RetroDaze - Thread | Italo Disco: The Other Lesser Known Genre (Well, one of them anyway)

I thought I would start another thread sharing another obsession I doubt any of you will get the 'Member Berries for, but at least you're expanding your minds this way so that's something. Sooooo, Italo Disco, what is it and what sets it apart from regular Disco?

Well, let us take a trip in time back to the late 1970's. While Disco was in danger of dying in the United States (where it managed to survive on life support until 1982 when some schmoe pulled the plug on Disco for good), its popularity was catching on in Europe and indeed Italy. The problem was the latest BeeGees and Village People songs took months to see a European release. So to get around this, musicians took the floundering genre and combined elements of Electro Pop ala Kraftwerk (German Electro Pop band from the 70's. They were amazing) with Rock, added in lots of synthesizers and drum machines, and bam! Italo Disco was born. It remained a very prominent genre in Europe where it thrived until its death in the early 1990's. Fast forward to the end of the 90's when it sees a resurgence in popularity that continues on to this day with new songs currently being posted on the YouTube

Here are some great examples of this unsung (pun not intended) genre

Example numero due: Only You by Savage (Copyright 1984) - Better known by his stage name Savage, one Roberto Zanetti is one of the most prominent names in the Italo Disco genre. Usually most Italo Disco artists usually only make one or two songs before disappearing for good, but Roberto Zanetti is a very frequent Italo Disco contributor. Here is one of his best (and perhaps his most prolific at least in Europe anyway) songs. And to think Italy has him while we have mindless pandering pop stars like Drake cussing and singing about doing gross things to teenagers and Miley Cyrus in white butt hugging shorts twerking on The Disney Channel *Sighs* We really are undignified in some cases I'm ashamed to admit lol

Example numero tre - The Garden by 'Lectric Workers (Copyright 1982)- Here's an early Italo Disco gem for you that was way ahead of its time. This is pretty much 90's Euro Pop before that was even invented. The song is very catchy too. Enjoy!

Example numero Quattro: Love is Death by Savage (Copyright, 1984) - Here we have Italo Disco going Dark Wave. First time I stumbled upon this, I thought the concept would be the equivalent of that time late 80's boy band New Kids on the Block singing about how rough and tough they are (yeah about as rough and/or tough as an edgelord just saying anything *sarcasm*). I was proven wrong! This song is one of my favs. Truly another ace record from one of the greats of the criminally overlooked genre

And those are just a few examples. Will post more later. I wish I could show you recent stuff from the genre (especially since Italo Disco is a genre that manages to stay in its own time capsule mostly. While the years change, its 80's sound continues to be preserved through acts such as Estimado and Gianni Durante (no relation to Jimmy Durante by the way) but since this is a retro website, I'll only stick to Italo Disco records from the 1980's. Look those names up I just mentioned if any of this interests you.

#ItaloDisco4Ever #I<3ItaloDisco #TheOtherOverlookedGenre

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Forum » Retro Music » Italo Disco: The Other Lesser Known Genre (Well, one of them anyway)
By RetroSnob88 At 08:53 On 29 November 2019 170 Posts Rugrat	I thought I would start another thread sharing another obsession I doubt any of you will get the 'Member Berries for, but at least you're expanding your minds this way so that's something. Sooooo, Italo Disco, what is it and what sets it apart from regular Disco? Well, let us take a trip in time back to the late 1970's. While Disco was in danger of dying in the United States (where it managed to survive on life support until 1982 when some schmoe pulled the plug on Disco for good), its popularity was catching on in Europe and indeed Italy. The problem was the latest BeeGees and Village People songs took months to see a European release. So to get around this, musicians took the floundering genre and combined elements of Electro Pop ala Kraftwerk (German Electro Pop band from the 70's. They were amazing) with Rock, added in lots of synthesizers and drum machines, and bam! Italo Disco was born. It remained a very prominent genre in Europe where it thrived until its death in the early 1990's. Fast forward to the end of the 90's when it sees a resurgence in popularity that continues on to this day with new songs currently being posted on the YouTube Here are some great examples of this unsung (pun not intended) genre Example numero uno: Life With You by Expansives (Copyright 1982) - Here's an awesome gem from 1982 that calls back to a then fairly recent time o' yor as it has a 70's Funk sound to it Example numero due: Only You by Savage (Copyright 1984) - Better known by his stage name Savage, one Roberto Zanetti is one of the most prominent names in the Italo Disco genre. Usually most Italo Disco artists usually only make one or two songs before disappearing for good, but Roberto Zanetti is a very frequent Italo Disco contributor. Here is one of his best (and perhaps his most prolific at least in Europe anyway) songs. And to think Italy has him while we have mindless pandering pop stars like Drake cussing and singing about doing gross things to teenagers and Miley Cyrus in white butt hugging shorts twerking on The Disney Channel Sighs We really are undignified in some cases I'm ashamed to admit lol Example numero tre - The Garden by 'Lectric Workers (Copyright 1982)- Here's an early Italo Disco gem for you that was way ahead of its time. This is pretty much 90's Euro Pop before that was even invented. The song is very catchy too. Enjoy! Example numero Quattro: Love is Death by Savage (Copyright, 1984) - Here we have Italo Disco going Dark Wave. First time I stumbled upon this, I thought the concept would be the equivalent of that time late 80's boy band New Kids on the Block singing about how rough and tough they are (yeah about as rough and/or tough as an edgelord just saying anything sarcasm). I was proven wrong! This song is one of my favs. Truly another ace record from one of the greats of the criminally overlooked genre And those are just a few examples. Will post more later. I wish I could show you recent stuff from the genre (especially since Italo Disco is a genre that manages to stay in its own time capsule mostly. While the years change, its 80's sound continues to be preserved through acts such as Estimado and Gianni Durante (no relation to Jimmy Durante by the way) but since this is a retro website, I'll only stick to Italo Disco records from the 1980's. Look those names up I just mentioned if any of this interests you. #ItaloDisco4Ever #I<3ItaloDisco #TheOtherOverlookedGenre ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *All copyrights have been acknowledged* Quote Disable Sigs Suicide is painless It brings on many changes And I can take or leave it if I please ~The chorus to the love theme from MAS*H (one of the greatest franchises of yesteryear)

By RetroSnob88 At 09:49 On 29 November 2019 170 Posts Rugrat	Savage - (I Just) Died In Your Arms (Copyright 1989, originally written and performed by the British Rock band The Cutting Crew in 1986 respectively) Sighs Here's a song that may seem a little more familiar to y'all. Yes this is the same radio hit Rock song (I just) Died In Your Arms y'all get the 'Member Berries for. This one is a much more solid cover than the original by the 1980's British Rock band The Cutting Crew. Listen and find out for yourselves ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Any and/or all copyrights acknowledged where necessary* Quote Disable Sigs Suicide is painless It brings on many changes And I can take or leave it if I please ~The chorus to the love theme from MAS*H (one of the greatest franchises of yesteryear)