Surface does disco

[JussiK]

The acclaimed lifestyle/design magazine Surface has disco as it's theme of the month, quite a surprise considering it's an American publication. There's a very good preface, fashion spreads etc. Nowhere near as stunning as the disco issue of Numero of a few years back nor very informative but still, great to see the phenomenon not being treated as a joke or a polyester thing of the past in the US.

Meanwhile in France, the film "Podium", a wonderful semi-biography-cum-idol worship comedy about Claude Francois, has been the 2nd biggest homegrown moneymaker of the year so far. The film contains actual Claude footage plus lots of amazing re-creations of 70's video clips such as Alexandrie Alexandra, blown up to widescreen. The dance moves have to be seen to be believed, the chorus girls sport just the right hairdos and the costumes are a hoot. Those outside French speaking territories should keep an eye of the dvd realese later this year.

And did you read about Donna Summer having been over to London to hostess a BBC tv show called Discomania? There was an interview too in the latest issue of Attitude - mostly the stuff we've read before, though.

[discosavvy]

That Surface Magazine issue sounds cool, thanks Jussi for telling us.

As for "Discomania" with Donna Summer and Neil Fox on ITV1, David Richards wrote a bad review of that show at thecustard.tv, saying it was a "...show that sought not to exhume the spirit of disco for one special night, but was a cynical effort by record companies to launch, sustain or revive transient pop bands and singers. A ruse betrayed by a reliance not on traditional disco rhythms but on the dreary homogenised 1990s beats perfected by Neil Fox’s damned cohort Pete Waterman." And this evaluation is borne out by what we hear in the related "Discomania" compilation CD released this year and available for sale at stores like HMV. The sound of songs like "Knock on Wood" by Rachel Stevens, "Fresh" by Kool & The Gang Featuring Liberty X, "Lady Marmalade" by The Corrie Girls, and "Dancing Through Eternity (Theme From Discomania)" by The Eternity Orchestra (an "orchestra" with no instrumentalists?) is clearly electro with hardly any trace of authentic disco except a few songs like "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" by Sophie Ellis-Bextor which I suppose is passable. "Sunny" by Boogie Pimps is just a routine reworking of the Boney M classic that they're using to market to the roller-disco crowd. I agree with Mr. Richards, this compilation and show have little to do with disco and aren't a good showcase of what's going on.

It would be much better if people were exposed to Barry Manilow's disco version of "New York City Rhythm" on his album "2 Nights Live", from a 2002 performance in New Jersey. Or that excellent 29-track compilation "Bobby and Steve: Past, Present & Future" (Susu, July 2004).

[SandraDee]

Jussi reading 'Attitude'; you're so gay-friendly dude! 8) You're my hero. :P

[JussiK]

I'm no subscriber but not totally attitude-free, either 8)