Creating the Extremely Genre Specific /r/electronicmusic Playlist Week 5: House

Notes

This week is going to be a little different from the other weeks as this time we are looking at house music in general. Any kind of house music. From progressive house songs (not those in last week’s top 20) to Big Room Tropical Kwaito (not a real thing), as long it’s house, go crazy.

I think this week could also function as a preview for some of the house subgenres too, so if you know which subgenre a song fits into please denote that after the song link or in a reply.

Survey for November

Previous Genres / Other Threads

Week 4: Progressive House Results

Megathread

October Genres

10/2 – Techno

10/9 – Electro House

10/16 – Trance | Bonus Playlist - Halloween

10/23 – IDM

10/30 – Acid House

Intro

One of the most amazing things about music is that its variety allows it to cater to the tastes of everyone despite the great differences in between people. This can also lead to a challenge, however, as, despite our best efforts to categorize music into genres that can be used to neatly describe specific styles, discussing tastes can be challenging to someone who is unfamiliar. Especially now that there are so many different genres, it can be daunting to try to find what a new genre is really about or how to explain your favorite genre to a friend. To combat this issue, I have decided to start this weekly activity in which everyone can work together to create r/electronicmusic ‘s extremely genre specific playlists.

It's simple, nominate a song by posting it, and upvote the ones you like that fit well within the genre. The top 20 songs from individual artists (only the top songs of each artist will be added unless there aren't enough songs for the 20.) will be made into a playlist.

Guidelines for Posting

• Keep it one song per post

• Do NOT post albums / eps

• Please check the thread to see if your song has already been posted

• Always remember to use Artist – Song

• No songs that were already on a playlist

• Please include a link to the song (Spotify, Youtube, Bandcamp, Dailymotion, it doesn't matter).

• Be aware that by sorting comments by "top" you may be missing out on a lot of good songs.

• Don't be afraid to NICELY inform someone the song is better suited to another genre. / Don't be offended if someone tells you this. Genres bleed together like crazy; we just want to make sure the song is more the genre than another.

• Upvote the discussion if it interests you!

Week 5: House

The RYM Definition of House Music:

House music refers to a large, hugely popular group of related Electronic Dance Music styles, initially developing from Disco in the early 1980s. Each of its numerous subgenres, whilst incorporating a large variety of different sounds and influences, generally follow the template of drum machine-led 4/4 rhythms with a kick drum on each beat. These include the soulful, eclectic sounds of Deep House to the 'hoover' synth of Hard House to the relaxed, atmospheric feel of Ambient House to the low frequency buzzing bass of Electro House. Other common musical traits include heavy use of repetition, synthesized basslines, samplers, off-beat hi hats, snares and claps.

The birthplace of house is credited to Chicago, the name thought to stem from 'The Warehouse' nightclub where pioneer Frankie Knuckles, often called 'The Godfather of House Music', frequently DJed. Here, the club-friendly Roland TR-808 and Roland TB-303-led sequenced synth and drum sounds of Chicago House and the 'squelchy', modulated bass of Acid House began to emerge. However, the New York Garage House sound was also developing at a similar time (pioneered by DJ Larry Levan at the 'Paradise Garage' nightclub), retaining more of its disco origins, making greater use of piano and adopting a smoother, soulful, more organic set of sounds and influences.

1986 saw house music hit the mainstream, with the success and influence of Chicago singles Move Your Body - House Music Anthem and Love Can't Turn Around. It soon spread to Detroit and the rest of the USA, Europe (Pump Up the Volume reaching No. 1 in the UK charts in 1987) and other major cities around the world, creating a wide array of regional scenes, including Italo House, Balearic Beat and Latin House. Acid house exploded in popularity in the UK in 1988, with groups like 808 State and The Shamen dominating dancefloors. This soon morphed into the 'rave' scene and provided the soundtrack for the 'Second Summer of Love' (referring to both 1988 and 1989), which was heavily associated with recreational drugs.

During the 1990s, house remained hugely successful internationally and productions constantly evolved with the times, frequently combining house with other giants of EDM, including Techno (Tech House), Trance (Progressive House) and Eurodance (Euro House), as well as the more retro disco and Funk-influenced French House. In the 2000s and 2010s, many more distinct variants developed, often sub-styles of deep house or electro house such as Fidget House, Outsider House, Big Room and Tropical House.

Since its inception, house music has had a big influence on Pop music, both by defining and influencing current popular trends (for example, the electro house-inspired huge wave of Electropop artists in the 2000s and beyond) and by providing the framework for music by hugely successful artists such as Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Pet Shop Boys and Daft Punk.

[If you like this activity and/or indie music head over to r/indieheads. They did it first.]