ARCHIVE
THE DNA OF DANCE MUSIC
A LITTLE RESPECT
A Little Respect is a 3-part music documentary we produced for Virgin Radio UK in the summer of 2021.
The series was created as part of Pride Month - celebrating the incredible legacy that queer culture and gay people have had on the music that’s made us dance for the last 50 years.
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Over 180 minutes we tell the story of how dance music came from the decadent discos of New York in the 1970s, the flamboyant electronic pioneers of the 80s, the explosion of house music and acid house in the 90s, right through to the modern day scene.
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From Studio 54 and The Loft, to Trade and Heaven in London, Frankie Knuckles, Canal Street, Larry Levan, Voguing, The Hacienda, Tony De Vit, Horse Meat Disco, Glitterbox, The AIDs epidemic, The Blitz Kids and much more.
It’s hosted by Andy Bell - singer, songwriter, gay icon and one half of Erasure who who’ve sold over 28 million albums and had 24 UK top 40 hits, and features contributions from dance music legends like Roger Sanchez, Sister Bliss and Crystal Waters, and some amazing people who were there to witness some of most important moments of the culture.
PART 1
Part 1 of A Little Respect starts in the 1970s and tells the story of the early disco scene, Studio 54, The Paradise Garage and legendary DJs like Larry Levan and Frankie Knuckles. We hear first-hand from the originators of some the UK's early gay clubs, the tragedies of the AIDS epidemic, and the electronic pop pioneers of the 1980s. It features music from Farley Jackmaster Funk, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Pet Shop Boys, Marshall Jefferson, Carl Bean, Donna Summer and many more.
PART 2
Part 2 picks up in the late 80s and tells the story of the early acid house scene, the Hacienda and Madchester movement, right through to the origins of hard dance, Trade in London, the rise of the superclubs, and DJs Tony De Vit and Jon of The Pleased Wimmin. It features interviews with Sister Bliss from Faithless and journalist, writer and DJ Dave Haslam - alongside music from 808 State, Inner City, S Express and lots more.
PART 3
The final programme in the series kicks off at the turn of the millenium, and runs through the last 20 years right up to the present day. We hear from the likes of Horse Meat Disco, Roger Sanchez, Jodie Harsh and Olly Alexander and tell the story of Glitterbox, Homoelectric, Speed Queen, Honey Dijon and much more. Music comes courtesy of SOPHIE, Years and Years, MNEK, Calvin Harris and we look at how things have changed in dance music for both gay and straight people in the last 50 years.