What is Disco Music?
Disco music is a genre that developed in nightclubs in the 1960s and 1970s. It consists of parts of various musical traditions including soul, funk, Motown and even salsa and meringue. This is music meant to dance to and was a precursor to club music, trance and hip hop music from the 90s and beyond. The word disco comes from the French word discotheque, a term used to describe the nightclubs people went to in the 60s and 70s. Disco developed several specific dances, including the Hustle, the Bump and the YMCA. The latter was popularized by the Village People, one of the first singing groups of gay men to have a song on the mainstream charts.
Disco music
In addition to a 4/4 measure and a fast pace, disco music was characterized by the so-called “four on the floor” rhythm style. This is when the bass drum plays on the “on” beats and the hi-hat plays cymbal on the “off” beats. A reverb or echo effect was often applied to the vocal tracks in disco songs. Most songs followed the traditional pop verse and chorus structure. At first disco music was a staple of nightclubs, with disc jockeys playing and mixing songs like “Get Down Tonight” by KC and the Sunshine Band, “Never Can Say Goodbye” by Gloria Gaynor and other artists. But those songs ended up on the air waves and in the regular music arena.
