What is the origin of disco music? The story of the genre that propelled the Bee Gees

There are many musical styles, but it is true that disco music is coming to revolutionize everything. This style, which contains influences from rhythm & blues, soul and even founk, does notaction in Philadelphia in the 1960s. The environment was not easy since everyone the music scene was dominated by soulalthough soon many artists would end up opening the door to a new style that would soon be danced in every club and club.

This musical genre descends from soul, but very quickly its evolution allowed the birth of disco music. This is how the The Bee Gees became this point of union between old soul and the birth of this new genre.. It was the first musical reference that, through melodies and orchestral arrangements derived from soul music itself, ended up inspiring many artists and groups that would be known in different parts of the world.

Even if your boom it did not come until many years later, to New York, more precisely, the salt study 54 has become one of the greatest exponents of disco music since its inception, since it is the place where this type of music became known with the aim of everyone is dancing, having fun and letting loose of the daily life of their life and of the social and political problems derived from the Vietnam War.

Thus, hundreds of young African-Americans, Latinos, gays, lesbians, transvestites and all these groups strongly marginalized by the laws will find in this new musical genre a refuge to let off steam.

Despite the fact that they all went mainly to the Estudio 54 room, considered the temple of disco music, they soon began to be seen by other prestigious rooms such as The Limelight, Magical, Paradise Garage… And that’s how he started to become famous late pinchadiscos, since they were responsible for livening up the dance floors and popularizing hit songs around the world. And it is precisely the fact of using discs to play music in theaters that led to the qualification of this new genre of disco music.

Also, it brought with it another new term that was very well known in the 70s which was bogie, which referred to a genre that kept its similarities to disco music with the only difference that it placed more emphasis on melodic rhythms.

Golden age

Despite the fact that its beginnings foreshadowed a hopeful future for this nascent musical genre, it was not until 1975 that disco conquered the top. Record companies, aware that disco music would be a new niche for explode being heard in every corner of the worldthey end up imposing on their team of artists the recording of songs of this style, surprisingly well received at the time.

Although others decided to try their luck on their own, what today we would call self-taught, offering a much wider musical spectrum. One of the most important bands in disco music was Bee Gees who left a huge legacy with songs as popular as Stay alive oh how Deep Is Your Lovewhich have become authentic hymns of 70s music.

Soon after, the music began to merge with other very different genres, among which Latin rhythms predominated, such as merengue or salsa, generating more electrifying and fresh melodies that gave way to endless choreography. . The result was so amazing that they quickly opened a new door for record labels.

Piano-paced melodies, string instruments, powerful bass changes, falsetto voices and a long etcetera were some of the keys to this new music. We quickly discovered the talent of artists like Barry White, Donna Summerr, Jackson 5, Chic, The Tramps, Gloria Gaynor oh The villagers who spearheaded this new movement, although in Europe it landed hand in hand with Bee Gees and ABBAtwo pioneering groups of disco music.

In fact, some well-known bands and solo artists in the rock world have also had slip-ups like The rolling stones when checking in I miss you, Rod Stewart con do you think i’m sexy? there pink floyd con Another Brick in the Wall.

The production Saturday night fever, starring John Travolta and Karen Lynn Gorney and released in 1977, put music at its peak, landing in theaters and making the leap to Europe. Moreover, the soundtrack had been prepared by the Bee Gees and marked a turning point in the 70s. Songs like Stay alive, night fever, more than a woman there how Deep Is Your Love they kept ringing nowhere.

The end of disco

The golden years of disco music quickly came to an end. Much of this decline has been fueled by the relentless parodies of disco music, including children’s versions that even Disney has echoed. All of this forged the growing sense of hatred that many felt towards disco music.

But it will not be until July 12, 1979 that this musical genre will die definitively. This day isand produces an anti-disco action, promoted by DJ and radio host Steve Dalh. He and fellow colleagues Gerry Meier or Michael Veeck launched a campaign against disco music, which eventually adopted the event format as the Demolition Disco Partywith which they managed to mobilize their listeners (mostly white) to burn disco albums with the slogan “The disco sucks(disco sucks).

This fact can only be understood if we take into account that at that time DJs became the real kings of disco music. So if they played an artist’s music, it was successful. In this way, the DJ ended up having almost more power than a radio host. A niche that record companies have quickly made profitable since they have agreed with DJs to play new releases from their network of artists. Larry Levan, Walter Gibbons and Nicky Siano were among those successful DJs.

This whole situation ended up having a significant influence on the sound field, completely turning off the disco music. There are several theories that support the anti-disco sentiment that prevailed at the time. One of them relates to the idea that the disco music ended up becoming the hegemonic, which explains why it keeps ringing everywhere and at all times. In fact, it was so much the case that it motivated him to become the object of parody on numerous occasions. Another of the arguments is based on its origins, because it is believed that this gmusical genre was a movement born in the gay and more alternative clubs of New Yorkwhere all the songs were sung and danced by women, which particularly bothered white and straight men.

80s and 90s

Although the disco stupor ended early, The 1980s and 1990s marked the beginning of a new era.. The birth of new musical styles, such as Dance and Technho, put disco music back in the spotlight, although once again to add fuel to the fire. New musical currents as well as other subgenres such as High energy or the italian disco they harbored a feeling of immense hatred against disco music, which ended up walking on it.

Despite the fact that disco music was already dead for many, the truth is that its essence endured and served as inspiration for all that was to come, planting the fruit of electronic music, house and even jazz. EDM. From the 70s to the 90s, the disco sound was very much alive with groups as legendary as Kool and the gang, Lips Inc., Queen and The Pointer Sisters with singers like MMichael Jackson, Irena Cara and Gloria Estafan. All continued to bet on this line of disco music, although to be honest the golden years of the genre were behind.

Additionally, more alternative styles such as hip hop, R&B, and various pop innovations soon emerged, which began to sound strongly in major clubs around the world.