Disco Or Not Disco?

[moremoremore]

I know that a common feature of disco music is a steady "four-on-the-floor" (like a "bum-bum-bum-bum") beat. Yet I've noticed that there are at least a few songs out there commonly regarded as disco that don't have this. Cheryl Lynn's "Got To Be Real" comes to mind, as well as Diana Ross's "Upside Down" and the Emotions' "Best Of My Love" (listen to the kick drum pattern in each song and you'll see what I mean). Surely the beat pattern itself wouldn't necessarily be enough to make a song non-disco, so what other things must one take into account in order for a song to truly be disco?

Thanks in advance.

[discophil]

It's sort of like porn. Hard to describe but you know it when you see it! :icon_razz:

Honestly, that's a good question. I've noticed the same thing in trying to describe disco to my kids. They'll hear a song and ask me, "Dad, is that disco?" And I might say "yes" or I might say "no." Then they'll ask me why and I have to listen to the song to pick out the elements that go into my making the distinction. As you noted, often it's the 4/4 beat with the high-hat. Often accompanied by strings. But not always. And it's those "not always" moments that give me pause. Fortunately, my kids are still young enough that while I'm stunned into silence by their question, puzzling over an answer to the tough ones, they get bored and forget they asked me anything and I'm off the hook!

[Disco Funk]

I've never known that answer. I sometimes think of something as disco which other people will just consider to be funk or soul. Look at the style known as Boogie, popularized by artists like Gap Band and Lakeside (I think). Are they playing funk or are they playing disco? The beat is disco. It's a funky groove. And yet, many, including myself, would not really call it disco.

I guess just like 'beauty', disco is in the eye of the beholder, or the ear of the behearer. :)

Disco Funk

[PierreConstantin]

I would say
1- the thump-thump;
2- the popping bass;
3- the orchestra;
4- the bpm (132);
5- the break in the song;
6- the vocals (girly, light as air);
7- the general feeling (happy, joyful).
Not all elements are requisite. But a song without those seven wouldn't seem very disco. That said, all is questionable :icon_biggrin:.

In 1977 a guy released in France a song called "La recette du tube disco" ("The recipe for a disco hit"); all ingredients are here, in French: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8kq0h
Full length song here: http://www.wat.tv/audio/ciceron-est-...wed_hwd3_.html

[Francois]

Another element I'd add is lots of percussion "stuff" going on, most especially tambourines.

I was having an argument with someone once who claimed "Love is in the Air" was not Disco and I said "buit listen to all of that percussion going on, with the tambourine shaking throughout." You very rarely have a tambourine in a song after 1975 or so that's not at least questionably disco.

[70spop]

I would say
1- the thump-thump;
2- the popping bass;
3- the orchestra;
4- the bpm (132);
5- the break in the song;
6- the vocals (girly, light as air);
7- the general feeling (happy, joyful).
Not all elements are requisite. But a song without those seven wouldn't seem very disco.

I'd say that it's more like SOME of those seven should be present, and assembled in the right way. The BPM is variable - there are fast disco songs and slow disco songs.

[70spop]

I was having an argument with someone once who claimed "Love is in the Air" was not Disco and I said "buit listen to all of that percussion going on, with the tambourine shaking throughout." You very rarely have a tambourine in a song after 1975 or so that's not at least questionably disco.

You know, when I was a kid and that song was popular, it used to annoy the hell out of me. I never thought of it as disco, just annoying. Of course, I LOVE the song now, and just within the last few years have decided that it's disco (for my reference; not that I have the final say on what is or isn't disco ).

Brian

[remicks]

I know that a common feature of disco music is a steady "four-on-the-floor" (like a "bum-bum-bum-bum") beat. Yet I've noticed that there are at least a few songs out there commonly regarded as disco that don't have this. Cheryl Lynn's "Got To Be Real" comes to mind, as well as Diana Ross's "Upside Down" and the Emotions' "Best Of My Love" (listen to the kick drum pattern in each song and you'll see what I mean).

And don't forget Andrea True's MORE MORE MORE , moremoremore .:icon_mrgreen:

Surely the beat pattern itself wouldn't necessarily be enough to make a song non-disco, so what other things must one take into account in order for a song to truly be disco?

Thanks in advance.

The thing about disco .....it was never just one thing, never stagnant . It was a vibrant dynamic sound .....always embracing, even demanding new twists to its evolution ...until by the early eighties it was twisted in every direction like a pretzel.

AND besides its changing sound with the progression of time , there was this:

Disco would sound different from club to club ... even when right across the street from each other .

And even when going to the same club the music could vary ...the Tuesday DJ plays his choices , the Friday night DJ, his.

And even under the guidance of the same DJ, disco would sound one way in the club at 10:00 and totally different at 1:00.

*****