So what is Eurobeat?
Eurobeat can't really be defined with one or two words, it's a music genre that pretty much borrows bits from many other genres but in the end still does its own thing. What's common for Eurobeat in general is the speed, the songs are really fast and now we're not talking about the bass-lines, it's the melodies that are fast. For a new listener the speed might be a bit overwhelming, as for example here in Finland people are used to slower music, and everytime people listen to Eurobeat the first reaction generally goes somewhere on the lines of: 'Wow, this is fast'. Though there are also slower eurobeat songs, in particular the older generation of eurobeat is a lot slower than the modern genre we get these days.

EuroBeat and EuroDance Compared:

Many people think of EuroDance when they hear the word Eurobeat for the first time, as Eurodance is a more familiar term for many europeans and Americans, and beat is just thought to be the same thing with just a different name, from the chart below you can see the main differences with the two genres. These two genres are really close to eachother, but if you listen to some example acts from both genres you'll notice the difference easily.

EUROBEAT

Beats Per Minute (BPM)
The general level is 155 BPM. But the early days and the modern days have slowed down a bit, and it varies mostly between ~150-160.

Vocals
The vocals in EuroBeat are mostly either male or female vocals depending on the act. Also duets and such are seen, but rarely rap.

Sounds
Synthesizers and the typical EuroBeat beat are the main elements. Also modern eurobeat uses a lot of classic dancemusic elements.

Style
Eurobeat is mostly very bouncy and happy, there are a lot of serious songs as well, but melancholy doesn't just fit eurobeat.

Years
The earliest italo-era years were in the late 80's, and eurobeat is still going on strong.

Artists
Dave Rodgers,Lolita, Domino, Cherry, Matt Land,..

EURODANCE / EUROHOUSE

Beats Per Minute (BPM) The general level is around 140. But the beat sometimes goes up to 150, and way below 140 as well. The BPM varies from ~130-150.

Vocals
The singing is done by a female vocalist and there are extra raps by a male member of the band/group, and that's a basis for eurodance.

Sounds
The fast 'galloping' beat is one of the key-elements in many of the eurodance songs. Also modern and classic dance sounds used all around.

Style
EuroDance has a slightly more mature sound to it, the songs have a serious attitude and the songs are rarely 'happy'.

Years
Eurodance began in the early nineties and the last proper eurodance acts appeared in around 1998.

Artists
Antares, Aladino, J.K., Alexia, 2 Fabiola, Kadoc,..