Burn This Disco Out
THE STORY BEHIND ' BURN THIS DISCO OUT'
This is the explosive finale of the Off the Wall album. The story below details how this track was designed to be the ultimate "closer," leaving the listener sweaty and exhausted, and how it cemented Rod Temperton’s status as the king of dance floor anthems.
By the time a listener reaches the end of the Off the Wall album, they have been through a journey. They’ve experienced the euphoric disco of "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," the romantic sway of "Rock With You," and the tearful heartbreak of "She's Out of My Life." Producer Quincy Jones knew that the album couldn't end on a quiet note. He needed a closer, a track that would send the listener home with their ears ringing and their feet moving.
To accomplish this, he turned once again to his secret weapon: Rod Temperton. Temperton, the British songwriter who had already penned "Rock With You" and "Off the Wall" for the album, understood exactly what was needed. He wrote "Burn This Disco Out" as a relentless, high-octane funk bomb. The title itself was a mission statement. It wasn't just about dancing; it was about dancing until the venue crumbled. It captured the hedonistic, "no tomorrow" energy of the late 70s club scene.
Musically, "Burn This Disco Out" is the closest Michael Jackson ever came to sounding like Temperton’s original band, Heatwave. The song is built on a complex, syncopated groove that is heavier and grimier than the polished pop of "Rock With You."
The chord progression is aggressive. It relies on "stabs", sharp, punchy chords that hit on the off-beats. This creates a jagged, jerky rhythm that demands physical movement. It is not a song for swaying; it is a song for stomping.
The engine room of the track is, once again, the legendary duo of Louis Johnson (bass) and John "JR" Robinson (drums). On this track, Johnson’s bass line is a monster. He uses a technique called "thumping," hitting the strings with the side of his thumb to create a dull, heavy thud that hits you in the chest.
Combined with Robinson’s drumming, which features heavy use of the tom-toms and a driving kick drum, the rhythm section creates a wall of sound. Quincy Jones mixed the drums louder on this track than almost any other on the album. He wanted it to sound like a live band playing in a small, sweaty club.
If the rhythm section provides the muscle, the horns provide the shine. The "Seawind Horns," led by arranger Jerry Hey, are the stars of "Burn This Disco Out." The horn arrangement on this track is incredibly difficult. It features lightning-fast runs and high-register blasts that require immense technical skill. Jerry Hey recorded the horns in layers, stacking trumpets, saxophones, and trombones to create a massive, brassy texture.
Listen closely to the instrumental break in the middle of the song. The horns engage in a "call and response" with the bass guitar. The bass plays a riff, and the horns answer with a sharp blat! It is this interplay that gives the song its kinetic energy.
The "Growl" For "Burn This Disco Out," Michael adopted a tougher vocal persona. He largely abandoned the sweet falsetto he used on "Girlfriend" and "I Can't Help It." Instead, he sang in his full chest voice, using a technique often described as a "growl."
You can hear the grit in his voice when he sings lines like "Gonna shout! Scream and shout!" He attacks the consonants, spitting the words out percussively. This was Michael channeling his inner James Brown. He wasn't trying to be pretty; he was trying to be powerful.
The background vocals are also distinct. Unlike the lush, choir-like harmonies of other tracks, the backing vocals here are shouted and chant-like. They act as a crowd, cheering Michael on as he tears the roof off.
The Tempo One of the subtle Brilliances of the track is its tempo. It sits at approximately 116 beats per minute. This is slightly slower than "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," but it feels heavier.
This "heavy funk" feel is difficult to achieve. If you play it too fast, it loses its groove. If you play it too slow, it drags. The band had to lock into a specific "pocket" that allowed the song to swing while still driving forward. It is a testament to the musicianship of the Off the Wall sessions that they nailed this feel live in the room.
There is a supreme irony in the title "Burn This Disco Out." The song was released in late 1979, right at the moment when the "Disco Sucks" movement was gaining momentum in the United States. In July 1979, the infamous "Disco Demolition Night" took place in Chicago, where thousands of disco records were blown up in a baseball stadium.
In a way, the song was prophetic. The disco era was burning out. But rather than being a victim of the backlash, the song (and the album) survived because it was simply too funky to die. It transcended the "disco" label by being undeniably great R&B.
While never released as a single, "Burn This Disco Out" remains a cult favorite among DJs and dancers. It is often used in DJ sets as a "peak hour" track, the song you play when the dance floor is packed and you want to push the energy to the limit.
It serves as the perfect bookend to the album. Off the Wall starts with a whisper (the intro to "Don't Stop") and ends with a shout. It leaves the listener energized, proving that Michael Jackson wasn't just here to sing; he was here to conquer the dance floor.
LYRICS of BURN THIS DISCO OUT
There's a steam beat
And it's comin' after you
You can take it
If you only let your feelings through
So DJ, spin the sounds
There ain't no way that you're gonna let us down
Gonna dance, gonna burn this disco out
Groove all night
Keep the boogie alright
Get that sound
Everybody just get on down
Got a hot foot
Better freak across the floor
Join the party
And we'll keep you movin', that's for sure
So DJ, spin the sounds
There ain't no way that you're gonna sit us down
Gonna dance 'til we burn this disco out
Groove all night (groove on)
Keep the boogie alright
Get that sound
Everybody just get on down
Once you get the beat inside your feet
There ain't no way to stop, you movin' good
Now the weekend's come, it's time for fun
You got to groove just like you know you should
People now
Are you ready
Won't you rock across the room
Got a feelin'
That we're gonna raise the roof off soon
So DJ, spin the sounds
There ain't no way that you're gonna sit us down
Gonna dance 'til we burn this disco out
Groove all night
Keep the boogie, alright (groove on)
Get that sound
Everybody just get on down
Groove all night
Groove on
So DJ, spin the sounds
There ain't no way that you're gonna sit us down
Gonna dance 'til we burn this disco out
Groove all night (groove on)
Keep the boogie alright
Gonna dance, gonna shout 'til we burn this disco out (groove on)
Get that sound
Everybody get down tonight (get down)
Gonna dance (get down and hold down), gonna shout, gonna burn this disco out
Groove all night
Keep the boogie alright
Gonna dance, gonna shout, gonna burn this disco out
Get that sound
Everybody get down tonight
Gonna dance, gonna shout, gonna burn this disco out
Groove all night
Keep the boogie alright
Gonna dance, gonna shout, gonna burn this disco out
Get that sound
Everybody get down tonight