SEMIBEGUN 021: REVOLUTION AND MANIA
JAPANESE RHYTHM GAMES IN THE 1990s

 

Air Date: August 30, 2023

This episode narrows in on a specific corner of video game music history: the origins of rhythm games. Tune in for an hour of dance tunes from the earliest mixes of Dance Dance Revolution, Beatmania, IIDX, Pop'n Music, and Bust a Groove on Semibegun 21: "Revolution and Mania: Japanese Rhythm Games in the 1990s." Viva la revolución!

CD tray image from the Dance Dance Revolution 2nd Mix official OST

TRACKS

  1. ワンダース – 淋しくてLoneliness
    Pop'n Music 2 (1999)

  2. SONIC DREAM – LOVE
    Dance Dance Revolution 3rdMIX (1999)

  3. Haya-P & Maru – Give Me Your Pain
    Pop'n Music 2 (1999)

  4. DJ Nagureo – 20,November (~hardhouse mix~)
    Beatmania 4thMIX (1999)

  5. nouvo nude – wild I/O
    Beatmania 3rdMIX (1998)

  6. DJ Nagureo – 20,November (single mix)
    Beatmania (1997)

  7. Naoki – ENDING ～LOVE IS THE POWER～
    Dance Dance Revolution 2ndMIX (1999)

  8. S&K – GET UP’N MOVE
    Dance Dance Revolution 2ndMIX (1999)

  9. NITE SYSTEM – LOVE SO GROOVY (NITE'S AFTER LUV MIX)
    Beatmania 2ndMIX (1998)

  10. NITE SYSTEM – SALAMANDER BEAT CRUSH MIX
    Beatmania 2ndMIX (1998)

  11. SMiLE.dk – Butterfly
    Dance Dance Revolution (1998)

  12. Captain Jack – IN THE NAVY '99（XXL Disaster Remix）
    Dance Dance Revolution 3rdMIX (1999)

  13. SLAKE – 22DUNK
    Beatmania IIDX 1st Style (1999)

  14. apresmidi – すれちがう２人
    Pop’n Music 1 (1998)

  15. T.R.S. – What i want (EURO MIX)
    Pop’n Music 2 (1999)

  16. Papaya – Hero
    Dance Dance Revolution 2ndMIX (1999)

  17. US-Tom (ft. Donna) – Fly’n to Your Soul
    Bust A Groove (1998)

  18. Sweet Jodi – 2Bad
    Bust A Groove (1998)

  19. DJ FX – Acid Bomb
    Beatmania 2ndMIX (1998)

  20. DJ FX – Attack the Music
    Beatmania 3rdMIX (1998)

  21. JOGA – Dam Dariram
    Dance Dance Revolution 3rdMIX (1999)

  22. e.o.s. – e-motion
    Beatmania (1997)

  23. DJ Taka – Logical Dash
    Beatmania 4thMIX (1999)

  24. Jennifer – If You Were Here
    Dance Dance Revolution 2ndMIX (1999)

  25. Naoki – Dynamite Rave
    Dance Dance Revolution 3rdMIX (1999)

  26. Naoki – Brilliant 2 U
    Dance Dance Revolution 2ndMIX (1999)

  27. Naoki – Brilliant 2 U (Orchestral Groove)
    Dance Dance Revolution 2ndMIX (1999)

  28. L.E.D. Light – Genom Screams
    Beatmania 4thMIX (1999)

  29. RAM – CHAIN
    Beatmania 4thMIX (1999)

  30. R3 – tiger YAMATO
    Beatmania IIDX 1st Style (1999)

  31. LOVE TO ME – THIRD-MIX miryam reo yoshinori
    Beatmania 3rdMIX (1998)

  32. nouvo nude – super highway
    Beatmania 3rdMIX (1998)

  33. SLAKE – SODA
    Beatmania 4thMIX (1999)

  34. DJ Taka – SP-Trip Machine
    Beatmania IIDX 2nd Style (1999)

  35. DE-SIRE – SP Trip Machine ~ Jungle Mix ~
    Dance Dance Revolution 2ndMIX (1999)

  36. 2MB – Trip Machine ~ luv mix ~
    Dance Dance Revolution 3rdMIX (1999)

  37. DE-SIRE – Trip Machine
    Dance Dance Revolution 2ndMIX (1999)

  38. 180 – PARANOiA
    Dance Dance Revolution (1998)

  39. 190 – PARANOiA Rebirth
    Dance Dance Revolution 3rdMIX (1999)

 
 

Pop'n Music controller by Konami.

With complete sincerity, I don't know who I would be without the music of Bemani-style rhythm games. For people like myself, the scaffolding for a lifelong dedication to electronic music began in arcades down the shore and in the mall. While Leyland Kirby and Burial were releasing musical reflections on the death and spectre of rave culture, a preteen version of myself was shoving quarter after quarter into a machine for the privilege of stomping on arrows synced to house, techno, jungle, drum and bass, gabber, IDM, hip hop, and eurobeat tunes with no consideration of context outside. No rave existed beyond the lights and sounds of the arcade cabinet. The music was inextricable from its form as a participatory experience at the intersections of gaming, music, and dance.