Dancing with Myself

"Dancing with Myself"
Single by Generation X
from the album Kiss Me Deadly
Released	July 1980
Format	7", 12"
Length	3:30 (7"), 4:06 (12")
Label	Chrysalis
Writer(s)	Billy Idol, Tony James
Producer(s)	Keith Forsey
Generation X singles chronology
"Friday's Angels" (1979) "Dancing with Myself" (1980)

"Dancing with Myself"
Single by Billy Idol
from the album Don't Stop and Vital Idol
Released	1982
Recorded	1980 (remixed in 1981)
Length	3:19 (single version) 4:50 (on Don't Stop) 5:57 (on Vital Idol)
Label	Chrysalis
Writer(s)	Billy Idol, Tony James
Producer(s)	Keith Forsey
Billy Idol singles chronology
"Dancing with Myself" (1981) "Mony Mony" (1981)

"Dancing with Myself" is a song written by singer Billy Idol and bassist Tony James, first recorded by their band Generation X in 1979. The song was first commercially released by the band newly re-branded as Gen X as a 7" single and a 12" in July 1980, and was included on the new band's subsequent first album Kiss Me Deadly (1981).

In late 1981 Idol, now a solo artist after Gen X's break-up, remixed and re-released "Dancing with Myself" as a single, toning down its aggressive guitar sound and emphasizing its dance-punk elements. Two versions were issued—the 3:20 single version (which was later included on Idol's 11 of the Best compilation) and the 4:50 extended version that appeared on Idol's Don't Stop EP.

Idol plays "Dancing with Myself" at most of his concerts, always introducing the song as having been originally written with Tony James or originally recorded by Generation X.

Background

The inspiration for the song and its lyrics occurred during Generation X's first international tour in Japan in mid 1979, when Idol and Tony James, whilst visiting a disco club in Tokyo, were struck by the sight of the young Japanese crowd within dancing with their own reflections in walled mirrors, rather than with one another.^[1]

Video

The music video directed by Tobe Hooper was released in 1981 in the clubs, and gained heavy airplay at the beginning of the MTV television broadcasts. The set for the video was co-opted from an L.A.-based production of Ann Jellicoe's punk rock-themed play The Sport Of My Mad Mad Mother, produced by and starring Dan Shor.^[2]

Formats and track listings

Gen X release

7": Chrysalis - CHS 2444 (UK)

1. "Dancing With Myself" (3:30)
2. "Ugly Rash" (4:30)

12": Chrysalis - CHS 12 2444 (UK)

1. "Dancing With Myself" (4:06)
2. "Loopy Dub" (5:08)
3. "Ugly Dub" (3:05)

Billy Idol release

7": Chrysalis - IDOL 1 (UK)

1. "Dancing With Myself" (3:19) [Labelled as "Billy Idol featuring Generation X"]
2. "Love Calling (Dub)" (5:33)

12": Chrysalis - IDOLX 1 (UK)

1. "Dancing With Myself" (6:05) [Labelled as "Billy Idol featuring Generation X"]
2. "Love Calling (Dub)" (5:33)
3. "White Wedding" (8:20)
4. "Hot In The City" (5:20)

• "White Wedding" is the 12" Shotgun mix, but not labelled as such.

Charts

Gen X version

Chart (1980)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart[3]	62

Billy Idol version

Chart (1981)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[4]	27
U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles	102
Chart (1983)	Peak position
RIANZ New Zealand Singles Chart	9

Covers

• The song was covered by Blink-182 for the 1997 compilation album Before You Were Punk.
• The song was covered by Houston punk rock band 30 Foot Fall on their debut album, Divided We Stand. The song is usually performed live at the end of the setlist.
• The song was covered by French cover band Nouvelle Vague on their 2006 album Bande à Part.
• Gonzo performs a cover of this song in an episode of Muppets Tonight.
• Artie Abrams performed the song on an episode of Glee.
• The Donnas covered the song as a single. It plays under the end credits of the 2004 movie Mean Girls.
• The song was covered by Belgian rock band De Kreuners under the title "Ik dans wel met mezelf".

In popular culture

• Idol's version appeared in the films Can't Buy Me Love, Grown Ups 2 and Flushed Away as well as the TV shows Bad Judge, Everybody Hates Chris and The Carrie Diaries and video game Guitar Hero 5.
• The Nouvelle Vague version appeared as the theme song for LA Ink but it was only used for the first thirteen episodes of the show's first season.

References

1. Billy Idol explaining the song's origin, 'Billy Idol Unplugged' (2001), (1.11. mins). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfYIc4k90fM
2. "Actor Dan Shor talks with TV STORE ONLINE and his work on films like TRON, BILL and TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE and WISE BLOOD". TV STORE ONLINE. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 224. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
4. "Billy Idol | Awards". AllMusic. 1955-11-30. Retrieved 2014-04-09.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics