This backlash happened and disco retreated to the closets, but it certainly did not spell the end of disco music, as many people would have believed. Disco never did end - it morphed.
The backlash reached its pinnacle in Chicago in 1979 on July 12 when the "White" Sox had a "Disco Demolition Night." The "White" Sox were playing a double header against the Detroit Tigers and anyone bringing a disco record to the game for burning.
The second game of the double header didn't ever happen. A melee ensued between the games with pent up hatred spewing forth and mostly young white males rioting on the field. Did they just hate the music, or did they hate what else it represented? People debate this still, but no other music has ever created quite such a reaction in a group of people. There were probably a lot of underlying closets running throughout the crowd putting on this spectacle.
And guess who peeked in? Walid Zou'bi solves the mystery, to whatever happened to the last days of disco in the Arab world: "The disco scene in Amman was very limited, it was more of a nightclub with entertainment. The places to be seen were mainly
In the 70’s: “The Villa Rosa”, “Juliana’s of London/Intercontinental Disco”, the thing is as Amman was in the past it was concentrated on “high society” private parties and they were wild.
The scene was usually imported via the people going on holidays abroad and bringing back music and fashions that were trendy in Europe and the USA.
In the 80’s the clubs were discos, the places to go were:
Tyche Hotel, Amra Hotel, San Rock, Intercontinental Hotel.
Amman in the 80’s was a fun place to be small, and homey yet you could do nearly anything without anyone (except a few narrow minded sh*ts) judging you. It was the era at the end of disco, and the dawn of Glam metal, Glam rock, Hair Rock bands, Punk, New Wave, and New Romantics. There was a new thing bubbling and it was called Techno (which thanks to a band called Soft Cell who gave us the first techno single 'Memorabilia', and people were having fun)".
"In Lebanon which used to be ultra-modern, the Paris of the East, there was a civil war going on, but it still was happening, in the north the predominantly Christian part, the champagne and other things connected to the high life were going strong. A country at war with itself people appreciated the fact of living life as if it might end tomorrow, and they still have that Joie de Vivre. The clubs the discos were always packed."
"In Egypt, it was more open and less intolerant there were places to go to drink and dance and this was reflected in the films produced at that time. The whole region was an electrifying melting pot of styles music and dance." Says Walid.
"The Disco scene is what made the 'Homosexuals' become more acceptable, that was thanks to Rubell and his Disco 'Studio 54' " Walid says. Conclusion is, disco is a gay themed kind of music, it swept and it was rejected. Donna Summer, Diana Ross, the Bee Gees, Michael Jackson... they once screamed against the music norm for years ahead to stay, maybe linger!
The backlash reached its pinnacle in Chicago in 1979 on July 12 when the "White" Sox had a "Disco Demolition Night." The "White" Sox were playing a double header against the Detroit Tigers and anyone bringing a disco record to the game for burning.
The second game of the double header didn't ever happen. A melee ensued between the games with pent up hatred spewing forth and mostly young white males rioting on the field. Did they just hate the music, or did they hate what else it represented? People debate this still, but no other music has ever created quite such a reaction in a group of people. There were probably a lot of underlying closets running throughout the crowd putting on this spectacle.
And guess who peeked in? Walid Zou'bi solves the mystery, to whatever happened to the last days of disco in the Arab world: "The disco scene in Amman was very limited, it was more of a nightclub with entertainment. The places to be seen were mainly
In the 70’s: “The Villa Rosa”, “Juliana’s of London/Intercontinental Disco”, the thing is as Amman was in the past it was concentrated on “high society” private parties and they were wild.
The scene was usually imported via the people going on holidays abroad and bringing back music and fashions that were trendy in Europe and the USA.
In the 80’s the clubs were discos, the places to go were:
Tyche Hotel, Amra Hotel, San Rock, Intercontinental Hotel.
Amman in the 80’s was a fun place to be small, and homey yet you could do nearly anything without anyone (except a few narrow minded sh*ts) judging you. It was the era at the end of disco, and the dawn of Glam metal, Glam rock, Hair Rock bands, Punk, New Wave, and New Romantics. There was a new thing bubbling and it was called Techno (which thanks to a band called Soft Cell who gave us the first techno single 'Memorabilia', and people were having fun)".
"In Lebanon which used to be ultra-modern, the Paris of the East, there was a civil war going on, but it still was happening, in the north the predominantly Christian part, the champagne and other things connected to the high life were going strong. A country at war with itself people appreciated the fact of living life as if it might end tomorrow, and they still have that Joie de Vivre. The clubs the discos were always packed."
"In Egypt, it was more open and less intolerant there were places to go to drink and dance and this was reflected in the films produced at that time. The whole region was an electrifying melting pot of styles music and dance." Says Walid.
"The Disco scene is what made the 'Homosexuals' become more acceptable, that was thanks to Rubell and his Disco 'Studio 54' " Walid says. Conclusion is, disco is a gay themed kind of music, it swept and it was rejected. Donna Summer, Diana Ross, the Bee Gees, Michael Jackson... they once screamed against the music norm for years ahead to stay, maybe linger!