Disco is a type of music that began in the late 1960s and opened up a new nightlife scene in the US in the 1970s.
Its sound is a strong beat through the bassline, topped with strings and electric instruments.
The disco style of music’s foundation was found in multicultural venues, the LGBT community and the hippies of NYC and Phili.
It became mainstream when movies such as Saturday Night Fever came to the forefront highlighting not only the music but the style of dance as well.
The Hustle and the Bump were dances well noted by those who enjoyed the disco scene.
Disco music was counterculture to rock bringing their own explosive fashion and drug scene into the music world.
Who is Disco Music for?
Disco music is its own genre that crosses the boundaries of other genres such as rock, pop and electric music.
Its foundations come from a time in the 1960s that blossomed in popularity in the 1970s.
Its origins were in the urban subculture found in clubs where gays, African Americans, Latinos and hippies went to party.
Some said it was a push back against Rock and the lack of dance with that genre.
It was counterculture to the rock nation.
It came with its own fashion, freestyle dance, drug scene and loud performances.
Disco evolved in hidden clubs as many people who enjoyed it was looking for venues where they wouldn’t be harassed by local police.
This was especially prevalent in the LGBT community.
There were a huge number of DJs who promoted disco and gathered a following of fans.
Discos major breakthrough came in the 1970s when the music actually hit the pop charts like Billboard Hot 100 and became enjoyed mainstream rather than in the basements of venues.
If you enjoy a party style of music, then this is a genre that might be for you.
It’s a good 4/4 beat that tends to be quick with percussion.
Strings, horns, electric instruments are all part of it.
It is personified by DJs, flashing lights and musical drama as well.
There are some great older artists to enjoy such as Donna Summer, KC and the Sunshine band and many more who built a strong disco industry and whose songs are still enjoyed by many today.
Many of the names like the Bee Gees and Boney M continue to make music today.
While the disco genre of music is certainly not as strong as it used to be, it is still heard today and has had a significant impact on the music world.
This is especially true in dance clubs and bars.
While the music alone had an impact, the lights, showmanship and DJs that remain when the style began to fade stayed.
Disco pushed minorities in the spotlight by giving them a platform to perform.
The LGBT, African American and Latino communities were able to take the stage and make it big in an ever-changing music industry.
This somewhat now subdued genre still gets not only airplay but continues to have musicians bring it to the forefront in a revival of the genre.
If you are interested in listening to both old and new disco, it isn’t difficult to find.
Madonna has released disco music along with many others.
If you are looking for music to get dancing to, then disco is going to be the music for you.
The lyrics could be about anything as they weren’t the focus of the music.
It was the danceability of it.
The beat was paramount.
The interesting thing is, the music wasn’t about the musicians, it was about the party that went with it.
Disco probably had more one-hit wonders than any other genre of music simply because people were looking for a good dance and party music and not the best lyrics or riff.
Disco music is also for people who have an interest in DJs and those that spin the records.
Disco was an era where the DJ was the make or break part of the party.
Those at the parties were looking for top DJs to make the event.
Mixes and remixes dominated the dance scene.
If you are someone who follows the DJ world then disco was one of the first genres that put them into the forefront as not only those who played the records and made the musicians known, but they ran the party scene and created the playgrounds for the rich and famous.
The scene became about the party, the dancing, the fashion and the drugs.
Disco, unlike rock music, is more for a select crowd.
It is for those who have ties to the DJ scene and those who want to dance.
You aren’t going to find a lot of slow ballads or heavy rock instrumentalization.
Disco is going to give you a strong synthesized beat to dance to and the DJs are going to build mixes that keep the party going.