More Than Disco: How Funk & Soul Grooves Shaped 80s Pop Music
Disco Didn't Die. It Went Undercover.
Ask most people, and they'll tell you disco died in 1979. It was a cultural moment that burned bright and then famously flamed out. But as a musician who was performing in clubs and recording my first album during that exact transition, I can tell you: disco never really died. It just went undercover.
It evolved. Its DNA—the four-on-the-floor beat, the driving basslines, and the soulful vocal expression—became the hidden architecture for 1980s pop music.
How the Groove Changed
The "disco sound" you remember from the 70s was organic: lush string sections, funky strumming guitars, and fluid bass players. What happened in the early 80s wasn't a death, but a fascinating "electronic makeover."
The Bassline: The soulful, melodic basslines of funk and R&B were translated from a live bass guitar to a new, powerful instrument: the synthesizer. Think of the iconic synth-bass intro to Michael Jackson's "Thriller." That's a funk bassline, just electrified.
The Drums: The groove became tighter, sharper, and more precise, thanks to new technology like the LinnDrum machine. But the patterns themselves—that insistent, danceable pulse—were pure funk and disco.
The Soul: The vocal styles of R&B and soul were simply layered on top of these new, futuristic, electronic beats.
This fusion created the brand-new, polished sound that we now know as 80s pop. It was built on a foundation of funk.
My Own Disco Roots
I was right there during this transition, and you can hear it all over my early work. My 1980 debut album was a mix of these exact sounds. We were recording covers of funk hits like "Dancing In The Street," and my very first single, "Fairy Tale," had a B-side that was pure, unfiltered dance music called "Lady Of The Disco."
We were still using the word "disco" even as we were helping to create the new pop sound. You can explore those early, groove-driven releases on my official Music Page.
The Groove That Never Leaves
That foundation in funk, soul, and R&B is something that never leaves you as an artist. It teaches you that a song, whether it’s a ballad or an uptempo track, needs a strong rhythmic groove to connect with a listener on a physical level. It’s the part of the music that makes you nod your head.
Even in my new, contemporary work, that DNA is still present. A song like "Shine" from my new EP, My Continuum, is a perfect example. It's a modern, reflective ballad, but listen closely—it's built entirely on a steady, hypnotic groove that draws you in. That's the funk and soul influence, still alive and well 40 years later.
So, the next time you hear an 80s pop hit, listen under the synths. You'll almost always find the timeless, undeniable heartbeat of funk and soul.
What's an 80s pop song that you think has an amazing, funky groove? I'd love to hear your picks in the comments.
