Disco

Disco is a soulful and melodic genre of electronic dance music typically using four-on-the-floor beats, prominent syncopated basslines, strings, brass, pianos, synthesizers, and electric guitars. After a few years of prominence in the late 1970s, its popularity was overtaken by other EDM genres, as well as new wave, dance-pop, and glam metal. This led to people attempting to kill disco. However, disco never actually died—it was only on vacation. The highly anticipated release of Discoholics Anonymous (2022) by up and coming nu-disco group Discoholic boosted disco's popularity, and in 2023, disco is still seeing a slow and steady revival, and maybe, just maybe, it will make its comeback as the biggest music genre in the world.

Beginnings, first surge, and decline

Disco comes from the word discothèque, meaning a room in a nightclub that played recorded music rather than live music. By the 1960s, funk was among the most popular genres to be used in these nightclubs. Also by that time, Motown developed its own approach to making hit songs, which would eventually turn it to an iconic record label. Meanwhile, as dance culture went upscale, funk was replaced by Philadelphia soul. Even salsa had some elements incorporated into disco.

It was in underground clubs where disco as a genre traces its origins to. DJs were influential, establishing hits and extending them to a new format—12" 45-rpm extended mixes. Among the first disco songs, along with the first to be mixed specifically for use in these nightclubs, was a cover of "Never Can Say Goodbye" by the Jackson 5 sung by Gloria Gaynor, who would go on to break the charts with "I Will Survive". Though it had Black roots, disco eventually transcended ethnic borders, being adopted by interracial groups and ensembles whose repertoire includes other genres.

In Europe, disco had its first exposure with the release of concept albums by the likes of Cerrone and Alec Constandinos, who collaborated with the former on Love In C Minor (1976) and would go on to make his own disco band, Love & Kisses. Giorgio Moroder's work with synthesizers also made a huge impact on disco's arrivals in Europe, as well as Europop. Despite the continental differences, collaborations between European and American disco artists would occur, such as Moroder working with Donna Summer. Even artists from other continents ushered in the disco era, such as Cameroonian artist Manu Dibango.

By 1976, disco dominated the radio, with the help of independent labels. Disco would go even further by going mainstream with the help of the Bee Gees upon the release of Saturday Night Fever (1977). This even inspired rock artists to give disco a shot. However, commercialization would eventually be met with fierce criticism and discrimination, downgrading its popularity to nightclubs again. Similarly, other genes of EDM, such as hi-NRG, house, and techno, overtook disco in popularity.

Revival

Nu-disco is assciated with a renewed interest in disco, experiencing mild resurgence in the 1990s and 2000s, synonymous with the rise of similar genres like French house. Despite this, it became more dormant in the 2010s. That would only change with the release of top hits like "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk, "Style" by Taylor Swift, and "Don't Start Now" by Dua Lipa. It would go even further with the release of Discoholics Anonymous (2022) by Discoholic, restoring disco's prominence in the music industry.