Disco

Sensitive Content Notice ⚠️

The following article contains and discusses content that may be distressing to some readers.
Reason for Warning: This article contains brief mentions of drugs.

Disco
Saturday Night Fever (1977), an iconic film depicting the disco scene.
Decade of origin	1970s
Location of origin	New York City and Philadelphia, U.S.
Key motifs	Disco balls, flashing lights, dance floors, glitter, sequins, androgynous fashion, platform shoes, bell-bottoms
Key colours	Metallic colors, neon colors, red, yellow, orange, multi-colors
Key values	Escapism, freedom of expression, communal energy, glamour, nightlife culture
Related aesthetics	Ballroom Culture Funk Glam Rock Italo Disco Millennium Disco New Wave Psychedelia Groovival Synthwave Ultramodern Revival
Related media	Saturday Night Fever, Thank God It's Friday
Timeline
Preceded by	Funk
Overlaps with	Glam Rock

Disco is a dance music genre and associated youth subculture that originated in the late 1960s within the urban nightlife of the United States. It gained global prominence from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s. The musical style is defined by a consistent four-on-the-floor beat, a prominent syncopated bassline, and lush orchestration featuring string sections, brass, and synthesizers. The genre evolved from a fusion of funk, soul, and rhythm and blues.

As a subculture, disco flourished in underground clubs that served as safe havens for Black, Latino, and LGBTQ+ communities. Disco's musical style was pioneered by artists such as Donna Summer, known as the "Queen of Disco," and by producers like Nile Rodgers, whose work with Chic defined the genre's signature grooves and basslines. The subculture's aesthetics were equally important, defined by the glittery glamour of nightclubs like Studio 54, and exemplified by fashion icons such as Bianca Jagger, whose style of platform shoes, sequins, and jumpsuits became emblematic of the era. The subculture's influence on fashion, dance, and nightlife culture persists well into the modern era.

History

Origins

The concept of the discothèque originated in France and was introduced to the United States. An early example is Le Club in Manhattan, opened by French expatriate Olivier Coquelin on New Year's Eve 1960. The musical genre of disco emerged in the late 1960s from underground club scenes in New York City and Philadelphia. It was a fusion of music from venues frequented by African Americans, Latino Americans, and Italian Americans. The development of disco can be viewed as a reaction by the 1960s counterculture to the dominance of rock music and the prevailing social issues of the era, such as rising crime rates and homophobia. The clubs offered a safe and celebratory space for people from all walks of life, particularly marginalized communities, to come together and dance.

Rise to Mainstream

During the 1970s, disco music evolved with contributions from artists primarily in the United States and Europe. Notable artists who gained public attention included Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, the Bee Gees, and ABBA. Producers such as Giorgio Moroder were also significant in shaping the genre's sound. By the mid-1970s, disco's popularity had moved from the underground to the mainstream. This ascent was solidified by the release of films like Saturday Night Fever in 1977, which brought the subculture's music, fashion, and dance styles to a global audience. The era's culture revolved around nightclubs, where attendees often wore extravagant, loose-fitting attire designed for ease of movement. Dance styles such as "the Hustle" and "the Busstop" were developed during this period. The disco scene was also associated with a drug subculture, notably with substances such as cocaine and quaaludes, and a degree of sexual promiscuity that reflected the sexual revolution.

Decline and Backlash

Disco's mainstream popularity in the United States began to decline in the early 1980s. The backlash against the genre began with Disco Demolition Night on July 12, 1979. During a baseball game in Chicago, thousands of disco records were destroyed in a staged explosion. This event, led by a local radio DJ, symbolized a shift in national sentiment and was fueled by the underlying racism and homophobia that had been present since disco's origins. While disco's presence on U.S. radio stations and in mainstream culture faded in the early 1980s, it maintained popularity in other regions, especially Europe.

Legacy

Despite its decline in the United States, disco's influence continued. In the U.S., disco gave way to more general "Dance-Pop" such as Cyndi Lauper, Rick Astley, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, and Paula Abdul, with Stock Aitken Waterman being notable producers of this style. Throughout the 1980s, disco remained popular in Italy and parts of Europe through a new subgenre known as Italo Disco. The aesthetic also blended with local musical styles in regions like India and the Middle East. Disco's foundational elements, such as its rhythms and use of synthesizers, are evident in the development of numerous subsequent music genres. Its influence can be traced to early electronic dance music, hi-NRG, house music, new wave, hip-hop, and post-disco. Disco has also experienced several revivals since the 1990s, with a notable resurgence in the early 2020s. Albums like Dua Lipa's Future Nostalgia and Lady Gaga's Chromatica and artists such as Bruno Mars and Doja Cat have contributed to the aesthetic's modern popularity.

Visuals

The visual aesthetic of disco was centered on the design and atmosphere of the nightclub, which were the primary venues for the subculture. The most iconic symbol of this aesthetic was the disco ball, a large, mirrored sphere that hung from the ceiling. When illuminated by spotlights, it reflected light across the room, creating an effect of moving spots of light on the walls, ceiling, and dancers.

In addition to the disco ball, flashing lights and light-up dance floors were essential to the visual experience. These elements often pulsed in rhythm with the music, intensifying the sensory and communal experience of dancing. The interiors of disco clubs frequently featured mirrored walls, chrome accents, and a general sense of opulence and glamour.

Fashion

The fashion of the disco subculture was defined by glamour, theatricality, and a focus on the liberated body, similar to other fashion trends of the 1970s. The clothing was designed to be both eye-catching under nightclub lights and comfortable for dancing. A key material of the era was polyester, a low-maintenance, wrinkle-free fabric that was affordable and allowed designers to produce chic silhouettes for a wider audience. Shimmer and gleam were essential, with materials like Lurex, sequins, and metallic fabrics dominating the scene.

For women, the style embraced clingy jerseys and spandex, often in the form of halter-neck tops, tight-fitting jumpsuits, and hot pants. Dresses were often slinky and hugged the figure. The silhouette was frequently exaggerated by bell-bottoms and high-heeled platform shoes, which were a staple for both men and women.

Men's disco fashion moved away from traditional suiting. Key items included the polyester leisure suit with wide, pointed lapels, as well as tight-fitting shirts and disco flares. The fashion was expressive and often embraced a form of androgynous glamour.

High fashion also embraced the disco aesthetic. Designers like Halston and Stephen Burrows were part of the movement, creating flowing gowns and ready-to-wear pieces for the glamorous clientele of nightclubs like Studio 54. The clothing was a great part of the subculture's escapist atmosphere, with its bold style and shimmering details becoming synonymous with the era.

Music

Artists

Singers/Vocalists

• Donna Summer
• Gloria Gaynor
• Sylvester
• Diana Ross
• Chaka Khan
• Barry White
• Evelyn "Champagne" King
• Thelma Houston
• Candi Staton
• Anita Ward

Bands

• Chic (with Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards)
• The Bee Gees
• Village People
• ABBA
• Kool & the Gang
• Earth, Wind & Fire
• Sister Sledge
• The Jacksons
• KC and the Sunshine Band
• The Trammps
• MFSB

Albums

• The Hustle by Van McCoy (1975)
• Bad Girls by Donna Summer (1979)
• C'est Chic by Chic (1978)
• Arrival (ABBA, 1976)
• Mouth To Mouth by Lipps Inc. (1979)
• Off The Wall by Michael Jackson (1979)
• We Are Family by Sister Sledge (1979)
• Random Access Memories by Daft Punk (2013)
• Confessions on a Dance Floor by Madonna (2005)
• Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa (2020)
• Disco by Kylie Minogue (2020)

Songs

• "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor
• "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees
• "Le Freak" by Chic
• "Y.M.C.A." by Village People
• "Disco Inferno" by The Trammps
• "I Feel Love" by Donna Summer
• "Last Dance" by Donna Summer
• "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer
• "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
• "Love Is the Message" by MFSB
• "Rock the Boat" by Hues Corporation
• "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" by Sylvester
• "That's the Way (I Like It)" by KC and the Sunshine Band
• "Get Down Tonight" by KC and the Sunshine Band
• "Jive Talkin'" by the Bee Gees
• "Night Fever" by the Bee Gees
• "Shake Your Groove Thing" by Peaches & Herb
• "More, More, More" by Andrea True Connection
• "Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward
• "Funkytown" by Lipps Inc.
• "I'm Every Woman" by Chaka Khan
• "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge
• "You Should Be Dancing" by the Bee Gees
• "Boogie Wonderland" by Earth, Wind & Fire
• "Good Times" by Chic
• "Ladies' Night" by Kool & the Gang
• "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" by Michael Jackson
• "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire
• "Love to Love You Baby" by Donna Summer
• "I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross
• "Take a Chance on Me" by ABBA
• "Heart of Glass" by Blondie
• "Go Go" by Boney M.
• "Never Can Say Goodbye" by Gloria Gaynor
• "Let's All Chant" by Michael Zager Band
• "Born to Be Alive" by Patrick Hernandez
• "Take Your Time (Do It Right)" by The S.O.S. Band
• "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" by Barry White

Media

Film

• Saturday Night Fever (1977)
• All That Jazz (1979)
• Prom Night (1980)
• Xanadu (1980)
• Can't Stop The Music (1980)
• Thank God It's Friday (1976)
• 54 (1998)
• Austin Powers: Goldmember (2002)

Television

• Soul Train (1970–2006)
• Funky Cops (2002-2004)

Gallery

Can't Stop The Music (1980)