An introduction to Italo Disco

Summary: <p><em>This is a rewind of an episode from 2021.</em></p><br><p><strong>Today's episode is all about my favourite subgenre of disco and dance music - Italo. What it is, where it came from and why it's so enduring.</strong></p><br><p>Italo disco is a European form of electronic disco that proliferated throughout Europe in the early '80s. It’s a catch all term for 80s electronic pop of mostly Italian origin.</p><br><p>Italo is what happens when disco starts getting made with drum machines and synthesizers - a loveable curio of romantic pop, a tasteless yet tasteful novelty item, A simple music born at a time when music was increasingly sophisticated.</p><br><p>Italo is big fun electronic pop music that doesn't take itself too seriously. It is time capsule of a generally more innocent time of bad dancers, keytars, moustaches and chrome-shimmering fashion.</p><br><p><a href="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/ez7nbn/a-bullshitter39s-guide-to-italo-disco-us-translation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>From Vice’s A Bullshitter's Guide To Italo-Disco by Angus Harrison</em></a></p><blockquote>Imagine, if you can, if somebody made a B-movie of the entire disco genre. Music so obviously emotional, it becomes inescapably affecting. This is Italo and its heartstring-pulling magic. It's not disco, in fact in most cases it's technically a lot worse, but there is untold charm in the chintz.</blockquote><p><br></p><p>Niall and Andrea take you deep into how US disco morphed into Italo, how Moroder and Hi-NRG fits in, the characteristics of Italo disco, the glitz, the glamour and the keytars. Plus, we talk about the Nialler9 Podcast theme song - Red Dragon Band's 'Let Me Be Your Radio...</p><br><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/nialler9?fan_landing=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Patreon members get exclusive access</strong></a> to my 8 hour Italo Disco playlist featuring all of the songs played on this episode, which includes classics like</p><p>Doctor’s Cat – Feel The Drive</p><p>Mr. Flagio – Take A Chance</p><p>La Bionda – I Wanna Be Your Lover</p><p>RAF – Self-Control</p><p>Ken Laszlo – Hey Hey Guy</p><p>Ryan Paris – Dolce Vita</p><p>Sabrina – Boys</p><p>and many more.</p><br><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/Nialler9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Support Nialler9 on Patreon and join our Discord chat</a></p><br><hr><p style="color:grey;font-size:0.75em;"> Hosted on Acast. See <a style="color:grey;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://acast.com/privacy">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>