It's been a desperately sad week for disco. Within four days of each other, two of its major protagonists, Donna Summer and the Bee Gees' Robin Gibb, died. The global outpouring of grief has been intriguing, reminiscent of a glorious period in the history of pop music. Disco, by its very nature, was celebratory, vibrant, colourful and escapist. Summer and the Bee Gees may not have invented the groove-led musical form, but without a doubt, they made it popular. In doing so, they changed music forever, and for the better.
The general consensus is that disco "began" in the clubs of late 1960s and early 1970s New York, such as David Mancuso's famous Loft and Nicky Siano's Gallery. These places didn't necessarily play the music we would come to recognise as disco - the DJs spun a melange of soul, funk and Latin – but in a city riven by social unrest, they became a safe haven where love and togetherness were prized as much as the unifying four-four rhythm which propelled the nights to a state of euphoria.
At that point the Bee Gees were dressed in smart suits, crooning slushy ballads. Donna Summer, meanwhile, was singing musicals in Germany. But this Manhattan-based sound, with its soaring strings, funk bass lines, horns and, most importantly, uplifting vibe, was infectious.
It was a move to Florida and an encounter with Ahmet Ertegun – who was the head of Atlantic, the record label they would later sign to – that first turned the Bee Gees on to disco's possibilities. But it was what they did with Jive Talkin'- their first disco hit – that really changed the landscape of pop. In marrying the feel-good groove coming out of the clubs with the songwriting nous they'd honed over 12 previous albums, they became the classic disco band. Melding cutting-edge sounds with a chart sensibility would be a trick repeated by everyone from New Order right up to the likes of Rihanna and Lady Gaga. Arguably, the Bee Gees paved the way.
Whether it was from a love of the scene or because of their new-found success will always be a moot point, but the Bee Gees immersed themselves in disco. All of a sudden, they became flamboyant followers of fashion, sporting flared trousers, ultra-tight, unbuttoned polyester shirts and platform shoes. Of course, The Beatles had the unified look a decade earlier, but it was the Bee Gees who seemed to trademark the fashions of an entire scene. Dressing up pop stars became cool and has remained so ever since.
It's no surprise, then, that the Bee Gees were also involved in disco's commercial peak with John Badham's 1977 film Saturday Night Fever. John Travolta gyrated in his white polyester trouser suit to Stayin' Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Night Fever and More Than a Woman – surely the best four opening tracks in original soundtrack history. It remains the seventh biggest-selling album ever made and is often cited as the first example of cross-media marketing: next time you're heartily sick of the Glee soundtrack before the new series has even started, blame Saturday Night Fever.
Of course, the explosion of mainstream interest that Saturday Night Fever engendered meant disco rose to near total ubiquity and swift, inevitable backlash. Initially, it seemed that time would not treat these high fashions and high voices kindly. But it was Donna Summer's 1977 collaboration with the producer Giorgio Moroder, I Feel Love, that really pointed the way to pop music's future.
Listen to that track now – the first big hit to be wholly synthesised – and it still sounds thrillingly modern. David Bowie tells the story of Brian Eno rushing to play him I Feel Love, excitedly predicting it would change the course of club music for the next 15 years. Disco may have died in name by the early 1980s, but its constituent parts are still present in house music, in pop, in techno and even hip-hop.
Of course, I Feel Love sounds nothing like Jive Talkin'. But that was the beauty of disco: its basis in the ideals of dance-floor unity and hedonism meant it could be all things to all people. And it's why, decades on, dance music is pop music – which is the Bee Gees and Donna Summer's greatest achievement of all.
MATCH INFO
Delhi Daredevils 174-4 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians 163 (19.3 ovs)
Delhi won the match by 11 runs
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
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The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
England 19 (Try: Tuilagi; Cons: Farrell; Pens: Ford (4)
New Zealand 7 (Try: Savea; Con: Mo'unga)
More on animal trafficking
More on animal trafficking
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Match info
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Liverpool v Porto, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.
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TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Elina Svitolina (UKR) [3] v Jennifer Brady (USA)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Belinda Bencic (SUI [4]
Not before 7pm:
Sofia Kenin (USA) [5] v Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
Maria Sakkari (GRE) v Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) [7]
Court One
Starting at midday:
Karolina Muchova (CZE) v Katerina Siniakova (CZE)
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) v Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR)
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) v Dayana Yastermska (UKR)
Petra Martic (CRO) [8] v Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) v Anett Kontaveit (EST)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
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