Eurodisco

Influenced by these electro pop pioneers, Eurodisco developed in the 1970s. It is characterized by electronic instruments, i.e. synthesizers and drum machines, a typical 4/4 dance beat and a heavy focus on a strong bassline like the one in »I Feel Love« (1977) by Donna Summer. This track was produced by Munich-based Italian producer Giorgio Moroder. Together with fellow producer Pete Belotte he created the so-called »Munich Sound« which earned him appellations like »High Priest of Disco« or »Godfather of Dance Music«.

Germany was home to several successful Eurodisco producers and projects. Silver Convention, produced by Sylvester Levay and Michael Kunze, had an international hit in 1975 with »Fly, Robin, Fly« and Frank Farian’s project Boney M. had a string of hits, including »Daddy Cool«(1976) or »Rivers of Babylon« (1978). Dschinghis Khan, a project by Ralph Siegel known for songs like »Dschinghis Khan« or »Moskau« (both 1979), brought Eurodisco into the German Schlager music. Later successful German genre producers/projects were Dieter Bohlen and Luis Rodriguez with projects like Modern Talking, known e.g. for »You’re My Heart, You’re My Soul« (1984), Tony Hendrik and Bad Boys Blue with hits like »You’re A Woman« (1985) as well as Sandra, produced by Michael Cretu, and her song »(I’ll Never Be) Maria Magdalena« (1985).

Other examples for Eurodisco are Spanish duo Baccara and their hit »Yes Sir, I Can Boogie"« (1977), French singer Amanda Lear, known for e.g. »Follow Me« (1978) and French band Ottawan »D.I.S.C.O.« (1979) and »Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)« (1981). »Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)« (1979) by Swedish pop group ABBA can also be regarded as Eurodisco. The genre had an influence on the US, too, as can be seen with »Call Me« (1980) by Blondie or »Gloria« (1982) by Laura Branigan.

One of the last Eurodisco hits was »I've Been Thinking About You« (1990) by British- American band Londonbeat.