In my previous post, I traced the development from gospel, through soul to funk. The step from soul and funk to disco is not a big one. I think of The Supremes (here a medley of their best-known songs), but also Chaka Kahn’s “I’ am every woman” and Chic’s “Le Freak“. The difference between funk and disco is even harder to pinpoint. Just look and listen to “Kung Fu Fighting” by Berry White.
Possibly also look at The Hues company (“Rock the boat“), George McGrae (“Rock your baby“) and KC and the Sunshine Band (“That’s the Way I Like It” and “Shake Your Booty“). I think funk seamlessly transitioned into disco, but at the same time some artists became attracted to jazz, like Candy Dulfer. With disco, you don’t stay in your seat; with jazz, you (usually) do.
Disco, like funk, is meant to be dance music. Disco was played in clubs such as the Copacabana in New York or sometimes at illegal rave parties. Almost always to the music of a live band. Dancing was mainly a form of individual expression, stimulated by the music, the light installation and the excessive use of drugs. During the 1970s, a range of disco dance styles developed, such as “penguin”, “boogaloo”,” watergate” and “robot”.
This recording of MFSB “The Sound of Philadelphia”reveil some disco dancers showing their skills (up to minute 2.45).
Discos had a tolerant atmosphere with few restrictions and where people felt at home regardless of skin color and sexual orientation. Movies like ‘Saturday night fever’ and ‘Thank God it is Friday’ contributed to the popularity of disco in the 1970s and 1980s.
A classic song that became a disco hit is ‘I will survive’ by Gloria Raynor; ‘Queen of disco’. You can watch and listen to thatsong now.
Dorona Alberti sang the song during a performance by André Rieu in Maastricht. A feat of technical prowess, but it might be laid on too thickly. I am therefore more attracted to Gloria Gaynor’s version anyway.
From 1975 onwards, the number of disco hits is almost unlimited. I list a few of them. Choose for yourself which ones you want to listen to. For example, The Electric Light Orchestra (“Evil Woman“), ABBA “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” (A Man After Midnight, Boney M. (“Rasputin“), Bee Gees (“Stayin’ Alive“, “Night Fever“)
Slowly, uneasiness against disco culture, which was blamed for superficiality, consumerism and escapism, grew among a section of young people who were particularly attracted to ‘rougher’ rock music. An anti-disco demonstration (“Disco demolition night”) during the intermission of a baseball game on 12 July 1979 inadvertently became a platform for homophobia, sexism and racism. Disco was already past its peak in the US and Europe by then, but continued to develop elsewhere in the world, from the Middle East to India. However, several established artists continued making disco music unabated, such as Kool and the Gang, Donna Summer, the Jacksons, and Gloria Gaynor also survived.
In the following Years, others took over and essentially the style is still popular today, but the character of disco and, for that matter, of almost all popular types of music changed profoundly from the 1980s onwards and this was partly due to the rise of EDM, electronic dance music.
The first step was to provide disco songs with an all-electronic accompaniment. The classic example is 1977’s Donna Summer’s “I feel love”, produced by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. Here is a recording where you first see Donna in the studio and then experience a performance in a disco (almost 9 minutes)
Electronic dance music (EDM)
What are we talking about? Here is an excerpt from Jesse Saunders’ song “On and on” from Chicago in 1984, the very first recording of ‘house music’ put on a record. The influence of disco is still unmistakable.
Electronic dance music, of which house, techno and trance are the main forms, is produced with dedicated equipment, where any sound – including of musical instruments and voices – can be produced using software. This can be done ‘live’ by DJs or in a studio, in both cases, sometimes in combination with vocals and musical instruments.
The most prominent feature of electronic dance music in general and house in particular, especially in the beginning, was the bass drum, on every beat and other percussion sound on beats 2 and 4 of each bar, lasting about ½ second. In addition, heavy bass tones can be heard on all the whole and half beats.
Parties (‘raves’) take place in discotheques or illegal venues, but can also be massive in character, lasting a whole week-end like ‘Tomorrowland’ (200,000 – 300,000 visitors). Here, not only (hundreds of) DJs perform, but also entire orchestras, there are light shows and fireworks. Get an impression of this overwhelming spectacle by watching (parts of) the Tomorrowland 2023 ‘aftermovie’ (lasts 23 minutes in total).
In many ways, ‘dance’ culture matched that of disco. Dancing was a form of free expression, although it also used elements from countless existing styles, waacking, voguing, capoeira, jazz dance, Lindy Hop et cetera. Here, too, there is generally a broad tolerance of diversity and the lyrics – if any – exude a spirit of freedom and equality. Use of all forms of drugs is widespread.
The number of styles of EDM is vast. Between 1985 and 2000, house, electro, trance and Eurodance dominated. Nowadays, we mostly know mixed forms, with elements of ‘progressive house’ and trance playing the main role.
House
You can look at some examples here. The first is a ‘roof top’ house party. What you hear is predominantly deep house with a hint of afrohouse. The makers partly fall back on the ‘soulful’ nature of disco.
The music you hear is quite melodic. The next example is acid house, coming from Chicago, and it sounds more ‘heavy’. Let me add a few examples: Deep house: Larry Heard (‘mr. Fingers’) “Mistery of love“, Acid house: Brian Dougans : “Stakker Humanoid“. Hip house: Tyree Cooper (“Turn up the bass“). Jungle house: Omni Trio: “Renegade snares” and progressive house: Above and Beyond (“500“), Deadmau5 (“Strobe“) and Gat Decor: “Passion“.
Progressive house is itself another umbrella term, but a common feature is that it gave another ‘boost’ to house as dance music. Progressive house has common ground with trance. Both take time to build up the song, and the tracks often last an hour or more to do so.
Techno
Techno originated in Detroit and then gained a foothold mainly in Berlin and a few cities in England. Synthpop, like Giorgio Moroder’s and Pete Bellotte’s song “I feel love”, sung by Donna Summer in 1977 was an inspiration. This song has full electronic accompaniment (see above). Techno sounds more transparent than house; but of course, the DJ can turn up the bass as much as he/she likes. A classic: Derrick May’s “String of life” (1987), which you can hear here.
Here are some other examples of techno: Model 500 (“No UFOs“), Inner city “Big fun“, Maurizio “T.T. / F. F.” and from Cybotron “Clear” and “Techno City“
Trance
Trance is symphonic EDM, usually long tracks, sometimes using classical music. There are repeating melodic patterns, and a climax is built up which then culminates in a ‘drop’. It is the specialty of leading Dutch DJs like as Ferry Corsten, Armin Van Buuren and Tiësto. The latter was in the limelight in 2004 because he and hundreds of live musicians provided the music for the athletes’ entry at the 2004 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Athens. Gardian magazine called this performance one of the 50 most important events in dance music. The entire ceremony lasted 3 1/2 hours. Scroll through it. You can see the entry of the Dutch team, among others, here.
Other Examples: Afrojack: Live in Tomorroland 2022, Above and Beyond (“500“), 4Voice (“Eternal spirit“). Armin van Buuren (“Airwave“), The visions of shiba (“Perfect day“)
Euro dance
Eurodance incorporates elements of disco, rap, techno and house. Eurodance has rich melodies; partly complemented by rap and features a solid bass. You can watch Dr Alban’s “It’s my life” here
Other Examples of Eurodance include: 2 Unlimited “No limit“, La Bouche: “Be my lover” and Black Box (“Ride on time“) and Vengaboys “Boom, boom, boom, boom“)
At the turn of the century, EDM producers occasionally made songs that were not suitable as ‘dance music’, instead, they were for home use to dream away or kick off. This music was called intelligent dance music, armchair techno or ambient techno. Here are two examples: Secede “Outran” and Boards of Canada “Music is math“.
From 2000 onwards, we see the variety of styles increasing, which is why dance is increasingly referred to in short. The use of electronics still takes a dominant role, but more large-scale “rave parties” also feature live singing and sometimes entire orchestras contribute. The recording below is from “Sandstorm”. A ‘rave party’ with a symphony orchestra, DJ and lightshow.
From the beginning of the 21ste century, there has been a particular reappraisal of the melodic component of EDM, or as is often said, ‘disco is back, but in a different way’. It is also more often bands again providing the accompaniment, usually supplemented by electronics.
According to music critics, the reason for disco’s continued popularity is its social nature. Tom Ewing: “Disco was a music of mutual attraction: cruising, flirtation, negotiation.” By contrast, electronic styles like house emphasised the personal transcendent experience.
Here is a series of examples of dance after 2000. The rhythmic character obviously remains and you can experience for yourself how the balance between ‘rhythm’ and melody moves more in the latter direction and the songs more closely resemble the disco style of yesteryear. The songs combine strong beats with uncomplicated melodies. In fact, you can no longer categorise 21ste century ‘danceable’ music. As an example, let me hear Kylie Minogue’s song “Magic” from her album, tellingly titled ‘Disco’ from 2020.
Examples from 2000 – 2010 include: Technotronics “Pump Up the Jam“, Kylie Minogue’s “Can’t Get You Out of My Head“, Robbie Williams’s “Rock DJ“, Jamiroquai “Little L” Sophie Ellis-Bextor “Murder on the Dancefloor” and Manic Street Preachers “Miss Europa Disco Dancer“
From the decade 2010 – 2020 I note: Daft Punk “Get Lucky“, Karmin “I Want It All“, ‘Wrong Club’ by the Ting tinks and “Blow” by Beyoncé .
Even beyond 2020, we can note successful disco numbers Doja Cat’s “Say So“, Lady Gaga’s “Stupid Love“, Dua Lipa’s “Don’t Start Now“, BTS – hailing from South Korea – “Dynamite”
You can also see the influence of electronica more widely than in disco, namely in pop music in general. This was already true in the last decades of the 20ste century for groups like ‘Japan’ and ‘Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’ and later ‘Depeche Mode’, ‘Eurythmics’, ‘Duran Duran’ and ‘Spandau Ballet’. Madonna’s 1998 album “Ray of Light” is full of ESD elements.
Music: Listen, Look and Enjoy 