Has club/Dance music dropped the ball?
So I have been clubbing for over 15 years and I've heard tons of club music and great remixes, <3 Kristine W & Kylie. But the last 3 years (maybe since dubstep took over) all the dance hits seem to sound the same sound and sound harsh and not as much fun as it used to be because people at the clubs around me are not dancing the sit on the stool or sidelines and kind of look at their iPhones or talk. Also, I went to a big name DJ show (I forget who now) in SF at Ruby Skye and even there nobody was dancing. They were just standing about while he stared at his equipment., which doesn't surprise me because what else is there for a DJ to do, he isn't singing or doing a guitar solo. But that was kind of pricy to just have people stand about bored or drunk.
Back in the 90s and 00s I'd go all night (until after 3) with my friends NEVER stopping except MAYBE for water. And back then one would never confuse Hex Hector with Almighty, Almighty with Thunderpuss, Thunderpuss with Love to Infinity etc. But I really can't tell the difference between any of it now and I do think that is why the club floors around me are empty. Most of the music and the mixers are is just not fun and exciting anymore to anyone out of High School it seems. And when I talk to people at clubs they complain that there's always to much Britney and Niki Minaj. LOL! And these are the 20 somethings!
To me it sounds harsh and angry even when it is happy. And yes I there are some fun remixes and club song I enjoy but they don't get played or rarely played in clubs around me (i.e. I have yet to hear Kylie's last 5 club hits played at a club near me or Tori Amos's latest hit).
I know dubstep is a genre so of course it will sound similar to a degree but new wave is a genre and The B-52's, PSB, Joy Division, Adam and the Ants, New Order, Human League, The Cure, OMD etc.sound nothing alike… Even disco had more variation than the club music today. And lastly I find it funny and telling that the "oldies" nights are the ones that pack the clubs and get people dancing the most.
What are your thoughts? Sorry for the rant I'm just frustrated because I love dancing. And remember when clubs used to be packed and when the music used to be varied and everyone belted along to the words of the latest vocal house smash. So I'm sad to see so many empty dance floors, at least where I go.