The 1970s was a groovy decade. Known for things like peace signs, bell-bottom pants, and (of course) disco, the ‘70s was a rockin’ time for music. Although disco was popular throughout the ‘70s, its height of popularity was between 1978 and 1979. In particular, the peak was the week of July 21, 1979, when the top six songs on the U.S. charts were disco. Let’s revisit some of the nifty tunes that gave disco its reputation.
#1: I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
We have to start with the very first disco song to hit the top of the Billboard charts. “I Will Survive” catapulted disco upwards. Some say it even helped make it more popular in the mainstream. It was released in 1978 and also became the only disco song to win a Grammy for Best Disco Recording.
Its lyrics about forward momentum in the face of adversity spoke to an entire generation. Even today, Gloria Gaynor’s song is seen as an anthem for empowerment. This is one song that definitely survived.