The Korg M1, first released by the Japanese manufacturer in 1988, became one of the defining instruments of early 1990s dance and house music, with its onboard presets shaping the sound of numerous chart hits. American Songwriter highlights three tracks from the era that drew on the synthesizer, illustrating how a single piece of studio hardware helped define a genre's signature sound.

The examples include Madonna's 1990 hit "Vogue", whose closing chorus lines use M1 piano chords; Robin S.'s "Show Me Love" from October 1990, which built its bassline around an M1 organ sound and became a landmark house record; and SNAP!'s 1992 smash "Rhythm Is A Dancer", which reached the top five of the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Dance Club Songs chart, featuring M1 piano elements. Contributors to these songs, including demo singer Andrea Martin and vocalist Thea Austin, have since spoken about the creative process behind the tracks.

– Korg's M1 synthesiser, launched in 1988, became central to early 90s dance music.
– Its presets featured on Madonna's "Vogue" and Robin S.'s "Show Me Love".
– SNAP!'s "Rhythm Is A Dancer" (1992) also used M1 piano sounds and hit the US top five.