Italo disco was a style of electronic dance music during the 80s. Though many of the artists came from Italy as the name implies, the term is sometimes used for groups in other European countries in conjunction with Euro disco. Italo disco had a more synth pop/electro feel to it than American disco, which had funk and soul roots.

The genre started at the end of the 70s when American disco was dying out (see: Disco Demolition Night) and lasted until the late 80s. The songs were very simplistic, with catchy melodies, and were often sung using vocoders or overdubs . The term italo disco was coined by Bernhard Mikulski, the founder of ZYX Records (Germany) in 1984, when ZYX released their first volume of "The Best Of Italo Disco". As with much of disco in general, italo was labeled as "gay music", which was partly responsible for its inability to gain mass appeal, although many songs did top the charts in Europe. Much of the genre also featured cheesy love-song lyrics sung in heavy accents on top of monotonous synthetic rhythms, which turned many people off.

Over the years italo disco has had a cult following and is currently experiencing a renewed interest. Several online radio stations now stream the genre and underground clubs are playing the records once again. It's renewed popularity is inspiring re-releases and releases of mixes on many of the record labels which initially released the genre. Zyx records has released many new CD mixes in recent years.

Some popular artists and their hit songs were:

• Cyber People (Void Vision, Polaris)
• Danuta (Touch My Heart)
• Valerie Dore (The Night, Get Closer)
• Dee D. Jackson (Automatic Lover, My Sweet Carillon)
• Den Harrow (Bad Boy, Future Brain)
• Gazebo (I Like Chopin)
• Italian Boys (Midnight Girl)
• Koto (Visitors)
• Lectric Workers (Robot is Systematic, The Garden)
• Sandy Marton (People from Ibiza)
• My Mine (Hypnotic Tango)
• One System (Life is Very Short)
• Savage (Don't Cry Tonight)
• Scotch (Take Me Up)
• The Twins (Love System)
• The Creatures (Japan)
• Joe Yellow (Take My Heart, Lover to Lover)

See also

• List of italo disco artists

External Links

• Euroflash
• The Return of Italo Disco
• ZYX Records