Disco
Nothing brought disco to the attention of the public as the movie ‘Staying Alive’ featuring John Travolta and his riveting moves. The disco movement started in 1971, but disco clubs didn’t start popping up until 1974. The first disco hit was ‘Never Can Say Goodbye’ by Gloria Gaynor.
The early disco songs had a very slow tempo. Over time, the got faster and the length of the songs increased as well. The idea was to create songs a person could really move to. Just when they got going, the song ended. The majority of disco songs contain the word ‘dance’ somewhere in the lyrics. The most popular disco song of all time is by Donna Summers. Lasting 17 minutes long, it takes about having an orgasm. Many disco songs contain sexual content. This made the music and the dancing even more appealing to the youth of that era. One hit wonders were very popular in disco music.
Many disco clubs were empty warehouses that had large spaces for groups of people to dance. The atmosphere included lights, DJ’s, disco balls, and colorful dance costumes. The freedom the disco music and moves gave people led to the market being flooded with new music. People couldn’t even grasp a new song before another was on top of it. They loved the freedom on expression and the undertone it gave about being sexual active without being in a long term relationship.
The disco craze was wild and well lived, but it died fast. By the early 80’s disco clubs were closing their doors due to lack of customers. Disco sucks bumper stickers began cropping up. It was apparent that society was ready for a new wave of music to take control. Hair bands with rock and roll power ballads took over the scene.
Disco found its way back on top it the 1990’s, including several remixes of old disco songs.
