Rock on, Disco Sucks! The Explosive Music Culture War

When disco became mainstream, it was already much more than merely music. Disco was a colorful umbrella that hosted and included a lifestyle, a sense of fashion, a sub-culture, and a mentality, whereas for certain parts of the population, it also represented a viable threat to their own understanding and perception of music and of the world.

This is why disco caused a strong backlash from people who with their heart and soul embraced rock’n’roll; they suddenly felt that they were being pushed in the background and eroded by a music genre that they despised. It all culminated in an explosive encounter and a riot at a Disco Demolition night on a baseball field essentially burying this genre once and for all. The backlash against the Beatles for John Lennon’s infamous Jesus comments pales in comparison to this.

To understand why there was such hatred against disco, we must look at its origin. This type of music started off underground, and it was played at gay nightclubs to great acclaim. A certain distinct and often over-the-top fashion sense went hand in hand with the genre. Yet because it was catchy and there were beats to groove to, disco spread like wildfire. More and more women took part in these parties, and they brought their own lavish styles with them, which could not help but raise the curiosity of heterosexual men as well.

After a while, it came as no surprise that colored women singers would not only embrace this music but add their own touch and flourishes to the genre. In a sense, this added to the budding sense of feminism, and it is perhaps nowhere as clear and distinct as in Gloria Gaynor’s hit “I will survive.” Not only was she telling off her ex, but she did so in a groovy style.  As we can note, race, feminism, and political aspirations were embodied with disco from its outset. Basically, disco took the demonstrations for equal rights of homosexuals and women away from the streets and onto the dance floor.

The turning point was of course the quintessential classic Saturday Night Fever which popularized both the music and the dance moves and made it accessible to everyone regardless of gender or race. Disco became universal and by extension even more egalitarian and moved from the underground to the foreground and into everyone’s living room. Soon enough, radios switched to disco whether it be The Bee Gees or various other bands and musicians of the times, and yes, that includes The Village People. This was a decisive shift from more rock-oriented riffs to groovy beats on the radio waves.

Enter rock’n’roll enthusiast Steve Dahl who literally suffered the consequences. In fact, he is considered one of the first shock jocks who was, like Howard Stern, not afraid to speak his mind on the radio and who would share inappropriate and controversial comments with, for, and for the sake of his audience. Yet overnight - and it happened to be Christmas Eve and right after he and his wife had opted to buy a house - Steve lost his job because of disco. This did not sit well, and he vowed to fight back.

The term that become popular at the time was Disco sucks and rock aficionado Steve Dahl took a jab whenever he could. This ubiquitous slogan then appeared on signs, banners, and T-shirts throughout the country but it all culminated in an event that Steve Dahl helped organize: The disco demolition night where people were encouraged to bring their disco records; these would then be carried to the baseball field only to have them exploded with good old-fashioned dynamite. This event that occurred on July 12, 1979, at Comiskey Park in Chicago was intended as a Major League Baseball promotion but ended up in a full-out riot with significant damages and destruction to property, equipment, and the field itself.

The crowd was predominantly young white males most of whom were not baseball fans and were half or fully drunk right before and when the "disco explosions" occurred. Although Steve himself strongly denies it and says it was all about the music, there are elements of race and ethnicity, and sexual orientation at play that cannot be overlooked or ignored in this case.

Yet these gender and racial differences tend to be also embodied in the respective genres themselves. Rock’n’roll has a masculine attitude attached and embodied within it. A stereotypical rock star would be someone who drinks a lot, does drugs, also a lot, behaves irresponsibly on stage, off stage and in hotel rooms and then caps his day by having a lot of sex with many different female fans and groupies. Rock stars are expected to act in that way and hence are given carte blanche to this excessive and aggressive lifestyle. After all, their own self-professed slogan is sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll and they believed they had to live up to it.

Disco, on the other hand, is a whole different beast. It is about dancing, peace, sweat, sensuality, and love, as well as lovemaking. It is basically better-looking and better-dressed hippies moving their hips and their whole body to specific beats.

That said, the disco lifestyle, however, was not immune to drug use either, with cocaine being the yuppie choice. All this was encouraged with the opening of Studio 54, a very poplar discotheque that was all about style, even more so than the music. So much so that the owner would personally select and decide who looked good and fashionable enough to be allowed entry to the premises. The rest would have to go home, lick their wounds and wounded pride for the night, only to hope for a better fate or prepare a more outrageous costume next time around.  

All this ended overnight right after the riot at Disco Demolition. This was a major fiasco, and nobody wanted to have any of it. Radios stopped playing disco music on their waves and rock made it back on, at least temporarily. This meant that certain social progress was suddenly cut short and undermined while many black female singers lost their jobs and income overnight. Interestingly, this was somewhat similar to Steve’s fate although he ended up doing fine in the end.

Yet do not fret and do not cry for the lost and forlorn heydays of disco. Disco may have stopped but it did not die. In fact, it transformed and was reborn in what is known as house music, and it really brought DJs to the forefront. The groovy beats continued still albeit in a different form and with much less resistance the second time around. And rock’n’roll may have become a relic of the past but it still rocks.

The City of Shenzhen: Symbol of the Benefits (and Drawbacks) of Technological Progress

So my relationship with the digital world is a rather interesting one. I find technology inherently fascinating but am also terrified of its potential consequences. On one hand, it can drive humanity to connect in a variety of ways and help us solve problems together while on the other hand, it can sow division and mistrust and drive us apart, i.e. today’s world. Yet my main concern remains the erosion of humanity and the lack of human touch.

That said, it is indeed technology that has brought you dear reader to this page of my blog, which enables me to communicate with you in such a personal form coming at you from my hometown to yours across the globe. Like in a letter I have been given the opportunity (or taken the opportunity) to share some of my innermost thoughts and often feelings on different subjects of interest and concern. Yet unlike in a letter, I do not know who the addressee is or will be and almost always do they not respond or comment, hence turning this into a peculiar one-way means of communication.

The important thing is that you are here and that you are willing and taking the time to read my post. For that I am truly appreciative, and it would have not been possible without the aid of technology. But all this is serving as a prelude to a place that has in my view fully embraced technology as a part of their existence, lifestyle, and raison d’être, which is mostly quite fascinating and inspiring, albeit, as it pertains to anything, it comes with a few caveats of its own.

In fact, few places around the world are as modern and as technologically advanced as the city of Shenzhen in China. We may claim to be living in a technological world here in North America, but it seriously pales in comparison to how this Chinese city is run and operated by fully integrating technology into daily life as well as their way of life.

Full disclosure: I have not been there myself (yet), and all my knowledge is based on a French-speaking documentary that I have recently seen. What was demonstrated in this program was mind-blowing to say the least and only proves how backward, in fact almost cavemen-like, we and our current lives are in contrast, technologically speaking.

Shenzhen is a fascinating case because not only do they fully embrace the latest and most innovative technology of the times, but this is fully integrated into the society at large. I have always seen technology as a means to having more ease and comfort but there can be two issues with this.  Either the technology does not work as advertised or intended (yes, I’m looking at you cursed printer!) or it is filled with glitches. That urgent payment you need to make becomes impossible if the server is down regardless of if it be yours or theirs that is lacking.

But in Shenzhen everything has moved to the technological domain. So much so that any vendor, food stand, or panhandler will not accept cash but only automatic payments, which are often accompanied by a QR code. All this is even taken further in certain stores where you pay with your handprint or, in some cases, the store camera may use facial recognition, see what you have bought and then automatically charge you the amount on your credit card or bank account on file. The idea of simply walking into a store, taking items and just walking out without archaic forms of paying cash or card - and certainly not committing theft - is a wonderful idea to me.

People might object about privacy, but they tend to be the same people who then overshare on social media. At the same time, who cares if other people can see what I am purchasing, which could be accessible by gaining access to credit card statements. And if you do not want to be seen entering a store with someone, then don’t enter with them. In this case, a lack of privacy is a minimal cost to pay for major convenience.

In fact, younger generations may simply love the fact that there is no interaction whatsoever with a salesclerk. If you prefer your interactions online, the city of Shenzhen has it all in one place, one app that allows you to do practically anything. If you want to make bank or mortgage payments, buy food, hail a cab, bet on sports or buy pretty much anything online, you can do it with an app that includes various single apps under one umbrella.

Also, if you want to have food delivered to you in a park, you can access the vending machines that actually sell real fresh food. You order whatever you want, and the restaurant delivers it to you in a drone by dropping off your order in the said vending machine, which you unpack and you can immediately recycle its packaging in the adjacent bin: voilà, now you can enjoy your hot freshly made food outdoors or anywhere you find yourself. This was shown in the documentary, but I am certain soon you could order the food from wherever you are and have it delivered to you promptly with a personal drone service.

Apart from cameras throughout the city, robots are also everywhere. That includes various self-driving cars that yield to pedestrians more than human drivers would. In fact, your hotel service will be a robot taking your luggage, effectively operating the elevator, and providing room service at any hour of your choosing.

Cameras will also be found at the workplace, which would be part and parcel of a smart building. You enter your workplace and do not need a security card as facial recognition will let you enter. You will be easily tracked, so employees who want to cut corners or kill time will have a more difficult time but at the same time, you can be easily located in case of an emergency, a fire, a natural disaster or what-have-you.

Every place with the exception of the washrooms has cameras. The smart building will tell you of available parking spots in the building so you do not waste any time or effort; it can automatically regulate the temperature of your office or workplace, and it can easily detect intruders or address threats in a prompt manner.

Speaking of intruders, there was a case of a foreigner who in a moment of oversight had left his laptop unattended in an outdoors café, which was stolen a few minutes later. The security guard assured him that he would be in possession of his computer in a few hours’ time. And so, it was. They went through the cameras spread throughout the city and were able to locate the thief, follow his movements to his home and easily identity him through the large database at hand.

This was the other amazing bit that crime is literally non-existent in the city of Shenzhen. It is not due to the virtue or moral conscience of its residents but simply due to the fact that you would get caught. What better and more effective way of preventing crime! Residents can leave their bikes unattended and their cars and houses unlocked, ironically hearkening back to a good old era - at least in certain small towns - where life was just safer and more peaceful. Unless you are a potential criminal or you are supporting crime, this situation is a win-win for all residents.  

What exactly are the drawbacks here? As eluded in my earlier prelude, technology can be misused, abused, or used improperly. You could track an ex and hence invade and impinge upon that person’s rightful private life; you could watch people’s movements seen as a potential political or ideological threat and not so much for the sake of public safety. The owner or supervisor will have absolute control through constant surveillance of the workplace. All of these are valid concerns that should not be downplayed or ignored and should be accounted for.

There is also a different darker side to technology that the documentary looked at as well in the form of AI and having an artificial companion or a sex robot. Those are also parts of technology that would, as I mentioned, undermine the human touch and replace it with something much less fulfilling or satisfying.

It comes not as a surprise that this trend would also thrive in a technologically sophisticated place like Shenzhen or any other place in the world. Yet like with blogs, videos, and social media, we also have accountability and the responsibility to act with integrity. At the same time, we need business, political, and community leaders to help and support us in this endeavor and to put certain guardrails for our overall protection.

All in all, I believe that Shenzhen is a symbol of how modern technology can make life not only easier and more convenient but also safer and more satisfying for everyone. That is the whole point of technology: to facilitate and not complicate our lives. This can be taken a step further to solve problems and even come up with solutions not only regarding daily interactions but also offering avenues for a better, more peaceful and sustainable future. We have the means, know-how and technology, so why not delve into it and make it part of our future lifestyle?

Reflections on Luck: David Milch’s Series on Horse Racing and My Own Life Karma

I’m fascinated and maybe slightly obsessed with horses now. This is news and unexpected to me because equines had never stood out for me, with the brief exception of Mister Ed, a show that I had sporadically watched in my younger years. Two things did not strike me as odd back then since I took them for granted and as a given: one, that a horse could talk - why, of course, they can! - and two, that I should be actually watching a show in which a horse would talk.

After that, horses completely disappeared out my life - except one scary pony ride but we shan’t talk about that - until my recent decision to watch David Milch’s series called Luck. This show deals with the world of horse racing and everything else that’s even remotely related and connected to it. Although luck, coincidences, synchronicity and serendipity are all themes that have always been of interest to me and that I have previously written, thought, blogged about in one way or another, I got into this series for quite a different reason.

As luck would have it, I happened to ask myself one day, what were some of my all-time favorite series, and David Milch’s Deadwood sprang to mind. The series stood out for me because of its colorful language and its well-rounded characters. By colorful, I don’t necessarily mean the swearing and cussing – though there are exorbitant amounts of that and at times a bit too much for my innocent prudish ears – but rather the poetry behind them. It felt like profanity-ridden Shakespeare on steroids.

But entering Luck was a different ballgame altogether. This was another series that came to a sudden halt but at least it was not as screeching as Deadwood, which ended on a climax and left us not only hanging for more but literally hanging. The addition of the TV movie many moons later was welcome news, but it was too little too late for me.

My initial hesitation to enter the world of Luck was that there was little appeal for me to begin with. I was not a fan of horse racing nor gambling. The fact that it got cancelled due to accidents surrounding a few of its horses, which had to be euthanized, only underscored the irony of the situation. In a series that purported to analyze luck while also imbuing all episodes with a palpable love and concern for horses and their wellbeing, it was highly unlucky that it ended up being eventually cancelled at the behest of PETA.

Yet, apart from learning some of the ins and outs of the world of horse racing, what trainers and owners go through, how agents recruit jockeys and how jockeys train and how - not unlike supermodels - they have to watch their weight to be able to ride and participate, and let alone all the folks betting money on potential outcomes, there was a lot to digest in this series.

To be honest, I needed at least three episodes to get used to the jargon and understand some of the motivations behind the characters but albeit confusing, it was never boring to me nor was it ever too much to handle. Incidentally, I was happy and content to find out that seasoned critics had been struggling with the same issues, so it was not just me nor my lack of knowledge and understanding at play here.

The most fascinating thing, without giving much away here, is that Milch looks at luck from an objective almost clinical perspective. In a way, he shuns our traditional and admittedly moral view of good versus bad luck. Bad things happen but then they may lead to good outcomes, while good outcomes can have negative consequences while at the same time, there are good intentions that lead to tragic and disastrous results. At other times, luck has no repercussion or value whatsoever on some of its protagonists. They either don’t see it or just don’t care.

Early on in the series, a group of friends make a bet, and they win big time. Now we would say that they are lucky. But for starters, this was due to a meticulous and hard-earned winning strategy by one of the group’s masterminds – let’s call him Jerry because that was his name - who made very precise and calculated bets that luckily enough paid off.

Yet, we soon find out that this genius on the horse racetrack has been struggling with his own set of demons. He has a gambling addiction and loses most of his share in playing poker against a Chinese shark; they mock and spar with each other and egg the other one on to continue playing with racist jeers from either side. The previous gain from the bet is making Jerry play and play on and lose more money hence turning what ought to be beneficial into something detrimental.

All the while, the group is hesitant to declare their winnings at first. This is because they are paranoid that somebody could try to steal the money from them, to rob them. As a result, they are trying to keep a low profile. And just like the gambling addiction, they do not call it quits, taking their winnings and starting their new happy life; no, they keep on betting because they want to win even more money, and thus the vicious cycle continues. To increase their winnings, they even buy their own horse to run and bet on, and they take on added responsibilities of paying a trainer all the time worrying about their horse’s health, a common preoccupation among this type of ownership.

Now what has all or any of that to do with my own life? Apart from me wanting to go to my very first horse race soon – I will keep you posted with a post on that! - and being drawn to anything horse-related - there was a weekend I attended an awesome show entitled Blue Horse Opera (by the way horse opera was a term used for westerns and it was not an opera) and later attending a wine tasting of a local vineyard run by a French-speaking philosopher-friend entitled Whispering Horse, which I am going to drink around Thanksgiving - there are certain aspects that have been shaping my own perspective on luck and karma.

I have noted and it is something I repeatedly mention on my podcast that it is the suffering or admittedly bad luck that helps us advance more in our quest for spiritual growth and healing as opposed to when things are just fine or going well for us. This is because when things are going good, there is little incentive or motivation to do things differently: if it ain’t exactly broke, why the hell would you want to fix it in the first place?

It’s when things go sour, and worse, when you are about to hit rock bottom that you are forced to do things differently or change your view and outlook on certain things. This is also directly related to my view of luck. I would consider myself lucky overall but have had ratches of not-so-good luck even though I have been working and trying very hard.

This has been felt and observed in my personal and professional life. I just could not help feeling that the cards seem to be stacked against me. Yes, I am blessed in many ways and very grateful for many good things that I have in my life but there has always been a cap, which I have found rather unreasonable and not proportional to the amount of work, effort, energy, and good will that I bring to the table. To put it more bluntly, I feel that I am not getting what I’m due and that I’m being short-changed in the process.

In other words, I’m still waiting for a lucky break, and karma just does not seem to be on my side. I do understand that this is a rather simplistic view of things, and it has a why me or oh-woe-me flavor to it. It reached its apex around two years ago when I was crossing the Burrard bridge after a Cosmic Night event at the Space Centre. I had just missed the bus and was stuck in the cold with both my professional and personal life in shambles at the time.

They still are by the way but I have come to accept that things do take their time, that even though I experience headwinds they do not last forever – albeit a really long time – and yet, I have to keep trying and preserve my vision and pursue my dreams despite the odds. This is often difficult and very frustrating when things do not work out for no apparent reason. It is like studying very hard for an exam and still failing it over and over again.

It feels not fair, and one may even feel entitled to get angry and lash out, but this is not how I want to react from now on. I want to continue working and trying hard for its own sake by not expecting (immediate) results. And in fact, ever since I am focusing only on the path and the journey by lessening my own wishes and expectations, I find myself in a much happier state. All I can do is to be true to myself and try as hard as I can.

Certainly, the desire to have tangible outcomes is important, and without it, I would be deluding myself but at the same time, expecting things to work out simply because one puts in the effort goes counter to how real life and karma work. There is a lot to be happy about and it is my own negative – and why not spell it out: toxic – way of seeing things that gets in the way of my own happiness.

What if things are going exactly the way they are and they are supposed to go and that my own luck and happiness with smooth sailing are just around the corner but that I cannot see it yet? What if the next curve or curve ball will lead me to my own treasure, not only an outer one but more importantly an inner one?

And yet, I feel very happy, and yes, lucky, and the rest shall fall into place sooner or later. What I need to do in the meantime is to empty myself from certain unreasonable and inflexible demands of the petty and limited ego voice and be open and receptive to what shall come my way and then embrace it wholeheartedly. It most likely is not what I expect but it may be in fact even better. And it’s going to be about time that my chickens will come home to roost, and my horse will finally win the highly coveted and cherished Kentucky Derby!