The rise and fall of disco | What the History?!

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  • Опубліковано 29 жов 2023
  • At the height of its popularity
    in 1979, disco was a four-billion-dollar industry that consistently dominated music charts and
    airwaves across America. The rise of disco was so rapid, that
    to many, it may have seemed like it materialized out of thin air.
    In this episode of WHAT THE HISTORY?!, host Sami Jarroush answers the question: where exactly did disco come from?
    --
    This episode of WHAT THE HISTORY?! is inspired by the new AMERICAN EXPERIENCE film THE WAR ON DISCO: www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexpe...
    Check out Sami Jarroush's channel, / us101

КОМЕНТАРІ • 107

  • @vlmellody51
    @vlmellody51 9 місяців тому +14

    I remember back in 1979, I worked in a department store. I was helping a customer when I suddenly paused to listen to the Muzak. It was playing a slow, stringed performance of "Macho Man."
    It was the most surreal experience my 20-year-old self had ever had.

    • @Tubes12AX7k
      @Tubes12AX7k 8 місяців тому +3

      I remember the same thing when I first heard A Fifth of Beethoven. It was like where did THAT come from?!

    • @yofolks3
      @yofolks3 6 місяців тому +1

      @@Tubes12AX7k LMAOOOOOOO

    • @yofolks3
      @yofolks3 6 місяців тому +1

      @@Tubes12AX7k Now we are going to have to debate Beethoven race! LOL

  • @lisawicks8205
    @lisawicks8205 9 місяців тому +16

    So, it sounds like some people who didn’t like it decided to end it for everybody.. if you don’t like something just don’t listen to it, buy it or have anything to do with it and stop trying to force your will onto everyone else.. same rule applies today

    • @yofolks3
      @yofolks3 6 місяців тому +1

      You missing a key term... RACISM !!!

  • @Ravyne
    @Ravyne 8 місяців тому +6

    I was a kid in the 70s when Disco became popular. I thought it was fun, lots of high energy, and loved dancing to it. I was a bit sad when it phased out, but I'd moved on to New Wave, Punk, Funk, and Soul. In truth, I liked a wide variety of music genres then and now.

    • @yofolks3
      @yofolks3 6 місяців тому +1

      Don't forget Disco's first child, "House Music"! LOL

  • @erwingalgo3264
    @erwingalgo3264 2 місяці тому +1

    Here in the Philippines, disco music was also the trend in the 70's with a twist of Filipino lyrics, musical bands and artists ranging from VST and Company, Hotdog, Sharon Cuneta, Hagibis, Boyfriends among others were also famous back then and sprang up another Disco Genre which is called the "Manila Sound".

  • @reinerloede
    @reinerloede 5 місяців тому +5

    Ridiculously US-centric view on world's history. For Europeans in 1977 Disco had already by far dominated pop culture. Silver Convention's "Fly, Robin, Fly" had already won a Grammy the year before, Boney M. charted with " Daddy Cool", and Donna Summer's "Love to love aou baby" is from 1975, and produced in Munich by Giovanni Giorgio (actually Hansjörg) Moroder, an Italian from German speaking South Tyrol.
    And those European hits also show that it was not just a musical style created by gay blacks and latinos from the US.

    • @TheOneAndOnlySame
      @TheOneAndOnlySame 23 години тому

      Yeah, in France there Was Cerrone too , begining in 1974 with Kongas - Africanism
      This "documentary" is trash

  • @CollectiveWesterner
    @CollectiveWesterner 8 місяців тому +3

    Did he just say that John Travolta is heterosexual??? Really?

  • @terrydillon9323
    @terrydillon9323 Місяць тому

    I so loved Disco. Wish it would come. I like all types of music, but Disco just seemed to make people feel free and happy and just want to dance.

  • @KathrynRucker
    @KathrynRucker 9 місяців тому +3

    That's my generation 😎

  • @terrydillon9323
    @terrydillon9323 Місяць тому

    Loved watching John Travolta dance to Disco. . Love you John .

  • @gir5o1
    @gir5o1 9 місяців тому +17

    I'm going to need a fact check on "John Travolta: a white heterosexual actor"

    • @chuckscott4661
      @chuckscott4661 9 місяців тому +1

      🤣

    • @kailaniandi
      @kailaniandi 8 місяців тому +1

      Going with a false on that.

    • @user-er3ri6sc3j
      @user-er3ri6sc3j 8 місяців тому +1

      He was Vinnie Barbarino. That's not straight enough?

    • @jbtownsend9535
      @jbtownsend9535 5 місяців тому +1

      Yeah that’s a Hard “Pause and check the comments”

  • @latoshawhite8495
    @latoshawhite8495 Місяць тому

    I love disco music a little bit of it ❤

  • @user-yb1jn6gx5i
    @user-yb1jn6gx5i 9 місяців тому +4

    💃 critics say the NYC 🗽but truthfully disco was all across 🇺🇲 by the early 70's 🕺then genres like Synthetic funk & boogie came in

    • @yofolks3
      @yofolks3 6 місяців тому +2

      We call it "Electronic Funk" homie!

  • @yofolks3
    @yofolks3 9 місяців тому +44

    Europeans, the appropriators (like always), called it "Disco" (Disk or record). We, Black Americans, called it (Black) Dance Music! Soul Train, created in Chicago, played a pivotal role exposing and sharing this form of dance and dance music to the world! Chicago's "House Music" is its son and daughter!

    • @jazziccoolcat
      @jazziccoolcat 9 місяців тому +8

      ​@@LucidDreamer54321 No sir! It was not. It was a mixture in which both black and white people played a pivotal role in its musical invention. Does Barry White and his Love Unlimited Orchestra ring a bell? Does Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and there mix of salt and pepper (black and white) musicians known as MFSB (known for the "Soul Train" theme) ring a bell? Does KC Winn from TK records and his "predominately" black band known as "KC And The Sunshine Band" ring a bell? Does James Brown and his "all black" Funk band, who had a song out in 1970, called "Sex Machine" ring a bell? Yes! James Brown, the king of funk, played a role as well. Does Isaac Hayes and his band known as The Bar-Kays, who had a song out in 1971, known as the "Theme From Shaft" ring a bell? In addition, if "Disco was definitely invented by cool white people" then why was there an "all white" Rock audience in Chicago burning all of the Disco and R&B records at the Chicago baseball stadium in 1979 led by Rock DJ Steve Dahl? Do yourself a favor: Please stop trolling on the Internet by spreading misinformation.

    • @lisaahmari7199
      @lisaahmari7199 9 місяців тому +14

      ​@@jazziccoolcatluciddreamer is just trying to goad you. Don't fall for it. And you guys are right. The root is always Black. The root of ANYTHING cool is Black. ❤ Almost always.

    • @lisawicks8205
      @lisawicks8205 9 місяців тому +5

      Same thing has happened with hip hop and rap… back in the late 70’s into the 80s when I was coming up, I couldn’t even possibly imagine what we have today, yet here we are😑

    • @tonyfan3
      @tonyfan3 9 місяців тому +3

      Indeed indeed! All true

    • @jazziccoolcat
      @jazziccoolcat 9 місяців тому +1

      @@lisaahmari7199 Thanks for the advice, Lisa.

  • @jilltagmorris
    @jilltagmorris 8 місяців тому

    ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

  • @someoneoncesaid6978
    @someoneoncesaid6978 9 місяців тому +12

    John Travolta, a white heterosexual actor . . . [snicker].

    • @CharleyGurl
      @CharleyGurl 9 місяців тому +2

      Well, he is an actor...😶

  • @rabit818
    @rabit818 8 місяців тому +1

    I’ve seen old films from the 60s, heard the word discotheque, and songs played was danceable rock... not the 4/4 beat.

  • @Needcollegehelp
    @Needcollegehelp 7 місяців тому +1

    Nice period in life for my family and myself the United States was still an industrial powerhouse without 34 trillion in debt but a suggestion instead of the technical term heterosexual use straight.

  • @djgreenhornet2892
    @djgreenhornet2892 9 місяців тому +8

    Disco from FBA ✊🏿🇺🇸 we are first in the comment section too.

    • @jazziccoolcat
      @jazziccoolcat 9 місяців тому

      ​@@LucidDreamer54321 No sir! It was not. It was a mixture in which both black and white people played a pivotal role in its musical invention. Does Barry White and his Love Unlimited Orchestra ring a bell? Does Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and there mix of salt and pepper (black and white) musicians known as MFSB (known for the "Soul Train" theme) ring a bell? Does KC Winn from TK records and his "predominately" black band known as "KC And The Sunshine Band" ring a bell? Does James Brown and his "all black" Funk band, who had a song out in 1970, called "Sex Machine" ring a bell? Yes! James Brown, the king of funk, played a role as well. Does Isaac Hayes and his band known as The Bar-Kays, who had a song out in 1971, known as the "Theme From Shaft" ring a bell? In addition, if "Disco was definitely invented by cool white people" then why was there an "all white" Rock audience in Chicago burning all of the Disco and R&B records at the Chicago baseball stadium in 1979 led by Rock DJ Steve Dahl? Do yourself a favor: Please stop trolling on the Internet by spreading misinformation.

  • @tonyfan3
    @tonyfan3 9 місяців тому +6

    DISCO DEMOLITION defined Chicago in 1979 - but white Chicago. Tho DD occurred on the south side at Comiskey it was an experience reflective of white Chicago guys not the Latino or black experience.
    Did you ever notice how DD occurred about the time of John Wayne Gacy Jr

    • @fenian123
      @fenian123 7 місяців тому

      I was all in on the "War on Disco" in Chicago (17 at the time) It has been portrayed as an attack on the Black, Hispanic and LBGTQ communities, perhaps unconsciously it was. At the time we just hated the music, we didn't associate it with any particular group

  • @ernestolandin8019
    @ernestolandin8019 8 місяців тому +1

    That happened. We let that happened.

  • @gregbattles4742
    @gregbattles4742 9 місяців тому +18

    BLACK PEOPLE the same place to rock & roll came from. Gloria black and beautiful Gaynor l.did I will survive was the first. the second was the same black woman Gloria Gaynor as well never can say goodbye 👋

    • @Cathy-xi8cb
      @Cathy-xi8cb 9 місяців тому +4

      I was listening to disco in 1974 on WBLS in the Bronx. Gaynor's song came out later.

    • @jazziccoolcat
      @jazziccoolcat 9 місяців тому

      @@LucidDreamer54321 Stop trolling. No sir! It was not. It was a mixture in which both black and white people played a pivotal role in its musical invention. Does Barry White and his Love Unlimited Orchestra ring a bell? Does Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and there mix of salt and pepper (black and white) musicians known as MFSB (known for the "Soul Train" theme) ring a bell? Does KC Winn from TK records and his "predominately" black band known as "KC And The Sunshine Band" ring a bell? Does James Brown and his "all black" Funk band, who had a song out in 1970, called "Sex Machine" ring a bell? Yes! James Brown, the king of funk, played a role as well. Does Isaac Hayes and his band known as The Bar-Kays, who had a song out in 1971, known as the "Theme From Shaft" ring a bell? In addition, if "Disco was definitely invented by cool white people" then why was there an "all white" Rock audience in Chicago burning all of the Disco and R&B records at the Chicago baseball stadium in 1979 led by Rock DJ Steve Dahl? Do yourself a favor: Please stop trolling on the Internet by spreading misinformation.

  • @michaelbonacquisti5321
    @michaelbonacquisti5321 8 місяців тому +8

    There were many contributors and influences on what became known as "Disco." Back in '73-'74, no one even really used the term 'Disco' ....but Disco as we know it really came from Philadelphia. Gamble & Huff and their Philadelphia International label, Earl Young and his '4 On The Floor Beat, MFSB (Philadelphia International House band), the producers and staff at Sigma Sound Studios....they can all claim credit for the Sound. And of course, as with virtually EVERY genre of American Music, it's roots are most definitely, BLACK.

    • @vintagesupermarkets5210
      @vintagesupermarkets5210 7 місяців тому +1

      NYC underground music scene played a huge influence too along with a hint of Detroit.

  • @elliottbronstein1214
    @elliottbronstein1214 6 місяців тому

    2:44 Ha😉

  • @6catalina0
    @6catalina0 8 місяців тому +1

    The late 50's ... Rock n' Roll ... Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley.
    The early 60's ... The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Phil Spector's Wall of Sound, MoTown and Stax records.
    The late 60's ... The Beatles, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, The Gratful Dead.
    The early 70's ... Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, Led Zeppelin and hard rock, David Bowie and glam rock, folk rock, Carol King, Joni Michell, Carly Simon, The emergence of women in rock, and Philadelphia records lush soul sound.
    The late 70's ... disco.
    The early 80's ... punk rock and New Wave
    The 90's ... grundge rock and rap ...
    The 2000's ... We are now living in the "Era of K-pop."
    Just as The Beatles eclipsed every form of music in the 1960's --- Korean Pop will Eclipse every music of Western culture.

  • @fenian123
    @fenian123 7 місяців тому +2

    I was all in on the "War on Disco" in Chicago (17 at the time) It has been portrayed as an attack on the Black, Hispanic and LBGTQ communities, perhaps unconsciously it was. Dislike for the music was the motivation, not its association with any particular group

  • @murrynathan
    @murrynathan 9 місяців тому +1

    I’ve always thought of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack as Easy Listening music with a bass line. Just speculating here, but maybe it was about the cocaine. In the 60s boomers were listening to psychedelic music because of the LSD. Then in the 70s boomers switched to coke and the soothing disco sound chilled their jitters while the baselines let made them dance, expelling all that nervous energy. Now, they’re into eating funny gummies and watching cable news.

  • @Zaph_Kiel
    @Zaph_Kiel 6 місяців тому +1

    some pretty divisive language 🙄

  • @simonfea2
    @simonfea2 9 місяців тому

    That was it? 10 minutes? Really.

    • @AmericanExperiencePBS
      @AmericanExperiencePBS  9 місяців тому +1

      If you want more, make sure to watch THE WAR ON DISCO, premiering tonight on your local PBS station and streaming on PBS.org and the free PBS app!

    • @nielgregory108
      @nielgregory108 9 місяців тому +2

      Didn't deserve 10 seconds, really.

  • @gibememoni
    @gibememoni 5 місяців тому +2

    italians started it. The word "disco" is literally an italian word

  • @momalwayssaiddontplayballi3973
    @momalwayssaiddontplayballi3973 8 місяців тому +5

    Disco music came from a mixture of Rhythm and blues (emphasis on rhythm) Soul and Funk. Not from a color or sexual preference

  • @AnthonyMonaghan
    @AnthonyMonaghan 7 місяців тому +1

    It came from hell...straight from hell I tell ya!

  • @nielgregory108
    @nielgregory108 9 місяців тому +1

    It came from the vile pits of HELL!

  • @Bill-cv1xu
    @Bill-cv1xu 9 місяців тому +4

    Disco sucked then, still does!😂

  • @Nonamearisto
    @Nonamearisto 9 місяців тому +2

    Disco was a blight on our culture. There's a reason it died and why rock and hip-hop did not. Even jazz still lasts, but Disco is still dead.

    • @miguelpaul1164
      @miguelpaul1164 9 місяців тому +5

      It lives on in pop EDM and house music so open your mind you are so closed minded.

    • @Nonamearisto
      @Nonamearisto 9 місяців тому +1

      @@miguelpaul1164 That's like saying you are still alive because your distant cousins who won't even mention your name are still living on. Ignorance.

    • @miguelpaul1164
      @miguelpaul1164 9 місяців тому

      @@Nonamearisto exactly, you do get it.

    • @Nonamearisto
      @Nonamearisto 9 місяців тому

      @@miguelpaul1164 Still dead. You are not your distant cousins who don't want to talk about you due to embarrassment of being even remotely related.

    • @bloodcell6282
      @bloodcell6282 9 місяців тому +7

      It never died.

  • @Semper_Iratus
    @Semper_Iratus 9 місяців тому +1

    disco is dead. Long live rock n roll.

    • @jazziccoolcat
      @jazziccoolcat 9 місяців тому +1

      No! You mean long live white supremacist Rock 'n' Roll.

    • @TheVid54
      @TheVid54 8 місяців тому +1

      Rock 'n' Roll died with The Beatles back in the 60's.

    • @Tubes12AX7k
      @Tubes12AX7k 8 місяців тому

      People are always going to want dance music of some sort or other. And that's what disco was back when rock and roll was still going strong, in parallel. It's all good. Compare that to music of today... no comparison. It was all good back then. I remember every bit of it from rock to singer/songwriter to disco.

  • @cedfan1
    @cedfan1 3 місяці тому +1

    DiSCO never died. Only the exploitative, commercialized garbage put out by the Greedy record companies did.
    Actual, authentic DiSCO kept going in the Underground scene & the Discotheques in Europe.
    New genres & subgenres would spring to life years after the Kaminski park bullshit display of Homophobia, racism & deplorable dancing abilities.
    These new genres would be called House music, HiP HoP, Hi-Nrg, New Wave, Synthpop + many subgenres soon after would be created.
    For decades in Pop culture the over used & completely inaccurate expression " dead as Disco " is completely false & fucking annoying.
    DiSCO had survived.
    DiSCO has thrived.
    DiSCO is Forever.
    🔥🛼🔥🛼🔥🛼🔥