Scene: It’s Sunday, I arrive at a club in the Meatpacking district in New York. Although I enjoyed dancing to pop tunes all night, I’m still rip-raring to go. I love dancing, and there’s really nothing that can stop me. Or so I thought... As we enter, I realize the club is incredibly dark, the music is thumping but there are no lyrics, no melody, and I think, “What did I get myself into?” All of a sudden the weekend’s activities wash over me like a tidal wave. I’m tired. I’m cranky. I want to go home, but I spent $25 to get in here and I am holding on to that glimmer of hope that I’ll get to dance. So I just stand there, stepping from side to side, bopping my head to the beat and singing my own lyrics in an attempt to motivate myself. All of a sudden I hear a familiar brass horn, the snare drum comes in with a 4/4 beat, and the lyrics “burn baby burn” begin to echo through the club. In response my eyes light up, adrenaline rushes through my body, a smile widens across my face and my legs have a mind of their own. Hooray! “Disco Inferno” is here! I forget my tiredness, my crankiness, and there’s only one thing on my mind, it’s time to dance!
The key factor in disco-sound is rhythm. The sounds cymbals, and horns are essential just essential to creating the coveted, 115-130 beats per minute. Disco music, however, is much more than metronomic ranges, strings and congas. As seen above it isn’t just music; it’s a mood, it’s fashion, it’s a lifestyle! When you see video clips of disco clubs of yesteryear, you quickly realize that everyone really is having a lot of fun! It’s not just because they’re dancing but they you can see it their clothes and overall attitude as well. I truly believe in the power of disco as a game changer, play it anywhere and inevitably people’s spirits will rise with infectious 4/4 beat.
Now, I’m an 80’s baby, unfortunately I wasn’t even alive in the ‘70s to appreciate disco music. I do remember the utter disdain people had for the genre, it was consistently ridiculed and I just didn’t get it! It was huge in Bollywood, my family and I really ate it up. Whenever the “I love the ‘60s and ‘70s” compilations were advertised on TV I sat there fascinated by the sound, the colorful costumes, and the sheer amount of fun people were having. It all looked so much more desirable than the booty poppin’ on MTV’s “Grind.” When at the school dance, while listening to Nirvana, and Pearl Jam, I yearned for the “happy fun” music mom would play at home. What was a kid to do? Surely it would be social suicide if I requested Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.”
Of course disco did have its permutations, you saw it here and there, influencing Latin and R&B tracks in the late 90s, as well as disco’s drugged up kid, house music. However, in the past few years it really has had resurgence. Although America did attempt to kill the genre, I am happy to say that disco is back! Recent Pop & R&B hits have brought disco to the forefront again. Although such songs aren’t pure disco, this new, “Faux Disco” is giving our generation the ability to experience disco’s true beauty. Madonna successfully gave us a dose with her “Confessions” album. Lady Gaga is disco’s new champion, bringing it back to the masses where Madonna couldn’t and we can’t help but dance along with her. But it’s not just these ladies that are embracing the genre: Mariah jumped on the bandwagon with “I’m That Chick;” even Christina Aguilera tried (and supposedly is trying again on her upcoming album). Moreso, Shakira, on her brand new single, “Loba,” has taken an interesting leap from her Colombian/Arabic roots and dared to disco.
Disco culture is making a comeback as well. It’s great to see the new era of disco parties popping up in New York City. Just recently we’ve seen Josh Sparber’s monthly "Love Hangover" at Eastern Bloc, Garden of Ono’s "Disco Brunch," as well as the infamous "Vandam" at Greenhouse that could give Studio 54 a run for its money. In these trying times people really are looking for release and what better way to do it than dance the night away?!
I’ve included a mix below with some of my favorite “faux disco” and pure disco hits for you to “boogie on down” to. Put your hot shorts on and give it a listen. I hope you enjoy it and learn to embrace the disco! Download the Ru-Mix: New Faux Disco.Ru Bhatt is a lawyer, a performer and DJ. You can check out more of his mixes by emailing him, rubhatt [at] gmail [dot] com, or joining his music group on Facebook: This is... The Ru-Mix. And if you'd like to write about something just email me and you might be the next Summer Friday blogger!