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Post by dukelightning on Jul 14, 2011 14:36:23 GMT -5
32 years ago this week!  Here's an article from the Beatportal website, along with an embedded video illustrating that moment of cultural shame. Some points in the article are certainly dead on, I must say. Very informative. One of the sentences indicated that disco morphed into hip-hop. So to those who wished for the end of disco, I have to say....be careful what you wish for, you might get it. And you got it. But I gotta tell ya that I was on the frontlines of this battle between rock and disco. I was a college DJ and music director at the time. One of things that I did at college was DJ dances that were held. I remember people coming up to me and saying.....don't play so much disco or any disco. To which I would say.... what do you want to me play.....the Carpenters, Crosby, Stills & Nash? All of this is interesting because to me, there was a lot more intragenerational acrimony about disco whereas with hip-hop/rap, there is a lot more intergenerational acrimony. |
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Post by bestmusicexpert on Jul 14, 2011 15:01:57 GMT -5
When I have DJ'ed parties as a mobile DJ. I had the same problem Dukedeb. Irritataing isn't it?
Worse is when idiots come up and say: "Don't play this s****y music" and walks away. Or else they say "Play something better". Well, I'm not a mind reader so god only knows what that is. Usually I play something ridiculous like Barbie Girl or Copacabana and say, well, its better than the other stuff I was playing....
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Post by jaxxalude on Jul 14, 2011 15:21:52 GMT -5
Hmmm... I wasn't yet born when Saturday Night Fever spurred disco into the mainstream. But from what I can gather, most of the acrimony against it did come from the previous generations. And in that respect, it was pretty much across the board; not only rock buffs denigrated it, but a big chunk of the soul/R&B community also despised it as an adulteration of Black pop. In many ways, on first instance, I guess it was the overtly European feel of the music that started the backlash. Of course, the fact that this was a genre whose primary audience was minorities and gays only added the insult to the injury, in the naysayers (to not call them another, more deserved thing) point of view. Another thing about disco: this was probably the first popular music genre that truly reflected the emancipation of women in society. I guess that also didn't sit well with more conservative circles either. And dukedeb, there's another quote in the article where it says that the most common complaint towards hip-hop is being too Black.  |
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Post by dukelightning on Jul 14, 2011 15:28:05 GMT -5
I read that last sentence. I assume that is accurate? But I speak from experience on the intragenerational acrimony because as I wrote, I was on the frontlines of it. People the same age or certainly in my generation were the people who despised it most. And I have not seen that intragenerational angst with hip-hop/rap.
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Post by blackbowl68 on Jul 14, 2011 17:56:38 GMT -5
In hindsight, the real reason for the disco backlash was because after the Bee Gees had their success affiliated with Saturday Night Fever, virtually every act tied to the BRITISH INVASION started jumping on the bandwagon. The Stones, Elton John, Rod Stewart,....even the Americans: The Beach Boys, Chicago, Blondie, and KISS. And they were having hits with them. Rock radio thought they were losing their core artists to disco.
The straw that broke the camel's back was when McCartney jumped in. (Remember Goodnight Tonight) IMO, once that happened, all hell broke loose.
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Post by blackbowl68 on Jul 14, 2011 18:14:23 GMT -5
there's another quote in the article where it says that the most common complaint towards hip-hop is being too Black. That may be because hip hop is more rooted in Jamaican music, developed in the poverty-stricken Bronx, employed a lot of Chicago Soul, and its design was based on Jamaican toasting. This mix is why many thought it would never break outside NYC. |
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Post by jaxxalude on Jul 14, 2011 18:16:44 GMT -5
In hindsight, the real reason for the disco backlash was because after the Bee Gees had their success affiliated with Saturday Night Fever, virtually every act tied to the BRITISH INVASION started jumping on the bandwagon. The Stones, Elton John, Rod Stewart,....even the Americans: The Beach Boys, Chicago, Blondie, and KISS. And they were having hits with them. Rock radio thought they were losing their core artists to disco. The straw that broke the camel's back was when McCartney jumped in. (Remember Goodnight Tonight) IMO, once that happened, all hell broke loose. I don't disagree with that viewpoint. But let's face it: that alone is too weak a motive to explain such active hatred of disco. The fact of the matter is that the Disco Sucks backlash was, in all its detail, a straight-up culture war at play. Which, as the article I posted a link to above very well documents, was just a momentary victory. What the article doesn't say, though, is that, in any way or another, disco has always been present in the American charts, even after its supposed death. I mean, where do you think all those New Wave acts like Duran Duran, Tears For Fears, Spandau Ballet or Depeche Mode got their syncopated balance from? Disco, of course. Not to mention that Madonna's, Prince's and Michael Jackson's brand of dance-pop throughout the 80's was nothing more than a child of disco itself in many ways. And yes, I know hip-hop has a Jamaican ancestry in it. After all, Kool Herc (widely considered the first hip-hop DJ) was a Jamaican expatriate whose block party setups were nothing more than an Americanization of the Treasure Isle's own soundsystems. |
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Post by blackbowl68 on Jul 14, 2011 19:07:35 GMT -5
And yes, I know hip-hop has a Jamaican ancestry in it. After all, Kool Herc (widely considered the first hip-hop DJ) was a Jamaican expatriate whose block party setups were nothing more than an Americanization of the Treasure Isle's own soundsystems. But based on the reaction to my thread on hip-hop, I'm sure VERY FEW people know this. BTW, It's been noted that many pop stations in 79-80 had something called Bee Gees Free days, meaning they wouldn't play ANYTHING but the group (or anything they wrote or produced) for AT LEAST 24 HOURS!!! Based on this, I have often wished my favorites oldies station would have a Beatles Free day!! (Because I don't think they deserve THAT MUCH airtime) Let's see how people would shoot me down for that!! |
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Post by bestmusicexpert on Jul 15, 2011 7:20:24 GMT -5
OK, alot of people got sick of The Bee Gees and had "Free Weekends" They did it with MJ in the early 80's when Thriller was getting driven into the ground.
Now, let me say this as nicely as I can....
You question my expertise, while defending the hell out of rap and then you say The Beatles don't deserve THAT MUCH airtime... The Beatles... one of the most GENIUS artists of all time....
To quote my LEAST favorite phrase on this board....
No, just no!
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Post by jaxxalude on Jul 15, 2011 10:45:22 GMT -5
OK, alot of people got sick of The Bee Gees and had "Free Weekends" They did it with MJ in the early 80's when Thriller was getting driven into the ground. Now, let me say this as nicely as I can.... You question my expertise, while defending the hell out of rap and then you say The Beatles don't deserve THAT MUCH airtime... The Beatles... one of the most GENIUS artists of all time.... To quote my LEAST favorite phrase on this board.... No, just no! And I'm going to say to you as nicely as I can too... You know anything about music history, plain and simple. Your skirt was lifted. And you're not liking it one bit.  |
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Post by bestmusicexpert on Jul 15, 2011 11:03:20 GMT -5
You know anything about music history, plain and simple. Your skirt was lifted. And you're not liking it one bit.
huh?
I think alot of people know that I know a hell of a lot about music history and have TONS of music knowledge. And if you've heard my very popular radio show, you'd agree.
What I do not like is your s*** attitude.
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Post by jaxxalude on Jul 15, 2011 11:19:35 GMT -5
Well, dude, you were the one who came to this thread and started shooting everything that moved, especially at blackbrown's direction. From where I'm standing, it's called cyberbullying. So I just did what was right: getting it back at you.
So maybe it's you who needs to change that attitude.
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Post by bestmusicexpert on Jul 15, 2011 12:56:37 GMT -5
I have posted 2 (now 3) times in this thread. I agreed with dukedeb on his point and expanded. I didn't attack anyone until blackbowl said that The Beatles didn't deserve the airplay they get, this after defending rap? A million miles behind the genius of John, Paul, George & Ringo? I have a right to voice that thought that I'm sure MOST of us would agree with. However, you then posted about my expertise. Sorry, it wasn't me that started the nasty war you're trying to get off of the ground.
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Post by dukelightning on Jul 15, 2011 14:32:42 GMT -5
BME is not allowed to say the Beatles are icons? Anyways, I know a lot of you are going to be jealous of me tonight because I will be working the show performed by none other than ...........drumroll please...........Lil Wayne. 2nd time in 3 years he has played a show in Raleigh. Anything anybody wants me to ask any of the patrons who I interact with?
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Post by bestmusicexpert on Jul 15, 2011 14:35:17 GMT -5
OH MAN! I am SOOOOOOOO Jealous of you dukedeb! Any chance I can get an autograph?
lol, why not see how many people are not causing trouble and have their clothes on properly... Bet ya can't get to ten!
NO, you and your secutiry cronies, the ushers and the snack bar DO NOT COUNT!
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