Origins of Electronic Dance Music

Every generation has a musical genre that is the new hit controversial sound from the 1900’s till today we have had jazz, blues, soft rock, hard rock, punk, metal, rap, and now we have electronic music.

            No one is sure where exactly electronic dance music came from, but according to an article by CNN, an interview with some of today’s top dj’s (disc jockeys) they say that it evolved from disco music. During the fall of disco in the 80s dj’s would take the old disco records and modify the sound by changing the speed or the direction at which the record spun. Along with this they would play simple beats over the music with drum machines (devices that digitally play drum tracks/ sounds), in order to change the overall sound of the song to one that is recognizable, but not enough to be classified as disco. Unknowingly these people were listening to the same music that they had abandoned, and they loved it!

As technology improved so did the quality of the music. People could now use computers to mathematically create tones and edit them to meet their demands. This led to creating the ‘perfect song’. People could now create music without the human error; they could sit at a computer for hours trying to get it right without ever having to worry about an instrument messing up. The computers never complained, never wanted to play a different song, or threaten to quit the band. It was and is the perfect band mate. This new ability led to many people, especially of the younger generation to start experimenting with electronic music. 

EDM is the perfect dance music. It portrays heavy steady beats, usually without tempo changes or key changes. Unlike rock or jazz or blues, which shift tones often, the electronic music stays constant. This allows dancing to the music to be easier. The simple beats allow for unskilled dancers to more easily find rhythms and figure out how to move, which in my opinion is why it is more popular at dances or clubs.

 However people, I feel don’t have the energy to keep up with the music. With EDM the music can go as long as it wants. Dj’s can use the same beat for hours on end with just several modifications to the harmony/ melody. In comparison musicians on stage will fatigue and grow weary as the night goes on due to having to play actual instruments. Along with the musicians the crowd grows tired from dancing and singing and need rest. Clubs remedy this with high priced caffeinated drinks in order to keep the party going as long as possible, all while filling their pockets.