Paul Elstak: The Gabbers vs The Happy - Hardcore History - Ep14

Paul Elstak hails from The Netherlands and over the past 35 years, he has been a legend of the Happy Hardcore and Real Hardcore scenes.
His story tells of massive Happy Hardcore anthems such as "Luv U More" and "Rainbow in the Sky". At the same time, his journey into mainstream commercial success came with hate, previously unseen in episodes of Hardcore History.
Join me as I look into this part of Paul Elstak's career.
Enjoy the video!
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- Timestamps -
00:00 Intro
00:55 Chapter 1: The Early Days
03:16 Chapter 2: Dutch Happy Hardcore
07:06 We Interrupt...
08:20 Chapter 3: The Happy vs The Gabbers
10:44 Chapter 4: A Return To His Roots
12:21 Outro

[@DJ.Jon.G]

Paul Elstak - Don't leave me alone Not only my favourite Happy Hardcore tune of all time but also my favourite dance music tune of any genre. It will never get old for me 😀 It was also hearing this played on Stu Allan's Hardcore Hour (way back in 1995) that got me into Hardcore in the first place. Superb episode Stu 👍 🔥

[@stuartkmusic]

Thanks Jon. It’s a hell of a track that I’m glad I now own a copy of. 👍

[@rookbranwen8047]

Found Hardcore through Japanese labels like Hardcore Tano*C, Now I listen to everything rave, Acid, DnB, Breakbeat Hardcore, Speedcore, Hardstyle, Uptempo, and much more. Despite him being the inventor of Gabber I haven't listened to much of Elstak's music yet mostly due to there being so many other artists and styles I also want to try.

[@kbnet_yt]

Thanks for doing this series! I've learned quite a lot. Speaking of people with memoirs, Luna-C and the long history of Kniteforce Records might be a good subject for a future episode. Between his autobiography and blog posts, you'd certainly have a strong starting point. Of course, the fact that Luna-C *has* already written about his own corner of the scene with such charm and detail might sound like a reason not to bother, but I'd argue that's actually where solid history is needed most. I love a good memoir, but history is about evaluating and correlating sources. There are a lot of good stories from the j-core side, but I read Japanese and even I'm still trying to piece things together. So many fragments scattered across the internet. I wrote some pieces on figures in a tangentially related scene for a site run by an exporter service, and boy I miss being able to use that point of contact to just *ask* people things. Seems like you've had a lot of great luck with that. Here's hoping it continues!

[@stuartkmusic]

Thank you for your kind words @kbnet_yt Luna-C has been on my list since the very beginning and was very nearly the first episode of the series. I feel honoured when these guys do speak to me and it has helped massively in gathering the information.

[@firelabmusic]

Awesome mate. You're filling the void for me after ROAR ended to nerd out on this stuff 😁

[@stuartkmusic]

We can all be nerds together 😆

[@whoknows8225]

I remember seeing Paul Elstak walking by pushing thru the crowd near the stage speakers in the Energiehal in Rotterdam, it was my first party i went to.. never forget. What a time to be alive.

[@stuartkmusic]

Amazing. The only person I’ve seen walking through a crowd at a gig was Andy C and he didn’t look very happy about drunk me screaming “oh my god it’s Andy C” in his face 😆

[@damiencrowe6098]

Great video Stuart... informative as ever....I'm really surprised you didn't mention "Don't leave me alone"?.. I remember the hardcore scene turning on Paul, I'm sure I read somewhere that certain gigs had to be cancelled because they couldnt ensure his safety in some places.. Looking in the comments, your saying about MC's, if so surely you have to do MC Ribbz?

[@stuartkmusic]

Thanks Damien. Ribbz was originally planned to be the next video and the Storm idea came up later. It’s gotta be Ribbz as that was who came a very close 2nd when we took the vote over the Junior video.

[@notenoughram3312]

Yess! New episode day best episode day! Love a bit of elstak! Dj kaos/go mental next?

[@stuartkmusic]

@notenoughram3312 that is not a bad idea for a great way to finish the year. Although I might have to practice saying his real name a bit before I film 😆

[@RAMDH]

A very nice video about DJ Paul, really well done. I am a Dutch Gabber who became a Gabber from 1991. I really hated DJ Paul at the time because he went commercial with that Happy shit. He was the second to leave the GabberHouse (Hardcore) scene to go commercial. In 1994 Charly Lownoise & Mental - Theo also went commercial with the song "Wonderfull Days" and later songs such as "Your Smile" "Live At London" maybe you know them. They also made Hardcore versions of those songs but they were still hated by the Gabber scene at that time. That song by Neophyte "Happy is voor Hobos" used to have a different title "Happy is voor h0m0's" translated "Happy is for g@ys" But that tile had to be adjusted. They also sing h0m0's (g@ys) in the song. and English text with "do you wanna be a F@gg0t" a few other Diss Tracks Dj Paul Hammer Bros - Paul Sucks!!!­ Sonic Overkill - Who Is Elstak? Charly Lownoise & Mental - Theo Rave Parade - Kiss The F#cking Charly And Theo Goodbye (Raped In New York) against Happy Hardcore DJ Tron- Fuck That Happy Shit Buzz Fuzz - Fuck Happy (It's Bullshit!­) Rotterdam Terror Corps - No Happy Shit Chico Chipolata - No More Happy Hardcore Nordcore GmbH - No More Happy Hardcore Nowadays I can appreciate the Dutch commercial Happy Hardcore 90s from Dj Paul, Charly Lownoise & Mental - Theo, Party animals, Flamman & Abraxas etc. Flamman & Abraxas - I'll Be Your Only Friend Flamman & Abraxas - Good To Go Party Animals - Have You Ever Been Mellow Party Animals - Aquarius Party Animals - Atomic Not commercial Dutch Happy Hardcore Used & Abused (Amnesia Mix) Recently released (3 months ago) 90's style Happy Hardcore. With a Hardstyle whoosh Outsiders & Charly Lownoise ft. Starsplash - Free

[@petejay75]

Aussie old school happy hard fan here, am struggling to think of any radio stations back in the day that played this kind of music. Sydney had New Wave FM in the mid 90's but it was very niche, 2SER may have had a happy hard show but I'm not sure, Wild FM came later on but was more comnercial dance oriented. No other station that I know of played anything like this, maybe other cities had different situations though.

[@stuartkmusic]

I can’t say for sure but he mentioned it on Ambassador of Hardcore Podcast saying he was particularly proud when he found out he was being played on Aussie radio… I know very little so far about the scene over there but I have plans to change that very soon 😉

[@AdelaideRetroGamer1987]

Adelaide had 88.5 coast Fm and 92.7 fresh FM Mentazim.. I was 6 listening to gabber with my older brother who was 16 at the time 👌

[@bluestarguardian7554]

Kind of sad to hear there was so much animosity in the hardcore scene and towards Elstak but unsurprising, kinda reminds me of punk and “selling out”. I’ll have to check out his later harder stuff only know the classics like life is like a dance and luv u more!

[@RAMDH]

I'm going to give you a few tips Song for the period when DJ Paul made commercial Happy Hardcore. With different groups and alone. few examples Holy Noise - Get Down Everybody 1991 Holy Noise - The Nightmare (Power Mix) 1992 Euromasters - Alles Naar De Klote (Rotterdam Mix) 1992 Bald Terror - Rotterdam 1993 Hard Attack - Bone Head 1993 DJ Paul Elstak - Play My Game 1994 forze dj team - do it! 1994 After few record that I like Neophyte & DJ Paul - 98 To Piano 1998 Dj Paul and Dj Attic & Stylzz - Fuck You Up 1999 The Stunned Guys & DJ Paul - Thrillseeka 1999 DJ Paul Vs. Urban Menace - Blackout 1999 The Stunned Guys & DJ Paul feat. MC Ruffian - Hardcore takin' over 2000

[@acidmack1041]

I always wonder what route Peter Slaghuis would have gone down in the 1990's if he had not been killed in the car crash in 1991. Wonder if he would have followed the dutch hardcore route like Elstak or gone with house or later trance

[@stuartkmusic]

I wonder as well @acidmack1041

[@jayviperdj]

Absolutely smashed it again mate. Very informative and extremely well prepared. I watch you videos from start to finish and look forward to the next one.🎉🎉🎉

[@stuartkmusic]

Thanks Jay. 👍👍👍

[@docmcfly3933]

I find it hilarious that Neophyte hated on Paul Elstak, but then was involved in Bonkers years later.

[@petejay75]

Gabber heads were the biggest snobs back in the day, they always just stood around complaining until a gabber or hardcore dj played a set. Then they were usually done after maybe 10 minutes of dancing while everyone else put in hours dancing to all styles.

[@urphakeandgey6308]

Feel like that was part of the reason happy hardcore became a thing at all. Hardcore wanted to be "hard" at the cost of quality, essentially. Happy Hardcore was like a giant ironic middle finger to the whole thing and ended up blowing up for a second.

[@honestowl854]

@@urphakeandgey6308 This does not reflect reality completely. Happy Hardore happened because Breakbeat Hardcore (back then simply just Hardcore) went into the charts with many of it's hits in the genre (especially the toytown techno tracks like Sesame's Treet, Trip To Trupton, Charly) and some dj's and producers had enough of it like Fabio and Grooverider so they tried to capture a sound with a much darker tone. At the same time that created a kind of division among the ravers because they still wanted uplifiting pianos and vocals and Slipmatt's SMD #1 or Dougal's Like Is Like a Dance or Crowd Control by Ramos Supreme & Sunset Regime (From 93) basically filled this gap and need. As a result in 93 but in 94 at the latest the scene was split into the darker Jungle (that later evolved into Drum & Bass) and happier side of hardcore called Happy Hardcore. I wish I could live at least 200 years to listen to this lovely music. But hopefully there's a long time before all sounds and music die out, so until then, listen to the music that pleases your soul.

[@saturn1returns]

I’m sure it was the Event 2 1994 Rezerection.

[@Slammingsam1985]

Love elstak plays banging hardcore before feyonourd games hardcore and football fuking brilliant mix , once again mate great history of djs and the music 🎶 I adore hardcore

[@stuartkmusic]

Thanks mate ❤️

[@ltd1980]

What about a video on Kelly Llorenna?

[@daren.t.housse2121]

Nice one Stuart 😈😈👍👍😈👍 as always keep up the great work 👍

[@stuartkmusic]

Thanks Daren 👍👍👍

[@markdonovan8884]

Do you have any plans to do Loftgroover? I suggested it a while back. I bet people think of him as the guy who played speedcore at helter Skelter but he’s had a long and quite interesting career.

[@stuartkmusic]

Absolutely Mark. I’m slowly working my way around to him. 👍

[@davidmilloy5810]

Another great episode mate 👍

[@stuartkmusic]

Thanks David 👍

[@jmokiedm]

DJ Paul still does happy tho? I mean a lot of his latest collabs have happy hardcore influences in them, and he still plays happy hardcore at a lot of his shows. He even had a happy hardcore tribute show a while back.

[@JiltedHybrid]

top video :)

[@stuartkmusic]

Thanks John ❤️

[@Aroundthefire77]

Would you please consider doing a history on BANG! ?

[@stuartkmusic]

Absolutely I will.

[@darbomusic]

Awesome 👌👌

[@Howdonnn]

Thankyou 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@stuartkmusic]

No problems at all. I’m guessing you’ve been waiting for this one 😉

[@Howdonnn]

@stuartkmusic yes always been a fan of Paul elstak he is the 'godfather' of hardcore even partyraiser called him that on a tribute remix not long ago.him bass d and King matthew, dj isaac and Charlie lownoise mental theo are the sound of my childhood mate 👍

[@Howdonnn]

I typed this before watching the podcast in full 😂 and u mentioned isaac and the tune by partyraiser also haha

[@clyder-mandj1850]

Mc Ribbz next please mate

[@pvfckev8348]

Really loving this channel hope you do dj fergus and the mc petapan

[@stuartkmusic]

The first to bring up Fergus and Petapan! They are getting added to the list right now 😉 Thanks for finding us 👍

[@pvfckev8348]

@@stuartkmusic started going vibealite early 2000s but I love the mid 90s stuff but I was a young bedroom raver so I missed the best times and living by jolees I missed club kinetic

[@joni.sirvio8867]

i love dutch people and football. British football fans sings songs from 30's -60's like "im blowing bubbles". If you google feyenoord paul elstak, you see something else

[@stuartkmusic]

Also saw a wedding that he DJed at while hunting around for info on him. That would have been a wedding to be at.

[@andrewpowell6851]

Does anybody know who used to put a paw print on there vinyl . Please help I have a fe vinyl with this on . I even have more than 1 copy of the same vinyl but only 1 has a paw print on it

[@stuartkmusic]

I seem to remember a paw print but I can't remember who that would have been, sorry.

[@markdonovan8884]

I’m sure the trip to Scotland was probably to play Rezerection the nightmare, I’m sure someone will prove me wrong? They also played around club Kinetic at the same time. For U.K. ravers it must have been the first time seeing these names and likewise them playing on our shores

[@leewightman8619]

Sounds about right..

[@jaybot303functionerror4]

Aye it was the nightmare he played 94/95 Hogmanay, I saw he play with the Forze Dj Team army the Doncaster Warehouse in 1995 I think as well. Much preferred his Gabber realises to his happy Hardcore records.

[@lordtraxroy]

The netherlands transform gabber in the future to hardstyle/rawstyle uptempo or dutch version of hardcore where the kicks are becomes riddiculisly hard and distorded

[@andrewpowell6851]

Paw print on vinyl who is it

[@lordtraxroy]

Its really funny how the so called hardcore elitist have become over the decades really soft now with kicks and also more euphoric because of uptempo and hardstyle

[@BLITZKRIEG1]

c'mon mate, as an Aussie, the only real hardcore in the 90s was BLOODY FIST 👊🏻

[@joenuts5167]

Weird to use a fake map of Guyana

[@ChrisW_Essex]

hes a rip off merchant but a good one so ill give him that........ life is like a dance, dougals sister on vocals??? yep true story paul nabbed that tune sample from dougal, he nicked jimmy j's six days too amongst alot of other tracks......... the disapproval from the uk hardcore scene was with him ripping off uk tracks............ saying this vibes got his own back on rave is a mystery lol, think sedders did a booty of luv u more and other elstak tunes on juicy cuts too, lots of borrowing going on, absolutely shameless sampling hardcore style lol

[@stuartkmusic]

It’s almost the defining quality of the hardcore scene, especially the happy one to sample anything and everything they can. I didn’t know that about life is like. That’s an amazing story to add to this. ❤️

[@gav1233]

Wait until you hear about Scooter. He basically ripped off the bouncy cheesy piano happy hardcore sound from the UK.

[@mrjynx23]

I remember a dougal hardcore heaven interview where he said that was his song that was sampled.