Turn Up the Music with House Music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago in the early 1980s. It is characterized by a deep, driving bassline and is often accompanied by synthesizers, drum machines, and vocals.
House Music Basics
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago in the 1980s. House music is characterized by a 4/4 time signature, a tempo of 120-130 beats per minute, and a distinctive, deep bassline. House music is often based on elements of other genres, such as disco, acid house, and techno.
Defining House Music
In its most basic form, House music is a style of club dance music that originated in Chicago in the early 1980s. It is characterized by a repetitive 4/4 rhythm, often with a steady bass drum on the downbeat and a snare or clap on the second and fourth beat. The tempo of House music is usually between 120 and 130 beats per minute (bpm), and it often features synthesizers, drum machines, and electronic drums.
The Origins of House Music
House music is a style of electronic dance music that originated in the 1980s in Chicago. The name is derived from the fact that it was originally created in nightclubs, or “houses”, that were popular among African American and Latino audiences. House music typically features a 4/4 time signature, drums, synthesizers, and a distorted bassline. It is usually slower than other forms of EDM, such as techno and trance, and often has a more soulful or funky sound.
House music became popular in Europe in the early 1990s, and has since spread to all corners of the globe. It is now one of the most popular genres of electronic dance music, and continues to evolve and change with each new generation of producers and DJs.
House Music Styles
House music is a genre of electronic dance music characterized by a repetitive four on the floor beat and a smooth, synth-driven melody. It was created by DJs and music producers in Chicago in the early 1980s. House music is often described as a feeling or a type of energy rather than a genre. It is music that makes you want to move, groove, and dance.
Chicago House Music
In the early 1980s, a new style of music started to emerge from the nightclubs of Chicago. This new style came to be known as Chicago house music. Chicago house music is a mix of disco and electronic dance music. It is characterized by a heavy use of synthesizers and drum machines.Chicago house music was pioneered by DJs such as Frankie Knuckles, Jesse Saunders, and Ron Hardy. These DJs played a mix of disco, soul, and electronic dance music at clubs such as the Warehouse and the Music Box. The sound of Chicago house music quickly spread to other parts of the United States and Europe. By the early 1990s, Chicago house music had become a global phenomenon.
Deep House Music
Deep house is a subgenre of house music. It originated in the 1980s, initially fusing elements of Chicago house with 1980s jazz-funk and touches of soul music. Deep house tracks generally have a tempo ranging between 110–125 BPM and often incorporating elements from other genres, such as synth-pop, techno, disco, rock and even gospel.
While the use of sampled sounds is commonplace in deep house, producers often strive to imitate the integrity and feel of an analog recording using newer digital production techniques. Over the years deep house has been distinguished by a shifting focus on elements like drum programming, sound design and samples – while often anchored by distinctive vocal tracks or samples.
Funky House Music
While house music is often thought of as a very specific genre, there is actually quite a bit of variety within the style. One popular subgenre is funky house, which as the name suggests, incorporates elements of funk into the traditional house sound. If you’re looking for a fun and upbeat style of house music to dance to, funky house is a great option.
Funky house tracks often have a strong groove and emphasize the bassline, giving them a infectious, danceable feel. The tempo is typically around 120-130 BPM, making them perfect for dancing. The tracks also often have catchy melodies and hooks that will stay in your head long after the song is over.
If you’re looking for some great examples of funky house music, check out tracks like “My House” by Sonny Fodera, “Bassline” by Camelphat & Elderbrook, and “Get Funky” byLow Steppa.
House Music Producers
With the help of a computer and some music production software, virtually anyone can make house music. The question is, however, can they make good house music? That’s where the pros come in. House music producers have years of experience and know how to make a track that will get people moving.
Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles was an American DJ, record producer and remix artist. He was a pioneer of house music in the 1980s. His work with Distributing Company and Trax Records helped to popularize house music in Chicago and around the world. He died on March 31, 2014, at the age of 59.
Larry Heard
Larry Heard, born in Chicago in 1960, is a house-music producer and DJ best known for his work under the alias Mr. Fingers. His 1986 track “Can You Feel It” is widely regarded as a defining work of the genre. In the late ’80s and early ’90s, Heard released a series of influential EPs and albums as Mr. Fingers, including Amnesia (1985), Full House (1987), Creation & Disintegration (1988), Classics (1991), and Distant Planet (1992). In 1995, he launched the label Alleviated Records, which has released music by artists such as K Alexi Shelby, Virgo Four, and I:Cube. Heard has also recorded under a variety of other names, including Leroi Parker, DAFCA Inc., 3 Generations Walking, Trio 2B Free, Modus Operandi, Q-Sound Quintet, Free Energy Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (FENNICU), and Gherkin Jerks.
Marshall Jefferson
Marshall Jefferson is one of the original house music producers, best known for his 1986 track “Move Your Body.” Jefferson was born in Chicago in 1959, and he started DJing in the city’s clubs in the early 1980s. He began producing tracks in 1985, and “Move Your Body” was released on Trax Records the following year. The track was an instant hit, and it helped to define the sound of early house music. Jefferson went on to produce a number of other successful tracks, including “Ride the Rhythm” and “The House Music Anthem.” He is still active in the music industry today, and he continues to DJ and produce new tracks.
House Music in Popular Culture
House music is a style of electronic dance music that originated in the Chicago club scene in the early 1980s. The term is generally used to refer to the more danceable, club-oriented style of electronic music that was developed in the early to mid-1980s. House music is often characterized by a strong 4/4 beat, a repeated synthesizer hook, and a distinctive, often driving bassline.
House Music in Film
House music has been used in a number of films over the years, often to create a party atmosphere or to set the tone for a particular scene. Here are some notable examples:
-The Breakfast Club (1985): The opening scene of this classic teen movie features house music legend Steve “Silk” Hurley’s track “Jack Your Body.”
-Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986): House music plays a significant role in this ’80s classic, with tracks like Farley “Jackmaster” Funk’s “Love Can’t Turn Around” and Marshall Jefferson’s “Move Your Body” being used throughout the film.
-Pretty Woman (1990): The popular rom-com features several well-known house tracks, including Robin S.’s “Show Me Love” and CeCe Peniston’s “Finally.”
-The Beach (2000): This Leonardo DiCaprio film features a number of well-known house tracks, including Energy 52’s “Cafe del Mar” and Paul Oakenfold’s “Starry Eyed Surprise.”
If you’re a fan of house music, be sure to check out these and other films that feature this genre of music.
House Music in Television
Television is one of the most powerful media outlets and over the years, it has played a significant role in popularizing different genres of music. House music is no exception and it has been featured in a number of TV shows over the years.
One of the most iconic TV moments featuring house music is the opening credits sequence of popular 1990s sitcom, Friends. The show was set in New York City and follows the lives of six friends living in an apartment block. The opening credits feature the cast dancing to Phoebe Buffay’s (played by Lisa Kudrow) eccentric rendition of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” theme tune. The use of disco and house music in the opening credits helped to set the tone for the show and made it feel modern and hip.
More recently, house music has featured in popular reality TV shows such as Keeping Up with the Kardashians and The Hills. In 2008, an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians saw Khloe Kardashian throwing a pool party at her sister Kim’s house. The party was complete with a DJ playing a selection of pumping house tracks, giving viewers a taste of the glamorous Californian lifestyle. In 2009, an episode of The Hills saw Lauren Conrad hosting a birthday party for her friend Heidi Montag at a Hollywood nightclub. House music was once again on the menu and viewers were given a front row seat to all the action.
As well as making appearances on our screens, house music has also been used extensively in advertising campaigns. In 2013, Coca Cola commissioned Avicii to produce a track specifically for their “Be Someone” global marketing campaign. The track, which was titled “Hey Brother”, featured heavily in TV commercials and quickly became an international hit. More recently, Apple have used David Guetta’s track “Titanium” in their iPhone 6 commercial, helping to expose his music to new audiences around the world.
House Music in Video Games
House music has been featured in video games since the early days of the genre. Early examples include the 1985 Commodore 64 game Wisdom of Solomon, which featured the track “Alsome Body” by Ashley Beedle, and 1992’s Gradius III, which featured the track “Can You Feel It” by Mr. Fingers.
In more recent years, house music has become increasingly prevalent in video games, appearing in titles such as Dance Dance Revolution, Need for Speed: Underground 2, and Def Jam: Fight for NY. The popularity of the genre has also led to the development of several dedicated house music-based video games, such as ReRave and Rez.