Popcorn (Romanian music style)
Popcorn is a subgenre of dance music that originated in Romania in the late 2000s. It is inspired by Europop and dance-pop, featuring house and trance rhythms and fast tempos. The arrangement is characterized by the use of syncopated synthesizers played in staccato, and brass.[1] Instruments such as accordions were eventually also included in several popcorn songs, which were most commonly performed in English.[1][2]
History
[edit]In Romania, dance music started growing in popularity in the underground scene after the fall of the Ceaușescu communist regime in 1989. Since then, the Mamaia resort had established itself as a venue for international DJs. Romania's entry into the European Union in 2007 facilitated local musicians' and songwriters' contact with international music.[3] One of the earliest examples of popcorn music is the song "Sexy Thing" (2008) by David Deejay and Dony.[4] It is featured on their 2010 studio album Popcorn, after which the genre is named.[1][5]
Production trio Play & Win were also involved in the genre's development and worked on material for Akcent and Inna, among others.[1][4] The latter's song "Hot" (2008) experienced commercial success in Europe,[4] and was included on her 2009 album of the same name, which featured several other successful popcorn songs.[6] The genre eventually became mainstream internationally,[3] with "Stereo Love" by Edward Maya and Vika Jigulina, and "Mr. Saxobeat" by Alexandra Stan notably developing into worldwide hit singles.[1][4][7] At that time, popcorn music was one of the two main commercial music waves in Romania along with hip hop.[7] The popularity of popcorn music declined after the early 2010s.[1] Other notable artists include Tom Boxer, Antonia, Andreea Bănică, Deepside Deejays, Nick Kamarera, DJ Rynno, Sylvia, DJ Sava and Raluka.[1][7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g "Romanian Popcorn". Rate Your Music. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Vika Jigulina, Edward Maya – Stereo Love". Die Welt (in German). 16 December 2010. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ a b Smith, Gary (12 June 2010). "Romanian dance beats prove a hit throughout Europe". Reuters. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d Ghinea, Andreea (18 July 2013). "De ce muzica popcorn a cucerit Romania si rockul clasic a fost uitat?" [Why did popcorn music conquer Romania and classic rock got forgotten?] (in Romanian). Ziare.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "'Popcorn', primul album semnat David Deejay si Dony!" ['Popcorn', the first album by David Deejay and Dony!] (in Romanian). Apropo TV. 15 February 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ^ Apaza, Kevin (14 April 2014). "DirectLyrics Interviews Inna: Talks New Single, Her Sexiest Video Yet & Collaborations!". DirectLyrics. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "Tabăra de muzică – sau de ce muzica dance românească are succes si rockul nu are succes" [The songwriting camp – or why Romanian dance music is successful and rock music is not] (in Romanian). Florin Grozea. 17 July 2013. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2024.