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13 Delightful DISCO πŸͺ© Songs (2024) [πŸ“·: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Dhemer GonΓ§alves, Edson Mesquita, Eric W., Kool Shooters, Lisa Fotios from Pexels]13 Delightful DISCO πŸͺ© Songs features songs by Enisa, Justin Timberlake, Remi Wolf, Tove Lo, and Vulfmon x Zachary Barker.

Get ready to dance! We are taking it to the discotheque for this one! Or, your bedroom, car, or office… All you need for 13 Delightful DISCO πŸͺ© Songs is a place to listen, dance, and vibe hard.  The keyword for this musical compendium is disco πŸͺ© – DUH! While some disco oldies (and goodies) appear on this list, the criterion is that disco must be used.  That means that any style of music, from any period was eligible to be selected. Also, there are many more than 13 songs with disco in the title so be prepared for a sequel (hint, hint). 13 Delightful DISCO πŸͺ© Songs features songs by Enisa, Justin Timberlake, Remi Wolf, Tove Lo, and Vulfmon x Zachary Barker. So, get those dancing shoes on, and let’s DISCO πŸͺ© TF OUT!


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1. Justin Timberlake, β€œF**kin’ Up The Disco”

2. Don Diablo & R3HAB, β€œDisco Marathon” (Ft. NEEKA)

3. Alicia Bridges, β€œI Love the Nightlife (Disco β€˜Round)”

4. Johnnie Taylor, β€œDisco Lady”

5. Enisa, β€œDisco Cone (Take It High)” (Ft. WENZL)

6. G.Q., β€œDisco Nights (Rock Freak)”

7. Remi Wolf, β€œDisco Man”

8. Vulfmon & Zachary Barker, β€œDisco Snails”

9. Tove Lo, β€œDisco Tits”

10. St. Vincent, β€œSlow Disco”

11. 50 Cent, β€œDisco Inferno”

12. The Brides of Funkenstein, β€œDisco to Go” 

13. The Trammps, β€œDisco Inferno”


1. Justin Timberlake, β€œF**kin’ Up The Disco”

Everything I Thought It Was // RCA // 2024

Justin Timberlake, Everything I Thought It Was [πŸ“·: RCA]Everything I Thought It Was didn’t go as planned for pop superstar, Justin Timberlake. That is an understatement. Not only did the album debut tepidly by Timberlake standards (no. 4 on the Billboard 200 with 67,000 equivalent album units), but his worst-performing LP departed the Billboard 200 after just four weeks. Ouch! 2024 has not been his year –  that DWI arrest πŸ₯΄β€¦ But, despite his hellish 2024, Everything I Thought It Was gave the Timberlake fans that partook of the album a few bops, including the explicit β€œF**kin’ Up The Disco.”

β€œF**kin’ Up The Disco,” the second track from the LP, was produced by Timberlake, Angel Lopez, and Federico Vindver. It’s hella groovy featuring a contemporary instrumental with a foot in the door to the past. Disco, baby! Timberlake is confident, with no shortage of swagger. As always, he sounds pure vocally – he’s as refined as ever. He also uses autotune, which fits the dance aesthetic. His vocal performance is playful, with some f-bombs sprinkled in:

β€œβ€˜Say no more, yeah, let’s go’ (Let’s go)

You and me when we fuckin’ up the disco

Ooh, what a scene, and we both know (Both know)

Top line on that body, and she feel like a hit, though (Hit, though).”

Some of the lyrics are risquΓ© and sexed-up such as β€œRun your nine-inch nails all over my back /…Put your cheekbones all the way into my neck / Take a bite on the side, let your tongue get wet.” Ooh-wee, JT! The melodies are quick and rhythmic, which is a selling point. Also, besides sweet lead vocals, there are lush, smooth harmonies handled by background vocals. Bad 2024 for Justin but β€œF**kin’ Up The Disco” is a bright spot.

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2. Don Diablo & R3HAB, β€œDisco Marathon” (Ft. NEEKA)

β€œDisco Marathon” // Spinnin’ // 2024

Don Diablo & R3HAB, Disco Marathon (Ft. NEEKA) [πŸ“·: Spinnin’]β€œCome on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on / Now, ooh yeah.” Word! As with any disco song, prepare to dance! Don Diablo and R3HAB joined forces to bring audiences a β€œDisco Marathon.” They get an assist from London-based singer/songwriter duo NEEKA (Katy Tiz and Negin Djafari). Don Diablo, R3HAB, LAWRENT, and Paul Harris produced β€œDisco Marathon.”  It has house cues from the beginning, setting the tone. The instrumental accompaniment is sleekly produced and sounds exuberant – ready for that disco marathon! NEEKA delivers energetic vocals, selling the disco marathon like a champ. β€œCome on, come on, dance with me,” they urge in the first verse, adding, β€œPlay me like a melody / Move your body, move your feet, alright.” In the second verse, β€œThis right here it looks like fun / Keep on moving it, everyone / It’s a disco marathon.” Absolutely! β€œDisco Marathon” is a fun, playful bop perfect for the heat of summer and beyond.

 

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3. Alicia Bridges, β€œI Love the Nightlife (Disco β€˜Round)”

I Love The Nightlife // UMG Recordings, Inc. // 1978β€― β€― 

Alicia Bridges, I Love The Nightlife [πŸ“·: UMG Recordings, Inc.]One hit can solidify your musical legacy, period.β€― For Alicia Bridges, that one hit is  β€œI Love The Nightlife (Disco β€˜Round)”.β€― β€œI Love The Nightlife” appears on her 1978 album, I Love The Nightlife [Note: Originally, I Love The Nightlife was released as Alicia Bridges]! β€œI Love The Nightlife” spent 31 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, ultimately peaking at no. 5.β€― Bridges would earn her sole RIAA certification (gold) for this beloved, nightlife-loving bop. She penned the record alongside Susan Hutcheson.β€― It is the chorus where her money was made – one of the more memorable to come out of the disco era: β€œI love the nightlife, I got to boogie / On the disco β€˜round, oh, yeah.”  Bridges keeps it sassy in the verses.β€― β€œPlease don’t talk about all the plans we had / For fixing this broken romance,” she sings in the first verse, adding, β€œI want to go where the people dance / I want some action, I wanna live.”  The way she says ACTION is a vibe itself.β€― Bridges has a distinct, incredibly expressive, and playful voice. Similarly, in the second verse, she wants no drama, just some ACTION!β€― Besides the fun songwriting and performance by Bridges, the production (Steven Buckingham) and sound of the record is EVERYTHING.β€― The groove is idiomatic of the disco era. The song gets the full shebang as far as the arrangement: tight rhythm section (including organ), a mean saxophone solo (Jay Scott), and those glorious, soaring strings.β€― β€œI Love The Nightlife” = unforgettable 70s disco bop.

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4. Johnnie Taylor, β€œDisco Lady”

Eargasm // Sony Music Entertainment // 1976 

Johnnie Taylor, Eargasm [πŸ“·: Sony Music Entertainment]β€œShake it up, shake it down / Move it in, move it round, disco lady.” Ooh, wee, Johnnie Taylor! That certainly doesn’t sound innocent in the least! β€œHey sexy lady / Said I like the way / You move your thang / Lord, have mercy, girl,” Taylor continues singing! In 1976, β€œThe Philosopher of Soul” earned the biggest hit of his career with β€œDisco Lady”, which graced his album, Eargasm.  This timeless record spent four weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and made history becoming the first single to be certified platinum by the RIAA 

  

Despite being snubbed for a = Grammy (he was nominated thrice), β€œDisco Lady” doesn’t need affirmation from any awards to prove its greatness.  This soulful, sexy single speaks for itself.  Johnnie Taylor is turned on by how she moves, so much so, that he asserts, β€œGirl, you ought to be on TV on Soul Train.” It’s a dated reference, but she dances like a champ, and he is enamored by her… switch 😜.  It’s worth noting, that he β€œCan’t sit still / I’m grooving / I like that funky stuff.” Can you blame him, folks? He’s hypnotized because she’s groovin’ him – WOO! β€œDisco Lady,” the beloved classic that it is, was penned by Don Davis, Albert Vance, and Harvey Scales.  It remains a classic to this day.  I’ll leave you with this: β€œIf it wasn’t for the girl / Sitting next to me / I’d jump right up and outta my safety seat.”  

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5. Enisa, β€œDisco Cone (Take It High)” (Ft. WENZL)

Disco Cone (Take It High)” // Atlantic // 2024

Enisa, Disco Cone (Take It High) [πŸ“·: Atlantic]β€œEvery woman walk to the dance floor / 11:45, we about to start the party.” Enisa has a message for you ladies! She continues singing, β€œFollow my instructions, we gon’ do this my way / Follow me, we go left, right, left, right.” Woo! Those lyrics hail from her infectious dance-pop song, β€œDisco Cone (Take It High).” The beautiful, talented singer gets a lift from handsome and talented saxophonist 🎷, WENZL (Wenzl Mcgowen). The man rocks the baritone sax on the integral riff from β€œDisco Cone (Take It High).” Besides the badass sax 🎷, the production is sleek.  The groove is groovin’ from the onset, providing ample fuel for Enisa’s fire.  Her vocals are brilliant and filled with attitude and personality.  Her tone is delightful. Also, the lyrics are carefree and memorable.  The section to beat should come as no surprise – the chorus:

β€œI’m dancing with my shoulders (ah)

This beat is taking over (ah)

I heard that saxophone 🎷, da-da, da-da-da-da

I’m dancing with my shoulders (ah)

This beat control my mind (ah)

I heard that disco cone, it made me drop it low and take it high.”

Like many fab dance songs, there’s a build and, of course, a DROP. β€œDisco Cone (Take It High)” = BOP!

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6. G.Q., β€œDisco Nights (Rock Freak)”

Disco Nights // RCA // 1979 

G.Q., Disco Nights [πŸ“·: RCA]β€œYou said you want to reach the sky / So get up / The feeling’s right / And the music’s tight / One the disco nights.” R&B/funk/disco collective G.Q. scored a timeless late disco hit with β€œDisco Nights (Rock Freak)”. Written by Emanuel Rahiem LeBlanc, Herb Lane, Keith β€œSabu” Crier, and Paul Service (all band members), β€œDisco Nights” is a surefire vibe.  Beau Ray Fleming and Jimmy Simpson produced this highlight from the 1979 album, also titled, Disco Nights. It reached no. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, the collective’s highest-charting song.

So, what makes β€œDisco Nights (Rock Freak)” the sugar honey iced tea? The instrumental is scintillating.  β€œDisco Nights” thrives thanks to an infectious drum groove, badass bass and guitar riffs, epic sound effects, and colorful keys.  The music is the cat’s meow, PERIOD! From the beginning, the danceability is through the roof.  There is no way you listen and don’t move your body! The lyrics are catchy, and the melodies are tuneful. Emanuel Rahiem LeBlanc kills it on lead vocals, imploring listeners to β€œLet the spirit flow all through your body” (verse one).  In the second verse, β€œThe music’s full of joy and laughter / And it’s such a thrill / To free your mind from all the pressure / Head on up the hill.” Word! Disco died in 1979, but decades later, β€œDisco Nights (Rock Freak)” remains a top-notch, 1970s classic.

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7. Remi Wolf, β€œDisco Man”

I’m Allergic to Dogs (EP) // Remi Wolf / Island // 2020

Remi Wolf, I’m Allergic to Dogs (EP) [πŸ“·: Remi Wolf / Island]β€œSaid that he’s a disco man / And he’s got a lot of fiscal plans,” Remi Wolf asserts, adding, β€œAnd I told him he could kiss my hand / If ya meet me at the disco, disco.” β€œDisco Man” is a fun song from the gifted, big-voiced pop singer/songwriter. The fifth track from I’m Allergic To Dogs (EP) was penned by Wolf, Mark Landon (M-Phazes), Mary Weitz, and Olivia Charlotte Waithe. Wolf and M-Phazes produced the song that boasts a sick, soulful groove carried by drums, robust bass, and rhythm guitar.  Besides a locked-in rhythm section, Wolf is locked-in too serving up soulful, nuanced vocals.  Her ad-libs are brilliant, particularly towards the end of the record where she shows off a potent upper register. Wolf brings the quick, tuneful melodies to life like a champ. β€œHe likes his cherries when they maraschino / He likes his movies when they’re Tarantino,” she sings in the first verse.  Can you blame him? Maraschino cherries are delicious, and Quentin Taranto makes stellar films.  In the second verse, continuing with ear-catching lyrics, she sings, β€œAnd he’s never tongue-tied, he’s alright / Always dressed in black tie with white guys.” Let that one sink in! As excerpted, the chorus is memorable to the nth degree. The nameless disco man is intriguing. Also, shout out the vocal layering at the end of the record, adding to its goodness. β€œDisco Man” by Remi Wolf is the sugar honey iced tea, period.

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8. Vulfmon & Zachary Barker, β€œDisco Snails”

dot // Vulf // 2024 

Vulfmon & Zachary Barker, Disco Snails [πŸ“·: Vulf]β€œInside every snail shell is a tiny disco ball.” Say what? β€œDisco isn’t dead, instead, it turns out it just got small.” Okurrr… Vulfmon (instruments, vocals, and mixing) and Zachary Barker (vocals) unveiled the infectious β€œDisco Snails” in July 2024.  A song like none other, penned by Vulfmon and Barker, β€œDisco Snails” is β€˜the stuff.’ It boasts a colorful, electrifying, and funky nu-disco groove.  Besides the groove, there are lovely strings, a lit rhythm guitar, and a robust bass line. The sound of β€œDisco Snails” is decadent – simply irresistible, baby!

Of course, it’s not all the sleek instrumental accompaniment. The songwriting and the vocal performance both make β€œDisco Snails” the sugar honey iced tea.  The lyrics are ambitious, novel, and tongue-in-cheek. Disco snails? That’s who Vulfmon/Barker reference.  β€œDisco snails, they’re off to San Francisco where the disco’s off the rails,” they β€˜sing’ (chant) in the second verse, adding, β€œThey meet and dance to disco in disgusting garbage pails / The afterparty’s in your garden where they’ll eat your kale.” That’s on-brand… they are snails after all.  The fun continues with a third verse, though the section to beat is the chorus, which you won’t be able to get unstuck out of your head:

β€œDisco what?

Disco snails, they’re leaving silver trails

Disco where?

Current position’s third emission

Disco how?

They’re on the roof, they found the groof

Disco why?

The simple answer is, they’re dancers.”

Face it – this is one of the most fun choruses you’ve ever heard.  Furthermore, it’s one of the most fun songs you’ve ever heard. β€œDisco Snails” – LFG!

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9. Tove Lo, β€œDisco Tits”

BLUE LIPS (lady wood phase II) // Universal // 2017 

Tove Lo, BLUE LIPS (lady wood phase II) [πŸ“·: Universal]Subtlety and Tove Lo don’t belong in the same sentence. The Swedish pop artist can be described as unapologetic.  She is unapologetic on β€œDisco Tits”, which appears on her 2017 album, BLUE LIPS (lady wood phase II). She’s blunt and infectious. The groove is slick AF, and the vocal performance is filled with confidence and swag.  Among the best moments is when she ascends into her falsetto. Naturally, she’s dialed in as this song is pure SEX.  

Early on, the listener is exposed to horniness and unrepentant lust.  The chorus just lays it out there: 

β€œI’m sweatin’ from head to toe 

I’m wet through all my clothes 

I’m fully charged, nipples are hard 

Ready to go.” 

It’s trashy, mind you, but she’s being honest.  Her honesty continues without a hitch, notably in the pre-chorus. β€œLive right now, peakin’ on top / So wild now, I’m high as fuck,” she sings, continuing, β€œDon’t look down / My mind can relax / I know how to dial it back / No this time.” As risquΓ© as it may be, Tove Lo has something going, beyond sex, on β€œDisco Tits.”  It’s well-produced, well-performed, and irresponsibly infectious.  Listen once, and you’re hooked.  

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10. St. Vincent, β€œSlow Disco”

MASSEDUCTION //β€―Loma Vista //β€―2017

St. Vincent, Masseduction [πŸ“·: Loma Vista]β€œI sway in place to a slow disco / And a glass for the saints and a bow for the road.” St. Vincent (Annie Clark) released a stellar album in 2017 with MASSEDUCTION (pronounced β€˜mass seduction’). Among the many great moments is the clever ballad β€œSlow Disco.” In β€œSlow Disco,” it seems the inevitable is happening in a failing relationship – death. β€œSlip my hand from your hand / Leave you dancin’ with a ghost,” she sings in the chorus.  Clark asserts that breaking up beats β€˜being dead’ in the relationship. In the outro, she sings, β€œDon’t it beat a slow dance to death?” β€œSlow Disco” was β€˜reimagined’ as β€œFast Slow Disco” in 2018.

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11. 50 Cent, β€œDisco Inferno”

The Massacre // Shady / Aftermath / Interscope // 2005

50 Cent, The Massacre [πŸ“·: Shady / Aftermath / Interscope]β€œLil mama, show me how you move it / Go β€˜head, put your back into it / Do your thing like it ain’t nothing to it / Shake, sh-sh-shake that ass, girl!” Yeah – β€œDisco Inferno” indeed, 50 Cent! The Grammy-winning rapper reached no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the unapologetic gem from his multiplatinum LP, The Massacre (2005).  He’s cocky, confident, and of course, titillated by the way she shakes her ass. β€œThe flow sound sick over Dre drums, nigga,” he spits in the first verse, continuing, β€œI ain’t stupid, I say doc then my doe come quicker, whoa!” Dr. Dre kicks ass when it comes to making beats.  With no shortage of electrifying bars, 50 informs us, β€œShorty hips is hypnotic, she moves it so erotic / I watch her, I’m like, β€˜Bounce that ass, girl.’” In the second, he asserts, β€œIt’s hot! Disco inferno / Let’s go! You’re now rocking with a pro.” He proceeds to tell us how to get down like he does aka β€œPay attention, boy, I’ll teach you how to do this shit.” Woo! In the third and final verse, it’s more of the same: ample confidence with drip to match, and celebrating success, essentially.  After all, 50’s β€œNext level now, turn it up a notch /… Hands up on the dance floor, okay, let’s go!”    

 

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12. The Brides of Funkenstein, β€œDisco to Go” 

Funk or Walk // Atlantic // 1975 

The Brides of Funkenstein, Funk or Walk [πŸ“·: Atlantic]β€œA bumping we will go / A bumping we will go / We’ll take some funk / We’ll put it in your rump / And then we’ll make you disco.” Woo! Dawn Silva and Lynn Mabry were members of the short-lived funk collective, The Brides of Funkenstein.  This didn’t mark the first rodeo for either lady as they were both members of Sly & The Family Stone and P-Funk – two legendary music groups. Even though The Brides of Funkenstein didn’t last long, the group did leave its mark with one particular single, β€œDisco to Go”. Tongue in cheek to the nth degree, there’s no way you listen to β€œDisco to Go” without getting a smile on your face.  Expectedly, it’s funky AF, thanks to writing and production by George Clinton (there’s that P-Funk connection) and Bootsy Collins – two icons.  β€œDisco to Go” commences The Bride of Funkenstein’s debut album, Funk or Go Home, released in 1975.   

Just to reiterate, β€œDisco to Go,” thematically and lyrically, is incredibly TONGUE IN CHEEK. That said, β€œDisco to Go” delivers some of the most kick-ass, funk you’ll ever hear – the riffs, the horns, the bass line! Lyrically, even if it is ridiculous, it’s incredibly entertaining.  The Brides reference The Mothership Connection associated with Clinton and Parliament.  The most entertaining lyrics, of course, involve Old McDonald – I kid you not:  

β€œOld McDonald had some rumps, E-I-E-I-O 

But what’s some rumps without some funk, E-I-E-I-O 

No humping here, there’s no bumping 

Everywhere there’s a lack of funking 

E-I-O Disco, McDonald, E-I-O to go.” 

Wow! 

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13. The Trammps, β€œDisco Inferno”

Disco Inferno // Atlantic // 1976 

The Trammps, Disco Inferno [πŸ“·: Atlantic]β€œ(Burn, baby, burn) Disco inferno / (Burn, baby, burn) Burn the mother down.” One of the great gems of the disco era arrives courtesy of The Trammpsβ€œDisco Inferno” is by far the crowning achievement of the collective, eventually earning success on the Billboard Hot 100.  Originally released on The Trammps’ 1976 album, Disco Inferno, β€œDisco Inferno” was merely a moderate success, peaking at an unimpressive no. 53 on the Hot 100 (it charted higher on genre charts).  Thanks to the gargantuan success of the film Saturday Night Fever (1977) and its disco-driven soundtrack, which included β€œDisco Inferno,” the single ultimately peaked at no. 11.

 

The burning lines are the first thing that comes to mind when listening to this single.  β€œDisco Inferno” was inspired by the Academy Award-winning, 1974 film, The Towering Inferno. β€œTo my surprise… one hundred stories high / People getting loose y’all, getting down on the roof, do ya hear?” Ah, those are the famed lyrics from the first verse, which do seem to match the fun happening on the top flow of the skyscraper from the film.  The verse continues with, β€œThe funk was flaming, out of control / It was so entertaining when the boogie started to explode.”  The power of dance – the disco – atop the roof, doesn’t end there: β€œI couldn’t get enough, β€˜til I had to self-destruct / The heat was on, rising to the top.” Woo! It’s safe to say, β€œWhen my spark gets hot / Just can’t stop!” Indeed, indeed – BURN BABY, BURN!  

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~ Table of Contents ~ // ~ intro ~

13 Delightful DISCO πŸͺ© Songs (2024) [πŸ“·: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Aftermath, Atlantic, Interscope, Island, Loma Vista, RCA, Remi Wolf, Shady, Sony Music Entertainment, Spinnin’, UMG Recordings, Inc., Universal, Vulf; Dhemer GonΓ§alves, Edson Mesquita, Eric W., Kool Shooters, Lisa Fotios from Pexels]

 


the musical hype

the musical hype (Brent Faulkner) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education, music theory/composition respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Faulkner cites music and writing as two of the most important parts of his life. Notably, he's blessed with a great ear, possessing perfect pitch.