IMPORTANT: Disco Backlash at WMC in Miami - PRESS RELEASE

[arjan]

Without the blacks and gays (and so disco) the average man would still dance the "Wiener Walz" (Johan Strauss).

[Fantomas]

To Arjan:

Your comment is totally racist. As for Blacks, yes, they probably were the most influential in the Disco scene, specially in the beginning. But you must not forget the Spanish speaking and White contributions (Moroder, Cerrone, and others) made to Disco.

As for Disco and gays, Disco was for all and Disco did not evolve because of Gays. On the contrary, Gays adopted this music as their favorite. But Disco in the beginning was doing just fine without the overwhelming Gay influence that got a hold of it after 1975.

There were plenty of Funky, groovy, happenning night clubs that did just fine without Gays. There were also plenty of Artists that were not Gay, and most of those in the beginning that pioneer Disco, were not Gay. As a matter of fact, if you want to deal in Facts, I'll deal in facts with you. It was the Gay influence in Disco in the late 70's that brought to its knee. The straight establishment found it very difficult that what had started as a music for all had turned into the sound, for what they considered, "deviant members of society". I'm personally straight and like that Nukie, and I don't harbor any ill will towards anyone that chooses an "alternate" life style---that's your business. But don't make such claims that Disco couldn't have survived without gays when it was exactly Gays that drove the last nail on its coffin.

[Funky Dude]

arjan wrote:

Without the blacks and gays (and so disco) the average man would still dance the "Wiener Walz" (Johan Strauss).

Huhhuh huhhuh huhhuh, the thought of people in the 20th/21st century dancing to 200 year old music and calling it pop music makes me laugh. What you're saying is 100% true, without them there would be no disco. I personally believe the same applies to rock music because I've seen a lot of Elvis Presley documentaries and they say Elvis's style of rock'n'roll was influenced by black rhythm and blues and country music. And I also heard that Ike Turner recorded what was believed to be the very first rock'n'roll song way back in 1950 called "Rocket 88". So also rock'n'roll may not exist if it weren't for black rhythm and blues. And if rock'n'roll didn't exist today we'll be probably be clicking our fingers to some 1920's style jazz singer who wears a 1950's style hat, suit and tie, or listening to some awful sounding pre 1950's opera style love songs. Or we'd be slapping leather and saying "howdy partner" to country music which is probably the closest style to rock'n'roll without black rhythm and blues. Rhythm and blues is a key factor to rock'n'roll, funk and even disco to my opinion.

[Jeff H]

On 2002-03-21 08:57, Fantomas wrote:

To Arjan:

Your comment is totally racist.



It was the Gay influence in Disco in the late 70's that brought to its knee. The straight establishment found it very difficult that what had started as a music for all had turned into the sound, for what they considered, "deviant members of society".



I'm personally straight and like that Nukie, and I don't harbor any ill will towards anyone that chooses an "alternate" life style---that's your business.

And your comments, Fantomas, are totally homophobic!



So disco died because straight people couldn't deal with the fact that the "deviants" had stolen "their" music, huh? I kinda doubt all those Lynryd Skynryd fans were much into Donna Summer in the first place, wouldn't you agree?



I think it's more likely that the stereotypical straight white redneck who's afraid of any situation in which he doesn't run the show (whether it involves gays, women or people of color) just got uncomfortable that gay people were becoming more visible. As I said in another post, it's probably no coincidence that the war cry was "Disco Sucks," since what they were really targeting were cocksuckers.



So forgive me if I don't quite believe that you have no ill will toward gay people. And by the way: IT'S NOT A CHOICE! Did you "choose" to be straight? And I'll tell you about my gay "lifestyle" (it's one word, by the way) if you can describe to me what the hell your "straight" lifestyle is.



Now, being a bigot--that IS a lifestyle choice.

[Fantomas]

to Jeff:

I made my point. Just because I don't agree with your lifestyle doesn't make me homophobic. I don't go out killing, maiming, or beating gays. And yes, Gays were mainly responsible for the demise of Disco. Stating a fact doesn't make me homophobic either. You want me to be Politically Correct (a hypocryt, and say things that you want to hear. I'm far from one of those Politically Correct people; I like dealing in facts. Just the point that Gays liked this music made it a target for real homophobics. These people began to equate Gays with Disco, and that was a mistake because Gays didn't in any way what so ever invent or create Disco. And yes, Disco didn't need Gays to survive.

[martya11]

Ahhhhhhhhhh ... the beauty of the Freedom of Speech! Isn't Amercia wonderful? An example of an abuse of this right is if Bernie decided to step in and not allow others to air their thoughts. Amercia works .. and this forum is a perfect example.



Gays, staights, blacks, whites, hispanics, etc. ... you name it. Disco will continue to live with or without any of us. WHY? Because it is a musical artform which will be with us forever! No one can kill art! Disco music will still be around when all of us are dead and gone.



My old disco television show was a melting pot during the '70s. We had every different kind of person involved. On top of it we taught people to dance in the privacy of their own homes and they turned out visiting the local discos/club and even became dancers on the show. We did not disqualify anyone ... you name it ... we had it! That was the beauty of disco music at the time. It did not exclude anyone. I think that is what bugged the rock and rollers so much. Many of them were suck in the 60s waiting for another Woodstock or the next Vietnam War demonstration. I was a part of that generation .. and actually promoted music during that era ... but disco moved us out of the fear of the end of the world happening anyday ... and gave EVERYONE a big sigh of relief.



Remember ... disco did not go anywhere. It is not buried in some cemetery.



While the world moved on to other music .. disco remained alive and well ... especially in people's hearts.



NO ONE can lay claim to who actually owns disco ... and no one can claim they killed it. WHY? Cause it is alive! Alive and well even at the Winter Music Conference!



Disco lives .... life is grand!



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: martya11 on 2002-03-21 10:40 ]</font>



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: martya11 on 2002-03-21 10:52 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: martya11 on 2002-03-21 11:52 ]</font>

[Bernie]

On 2002-03-21 08:57, Fantomas wrote:

To Arjan:

Your comment is totally racist. As for Blacks, yes, they probably were the most influential in the Disco scene, specially in the beginning. But you must not forget the Spanish speaking and White contributions (Moroder, Cerrone, and others) made to Disco.

Who forgot? It's common knowledge that Disco and all dance music is a melting pot of many cultures, styles and ideas. That's the beauty of it and the reason why some can't deal with it and have tried for three decades to eradicate it.

As for Disco and gays, Disco was for all and Disco did not evolve because of Gays. On the contrary, Gays adopted this music as their favorite.

"Everybody" who enjoyed good music and the love for life adopted Disco as their favourite music. It makes no difference where they came from, there color, or what they do in their private life. I'm a straight white male and realized early on that the world does not revolve around me. Believe me, in my youth I said horrible things like faggot, nigger... and then one day I woke up.



Hey, your alarm is ringing. Please don't hit the snooze button.

But Disco in the beginning was doing just fine without the overwhelming Gay influence that got a hold of it after 1975.

There were plenty of Funky, groovy, happenning night clubs that did just fine without Gays. There were also plenty of Artists that were not Gay, and most of those in the beginning that pioneer Disco, were not Gay. As a matter of fact, if you want to deal in Facts, I'll deal in facts with you. It was the Gay influence in Disco in the late 70's that brought to its knee.

Blacks, Hispanics and gays were there all along -many just didn't notice or tried to block it out.

The straight establishment found it very difficult...

There you go. You just forgot to add the uptight white straight establishment. They are the ones who have repeatedly tried to snuff Disco and if they had it their way the people behind it as well like you and I.



Sometimes Disco's worst enemies are it's so called fans.

[paul]

Boy, this topic has taken an ugly turn. I really hear ya Bernie about Disco's fans can sometimes be it's worst enemies. I'm curious to know if some of the people in this string partied at the discos in the 70's?

[Fantomas]

I'm very tolerant of anybody's life style.

The only reason I made my original reply to Arjan is because he made that remark that Disco wouldn't have been without Gays---and I find that very amusing.

Bernie was quick to come to his aid. But Bernie himself made "homophobics" remark about the "White-Straight" establishment; in a light less than bright. Bigotry is only accepted, I guess, if directed against Whites. Personally, tolerance is the keyword.

I don't have aproblem with people who are proud of what they are----they should be, Bernie. I, myself, am proud to be Straight and White. Anybody disagree?

[ruoffended]

Disco will always live , im 25 and started like this music at 22, its my personal choice and i have friends in the 20s who do like disco too so what!!!! we makes us partys and have fun!!! let the earth spin like a record baby....RU