Interesting that your main objection to a genre is the lyrical content. While even dedicated disco fans would concede that 99% of the songs are pure fluff in this regard, I think that there is more than meets the ear. But, as with many things, one must look at the lyrical message of disco within a greater context as opposed to an individual song basis.
Disco was a soundtrack for a lifestyle - a lifestyle based on ideals that continued off from the personal and civil freedoms that were established in the late 60s. It was the embracing of pure hedonism and the ideal that pleasure was the the main goal of life. Some might consider this quite shallow, but keep in mind that The Establishment (be it Church or State) had been telling everyone for generations that self-sacrifice, denying one's basic feelings, and generally needless suffering were the paths to a better life - and that any pleasure achieved otherwise was sinful, shameful, harmful, and dangerous. This, rather conveniently, served The Establishment quite well - although the benefits to the individual are highly suspect. Disco's message of pleasure without shame and freeing oneself from inhibitions flew directly in the face of the established morals, which I believe is the main reason why disco faced such violent opposition once its popularity grew beyond the underground clubs that spawned it.
Discos were playgrounds for adults; places where people could escape the mundane realities of day-to-day existence and let loose. Many songs allude to the joys of one-night stands and carefree sexual encounters. I must have over a hundred songs that tell you to "Do it!" over and over again. All of this was inconceivable even a decade before. And let us not forget that disco was the first genre to openly embrace homosexuality. Although there are few songs that have openly gay lyrics, many more have the subtext very easy to spot indeed. Openly gay artists like Sylvester, with his falsetto voice, would never have been accepted in the testosterone-dominated rock scene of the time (ed. note: now, there was Jayne County, but it could be argued she was not so much 'accepted' as THERE...). Disco was also one of the few genres where black and white musicians were on an equal footing, something that is still seldom seen today.
Many disco composers wrote lyrics that were silly and light-hearted to help people forget their troubles and relax for a while. I have read several interviews with Nile Rodgers (one half of Chic) that confirm this. The lyrics to "Good Times" are as silly and light-hearted as you'll find, but Nile explained the reason for this: at the time, the US was in its worst recession in years; the psychological blow of losing the Viet Nam war was still there; the oil crisis was continuing with no end in sight, and there was a general sense of doom and gloom. The song was written to help people forget about all that and enjoy themselves - it even references like-minded songs from the great depression ("Happy days are here again").
By and large, the lyrics of the Village People were fluff on an individual level -- but how often before had there been songs about with such a (relatively) openly gay angle? They sang songs about the "freedom in the air" found in San Francisco, partying on Fire Island and Key West, and "Liberation". The fact that they had several top 10 hits is a landmark in the history of subversion. I believe that ultimately, "Macho Man", which on the LP segues into a gay anthem "I Am What I Am", is far more revolutionary than "Anarchy In The UK" or any of those other punk songs that amount to little more than unfocused youthful rage.
I think the most telling factor of how radical disco was can be seen in how violent the opposition to it became. By 1979, there was an organized "disco sucks" movement, encouraging the burning of records and the shaming of anyone who still dared to like the music. As history has proven, people don't destroy things because they don't like them; they destroy them because they *fear* them. Disco promoted ideals such as racial equality, sexual exploration, and hedonism that were very threatening to The Establishment. If everyone organized music-burning parties because some album had come out
that they simply didn't like, the cities would be covered in soot from
roasted rap CDs.
Sadly, the "moral majority" succeeded in convincing mainstream America that
disco was a vile, despicable, abomination that had to be stomped out. And on
came the 80s, with safe Republican rock like Huey Lewis & The News. (ed. note: Safe? Huey Lewis and the News always made me feel kind of ill... ;o) ).
Having said all that, there are a few well-known disco songs that have
fairly noteworthy messages, such as:
"Last Dance". Donna Summer's version is the most famous, but this was
originally written and performed by Paul Jabara. Although the production on
Summer's version is joyous and uplifting, the lyrics are a different message
entirely. The song is about being out alone at a club near closing time, and
being willing to go home with anyone out of lonely desperation.
"Supernature". A dance floor is the last place you'd expect to hear a story
of an environmental apocalypse, but you've got to give Cerrone credit for
trying. (ed. note: I could reference "1999" by Prince, but then I'd have to admit to owning some dance music...).
and of course, "I Will Survive" -- but the less said about that overplayed
drag queen anthem, the better.
Still reading? I'm surprised you made it through all that. Thanks for
indulging me. :)
