House music is more than just a feeling as many househeads say. “What does that mean exactly?” you will probably ask yourself. All types of music may be considered to be more than just a feeling, to be touching and sensitive to the listener who has emotions expressed by the composer of the song. But here comes the difference to most of us, the fanatics of house music, this sort of music embraces the brotherhood and unity we want to see in the whole world or at least in our hometown instead of all of the violence, not only physical but through words as well, that we deal with everyday.

Let me tell you something of the history about house music and how it came about. “House music is an obvious descendant of Disco. Like disco the growth and popularity of house music began in underground African American and Latino gay clubs in major metropolitan areas of Chicago and New York City . Disco and house music both showcase the vocal abilities of African American women whose lyrics often spoke of inclusive acceptance of all, freedom, love and struggles in contemporary relationships.” So, as you can see, house music represents the voice of disaggregated peoples, those in the most difficult situations whether it is economically, politically or socially motivated. It’s a genre which crosses the boundaries of race, gender and class. When we talk about house music we are not only speaking about a type of music that is played in modern clubs all around the world, which is aimed at celebrating and partying, but also represents an outlook on life that focuses on respect and as accepting everyone as they are. A second point that we can mention in relation to the “more than a feeling” expression is that house music is a genre intended to dance to, for the body rather than the mind. Being on the dancefloor hearing the loud speakers throwing at you the most recent production of the musician you love, with the heavy lights of the venue pointing from one place to the other, the smoke and the fat bassline of the song, will all make you exercise as you never did before. House music turns out to be a healthy activity that makes your whole body vibrate with its remarkable 4x4 rhythmic beat and the percussive lines of bongos and congas it smoothly blends all together. The music that surrounds the listener becomes very effective creating in the entire place a special atmosphere. That’s what it’s called the vibe. The whole sensation and perception you get from others, the music, and the air that can’t be compared to anything.

It all started very underground and homemade. The music itself has been made by producers and musicians who gathered together to create these magnificent sounds, which are supported by djs who play the tracks at clubs and generate the promotion of the tunes. The styles that originated this particular sound include mainly disco, jazz, soul, hip hop, latin, funk, as other well as other modern electronic sounds. The creation of the song may come from more acoustic elements like a live guitar or piano or from samples of real instruments that can also produce a great result. The use of synths and electric gear in general is widely spread in the genre. It has mostly been produced in houses and small studios, instead of the ways of production that characterize mainstream music. A producer or dj can become known worldwide but still the ways of promoting, djing and selling the music will remain quite underground. This is what keeps the scene very particular, alive and in its original form. Everyone is encouraged to become part of the house music community with what he or she has to offer. You don’t need to have big recording studios or labels to produce and introduce the music into the scene. Neither do you need expensive gear to start djing in small parties at your place. This may have become untrue nowadays considering the prices of pianos, mixers, turntables and decks, which are getting more expensive depending on your location.

House music today still remains very underground but lively thanks to the thousands of persons that take part in it, creating the music, mixing and remixing it and playing it at clubs and at their own houses. That’s the good thing about house music, anyone can take part in it and support it in any of the available ways. It will hopefully stay alive for the days to come as long as we’ll need to move our bodies, express our deep feelings and fit into a community that represents our true values of respect and brotherhood.

If house is a nation! I WANNA BE PRESIDENT!
Written by Strickly, 2008
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