School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

Culture Beat

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Culture Beat was a German Eurodance project that began in 1989 in Frankfurt. Its creator was Torsten Fenslau, who had actually wanted to become an architect but had been a DJ at the club Dorian Gray since 1982. Together with Jens Zimmermann and Peter Zweier he first made Der Erdbeermund, a club track with spoken German lyrics. He then brought in the American rapper Jay Supreme and the singer Lana Earl. With No Deeper Meaning, from the album Horizon (1991), the group had a sizeable hit in the Netherlands.

Music and breakthrough

The real breakthrough came in 1993. The British singer Tania Evans replaced Lana Earl, and the sound became harder. Mr. Vain reached number 1 in a series of European countries, including Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The album Serenity also produced Got to Get It and Anything. The recipe was typical of the Eurodance of those years: a fast, pounding beat, bright synthesizer parts, a female singer for the chorus and a rapper for the verses. Still in 1993, Fenslau was killed in a car accident at the age of 29. His brother Frank took over the project.

Influence

Without Fenslau, Inside Out appeared in 1995, the last album with Evans and Jay Supreme. After that, Culture Beat opted for straightforward pop, with changing female singers, but the great success did not return. Mr. Vain remained one of the songs that sum up the 1990s: a studio product from a German club that conquered all of Europe via radio and dance floor.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Mr. Vain and notice the division of labour: the rapper tells the story in the verses, the singer sings the chorus. Hear how the synthesizers and the relentless beat drive the song forward.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Categories: ArtistsEurodance