with catchy hooks and a chorus that will be stuck in your head for a long time.  Inspired by Mendenhall and Ward’s desire to party, “Have a Good Time” is an uplifting dance tune, and the first of Oscillator X’s music to incorporate guitar in the production.  “Never Been In Love” was one of the first singles before the release of “Silicon Samurai” and has a very unique style.  Oscillator X describes the song as very 90s, with an almost break-like beat.  While the message itself is somewhat grave – you’ll notice this anti-love message throughout the album – the practically flawless production and great vocals by John make this an unforgettable track.

Oscillator X’s love for bubblegum dance music inspires the next track in the album, “The Message,” a cover of the popular traditional bubblegum song by QT and Ni-Ni (1997/2001).  Oscillator X’s take on this song is very enjoyable; they stick to the bubblegum style with soft male vocals, and make it their own with heavy production that is pulsing with electrical vibes.  “Japanese Girlfriend” is an interesting concept in which Oscillator X sings about the Japanese Girlfriend they wish they had.  The beats are great and sure to get your groove on.  However, the vocals sound a bit strained in this song and there’s something about the tone that makes this song uncomfortable to listen to.  The next song, “Together With You,” is my absolute favourite track on the album and a perfect comeback from “Japanese Girlfriend.”  In this song, Oscillator X uses traditional bubblegum dance production that is similar to Ni-Ni.  With cheesy lyrics sung by Ward and Mendenhall in the same auto-tuned voice as their old music, this is “Bubblegum Macho” at its best!  For fans of bubblegum dance music, this will be an instant favourite.

“Oasis” is a cover of an old KaW song that has been remade for Oscillator X.  While I am not very familiar with KaW’s music, “Oasis” is a great instrumental track that acts as a nice breather in the album, and the perfect interlude track for concerts.  The next song, “Just Don’t Stop,” was the first Oscillator X song I completely fell in love with.  Riddled with great sound effects, the vibrant bouncing beats are sure to lure even the biggest couch potato onto the dance floor.  You won’t want to stop either when you hear this song!  Next, Oscillator X follows the formula of a traditional eurodance album by including a ballad.  “Without U” is a beautiful song written by John Mendenhall about a lost love and the struggles of living without her.  Most people will be able to relate to the meaning of this song, as who hasn’t lost a love one.  Mendenhall’s vocals really shine in this song, and I can’t help but compare them to Boyzvoice.  With beautiful production and great song writing, “Without U” is a relaxing ballad that should not be missed.

“I Cant Be The One” is another somber anti-love song with a hands-up style.  While the song writing is very good, I feel that the style does not fit the topic. The song starts off with a passionate piano instrumental – perfect for a topic that is about unintentionally breaking someone’s heart. I can hear the passion in Kyle Ward’s vocals, however the fast-paced chorus smothers any emotion that is in the opening verse.  In all, I was surprised Oscillator X chose to make such a fast-paced dance song from a concept that in my opinion screamed ‘ballad.’ “Do It My Way” returns to Oscillator X’s “Techno Techyes” style and was one of the first songs produced for the new album.  The song has a simple structure and buildup, and a similar catchy chorus with meaningless lyrics – “oh-oh-a-oh” – that made early songs such as “Dynamo” so popular.  When I think of Oscillator X, this is the style that comes to mind, and I think it’s excellent that they returned to their roots with such a great song.

The remixes included on “Silicon Samurai” add new flavour to past hits.  My favourite mix, “Dynamo (Aqua Star Mix)” adds vibrance to an already pumping song.  The slow build up and thumping beats reminds me of Guru Josh Project’s number one hit “Infinity 2008.”  This is a great song to end the album, and leaves me with a positive and uplifting taste in my mouth.  Overall, for fans of Oscillator X’s previous album “Techno Techyes,” I highly recommend “Silicon Samurai.”  Oscillator X has matured as a group and are experimenting with different styles – this album is that experiment.  I’m very interested to hear which style they choose to develop further, whether it be the modern club-like style of “Robot World,” the uplifting feel-good sound of “Have A Good Time,” the bubblegum dance style of “Together With You,” or the 90s break-dance style of “Never Been In Love.”  Whatever they choose, I hope that Oscillator X continues to do what they do best – producing high quality dance music that puts a smile on the faces of fans all over the Robot World.

Overall rating: 10/10

Sarina Paris is an amazing Italian-Dance music singer, her music is very sweet and girlie, and her style is Euro-bubblegum dance, seems that all the albums I’ve reviewed all date back to late 90’s early millennium, but this isn’t the exception, her song “Look at us” was huge here back in 2000 and 2001, non-stop plays on the radio and her video was aired a lot in the Disney channel, I used to love that song well me and my dad both equally, he really started to like the music I was listening too, I guess if you can’t beat them join them, I bought the album as soon as I saw it for sale at Wal-Mart, this album was a total surprise, it was dance song after dance song, one ballad and tons of cool beats, Sarina Paris has a voice that really enthralls you, all her songs are about love and being happy, there was really no sexual connotations in any of the songs, making this the cleanest dance album I own, there are a few others that are clean but this one stands out more because its really sweet and delightful.

1. Look at Us- this album opens up with the smash hit, really great way to start the album with the song that gets you pumped and ready for more, when I first heard this song I remember thinking “WOW who is this” and this song was all I wanted to listen too, when I bought the album I played this maybe once or twice because I had grown tire of this and I loved her other songs better, I am the type of person who buys an album for one song and ends up favoring others in the album instead.

2. You- when I heard this I got really happy, this is my ultimately favorite track on here, great synths and use of the keyboard, I love the song and her vocals, great energy and very catchy chorus, I love playing this in my car stereo, it’s just an amazing dance song, its consistent in beat and sound effects, but its consistent in a good way, its very cool, this is really what Euro-Dance is all about in my opinion.

3. So I Wait- this starts out with a very funky squeaked out synth, then leads into a cool smooth consistent bass beat, Sarina’s vocals are also very consistent but very well executed, this song is very sweet, it’s about the guy she likes and waiting for him to realize he loves her, this is pop sounding vocally but definitely the beat separates it from that genre, pop isn’t usually that bubbly or bouncy, this song is a perfect example of bubblegum dance.

4. Just about enough- this is a great Italo-Dance song, great synths and flow vocally, very consistent in vocal tone, this has the popular horn sound but stretched out and synthesized perfectly, definitely a treat for those who purchased the album.

5. Love in Return- this starts with a very cool beeping beat, great energy in this, Sarina’s vocal tone changed dramatically in this song, definitely the flow and consistency is broken up, the bass beat is not similar to the previous songs and style of this is very different, I really like this song, its very happy sounding, I would consider this to be another bubblegum dance song.

6. True Colors- this is a really sad sounding ballad, but it’s a really good slow song, perfectly delivered, I love the tweaks in her voice, very cool way to slow it down a bit after 5 back to back dance songs, I have only listened to this song a handful of times, its cool and great, but I just don’t really listen to slow songs, that are this sad.

7. Angel- I was afraid that this might be another ballad, but luckily it wasn’t, it is a really bouncy synthesized song, with such a great energy, definitely great way to bring you back from such a previous sad song, this chorus is really catchy and her voice is really high pitched at the chorus, really great style, I love the bass beat its really catchy and overall this song is perfect, I love this a lot, definitely my style, love that towards the end there is a repetitive echo, these songs have such a similar style but yet are completely different in sound and production.

8. Dreamin’ of You- I love this just as much as I love track 2, but I think I like this more, the beat for this is very cool, I love the style of this song, its very Euro-Dance/Bubblegum Dance mixed song, has an Alice Deejay styled beat which is cool, all in all this is my first favorite, this song when I first heard it, it made me feel so happy and I played this back to back a few times, this is such an amazing song with such a catchy beat, the lyrics are perfect and the synth/horn bass beat segment is very contagious, most definitely the most appealing song in the album.

9. The Single Life- finally some scats, I love when a song has catchy scats, in this song is “Ladidadidadi” and its perfect, there should’ve been more scatting in the album but I understand that too many songs with scats can get annoying, so I’m just glad she had one song, this song is perfect in all aspects of the word, its bouncy, happy, and very perky not to mention very different than what we’ve been listening too.

10. True Love- this starts out with a techno style beat and evolves into a modern signature Euro-Dance style, very Italian sounding beats, great overall production, this has a taste of all the sound effects we’ve heard, great way of merging many styles into one and really perfecting the dance theme.

11. Romeo’s Dead- this is really sweet and the repetitive, the word “Love” is the scat in the beginning and perfect, very happy song about Romeo’s death to love, perfectly synthesized, the bass beat to this is not similar to any of the songs we’ve heard so far, great vocal energy and tone, the chorus is really silly and catchy, I love this song because it doesn’t compare to anything I’ve heard from any dance act, definitely well mixed and thought out song.

12. All in the Way- this has a similar style to track 3, really interesting song because it has elements from all 11 song in the album, but vocally its unique and the chorus is very different, the bass beat is a mix of track 1,2, and 3, with the squeaky synths from track 3 and the progression of track 8, even though I was able to spot out the similarities I still think is perfect, because I took a while for me to spot the mix of all those tracks, at first its very unique all songs on your first 100 times of playing them are very unique but I guess making music and writing are the same you have to flow from track to track and keep it similar but changing it up so the listener can feel the style and distinguish the artist from all the others.

13. I Love You (Bonus Track) – this is a very long song 6 min and 20 sec not typical of a Euro-Bubblegum dance project, the beginning is really beat progressive, it keeps picking up until it hits a Euro-House style than slows back down and picks up againg bringing back the Euro-House beat which sounds like a mix of keyboards, synths, and a bass beat, the vocals are “I Love you” and are just those three words you hear her sing in the whole song, the beat becomes consistent and the vocals but its one of those cool techno songs all dance acts have, this is pure techno with a hint of Euro-Dance styled mixing, I don’t really listen to this often unless I’m doing something like cleaning or driving somewhere.

Sarina Paris is getting a 10 from me, this album represents Euro-Dance pretty well, it surpasses the expectation and standard, perfect vocals, great bass beats, and the synths were amazingly tweaked, all in all excellent production, no dislikes, all the songs are great, I’m not a big fan of like 2 but like I’ve said its not whether I like them is whether they are produced right and fit in the production, this is a dance treasure, a lot of perfectly mixed dance songs, great project and concept, the theme of the album is definitely love, this is the kind of album that you keep coming back too because its just so amazing and once in a while you’ll crave it and you play it to satisfy those feeling and you become hooked all over again, Euro-Dance is like a drug very addicting and intriguing, once you try it you’re hooked and there is no turning back, luckily this type of addiction is not unhealthy and does not require rehab, Sarina Paris does a great job in satisfying the need for energy and happiness.

Aquarius was released 3 or 4 years after their first album Aquarium, which was a huge success and put Aqua on the Euro-Dance map all around the world, when I read in a Mexican magazine that Aqua was coming back I was really excited because I was obsessed with their first album and style, I read later that their first single was going to be called “cartoon heroes” which got my mind thinking all sorts of things and hoping for the best, after a few months I was watching the Disney Channel and Aqua’s video for “cartoon heroes” came on, I was so excited I raised the volume and watched eagerly and listened, I was not disappointed, it wasn’t everything I imagined of course but it was Aqua with the same energy and vocal style just with a different beat, but I didn’t care I fell in love with the song and before I knew it my birthday came and since I knew they wouldn’t have the album in my town we drove to the nearest town where they had a huge record store in the mall and found the album there, I bought it as soon as I got home I popped it in my stereo and it was all I listened to for a few months non-stop.

1. Cartoon Heroes- this begins with the same amazing tone of voice as in the first album, both Lene and Rene’s vocals are arranged exactly in the same style as in the first album, the energy for this is very high and contagious, the beat style is more outer space themed, very electric and a lot of space ship sound effects in the background, all in all very well arranged bubblegum song, not as bouncy because the theme of the album is different but is still very much danceable and modern, they left the 90’s bubblegum beats for a more Electro-Euro-Dance upbeat style that goes well with the theme, they came back with the same style but in a completely different production and arrangement, which is what a comeback should be like, similar but completely different.

2. Around the World- this starts with an airplane sound effect which brings you back to earth, Lene comes in with a very cool high pitched voice and a more bounce in the beat is added, the synths in this are great, definitely a different beat that is still very much their own, vocally I have no complaints, very enchanting tweaks, this has a more early 2000’s Euro styled beat, definitely a surprise but this whole album is a surprise because it does not meet the expectation of the “Barbie Girl” style, which is awesome because they offered us more of a diverse sound and new songs which show a different side of Aqua.

3. Freaky Friday- back to bubblegum dance with this song, starts out with a country style intro and jumps into Lene bubbly vocals, the beat is more bubblegum and is faster and bouncier, definitely more synthesized, very fun song great addition to the album, cool vocal flow, again they established a new sound for bubblegum, they were not afraid to mix it up and change it up, consistent song no huge changes throughout the track, but believe me you won’t hate this especially if you liked her first album, so far the flow from track to track has been perfect and at this point I’m still not disappointed.

4. We belong to the sea- this is amazing, great Lene and Rene duet, both are equally a part of this song, very smooth, when I first heard this I fell in love with it, just as in her album this ballad is perfect, very romantic and hypnotizing, vocally it was delivered perfectly, this is so great to sing along to, I love it, it does a great job of painting a picture and sending chills down your body.

5. An Apple a Day- another great bubblegum song about a cliché, the if you eat a apple a day saying is very common, I heard it a lot as a child, great song, definitely more mellow bass beat, great progression, the bass beat in this song is just right, vocally its very addicting, great progressions in the vocal delivery, the tone of voice goes from high to low and it is consistent at an average tone, definitely one of my favorite songs from the album, I heard this back to back a few times, I just really liked it.

6. Halloween- this starts out like in the movie “Scream”, then leads into a great electric guitar sound, definitely more of an electro beat, great song about a serial killer, most definitely a darker side of bubblegum, but really good, this darker side was a complete surprise, I was not expecting it to be this dark, when I saw the track list and read the title of this song, I thought they were going to like sing about the traditional trick or treating, like I said my mind went nuts trying to picture all the possible directions this album could have, but I was still surprised that everything I thought it would be was not even close to the result.

7. Good Guys- another ballad, great sound effects, I think Aqua’s ballads are amazing because they have so much going on in the background that just reel you in, this has some of the same style as “turn back time”, yet another favorite, vocally is perfectly performed, this is just amazing, this flows in perfectly with the space theme and the down to earth mix of the theme.

8. Back from Mars- this has a really cool Euro-Disco House beat, definitely sounds like the 70’s disco sounds with a very modern bass beat, the same bass beat from “cartoon heroes”, vocally its very addicting because it just picks up energy little by little until the end of the vocals where she hits really high notes, Rene is amazing as he is in every song, he really adds a cool flow to the songs, vocally Lene and Rene are opposites, kind of like Beauty and the Beast, the female is very sweet and innocent sounding and the male very macho aggressive and strong, definitely very twisted especially in the comparison to porno stars sucking dick cigars which is not shocking but when you listen to the song you realize there is a double meaning to that whole phrase.

9. Aquarius- ok I just can’t express anything that I already haven’t said of these amazing ballads, Aqua has the best ballads I’ve ever heard, they are just perfect with the right touch of melancholy and love, like I’ve said who hasn’t ever experienced those feelings, the feeling of love for someone else that tares and tears you up inside, Ok I’m not saying I sit at home crying to these songs LOL, but it’s the feeling they produce from the tone of voice.

10. Cuba Libre- great way to pick you up from feeling sad with a ballad, great Latin flavor, but again they are talking about Cuba and using Spaniard beats and styles, not so much a Cuban influence, yes I hear a salsa beat and some common instruments used in some Cuban music but all in all the sound of this sounds more like it’s from Spain, great song though and finally some scats, even though their just a simple “La La La” they are still very smooth and catchy and flow perfectly with this production, every true bubblegum dance act has some kind of Latin flavored song or Caribbean styled, I guess it’s their idea of what a summer at the beach should sounds like.

11. Bumble Bees- similar in the bass beat to their old song “Calling You” even the tone is similar, great song about bumble bees, definitely the bubbliest song in the album, great addition to this album, perfect representation of what Aqua sounds like, this is what I was expecting and here it is, bubblegum similar to their old album but totally brand new and fresh, I love when towards the end Rene has that great vocal projection.

12. Goodbye to the Circus- this song is sad because it concludes the album, very good farewell song, very cool duet, very memorable, especially Lene’s vocals, this has an amazing message of a comeback which they already did, which is cool to know that the song was true and we did see them again, but I still hate this song because it left you uncertain as to when the circus would come back again, definitely I avoid sad music because I hate feeling depress but vocally this is worth the sadness.

Aqua did it again in their second album and brought back the Bubblegum-Dance magic, this was nothing to what I expected, it was better, it was similar in production and arrangement to their first album, but the sound changed completely, Aqua has a good production team that knows how to deliver something new while satisfying the fan, I was 100% satisfied and had no reason to complain, I loved this production is worth having because is pact with great songs and it’s the new sound of Bubblegum, Aqua started the Bubblegum trend in the mid 90’s with their album Aquarium, it was a new sound and nothing had ever sounded like that until Aqua, they truly are the leaders of bubblegum dance, they influenced so many projects like Bambee, Miss Papaya, Hit’N’Hide, Toy-Box, Daze, and Q-Pow, you might think I’m crazy but they all had the same Aqua style, females with really high pitched voices and some males that sang in the same style as Rene, great bubblegum beats, sure they all stand out because they have different sounds but its all derived from Aqua, even in Daze album Super Heroes they thank Aqua in their album sleeve for bringing out the style that they were influenced by.

Combayah is a dance act from the late 90’s and I barely learned of their existence 2 weeks ago and I came across the album on Ebay for $50 dollars but I had no idea who this was or their style, so I was uncertain about the purchase, I was given a copy from a friend and its amazing very mixed sound of early 90’s beats and Bubblegum, Euro-Dance, and Pop. Listening to this I came across the song “Fantasy Dreamworld” and realized I had already heard of this back in early 2000’s in a Dj Marski mix so I was excited to listen to the album from this project that I assumed was Hit’N’Hide or Solid Base, I really never looked more into them which is why 12 years later from the release of the album I’m barely listening to this for the first time.

1. I like what you do (UK) – starts out the album, not really fast but not slow, its an average BPM, great pop style, great male raps, definitely very contagious song, it really has a synth sound that makes this great and stand out, the female vocals are very Caribbean styled, definitely a summer song with a great Jamaican accent on the male vocals.

2. Barbados- this is were they really unleash their bubblegum style, the beat is very bubblegum style has similar sound to Crispy, not typical bubblegum where the female dominates the song, this is definitely the opposite of Aqua in the sense that the lead is by the male and the female does the chorus, definitely very bubblegum style female vocals and like in bubblegum really consistent in the progression of the song.

3. Sweet Kisses- great cover of Sqeezer’s version, this is definitely more bubblegum dance, really modern and upbeat, Sqeezer’s has more of a mid-90’s sound and this has a more late 90’s style and believe me there was a big difference in style by time back then, this definitely has more BPM than the original and its more amazing, its really fun and catchy, not that Sqeezer’s wasn’t as catchy but it was definitely slower, great female vocals and I love the change in the delivery of the male raps in this song because it really ads diversity to the album.

4. Fantasy Dreamworld- it has a really fast beat, like I mentioned first and only song I had ever heard from them until now, I used to think the song was sung by Solid Base or even Hit’N’Hide, great fast bubblegum dance style, definitely more DDR styled song.

5. Lovely Day- along the same style of track 1, with the exception that in this the style changed and vocal tones, but the beat sounds the same and the raps by the male are 100% the same, very enjoyable for a day of relaxing or a lazy day, not much of a dance floor starter.

6. Fancy Star- very cool song with male vocals similar to Mr. President, the female vocals are really bubbly and the beat, all in all a really nice Euro-Dance track, not my favorite but I don’t hate it.

7. Aradise (Mr. Wize) – a really early 90’s style, it’s a mix of 90’s Euro-Dance and House, very similar in beat to Real McCoys first album, but vocally the female sounds like Tiggy, not my favorite song, there is no attraction to this song what so ever.

8. Mr. Bambolero- really Daisy Dee styled song, great vocal female energy, the beat is very early 90’s techno, the lyrics are very 2 Unlimited styled, all in all this sounds like 2 Unlimited, very cool song, one of my favorite because it’s a style that was very popular and responsible for the evolution of Euro-Dance so how can you hate this when it has all the original elements of Euro-Dance.

9. Give me love- this is very similar in style and beat to the original version of Mr. Presidents- Coco Jumbo, even the flow of the chorus sounds like it except the lyrics are different, this whole tropical style is very catchy and this is just as catchy as Coco Jumbo if you liked that song, if you never liked Mr. President you’ll hate this, but if you never listened to them you’ll like the style because it will sound like something completely new, but I loved it because you can’t listen to this without craving Mr. Presidents- Coco Jumbo which is also amazing by the way.

10. Broken Heart- really upbeat for a song about a broken heart, here they jump back to the bubblegum bass beat and sound effects, then fuse into a Euro-Dance beat that bump along side the male raps, very cool song, here they bring back the modern dance bass beat style, this is one song I love listening to now, very smooth and upbeat, definitely appropriate for the dance floor.

11. Na Na Na (Higher) – this is the best song in my opinion in the album, it has its own style vocally and in the beat, very bouncy Dance song with a catchy chorus that makes you sing along, simple repetitive chorus that without a doubt you’ll memorize on the first play, I heard this and I knew this I would be listening for a while and I am, very different and rhythm in a good way, I love it, this is definitely my “Jam” for now.

12. Free- can’t end this without a ballad, here it is, the ballad that every dance act has, its ok, not my favorite, I guess because vocally it doesn’t stand out that much, sounds like something you would hear in a movie montage, you know when the moment of reflection occurs in the plot, its just okay but you know how I feel about Euro-Dance act ballads, I love them, maybe because I like the group and their style that their slow songs grow on me, I guess there should be a compilation album for all these cool dance act ballads.

Okay in all fairness I’m giving this a 10 for their projection of Euro-Dance, as for imitating styles and beats I also give this a 10 because there is nothing wrong with molding yourself after somebody who established an idea or concept that was liked by many, at least through influence you realize you’ll get the Euro-Dance style right, but as they did a good job in the portrayal of many classic dance acts they also did a good job with songs that were created to represent them and only them, when you think bubblegum you think of Aqua and her insanely bouncy beats, so of course after Aqua it all has a similar sound but it’s when you separate your delivery that you realized it was well done, so Combayah has an amazing album worth listening too because it does a good job with pleasing a Euro-Dance fan’s craving.

I First came across this group back in 2002 with there song Licky Licky and I wasn’t a big fan at the time because I was obsessed with a different style of Euro-Dance but I kept their songs saved in a play list, it wasn’t until last year that I found the album for sale on Amazon and took a chance and bought it, it was priced at $11.99 so I went for it, I’m the type of person that buys an album for a song and ends up liking everything else so I take chances, when I got the album I ripped it and put it on my MP3 player and started listening to it, I was instantly hypnotized by the style and I swear I couldn’t not stop listening, I got friends and cousins into this album because I sang the songs and played it a lot and now they own their own copy. I’m still shocked that I was able to get this gem at such a low price. It truly is amazing unfortunately I don’t have the version with the two bonus tracks but I did manage to get them later on, so I own the complete album now and it’s all amazing.

Licky Licky- This song is very cheesy when you hear it for the first time, but then you realize its not just fruit she’s talking about, This is a perfect example of Bubblegum Dance, its bouncy, cheesy, and very funky, the male vocals are great addition to this song and allow for a better understanding of what she’s really talking about, Her voice is very cool high through out the song, Definitely a summer song.

Kiss Me Red- This song has a great melody and chorus, the vocals are great in this because they go from low to high and do that up and down throughout the song and the beat is very bouncy and funky.

Secret- in the beginning you hear these twinkles and then it jumps into this cool bass house beat and transitions into a different background noise and then leads into a horn that leads into the lyrics, Great song its very different than anything I’ve heard it’s a mix of Dance with a children’s song, Great lyrics and vocals, I love the male voice in this its awesome, this song has a great progression and does a great job of incorporating the scat all throughout resulting in definitely a very catchy, upbeat, and happy song.

Mr. Dinosaur- this song is very cute, about a dinosaur and has a great, happy feel, definitely another perfect example of Bubblegum Dance. I love her voice period but it changes through the songs and it’s great, the beat of this is jazzier, a lot of instruments in the background, I’m not very musical so I cant name them but I definitely hear a trumpet and keyboard, which are mixed in perfectly.

Love is Waiting- this song is a ballad, I’m not into them, but surprisingly when they are included in Dance albums I always give them a try and some are extremely good, like this one, I’m constantly happy so I don’t like stuff that are sad or make me sad, but one in a while I do and this is definitely one I enjoy. I do love that she kept this mellow and not in a very high pitched voice which made it more of a serious song.

Lover on the Line- great transition from a ballad into a dance track, I enjoy that this isn’t dance crazy it’s very cool and light but yet still very dancy and upbeat, Very catchy chorus, especially when the guy says the phone number, WOW it just sticks in your head, very cool track.

Calendar Girl- her voice in this is very normal sounding and then switches to a high pitched voice that leads into the chorus, very cool effect, this song has a mix of beats from Mr. Dinosaur and Lover on the Line. But it still stands out and it’s very unique.

Enchantment- this song is very enchanting especially the background beat, the light sound of horns and that beeping noise is very cool, almost fairytale sounding. This song has a same beat style as Kiss Me Red, but again stands out and the lyrics and the delivery in her voice is perfect and different.

Banana Bay- very catchy song as ell and very well produced, this song has a unique beat, very bouncy and a very cool drum beat in the background, the lyrics for this are very silly too and very catchy, the echoes in the voice that leads to the chorus are great and the chorus is very cool, you cant go wrong with a La Di Da Di Day Scat.

Always on my Mind- another very slow ballad, with a great voice and great lyrics, but since I’ not a big fan of slow song I usually skip this unless I’ in the mood for it. But it is a great song, I won’ lie and most of my friends like ballads and enjoy this song a lot.

The Game- Awesome song, unique beats on this the bass beat is terrific, the song is very self explained, she’s talking about a video game based adventure which is very fun and the production of this was amazing, great track to represent the whole album, definitely very upbeat and fun to dance to and sin a long too, you wont ever skip this, its just that good.

Bubble Dancer- Now out of this whole album this was my ultimate favorite song, I listened to this out loud in my stereo like 20 times literally, this is definitely what I look for in dance music and what I was talking about, buying an album and finding a song that blows you away that you did not expect but you hoped for, the beat is very bubbly and bouncy and the lyrics are great, as a child I loved bubbles and as an adult I love the song Bubble Dancer.

Bonus Tracks

Happy King- very different style in this, reminds me of the circus, like the music the monkeys dance too, but is very happy and definitely a must have, great song about a happiness, there are scats in this towards the end that are very cool and great to listen too and sing to, very bubblegum dance themed song.

Bad Girls- very girly song, the beat is really different and the guitar in the beginning and the horns after the chorus are great, definitely another must have, very cool song, smooth transition and progression and great beat flows, definitely another favorite song of mine. Her voice is very cool and funky in this song, but still maintains her high notes and soft ones.

This Album is Spectacular along the lines of Aqua and the Vengaboy’s, Its Amazing and well produced, every song is perfectly arranged and tweaked to work in this album, every song is memorable and you will listen to this more than once that’s for sure, maybe not as much as me but the songs will sink in your head and you will crave this album, its just that great. So I give this production a 10 because it’s a perfect mix of Bubblegum and Euro-Dance.

Rimini Project is a great Euro-Trance Group, I know its Eurodance but all the synths they use in the background in my opinion qualifies them as Euro-Trance. I first heard of this group back in i think 2002 with Sounds Good and didn’t really pay much attention to them until 2004 when they released their 2nd album Heartbeats, the song that caught my attention was To Be Or Not To Be. Then i looked up their other songs and learned they had two albums so i listened to them online and i was blown away, i had to slap myself for over looking such an amazing group. Their songs are really upbeat and their beats and style are perfect for Euro-Dance. Rimini Project is a hard group to buy an album for i tried everywhere until i found them on Ebay, like what, 6 years later.

1. Movin’ Around- This song is amazing it has great vocal energy and a great beat, very catchy and definitely a perfect example of Eurodance. I love the echoing voice that goes from the left speaker to the right to give the illusion of moving around, I say that was a perfect tweak that just made the song that much more better.

2. Boys (Summertime Love)- Sara K has a great projection in this song, her voice is amazing and the bridge that leads to the chorus is perfect and is my favorite part of the song. This song i believe is a cover of an older version and i love it, its very energetic and definitely an instant favorite.

3. Can I Have This Dance- This song has such a funky beat and definitely more house than trance but still excellent, Scandanavias voice is awesome in this and adds variety to their album, i hate when an album does repetitive beats and has a repetitive chorus. The producers of this project really had a way of mixing it up and providing a cool flowing progression from song to song.

4. Wake Up (The La Da Di Song)- this song is perfect for my style i love cool catchy scats in songs because it makes it more happy and memorable, this is definitely all tranced up with synths, Sara K controls this song and has a great flow and change in tones from mellow to high pitched energetic, i love girls who sing that have deep voices. I’m a sucker for deep voices in females.

5. Away- definitely a slower tune in the album, its not a ballad but compared to the other songs it is pretty slow. Sara K again is in control of this song and does a great way of projecting a love that got away, you can almost sense the feeling of sadness, the synths on this are perfect because it changes the flow yet again into something different.

6. Bum Digi- Total surprise, I did not expect this song to be in this album at all, I love techno and i love when Euro-dance acts incorporate techno into their productions because it really shows that they are trying to produce a dance album, I didn’t hear this song until i got the album last year and i love it, Techno mixed with trance.

7. Sounds Good- This is the Jam of all Jams, the reason why i know Rimini Project and still wonder why it didn’t catch my attention back in 2002, Although the style of this is similar to Wake up it still is totally different only because the beats are tweaked very well but the delivery is almost similar, but this song is amazing and a great dance track.

8. To Limit- this song is great and falls out of the trance trend because the synths in this are not dominating the song, this is definitely Euro-Dance and nothing else, Euro-Dance is great and its all i listen to so i didn’t mind at all. Definitely the beat is very club oriented.

9. Forever- This is a great track, very mellow yet again but in an upbeat way that’s actually pretty pleasant for people like me who don’t really like slow ballads, this is my type of slow song, towards the end this has a great beat sequence that is upbeat and really romantic i think, its perfect with this song.

10. Sending SOS- Amazing, its a great song and has a great unforgettable beat, the style and the lyrics are insane in this song, very mature and upbeat, i enjoy this song so much, its very catchy and i love singing a long to this and dancing, its just great. Great way to conclude the album.

11. Wake Up (Club Mix)- completely different version of this great song, its tranced up to the max and has incredible synths, has no resemblance to the original at all.

12. Sounds Good (Club Alarm Mix)- this is a completely different song, it has no essence of the original except with an echo of the scats but other than that its a mix of Darude- Sandstorm in a Rimini project style.

Rimini Project is a well produced project that delivers a Great Euro-Dance album which to me is more tranced up but Trance is still part of Euro-Dance, well produced and arranged album with amazing vocals, lyrics, and beats. A combination of two female voices really opposite of one another deep to light and strong to soft, really great i give this a 10.

1. Operator- This song has great intro with the operator talking, then a great transition into the vocals. The beat for this is really happy from the beginning. Her voice has a great flow from high to low, although her voice in this is always kind of high pitched. Definitely a good choice for the first track because it starts to establish her theme and it does spark the listeners interest.

2. Hero- Really cheerful from the start then flows into yet a very happy style beat. Definitely the best song in the album in my opinion because it has all the elements i love listening to which are  scats, girlie voice, silly lyrics, and definitely the head bopping beat. This was the first song i heard from her and i was definitely captured and was eagerly looking for more.

3. Pink Dinosaur- This song is the definition of the Bubblegum Dance style, its silly and sounds like its targeted at children, which is what bubblegum dance music is suppose to do, make you happy and worry free, this song is great and can only truly be appreciated by anybody who truly loves this style. This is track three and the progression of the album just gets better and better.

4.  Supergirl- Definitely “Barbie Girl” style, its a really girlie song like the barbie girl song that speaks about being a supergirl and being the one taking her man to her dream world, the place where she lives. This song is all about being a girl and its very upbeat and i will admit this song can get stuck in your head for days, very hard to forget this once you hear it. This was the first song i ever heard by her and i got it by accident back in 2001, but i kept looking for stuff from her until i came across a few of her album songs. Now i have the whole thing but it took a while to get. Definitely a Gem.

5. Teddy Bear- Great song about diversity and being different, the way she links equality with teddy bears is really cool, not much going on with the beat but the lyrics are what makes the song stand out, the beat is similar to “Hero” but like i said the lyrics completely changed this song around into something completely different.

6. Sugarboy- The beat for this is really different just by a few tweaks but this song is amazing, very catchy like all her songs and definitely unique in its production, her voice sounds the same in all her songs so far, but only if you truly listen can you spot the difference and her ups and downs, shes amazing at sticking to her theme, very girlie title and messages.

7.  Sweet Señorita- The style changed dramatically and went to a girlie Latin beat, i have to say being Latino myself, she did a great job in her depiction, although most of the Euro Dance Acts use Spain as the muse in their Latin influence. still pretty good, a good bubblegum dance act has at least one Latin influence or Caribbean one, its one or the other, rarely do they use both in one album.

8.  Casanova- Here is where the beat goes back to the theme but still manages to stay very different than the first six songs, great vocals and flow in the lyrics, i love this song very loud in my stereo, it has a great bass beat and night club feel to it.

9.  Cinderella- I’m a big fan of the story so i knew i was going to love this song, i was afraid it might have been a ballad, but luckily she turned it into a very happy song about Cinderella’s true happiness, which is true love.  This sounds more Euro-Dance when compared to the rest of the songs but definitely still goes with the theme of the album.

10. Mr. Macho Man- I Love this song, i wont lie, its really bubbly and very bouncy, the beat is derived from all the other songs, but it turned out great, i enjoy it very much, its really great song to sing a long or sing to people, its just very silly but still Awesome!, great track, i heard this for the first time last year, so i still got a new taste of her style ten years after her album’s release.

11.  Party Song- this song is towards the end and it slows it down quite a bit but this song is still very much bubbly, i know i said rarely does a bubblegum act has a Caribbean and Latin song in the album, but she does and the result is really great, she uses this as the mellow song used to slow it down and ease out into the end.

12. Please don’t leave me tonight- this song is definitely the end of such an amazing production, its funny that her voice is very sad towards the end, which is how i feel to know its over, but luckily you can repeat it as many times as you want, really great ending.

Miss Papaya is a great bubblegum dance act, her names is perfect for the album and the theme being Pink was awesome, all her songs are very girlie and can represent the color pink, pink is a bright color, that brings joy, and you can’t miss or avoid looking at without smiling, this album is a 10, a perfect 10, it represent Bubblegum Dance perfectly and it doesn’t disappoint the true fans. Too bad she didn’t make a 2nd album i think it could have been just as amazing.

Hit’N'Hide – Hit’N'Hide (Released 2000)

1. On Stage Tonight
2. Come Come Come
3. Kingdom Of Eternity
4. Run Run
5. If You Really Want Me
6. I Don’t Wanna Leave
7. Whisper You’re Mine
8. Stay
9. Lonely Raider
10. Guardian Angel
11. Say Goodnight

This is a review of Hit’N'Hide’s second album “Hit’N'Hide”, released in 2000. Jeanne C, who was the vocalist for the previous traditional bubblegum releases, is replaced by Christina S for this album. In their self-titled album, Hit’N'Hide attempts to mature their sound, moving away from the cheesy style that made them famous. However, the song concepts maintain the happy vibe of their old music, just with harder, sharper, and more grunty production.

The album opens with the dramatic show opener “On Stage Tonight”, which would have been the perfect introduction to their concert. The first song on the album is the cheesy “Come Come Come” which is produced by Honeycutt (Miss Papaya and Bambee fame). Come Come Come was Hit’N'Hide’s first single from the album, and is probably the cheesiest of the songs on this release. With great thumping beats, this is a definite highlight. “Kingdom Of Eternity” is a beautiful song that is quite hypnotic. The vocals by Christina are beautiful, and it’s hard to turn this song off once you have started listening. The production is excellent, and “Kingdom of Eternity” was Hit’N'Hide’s second single from this album, and includes a huge number of remixes from producers interested in mixing this song.

“Run Run” is one of my favourite songs on “Hit’N'Hide”, and is probably closest in style to their original music. The song features a typical bubblegum dance formula, with female leads and male backup. The song is very energised with an extremely catchy melody that is sure to excite even the most dull minded. “If You Really Want Me” is a cute pop anthem with a thumping dance bass and gorgeous vocals. This is a surprise addition to the album, and is a lot different in style to their other songs. It reminds me of something the Spice Girls or another girl group might have released during the 90s.

The next song is the dramatic and powerful “I Don’t Wanna Leave”. With eerie intrumentals and strong choir-styled vocals, Hit’n'Hide proves that their second album is nothing short of amazing. The production in this song is very detailed and interesting, and I really enjoy listening to the background sound effects. “Whisper You’re Mine” is the slower ballad of the album, and is a simple pop song about love. While it is nothing overly special, it is good enough not to skip, and features great vocals by Morgan and Christina. “Stay” brings the listener back to the wonderful world of Hit’N'Hide and is in the same formula as songs such as “I Don’t Wanna Leave” and “Kingdom of Eternity”.

The next song “Lonely Raider” is one of the best tracks on this album and has the same style as the songs mentioned earlier. Christina sings in a dramatic high-pitched voice, with harmonies throughout the chorus by Morgan. This is one of the more memorable songs on the album. The next track, “Guardian Angel”, is a different flavour to the rest of the album. The song features a lot of rapping by Morgan, and Christina is only included in the chorus. This is the only song on the album I don’t particularly like, as it feels like a filler track that doesn’t really stand out. “Say Goodnight” is the ‘Goodbye” song that a lot of eurodance albums had during the 90s. The song follows the great high energy style of their previous dance songs, with awesome vocals and thumping production. This is a ‘bed time’ song as the “na na na’s” following the chorus really do put you in a relaxing state. The perfect song to complete the album.

Overall, I feel “Hit’N'Hide” is a fantastic album, and a great follow up for their traditional bubblegum dance releases of the 90s. Of course, it would have been great if they had released another album in the same style as their first, but we fans must understand that around 2000, bubblegum dance was no longer as popular as it once was, and artists felt it was a ‘dying market’. Christina has a very strong voice which is perfect for eurodance music. The thing I like best about this album is its use of harmonies in the vocals, and the beautiful way in which Morgan and Christina’s voices combine together to make a very strong, entrancing style. The best songs in my opinion are: Come Come Come, Kingdom Of Eternity, Run Run, I Don’t Wanna Leave, and Lonely Raider. The first three are also the closest to their earlier bubblegum style.

Free downloads (for informational purposes only):

Come Come Come.mp3
Kingdom Of Eternity.mp3
Lonely Raider.mp3