Disco(的士高音樂)是一種於1970年代中期至1980年代初期流行的音樂風格,起源於美國都市夜生活中的舞廳文化,特別是在紐約、芝加哥和費城等城市的俱樂部。

Disco的核心是以舞蹈為中心,融合了放克、爵士樂、搖滾樂和拉丁音樂的節奏特色。其名稱源自法語「discothèque」,意指播放錄製音樂供人跳舞的舞廳。

Disco音樂的特徵包括強烈的四四拍節奏、穩定的低音線、豐富的弦樂和銅管編排,以及電子合成器的運用。這種音樂風格在1970年代風靡全球,對後來的電子舞曲、浩室音樂和嘻哈等音樂類型產生了深遠影響。

2. 節奏 – 「貼地四拍」
      Four-on-the-Floor Beats

7. 結構 – 的士高音樂的放克結他「重複樂段」 Funk Guitar Riff in Disco

音樂特色分析
1. 旋律
• Disco的旋律通常簡單而朗朗上口,便於記憶和傳唱。旋律經常重複,但會在不同段落加入裝飾音或和聲,增添豐富感。

2. 節奏
• Disco音樂以穩定的四四拍為基礎,鼓點強調在小節的每一拍(「four-on-the-floor」),常用電子鼓機來製造穩定的節奏。節奏中還會加入康加鼓、鈴鼓等敲擊樂器,讓舞曲更具動感。

3. 和聲
• 和聲通常取材於爵士和靈魂音樂,包含豐富的七和弦、九和弦或擴展和弦。這些和弦進行讓音樂聽起來既熱鬧又富有層次。

4. 音色
• Disco音樂中使用的音色極其多樣,弦樂(如小提琴、大提琴)和合成器音色是典型特色。電子音效也被廣泛運用,給音樂增添科技感和未來感。

5. 織體
• Disco的織體往往密集但不雜亂,常採用「分層法」,不同樂器分工明確:鼓和低音線奠定基礎,和聲樂器(如鋼琴、結他)填充中間頻段,弦樂或銅管樂器則增添高頻的華麗感。

6. 配器法
• Disco編曲極為注重多層次感,經常使用以下樂器:
– 節奏組:鼓機、低音樂器(bass)、電子合成器
– 弦樂組:小提琴、中提琴、大提琴
– 敲擊樂:康加鼓(conga)、沙鈴、鈴鼓
– 和聲:鋼琴、電結他(使用funk風格的切分音)

7. 結構
• 歌曲結構多為流行音樂的標準格式(Verse-Chorus-Bridge),但會重點放在副歌和律動段落,通常延長舞曲中間的器樂部分(instrumental break)。

8. 唱腔
• Disco的唱腔多表現為情感充沛,常帶有靈魂音樂的韻味,且會使用假聲、重複短語或即興唱段,營造高亢和熱烈的氣氛。

9. 歌詞內容
• 歌詞主題多關注派對、自由、愛情、自信和享樂,大多簡單易懂,以激勵和正面為主。

10. 低音編排
• Disco的低音線(bass line)非常強調律動感,經常以funk風格為基礎,使用滑音和切分音。低音線既是旋律的支撐,又是整體節奏的核心。

經典曲例 Classic Examples

KC and the Sunshine Band – Get Down Tonight (1975)
這首歌融合了funk和Disco元素,以令人印象深刻的貝斯線和充滿活力的節奏組成,成為舞廳中的熱門曲目。其簡單的歌詞和反覆的副歌易於傳唱。

Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive (1977)
這首來自電影《週末狂熱》的主題曲堪稱Disco音樂的代名詞。節奏穩定的鼓點與充滿活力的低音線,搭配Bee Gees的假聲唱腔,讓人一聽便感受到活力四射的舞廳氛圍。歌詞講述了城市生活中的堅韌與生存。

Donna Summer – I Feel Love (1977)
這首由Giorgio Moroder製作的經典舞曲,被認為是首開電子音樂時代的作品。整首曲子完全由電子合成器完成,呈現未來感,Donna Summer的性感唱腔讓歌曲兼具誘惑力和律動感。

Chic – Le Freak (1978)
由Nile Rodgers和Bernard Edwards創作,這首歌的結他切分音和低音線(bass line)成為Disco的標誌性聲音。歌詞簡單直接,鼓勵人們盡情跳舞,是Disco文化的典型寫照。

Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive (1978)
這首歌以其強烈的情感表達和勵志歌詞而聞名,是Disco音樂中的經典之作。編曲以豐富的弦樂與穩定的鼓點為基礎,突出了Gloria Gaynor極富表現力的嗓音。

Village People – Y.M.C.A. (1978)
這首歌以其簡單易記的旋律和充滿活力的節奏,成為全球舞池的必備曲目,至今仍是派對中的熱門歌曲。這些歌曲不僅在當時風靡一時,至今仍被視為Disco音樂的經典之作,展現了該音樂風格的獨特魅力。

聆聽指引 Listening Guide

Donna Summer, “Bad Girls” Casablanca (1988)

Words and music by Donna Summer, Eddie Hokenson, Bruce Soldano, and Joe Esposito, produced by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. Rose to #1 on both the Billboard “Hot 100” and ”Best Selling Soul Singles” charts in 1979 (uk14).

FORM:

Modified contrasting verse-chorus, but with the chorus preceding the verse. Each statement of the chorus is preceded by an instrumental interlude featuring a melody in the horns. The verses that follow the chorus are split into two 8-bar subsections. Note that again we see a song restart through a return to the introduction, as in “Purple Haze” and “Roundabout.”

METER & RHYTHM:

4/4. Note the strong disco beat provided by emphasizing the regular groove and mixing the bass drum, high-hat, and snare forward throughout.

INSTRUMENTATION:

The rhythm section is made up of drums, bass, guitar, and piano, with horns used in the traditional rhythm and blues manner. Summer’s lead vocal is supported by female backups, and miscellaneous percussion is used throughout (the whistles are the most noticeable of these).

0:00–0:32

Introduction, 16 mm.

Texture builds up gradually, with 8 bars of groove played by guitars and drums only. The next 8 bars add horns, whistles, and “toot, toot.”

0:32–0:40

 Interlude, 4 mm.

Melody presented in the horns.

0:40–0:56

Chorus, 8 mm.

Lead vocal with rhythm section only. “Bad girls . . .”

0:56–1:11

Verse, pt. 1, 8 mm.

 Girl-group style backup vocals are added at the ends of phrases, “See them out on the street . . .”

1:11–1:28

Verse, pt. 2, 8 mm.

Horn hits are added in, “You ask yourself . . .”

1:28–1:36

Interlude, 4 mm.

Uses horn line from last 4 mm. of introduction.

1:36–1:52

Chorus, 8 mm.

This time backup vocals echo Summer, “Bad girls . . .”

1:52–2:08

Verse, pt. 1, 8 mm.

As before. “Friday night and the strip is hot . . .”

2:08–2:24

Verse, pt. 2, 8 mm.

As before. “Now don’t you ask yourself . . .”

2:24–2:32

Interlude, 4 mm.

As before.

2:32–2:48

Chorus, 8 mm.

Changed to include taunt from backup vocals. Note new guitar line in the background. “Bad girl, such a naughty bad girl . . .”

2:48–3:04

Verse, pt. 1, 8 mm.

As before, but guitar continues. “You and me, we’re both the same . . .”

3:04–3:19

Verse, pt. 2, 8 mm.

Guitar solo emerges from the background to take the melody previously handled by the lead vocals.

3:19–3:59

Reprise of Introduction, 20 mm. 

Varied and expanded to encompass four 8-bar sections based on introduction material and Summer speaking and singing (“Hey mister . . .”) over groove.

3:59–4:14

Interlude, 8 mm.

Expanded to 8 bars and emerges directly out of reprised introduction, as “Hey mister . . .” in vocals returns.

4:14–4:54

Chorus and ending, 20mm.

8-bar chorus is followed by 8-bar return to interlude material that immediately preceded it, though the horn melody continues throughout this section. The backup vocals add a 4-bar ending.