Dancing Queen....Disco?

[ITSBRY]

Actually, I have wondered many times why everyone considers "Dancing Queen"
a
disco song. I don't hear any of the standard disco sound in this song and I
don't
really think it's all that dancable.

I think most non-ABBA fans who are not familiar with their extremely broad
range
of musical styles automatically associate them with the '70s and therefore
disco.

I do agree that they will always be remembered, even by those that hate
them, for
"Dancing Queen". (And even those that hate them will probably admit that DQ
is
a wonderful and extremely catchy tune)

I think DQ is a pop tune, but just because it's 70's pop , I don't
automatically
consider it disco.

ITSBRY
its...@juno.com

[Keith Griffiths]

It's a good song to play in a disco, but it's not a Disco Song as such. The
stuff on Voulez Vous was more discoey (what a stupid word).

KEITH.

--
http://www.angelfire.com/ak/vark/index.html
ITSBRY wrote in message ...

[J.A.M.]

It's not fast enough (bpm) for disco.
Maybe, octogenarian disco :)
jam

[Podmix]

Disagree wholeheartedly.

Firstly, the term disco was derived from discoteque, where people dance.
Dancing Queen is exactly that- a dance song, not pop. Its grooves are too
strong to class it simply as a "pop song". Its style derives from a lighter,
more soul-based version of disco.

There are many types of "Disco", but the one usually attributed (in very
limited terms) is Philadelphia-based Soul with a heavier drumbeat. This is
the one we usually identify as "Disco". It hit its peak in 1978\79 after the
Saturday Night Fever fever. Thus, the Voulez Vous album which hoped to
capitalise on that popularity; BTW, this album came along a little laten and
missed "Disco's" heyday, IMO.

There were many other styles which incorporated funk, jazz, reggae and
lighter soul.

Dancing Queen, having been recorded in late 1975 is an earlier version of
Disco. Listen to most disco songs from the same era, and you will find they
are characterised by a lighter drum beat, but a stronger groove in the bass
and drums.

For all those doubters, please listen to the hi-hat cymbals which are an
alternating open\closed pattern. Compare this to a lot of disco songs
(concurrent with DQ and the 78\79 boom and even dance stuff today, which is
more of an electro-disco) and you'll hear the same pattern. Likewise, the
rhythm work of the piano and bass are too funky to be relegated to mere pop.
This is dance music at its best. Forget how fast most people think disco
should be: there is a continuum from slow groove (about 100bpms) to hi NRG
and techno (about 150 bpms). All dance stuff that relies on a strong beat,
intricate rhythms and up-mixed bass are forms of Disco.

This is the reason why I class it disco. Just because it has none of the
cliches from a narrow definition of disco doesn't mean it should be
classified otherwise. I think the definition needs some reassessment to
include a greater diversity of sub-styles within the genre.

Cheers

Podmix
The future is opinionated

ITSBRY wrote in message ...

[Rickflener]

You do not mention how old you are, but during the mid seventies, the 'disco'
sound WAS more like the slower "Dancing Queen" or "Rock Your Baby" or the like,
rather than the later -disco sound which was faster, more electronic, like
"Sunset People", "Knock On Wood", or the funkier "Freak Out">

'rikkyrocknroller'

[Podmix]

Well put, sir. Thank you for backing up my (high-andbloody-mighty) argument
in a much more friendly way. Shit, I wish I could do this propely sometimes!

Cheers

Podmix
The future is a lecture podium

Rickflener wrote in message
<19990622020620...@ng-fo1.aol.com>...

[J.A.M.]

ROCK THE BOAT is, generally, considered the first disco song.
It's hard for me to understand that.
It's not even danceable to me.
It's a great R&B/pop tune but, not danceable.
It's just too slow.
If RTB can be considered disco I suppose DANCING QUEEN
with all the funk of the LOVE BOAT theme, could, too.
I think TURN THE BEAT AROUND which was way before Travolta and BAD GIRLS was
the beginnings of what most people consider DISCO.
DJs I knew then and know now don't include DANCING QUEEN in their rotation.
DQ is more like your parents version of DISCO.
ABBA songs for DISCO are LAY ALL YOUR LOVE ON ME and VOULEZ-VOUS.
Say, podmix, can I get you to offer another opinion? :)
(I kid the podman)

[JP]

J.A.M. <j...@email.com> a écrit dans le message :
377179E3...@email.com...

> ROCK THE BOAT is, generally, considered the first disco song.

I dont thinks so, it's probably "Rock you baby"-georges mac crea, no?

[J.A.M.]

Is that your guess or are you challenging my known fact about RTB.?
Rock Your Baby came out after RTB in America.
Also, to me, RYB is more ARCHIES post SUGAR SUGAR than DISCO.
jam

[Podmix]

J.A.M. wrote in message <377179E3...@email.com>...

<snip of informative stuff>

>DJs I knew then and know now don't include DANCING QUEEN in their rotation.
>DQ is more like your parents version of DISCO.

Hey, that's my generation you're talkin' about.

;-(

Podmix
The future is in the hands of the next generation