Argument for Disco

Warning: this is a treatise to defend (some aspects of) Disco. Everyone is entitled to their own sense of taste (as can be seen from the Latin maxim: De gustibus non est disputandum - a.k.a. "there's no accounting for taste.") This is a crucial concept of life and wisdom, and it's well worth remembering. [Yeah, I can be this supercilious even when defending Disco.]

OK. Everybody knows that Disco is an easy musical punchline. However, in my extensive music listening, I have come across quite a few disco songs that are worth salvaging (the rest, like any 'pop' genre, can be ground into guano).

Note, one shouldn't lump the whole "Seventies" into the Disco heap. There were many quality music movements in the 70s, and many purely 70s bands, that redeem the decade (put another way, the decade ain't all the Bee Gees). Funk was basically the R&B version of Disco, and a far superior genre.

And 70s Rock bands are some of the best. For example, while Zeppelin acted as unreformed hippies, they were a pure 70s band. Same with Black Sabbath, Elton John (till 1975 he's incredible), AC/DC (even though they're identified as an 80s band, more on that another time; though the same holds for Aerosmith), Queen, Chicago, The Eagles (yeah, I know, but I like 'em), ELO (technically not disco and if you don't think they're good, listen again to "Evil Woman"), Boston, the best of Springsteen, the Doobie Brothers, Jethro Tull, and the heilige ZZ Top.

Anyway, here's the decent disco list (and this website is the final arbiter as to what counts as Disco, and the list is basically in their order; not every song is on this list, but I'm only one blog):

1. That's the Way I Like It, K.C. and the Sunshine Band
   
2. Stayin' Alive, Bee-Gees [can't use this song to hate on Disco, even if you hate the song, it's very good quality]
   
3. Born To Be Alive - Patrick Hernandez
   
4. Boogie Wonderland - Earth, Wind and Fire [I actually consider this song 'funk' but I'll include it here to (a) pad out the list, and (b) to prove to you skeptics that funk is just Afro-Disco]
   
5. Funkytown - Lipps Inc. [You can still buy shares]
   
6. Take Your Time (Do It Right) - S. O. S. Band
   
7. Dancing Queen - Abba [sorry, it has to be said, even if they are they Mayors McCheese, many of their songs are good]
   
8. Knock On Wood - Ami Stewart
   
9. Ring My Bell - Anita Ward
   
10. Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry [one of my favorites of all time; it's funny because it's true]
    
11. Y.M.C.A. - Village People [It's good, just admit it!]
    
12. Get Down Tonight - KC & The Sunshine Band
    
13. September - Earth, Wind and Fire [The official song of the 9th month; I just love EWF]
    
14. Shake Your Groove Thing - Peaches & Herb [face it, sometimes your groove thing does need shaking]
    
15. Your My First, My Last, My Everything - Barry White [yeaaaah. This is not really disco, either, but I ain't arguin']
    
16. Thank God It's Friday - Love and Kisses [especially the intro]
    
17. Celebration - Kool And The Gang
    
18. Macho Man - Village People [or this version]
    
19. Open Sesame - Kool And The Gang
    
20. Call Me - Blondie [yeah, why not]
    
21. Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe - Barry White
    
22. Brick House - Commodores [Even the Muppets know]
    
23. Don't Stop Till You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
    
24. Theme From S.W.A.T. - Rhythm Heritage [neh-neh-neh, neh-neh-neh...]
    
25. Upside Down - Diana Ross
    
26. It's Raining Men - Weather Girls ["not no more it ain't"]
    
27. Flashdance - Irene Cara [Did I ever tell you that I'm a gen-Xer? Well here's proof]

First pic is the album cover for Sesame Street Fever. Second pic from Basic Instructions about the Bee-Gees. Backpost finished 2009-12-06.

Jeffrey Goldberg

I have not been a fan of journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, stretching back to his writing about Israel in the New Yorker which was followed by shallow articles on American Politics - two topics I know a lot about. But he's a new blogger at the Atlantic. And he made this website about jewish rock musicians (something I am also interested in).

Let's see if he redeems himself in the blogger-dome.

Rock and Roll Morality

I must have written on this before (but I can't find it in the archives); and I'll do so in a better forum and just link back to this as an example. Anyhoo, in brief, Rock n'Roll has never been considered a 'high' musical form and the heavier the metallic sound, and the more sexualized the veneer of the band, the less respect the artists will receive. On the lowest end of all of these lists would be the band 'KISS.' I remember these bozos back in the 70s and while I thought they looked interesting, even back then I though they were more hype than talent. And I was 7 years old. It was only into the 80s that I learned the lead singer, Gene Simmons, was Jewish; which only served to embarrass me, not give me ethnic pride in 'one of our boys doing good.'

But in recent, and more mature, years I understand the shades of morality that make easy determinations suspect. This story from Haaretz in 2006 is a good case in point (alas, the story is no longer at the link): Israeli-born 'KISS' rocker Gene Simmons sends get-well video to wounded soldier.

Basically, Simmons heard that one of the soldiers wounded in Lebanon was a KISS fan, so he sent him a personally made video to cheer him up.

So, for the morality scale, does this act of righteousness - selflessly given and in defiance of world opinion on Israel and the Lebanon War - out balance Simmons's many sins against decency? Kinda.

I still don't wish to hold Simmons, or KISS, up as examples of good taste, good music, or good morals. But Simmons has complicated those computations. Someone who is an over-sexed freak - whose major crimes/sins are carnal - also knows who is a good person, good nation, and will do good acts.

And, to further the point, I've been trying to compile a list of which artists/bands support Israel and which ones don't. Support, for my list, can just mean playing in Israel (e.g. Deep Purple played in Tel Aviv back in the 90s, so they're on the good list). When I finish the list, I'll post it. And I'm sure we will have further complications on the good-sinful calibration scale.

Backpost finished 4/12/08, I had just the link. Background: This is another Lebanon II era post, but it combines with another issue I have about morality and art.

Reporter: Part Two

Well, this was a very good reporter. Maya Kremen, writing for the Herald-Tribune (which is either a North Jersey newspaper or a 1930s Hearst time-travelers nightmare). Here's a recent article.

I may have done a bad thing. Ya see, I was in the middle of writing Bloggy things and she caught me in this kind of mood, and well, and well, augh. I violated a Styx Rule and talked to a reporter. She just kept asking what I knew about "Chamsa" and I explained that I knew nothing of that kind of music; moreover I was in the middle of listening to Aretha Franklin (her version of Eleanor Rigby) and wanted to get back. She asked why I didn't listen to their music and I said that they were "pop" and I don't like "pop" in any form. She claimed that "Chamsa" had critics on religious grounds, etc. All of her questions made me realize that there is a much better and bigger article/piece there. If it gets published, I'll link it here.