Raver Style

"Raver" it's a term that defines a “party animal”.It appeared in London in late 50's as describing the Soho bohemian parties with a strange underground beat sound. By the beginning of the 60's it was used to make reference to young people who were attending to wild parties with extreme regularity. From the 80's the word " rave" describes particulary dance parties ( often all-night events). It was predominantly a London-based phenomenon, but definitely have became a UK-main underground youth movement.

It's cultural connotation have been adapted to the circumstances of each decade, varying the music style, social clothes, principles, etc. Recently Electronic, Trance or Techno are considered as "rave music".

Generally these individuals are turned for the party itself without great social or political supports. They usually get an adapted position in fashion, hairstyle and even in behaviour terms for each of those parties.

By the 90th decade there were several organizations such as "Fantazia", "Universe", "Raindance" or "Amnesia House" which were holding amaizing massive legal raves in open field or country warehouses.

The main reazon for the increase of government prevents in order to discourage this kind of mass movement, was the use of drugs very close to acid, hallucinogens or physical performance stimulators such as MDMA, LSD, cocaine, ketamine or ecstasy. In May 1992 this free parties were completely forbidden in U.K.

As the musical principles and also the light effects were suffering a great evolution ( laser light shows, projected images and artificial fog ), as well the parties were getting longer than one night and the clothes have become more coloured and exuberant. In our days this sub cultural style is having a straight rapprochement to a modernized hippie movement.

Speaking about portuguese youth subculture and the "Raver's" there is a straight approach to this british mass movement. This kind of open-field parties is being part of portuguese festivals, particulary during the Summer, as the "BOOM FESTIVAL" in Fundão. However the impact of this movement in Portugal wasn't as stronger as in the U.K.

The rave parties that started playing techno, break beat rave, drum and bass, also include the hardcore techno music, as “happy hardcore” and “bouncy techno”. In Portugal this kind of rave appeared by the end of 90’s with several little concerts basically in the north of the country. One of the biggest and popular electronic big bit band are the Prodigy from Essex, England. They still joining million of people in their concerts and have recently a new album called "Invaders must die".

Information Sources: The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles, 1993 Edition; Wikipédia, the free encyclopedia; Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, the 7th Edition.