On the Death of Disco and its Ressurection in a Postmodern Urban Context...

Let me start out this post by apologizing for my lack of activity on here as of late, I wasn't aware that so many people (3, maybe 4) look to my blog for much needed entertainment (or something to cure boredom when nothing else exists). I'm sorry and I promise to try and update this more often. One problem which led to my blogatorial disturbance may be that my roommate happened upon my previous post and noticed the all too flattering photo of him on the screen. You can imagine how awkward it was to explain how I got a picture of him in the first place (google.com) why on Earth I google'd him (to find a picture), why I wanted his picture (to show that he wasn't a demon), and why I thought he was a demon at all. He was full of questions so I pointed him to the screen and motioned for him to read, which he did, and all was made clear. We haven't spoken since.

So now that talking to my roommate won't be something to take up my time I can really focus on updating this blog more regularly... but now... on to bigger and better things...

Disco, the popular dance style and accompanying music of the 70's, was said to have died and gone the way of the dodo on July 12, 1979, with the Disco Demolition Night and the rise of hard rock (what I listen to), never to be heard from again.

Not true! It's a lie!

Unfortunately, disco is back from the grave and the monster is growing bigger than ever before. Now I'm not talking about the dance-punk genre that has become so popular with the youngsters these days, but full on disco is back. It's literally everywhere, sweeping the city by storm. Walk down any boulevard in NYC and you'll hear it, the faint pulse of bass calling you like the pied-piper to the slaughter of sound. Storefronts businesses, youthful loiterers in Union Square, residents of ritzy uptown lofts, the boom-boxes of the homeless, and live bands at block parties celebrating the birthday of Hershey the dog so big that the entire street was closed down to house a giant ice sculpture of the aforementioned Hershey who Josh Cave had a pep talk with warning against the dangers of getting too big a head (this is true and not a lie) all can't seem to get enough of it.

For you unbelievers out there, believe. If you haven't experienced it yet you will. Remember everything happens here in New York first and slowly trickles west. Start preparing now!

Perhaps another recent example from my life will truly solidify in your mind that that which I speak of is a terrible reality. So I was on the subway yesterday and a 55 to 60 year old business man sits directly next to me and pulls out an iPod touch, or iTouch for short. Amazed at the geezers knack for the newest technology, I was extremely interested to see what he was listening to. Sure enough, as I leaned over for a better look what did I see? Goddam "New Disco Classics vol. 4"! Imagine my surprise! Not only that Old Bones over here was listening to "New" Disco Classics, effectively destroying any possibility of him listening to disco jams while being nostalgic for his younger days, but because he was listening to "Volume Four", meaning volumes 1-3 weren't enough!

See?!?

Let me reiterate, start making battle plans now! The fight won't be so easily won this time. These bastards are really digging their heels in. Disco is adapting to its postmodern context of general plurality of all things by drawing from multiple genres of already existent and popular music to form a super conglomerate of total crap. (i.e. Mainstream Hip Hop, Techno, Trance, Happy Hardcore, etc.) We could really learn a thing or two from the gang members in the Bronx about fighting back. Example: The Bronx: 12:50am: In Josh's sequestered room on the top floor of rectory (of the Catholic Church he both lives at and restores) we heard a noise growing in the Projects across the street. We went out to figure out what was up and chanced upon the glorious uprising, a dance revolution, fire with fire and all that. It's called "Getting Light" and it's the urban poor's answer to the sequent and flash of the disco ball. These gangs or "crews" all give each other nicknames and once you get one your Christian name is never uttered again. It's kind of like being a 00 agent. These names are then called out by the crew followed by "Where you at? Where you at?" to get the guys really pumped.

Example:
"Kid 50 where you at? Where you at?"

This gets "Kid 50" so fired up that he back-flips off a ledge, straight onto his knees (again, true story). Apparently knee drops are extremely bad-a and paramount in this new style. These training sessions are just that, training, for the bigger battles, or "Getting Light Battles" where two rival gangs dance to the death, or until the other gang goes crying back to mommies.

Needless to say, this was very inspiring. Not only are these kids replacing drive-bys with light-bys, but they could be potentially carving out a better life for themselves. We've all seen America's Next Best Dance Crew here, and perhaps this dancing is another way, like athletics, for kids to escape and break free of the cultural traps they've been placed in by decades of certain cycles and patterns. Not to mention the community building that takes place at these battles. Together they are building momentum, and are getting ready to take down the evils of oppression and Disco.

This is the first time I've ever supported gang activity...

Way to go gangs!

Until next time jungen und mädchen...