Spring Edition - Mushroom online

GOA
The Hits
For almost the first 20 years, every season had
„its hits“, killer traxx that were played at most
parties and by most of the DJs, right through
the season. DJs weren’t afraid to play them
because other DJs were playing them, they all
wanted to play these special traxx, because we
all looked forward to these highlite traxx at every
party. We all knew the names of these traxx
and the bands that made them. Each time they
were played they created an explosion of NRG,
a special magic on the dancefloor. There are
still some hits today that you hear fairly often,
but now most DJs want to be unique and play
traxx no-one else is playing. It was a bonding
experience, our love for these hits helped create
a sense of unity among the party goers. It’s sad
this has been lost.
Party Atmosphere Change
In the first ten years or so, the budget for every
party included money for „lights“ as well as
the sound system. Colorful „fairy-lights“ were
draped in artistic ways over the dance floor,
circled up the palm trees. This created a magical
atmosphere and allowed everybody to see each
other. So it was much more social through the
night. Everyone could smile at each other, dance
together, you could watch all the sexy girls and
guys dancing and watch all the fun and action.
But then the concept of the blacklight party
came along. This especially accompanied the
„dark music“, and a trip into „the dark side“.
But it greatly changed the atmosphere. Now
you only see people’s teeth and eyes glowing, it
looks very weird and is much less social. You go
more into your own private world on the dancefloor.
And it’s much harder to find your friends...
So, that’s a brief „history“ of Goa and the party
scene through my eyes. The glory-days of mad,
wild, full-freedom, all-night „acid-parties“ in
Goa are now gone, not being allowed anymore
by the government. We were blessed to have
had them all those years, what an amazing experience!
But Goa and the Goa experience will
go on. You still have dancing and partying going
on every day, but only until 10 p.m., sometimes
stretching until 11 or 12 p.m. But we always said
that the parties were like the icing on the cake
but „the cake“ - Goa itself - is still there, still
magic, still wondrous, still very free compared to
the rest of the world, still very open, still quite
„experimental“, still so very international with
like-minded people from all over the world - coming
to an experience. It’s a special „alternative
life-style“ for those of us who want to live a
different way than the „normal-life“ way. And
the beat goes on!
65
pic: Goa Book