Too Young; Too Late; But Lost in it (CAN ANYONE IDENTIFY)?

[Billy72]

Too young for the late 70s club scene: READ THIS AND SEE IF YOU CAN IDENTIFY WITH ME:

I'm almost 36 years old, so I can say a was a little fortunate to have somekind of 'memory' of the 70s. Yeah, my parents were constant radio listeners, and I'm glad cause I didnt start intentionally tuning in on my own until 1981 (too late for the 70s).

The memories were so fond (the music, fashion, T.V. shows) that by the time I finished High School 89', I started tuning into 70s music again (buying compilation cds coming out at the time); AND NOT JUST THAT, I actually started going to thrift shops and buying 70s clothes; I even was wearing my step-dads Dingo Boots (so he called them); Flat (instead of pointed) at the toe, and platformed somewhat.
I watched reruns (constantly) of shows like Sanford and Son, where I really dug the THREADS, especially Rolo (remember him), that cat knew how to fashion up. NOTE: I didnt dress 70s all the time, only when I felt...lets say 'special confidence' lol.

I saw hope in 89 (by summer time) for a possible RETURN (so I naively thought) for the disco era. BANDS (using STRINGS in songs) like SOUL to SOUL; very groovin stuff back then, like "Keep on Movin"; also a band called SYBIL put out a couple of remakes like Dionne Warwicks early 60s hit "Don't make me over"; DONNA SUMMER had a smashing song "This time I know its for real"; AND by early 90 there was LISA STANFIELD "Been around the world" (loved it, beautiful), and BLACKBOX (great house before it got way too repetitive, high energy, and EVEN lyric-less). ALL THESE BANDS were SUCH far cry from the Techno of 89, like Depechemode, and The Cure (great bands, I was just tired of the techno sound).

One more thing, around the end of 89' (or by the turn of the decade) clubs in my city started having (what they called) "trash disco" nights. The term 'trash disco' did piss me off, because I was sick of hearing how disco sucked, however, Disco seemed to take off again (with a unfamilar crowd) and the term 'trash' was soon dropped. It became Disco night; a night (or nights, being I hunted for various clubs having it) which became my favorite.

Sadly, 91 and 92 U.S. radio started shying away BIG TIME from the dance sound; and by 94 it was obvious to me that I would have to move to Europe to hear popular dance (which I still thought was a return to Disco, just a 90s version). I DID practically LIVE in the nightclub scene though (Houston, TX), and heard alot of what was happening musically there.

However, fashion started moving towards the 70s again around 92. Women wearing clogs, platforms, bellbottoms; but ALAS, it was seen as gay for guys, and I (being straight) didnt want to deal with it. ESPECIALLY, after I wore some to a party (in 94) and was later told some of the girls thought I was gay (the bellbottoms were mentioned lol).

ANYBODY else TOO YOUNG for the disco era have SUCH a longing for that time that they find themselves lost in it?

[canadiantire]

Hey,

That’s a nice ode to “the” music style!

I came late in the Disco era so the fashion has never been something that really missed me.

The music has always been THE real thing for me.

The peak experiences of my musical years were the late Disco years, the New Wave and the Hi-Energy eras.

At some point, I stopped worrying about the fact that there would never be another Disco “revival”. Sadly, the world is spinning too fast for anything to last.

Luckily, avid listeners of all kind of music will always exist.

As an example, the Rock & Roll hype of the fifties had and was meant to happen, so was Disco. Rock & Roll is still played out after all these years.

This is why I am more and more convinced that Disco was not just a short burst and its music is imprinted in the landscape forever.

The good news is that there is DISCOMUSIC.COM for creating a central point of exchange and discussion. The birth of internet as we know it now has revived for some of us, the contentment of belonging to a group who went through intense moments (bad and good) during the Disco years.

As long as there will be Disco fanatics like the ones found on this site, my hunger for the subject will be taken care of.

May the innermost recessed topics of the Disco phenomenon be discussed!

- Marcus

[Teddybear]

In the late seventies I was a young boy in the prime of adolescence, so I partially missed the Disco Era, that is, I couldn't attend the premiere of the less-differentiated early years, but at the same time I wasn't directly influenced by the rock of the sixties. So I came to Disco music like a virgin and then I became a full radio listener: only "music in English" and basically, but not exclusively, mainstream Disco. (Anyway, in my native country foreign music came those days with some lateness.)

I felt like a weirdo among my generation, but not long afterwards I discovered there was a good bunch of other oddities enjoying Disco music at the discos —in many Latin American countries the word "disco" stands for an album or LP of any genre, but not for a dancing club. Soon I connected Disco music with "discoteques", on account of the restricted admittance of the genre in my friends' parties.

My musical taste was grounded in the rhythm of the music, because the songs were in English, but mainly because that is in my DNA, even with music in Spanish and even nowadays. Disco fashion was present but was not indispensable, and flamboyant clothes had no market here. So you can see I had a lot of limitations.

On the other hand, the dance floor expanded my musical sense and I learned to simply enjoy the music, even though sometimes I ignored the songs names and LPs weren't available. I didn't care about the technical aspects of Disco. I simply allowed myself to feel and finally I learned to do it to the music... And I lost my virginity to dancing music. Since then, I swore an oath of loyalty to the Dancing Queen.

I respect and learn from all the experts in DiscoMusic.com who had a first-hand experience and who master the technique and technology of musical production. But I don't envy or imitate them. My experience is so unique and being in love is so personal! I'm delighted with the way I relate to music and that's enough for me. Of course, now I am a more skilful and trained Disco lover.

So the point I want to share with you is that the historical Disco Era is gone (as any other past period of time), but not Disco music and in no way the Disco people. You just have to discover yourself through music and suddenly you will know Disco lives, in the broad sense of the term: It lives in the swing of modern clubbing, in a house song, in a strange Japanese melody, or in the unclassified whatever-its-name-is song your brain knows nothing about, apart from the joy it has brought to your heart and feet (yes, alone in the bedroom!)

No matter the genre or language used, any song who really got you in your teenage years will live inside you, for better or worse. And it occurs the same with present day music. So we don't have to be intellectual copycats, just let our feelings flow. The Disco elixir will rejuvenate us, till death do us apart.

[wever]

good to read your experiences!!!
i just have to tell you i'm 20 years old (i'll never get tired of repeat it!) hahahahaha

and yeah! always felt like weirdo cause i found a silky psychedelic shirt my Dad used to wear, and i did it too sometimes. it was hidden from my mum cause she likes to keep all "clean" (scary to me!!! cause she don't let me buy more vynils hahahahaha).
I have some "retro" shirts but i don't use to wear them now, it depends of how i feel.

I'm totally crazy about any disco stuff! about the real old clubbing vibe. I know disco era like it was will never come, it's so true what teddybear says but .... it's always better if you dance in the club with more poeple, loud music in the dark with colour lights...that alone in the bedroom (specially if you live in a flat like me with neighbours all around hearing you sing and dance and whatever you do in your house!hahaha). I think there should be an alternative in the world clubs for those who like Disco Music. The same way you can go to a funk/northern soul session wich has nothin to do with a techno/house one we need a funk/DISCO/house one for the always increasing lovers of it, not only using the "disco" tag in their flyers if they aren't goin to play it.

[Billy72]

Hey yall I read and really appreciate the posts, thanks. HOWEVER, please DONT MISUNDERSTAND this lol; I'm not posting this thread as a SOB STORY where I havent FOUND my life or anything; simply one who is totally infatuated with the era, and was longing to hear from those who were likewise (as you are); just seein who else actually crosses from music to fashion and beyond lol. I laugh because I even go BEYOND fashion; FORGIVE me if this offends (however one would have to be pretty puritanical if it did) but I can't physically attract myself to women who are part of this 'fake lookin' (mid-90s and beyond) Hollywood look. I mean, implants, and (just as bad) ladies gotta shave or at least trim IT or their considered GROSS (you know what I'm talkin bout lol). Hey, I grew up (came of age) in the 80s and into the early 90s (prior to marriage; now divorced) never dealt with this issue. NOW, lol, its hard to say the least. I'm the type who grew up with the 70s early 80s type gal (Charlies Angel beauty), and you know what that means, no trim or shave in that 'certain area'...can I say it...BUSH. There. Ok, I'll admit I do have a 'CRY PARTY' daily over this EXTINCTION of a womans body (due to today's fashion mandates), yes I do....:)

[canadiantire]

Originally Posted by Billy72

Hey yall I read and really appreciate the posts, thanks. HOWEVER, please DONT MISUNDERSTAND this lol; I'm not posting this thread as a SOB STORY where I havent FOUND my life or anything

...ain't really understood that your message was about desperation, but I am myself an eternal nostalgic who is sedated in the 70's and 80's.

The thread created an opportunity for me to add my grain of salt .

- Marcus

- "Anything that begins well, ends badly. Anything that begins badly, ends worse."

[Billy72]

Yeah Marcus, you got it, thats what I meant. I'm with you man, just nostalgic.