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Disco Dancer (Devo song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Disco Dancer
| cover = Disco 12 us 400.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Devo
| album = Total Devo
| released = 1988
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 4:14 (album version)
| label =
| writer =
| producer = Devo
| prev_title = Shout
| prev_year = 1985
| next_title = Baby Doll
| next_year = 1988
| misc =
}}
"'Disco Dancer'" is a song by the American new wave band Devo, written by Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale. It was the first Devo single that was released without their most prominent drummer Alan Myers, who was replaced by former Sparks drummer David Kendrick. It was released in 1988 as the first single from their seventh studio album, 'Total Devo'.
Concept
According to Devo bassist and co-songwriter Gerald Casale, he and Mark Mothersbaugh came up with the idea: a John Travolta from 'Saturday Night Fever'-type of character falling into a rip van winkle sleep, and then waking up 15 years later to culture shock. In the commentary for their film The Complete Truth About De-Evolution Mark Mothersbaugh stated that the original influences for this song came from Indian films and music videos, likely the 1982 Bollywood film, 'Disco Dancer'.
Music video
Two videos was made for "Disco Dancer," using remixed versions of the track by producer Ivan Ivan. Both videos are similar, but the 12-inch mix video has additional footage, including a topless woman, and was only on promotional VHS tapes distributed to nightclubs. The video footage was recorded from two parties that the band threw, one in New York City and the other one in Los Angeles. The NYC footage was recorded in black & white while the LA footage was in color, with scenes from both parties being cut back and forth in the video which not only gave it an underground feel, but the viewer could also distinguish in each scene where the footage was shot. According to Casale, the video failed to receive airplay after first being aired on MTV's "Smash or Trash?," in which a video was aired and viewers would call in and vote on it. The video was "trashed" and MTV refused to air it after that.
Track listing
* '12" single (Enigma V-75511)'
# "Disco Dancer (7" Version)" 4:15
# "Disco Dancer (12" Version)" 6:30
# "Disco Dancer (Bonus Beats)" 4:20
# "Disco Dancer (7" Version)" 4:15
# "Disco Dancer (12" Version)" 6:30
# "Disco Dancer (Bonus Beats)" 4:20
* '7" single (Enigma 7 75023-7)'
# "Disco Dancer (7" Version)" 4:15
# "Disco Dancer (Karaoke TV Version)" 4:15
* 'CD single (Enigma D3-75511, 7 75511-3)'
# "Disco Dancer (7" Version)" 4:15
# "Disco Dancer (12" Version)" 6:32
# "Disco Dancer (Bonus Beats)" 4:26
# "Disco Dancer (Karaoke Version)" 4:26
* 'Cassette single (Enigma 4V-75511)'
# "Disco Dancer (7" Version)" 4:15
# "Disco Dancer (12" Version)" 6:30
# "Disco Dancer (Bonus Beats)" 4:20
# "Disco Dancer (7" Version)" 4:15
# "Disco Dancer (12" Version)" 6:30
# "Disco Dancer (Bonus Beats)" 4:20
Chart performance
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart
!Position
|-
|US Dance Club Songs
|align="center"|45
|-
|US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
|align="center"|40
|}
References
Category:1998 singles
Category:1998 songs
Category:Devo songs
Category:Songs written by Gerald Casale
Category:Songs written by Mark Mothersbaugh
Category:Enigma Records singles
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