Hi-NRG

Characteristics of hi-NRG are a 4-to-the-floor beat with a tempo of 130 to 140 bp and fast staccato hihats, sequenced staccato synth sounds, a straightforward »unfunky« groove and pulsating (octave) basslines like the one known from Donna Summer’s »I Feel Love« (1977), produced by Giorgio Moroder. Thus, »I Feel Love« is sometimes regarded as a genre precursor or early example, alongside Patrick Hernandez’ »Born to Be Alive« (1979).

Pioneer of the genre was US composer/producer Patrick Cowley who was keyboardist for singer Sylvester on hits like »You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)«and »Dance (Disco Heat)« (both 1978). Hits under his own name were »Menergy« (1981) and »Megatron Man« (1982). In 1981, he co-founded the label Megatone Records. Another pioneer was fellow American Bobby Orlando aka Bobby O who is regarded as one of the most successful producers of hi-NRG. Influenced by Giorgio Moroder he developed his own signature style. For drag artist Divine he produced the classic club anthems »Native Love (Step by Step)«, »Love Reaction« and »Shoot Your Shot« as well as »West End Girls« (1984) for British duo Pet Shop Boys. Apart from this uptempo, theatrical style which was popular in the (San Francisco) LGBT club scene, another form of hi-NRG was influenced by techno and early Chicago house and heavily focused on the sequenced octave bassline, finding mainstream success with artists like Kim Wilde or Laura Branigan.

The term hi-NRG was coined in 1983 by British music magazine Record Mirror and hi-NRG entered the mainstream with songs like Hazell Dean’s »Searchin' (I Gotta Find a Man)« (1983) and »High Energy« (1984) by Evelyn Thomas. The first hi-NRG super hit was probably »Relax« by Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1983), produced by Trevor Horn.

Hi-NRG was also the starting point for British producer trio Stock/Aitken/Waterman who should become one of the most successful »pop music hit factories« of the 1980s. Besides their first hit »Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)« (1984) for Hazell Dean, successful hi-NRG songs by them were Dead Or Alive’s »You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)« (1984) and »Venus« (1986) by Bananarama.