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DISCOTHEQUE

For the U2 song, see Discothèque (song).

A discothèque (or discoteque) is an entertainment venue or club with recorded music, played by "Discaires" (Disk jockeys), rather than an on-stage band. The word derives from the French word discothèque (a type of nightclub). Discothèque is a portmanteau coined around 1941 from disc and bibliothèque (library) by La Discothèque, then located on the Rue de la Huchette in Paris (Jones + Kantonen, 1999). Previously, most paid entertainment in public venues used live bands.

Today the term discothèque is usually synonymous with nightclub. The term "disco" was originally a 1960s U.S. abbreviation of discothèque, a place where "disco music" was played.

Contents

Some historical discothèques

Disco

Main article: Disco

The term disco is derived from discothèque. It generally refers to a specific style of music and dance that coincided with this cultural landmark.

See also

References