TMC
11-23-2023, 02:07 AM
When “My Sharona” (https://www.stereogum.com/2073647/the-number-ones-the-knacks-my-sharona/columns/the-number-ones/) went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1979, it knocked out Chic’s “Good Times” (https://www.stereogum.com/2073414/the-number-ones-chics-good-times/columns/the-number-ones/) out of the top spot and went on to become the biggest hit single (https://americansongwriter.com/the-scandalous-meaning-behind-my-sharona-by-the-knack/) of the year. Keep in mind that the following songs made it to #1 from over the previous year are all indisputably disco (https://www.tampabay.com/35-years-later-was-it-really-the-knacks-my-sharona-that-killed-disco/2185892/) songs:
“Miss You” (https://www.stereogum.com/2068123/the-number-ones-the-rolling-stones-miss-you/columns/the-number-ones/) by the Rolling Stones
“Boogie Oogie Oogie” (https://www.stereogum.com/2068220/the-number-ones-a-taste-of-honeys-boogie-oogie-oogie/columns/the-number-ones/) by A Taste of Honey
“Le Freak” (https://www.stereogum.com/2069711/the-number-ones-chics-le-freak/columns/the-number-ones/) by Chic
“Da Ya Think I’m Sexy” (https://www.stereogum.com/2070302/the-number-ones-rod-stewarts-da-ya-think-im-sexy/columns/the-number-ones/) by Rod Stewart
“I Will Survive” (https://www.stereogum.com/2070447/the-number-ones-gloria-gaynors-i-will-survive/columns/the-number-ones/) by Gloria Gaynor
“Knock On Wood” (https://www.stereogum.com/2071544/the-number-ones-amii-stewarts-knock-on-wood/columns/the-number-ones/) by Amii Stewart
“Hot Stuff” (https://www.stereogum.com/2072336/the-number-ones-donna-summers-hot-stuff/columns/the-number-ones/) by Donna Summer
“Ring My Bell” (https://www.stereogum.com/2072917/the-number-ones-anita-wards-ring-my-bell/columns/the-number-ones/) by Anita Ward
Excluding songs that were already recorded before “My Sharona” hit, there were arguably three more songs to hit #1 that were for all intent and purposes, disco songs within that one year period (https://www.quora.com/How-was-music-in-the-year-1980-after-the-Disco-Fever-started-to-die):
“Funkytown” (https://www.stereogum.com/2077732/the-number-ones-lipps-inc-s-funkytown/columns/the-number-ones/) by Lipps, Inc. - Todd in the Shadows in his "One Hit Wonderland" video (https://youtu.be/OxvaIo-6bhk) on “Funkytown”, argued (https://www.ilxor.com/ILX/ThreadSelectedControllerServlet?boardid=41&threadid=42969) that it was the last hit of the disco era.
“Upside Down” (https://www.stereogum.com/2079186/the-number-ones-diana-ross-upside-down/columns/the-number-ones/) by Diana Ross
“Another One Bites the Dust” (https://www.stereogum.com/2079401/the-number-ones-queens-another-one-bites-the-dust/columns/the-number-ones/) by Queen
It should also be noted that Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall (https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/michael-jackson-s-off-the-wall-the-off-kilter-disco-masterpiece-that-launched-a-superstar), which came out almost the same time as The Knack’s album (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_the_Knack), had two #1 (https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/tell-us-your-story-from-the-days-of-disco.1473296/) hits in late 1979 (https://www.stereogum.com/2074083/the-number-ones-michael-jacksons-dont-stop-til-you-get-enough/columns/the-number-ones/) and early 1980 (https://www.stereogum.com/2076517/the-number-ones-michael-jacksons-rock-with-you/columns/the-number-ones/). In hindsight, it was probably disco (https://www.quora.com/Did-1979s-Disco-Demolition-Night-really-kill-or-even-wound-disco-Michael-Jackson-s-Off-The-Wall-was-a-major-hit-shortly-thereafter-and-that-had-tons-of-disco-elements-There-s-still-traces-of-disco-to-early-80s-dance)'s last (https://www.reddit.com/r/popheads/comments/qca9oy/whats_the_off_the_wall_of_other_genres/) true hurrah.
And while “Pop Muzik” (https://www.stereogum.com/2074485/the-number-ones-ms-pop-muzik/columns/the-number-ones/) by M went to #1 a few months after “My Sharona” and was dance music (https://www.songfacts.com/facts/m/pop-muzik), it's pretty safe to say that it was really nothing like disco.
“Miss You” (https://www.stereogum.com/2068123/the-number-ones-the-rolling-stones-miss-you/columns/the-number-ones/) by the Rolling Stones
“Boogie Oogie Oogie” (https://www.stereogum.com/2068220/the-number-ones-a-taste-of-honeys-boogie-oogie-oogie/columns/the-number-ones/) by A Taste of Honey
“Le Freak” (https://www.stereogum.com/2069711/the-number-ones-chics-le-freak/columns/the-number-ones/) by Chic
“Da Ya Think I’m Sexy” (https://www.stereogum.com/2070302/the-number-ones-rod-stewarts-da-ya-think-im-sexy/columns/the-number-ones/) by Rod Stewart
“I Will Survive” (https://www.stereogum.com/2070447/the-number-ones-gloria-gaynors-i-will-survive/columns/the-number-ones/) by Gloria Gaynor
“Knock On Wood” (https://www.stereogum.com/2071544/the-number-ones-amii-stewarts-knock-on-wood/columns/the-number-ones/) by Amii Stewart
“Hot Stuff” (https://www.stereogum.com/2072336/the-number-ones-donna-summers-hot-stuff/columns/the-number-ones/) by Donna Summer
“Ring My Bell” (https://www.stereogum.com/2072917/the-number-ones-anita-wards-ring-my-bell/columns/the-number-ones/) by Anita Ward
Excluding songs that were already recorded before “My Sharona” hit, there were arguably three more songs to hit #1 that were for all intent and purposes, disco songs within that one year period (https://www.quora.com/How-was-music-in-the-year-1980-after-the-Disco-Fever-started-to-die):
“Funkytown” (https://www.stereogum.com/2077732/the-number-ones-lipps-inc-s-funkytown/columns/the-number-ones/) by Lipps, Inc. - Todd in the Shadows in his "One Hit Wonderland" video (https://youtu.be/OxvaIo-6bhk) on “Funkytown”, argued (https://www.ilxor.com/ILX/ThreadSelectedControllerServlet?boardid=41&threadid=42969) that it was the last hit of the disco era.
“Upside Down” (https://www.stereogum.com/2079186/the-number-ones-diana-ross-upside-down/columns/the-number-ones/) by Diana Ross
“Another One Bites the Dust” (https://www.stereogum.com/2079401/the-number-ones-queens-another-one-bites-the-dust/columns/the-number-ones/) by Queen
It should also be noted that Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall (https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/michael-jackson-s-off-the-wall-the-off-kilter-disco-masterpiece-that-launched-a-superstar), which came out almost the same time as The Knack’s album (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_the_Knack), had two #1 (https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/tell-us-your-story-from-the-days-of-disco.1473296/) hits in late 1979 (https://www.stereogum.com/2074083/the-number-ones-michael-jacksons-dont-stop-til-you-get-enough/columns/the-number-ones/) and early 1980 (https://www.stereogum.com/2076517/the-number-ones-michael-jacksons-rock-with-you/columns/the-number-ones/). In hindsight, it was probably disco (https://www.quora.com/Did-1979s-Disco-Demolition-Night-really-kill-or-even-wound-disco-Michael-Jackson-s-Off-The-Wall-was-a-major-hit-shortly-thereafter-and-that-had-tons-of-disco-elements-There-s-still-traces-of-disco-to-early-80s-dance)'s last (https://www.reddit.com/r/popheads/comments/qca9oy/whats_the_off_the_wall_of_other_genres/) true hurrah.
And while “Pop Muzik” (https://www.stereogum.com/2074485/the-number-ones-ms-pop-muzik/columns/the-number-ones/) by M went to #1 a few months after “My Sharona” and was dance music (https://www.songfacts.com/facts/m/pop-muzik), it's pretty safe to say that it was really nothing like disco.