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'''Hi-NRG''' ('''High-Energy''') is |
'''Hi-NRG''' ('''High-Energy''') is a genre of [[electronic dance music]] that derived from [[disco]] in the early 1980s and incorporated [[pop music|pop]] and [[synth rock]] elements to higher [[beats per minute|BMP]] than disco, usually varying from 125 to 130.<ref name=AMG1>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=77:409|title=Explore music…Genre: Hi-NRG|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref>. The genre itself originated from [[UK]] and widespread to [[Europe]] around 1982, rivaling [[North America]]n [[electro music|electro]] and [[funk]] scene movement. Later hi-NRG tracks are thought to have considerably influenced the appearance of [[house music]] in first British [[GLBT]] clubs and discotheques. |
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==Terminology== |
==Terminology== |
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Revision as of 02:54, 17 April 2010
 | This article is written like a personal reflection, personal essay, or argumentative essay that states a Wikipedia editor's personal feelings or presents an original argument about a topic. (March 2009) |
| Hi-NRG | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | electronica, synthpop, disco, club dance, pop |
| Cultural origins | 1970s; United Kingdom and United States |
| Typical instruments | Keyboard • synthesizer • drum machine • sequencer |
| Derivative forms | Eurobeat • Eurodance • Italo-Disco • Space disco |
| Subgenres | |
| Nu-NRG | |
| Fusion genres | |
| Hard NRG • New Beat • Techno[1][2] | |
| Regional scenes | |
| New York City · San Francisco · London · Tokyo | |
| Other topics | |
| Artists and songs | |
Hi-NRG (High-Energy) is a genre of electronic dance music that derived from disco in the early 1980s and incorporated pop and synth rock elements to higher BMP than disco, usually varying from 125 to 130.[3]. The genre itself originated from UK and widespread to Europe around 1982, rivaling North American electro and funk scene movement. Later hi-NRG tracks are thought to have considerably influenced the appearance of house music in first British GLBT clubs and discotheques.
Terminology
In 1977, Donna Summer was interviewed about her single "I Feel Love", which was a mostly electronic, relatively high-tempo disco song without a strong funk component. In the interview, she said "this song became a hit because it has a high-energy vibe".[4] Following that interview, the description "high-energy" was increasingly applied to high-tempo disco music, especially songs dominated by electronic timbres.[citation needed] The tempo threshold for high-energy disco was around 125 to 127 BPM. In the 1980s, the term "high-energy" was stylized as "Hi-NRG". Eurobeat, dance-pop, and freestyle artists like Shannon, Stock Aitken Waterman, Taylor Dayne, Freeez or Michael Sembello were also labeled as "Hi-NRG" when sold in the United States.[5]
In the 1980s "Hi-NRG" referred not just to any high-tempo dance music, but to a specific genre, only somewhat disco-like. However, Hi-NRG is typified by an energetic, staccato, sequenced synthesizer sound with octave basslines[6] or/and where the bass often takes the place of the hi-hat[7], alternating a more resonant note with a dampened note to signify the tempo of the record. There is also often heavy use of the clap sound found on drum machines.
Ian Levine, one of Hi-NRG's pioneering DJs & producers in the UK, defines Hi-NRG as "melodic, straightforward dance music that's not too funky."[8] Music journalist Simon Reynolds adds "The nonfunkiness was crucial. Slamming rather than swinging, Hi-NRG's white European feel was accentuated by butt-bumping bass twangs at the end of each bar."[8]
History
From 1979 to 1983, unlabeled high-tempo disco music was especially popular among LGBT communities in U.S. coastal cities such as New York and San Francisco[citation needed]. In particular, DJ/producer Patrick Cowley helped popularize this kind of music at the The EndUp club in San Francisco. Examples of early 1980s hi-energy disco acts include Claudja Barry, Miquel Brown, Amanda Lear, France Joli, Sylvester, Divine, and The Weather Girls.
In the same period, a non gay form of Hi-NRG (EDM) became popular in Canada and Europe. The most popular groups of this style are Trans-X and Lime. It is closely related to space disco. It includes Koto, Laser dance and Cerrone. Hi-NRG sound also influenced techno and house music.[3]
In 1983 in the UK, music magazine Record Mirror began publishing a weekly Hi-NRG Chart. Hi-NRG entered the mainstream with hits in the UK and US pop and dance charts, such as Hazell Dean's "Searchin' (I Gotta Find a Man)" and Evelyn Thomas's "High Energy".[9][10] In the mid-1980s, Hi-NRG producers in the dance and pop charts included Ian Levine and trio Stock Aitken Waterman, both of whom worked with many different artists. Stock Aitken Waterman had two of the most successful Hi-NRG singles ever with their productions of Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (UK #1 & US #11 in 1985) and Bananarama's "Venus" (US #1 & UK #8 in 1986).[11] They also brought the genre full circle, in a sense, by writing and producing Donna Summer's 1989 UK and US hit "This Time I Know It's For Real" (UK #3 and US #7).
American music magazine Dance Music Report published Hi-NRG charts and related industry news in the mid to late 1980s as the genre reached its peak.[12] By 1990, however, house music had superseded Hi-NRG in popularity in many danceclubs. Despite this, Hi-NRG music is still being produced and played in various forms, including many remixed versions of mainstream pop hits, some with re-recorded vocals. Later in the 1990s, Nu-NRG music was born. It is a fusion of Hi-NRG and Trance.[13]
Artists
See also
References
- ^ Allmusic about Hi-NRG influence on Techno music: "techno expanded with the mechanical beats of Hi-NRG."
- ^ DifferenceBetween.net: Difference Between House and Techno - House Vs Techno: "In terms of the origin of style, techno can attribute it to funk, synthpop, electro and post-disco music./ (sic) because of its other stylistic origins like Chicago house, industrial music and Hi-NRG."
- ^ a b "Explore music…Genre: Hi-NRG". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
- ^ Jones, Alan and Kantonen, Jussi (1999) Saturday Night Forever: The Story of Disco. Chicago, Illinois: A Cappella Books. ISBN 1-55652-411-0.
- ^ Jahsonic (2007) Hi-NRG article. Retrieved on 2-7-2010
- ^ Top 10 Electronic Music Genres you probably haven't heard of. | Boy in a Band. Retrieved on 2-7-2010
- ^ Fritz, Jimi (1999). Rave Culture: An Insider's Overview: "Hi-NRG is an early evolution of new-style disco. Simple, fast, danceable early house where the bass often takes the place of the high hat". Publisher: SmallFry Press, p. 94. ISBN 0968572103
- ^ a b Reynolds, Simon (2006). Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984. p. 380. ISBN 9780143036722.
- ^ Chartstats.com - Hazell Dean "Searchin'"
- ^ Chartstats.com - Evelyn Thomas "High Energy"
- ^ Allmusic.com - Stock Aitken Waterman
- ^ Discomusic.com - Forum post relating to Hi-NRG charts, december 1986
- ^ Electronic Music Styles - NU NRG TRANCE. 2-7-2010.