Don't Forget to Dance
Encyclopedia
"Don't Forget to Dance" is a 1983 song performed by British rock
group The Kinks
, released as a single in that year and included on their album State of Confusion
.
", also from State of Confusion, the Kinks' label, Arista Records
, originally wanted to release it as the first single off the album. Ray Davies
convinced Arista to release "Come Dancing" first and ultimately prevailed. "Don't Forget to Dance" was eventually released as a single in August 1983 in the US and the following month in the UK.
in the US, peaking at #29. In the US, it also reached #16 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and #23 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. It also reached #20 in Canada and #38 in New Zealand.
' tradition."
, who had the same roles for the prior "Come Dancing" video. The video was shot in July 1983 and was first aired in Germany on August 1. The first airing in the US was on September 3 on MTV
and the first airing in the UK was in November. The video repeats elements from the "Come Dancing" video, including the Kinks playing themselves on the ballroom stage and Ray Davies pursuing the girl. The video also includes a dream sequence based on the band's early days and including a costume ball in a mansion. The scenes of the band playing in the ballroom may have been inspired by a concert the Ray Davies Quartet performed at the Lyceum Ballroom on New Year's Eve December 31, 1962
, You Really Got Me: The Very Best of the Kinks, The Kinks Greatest: 1970-1986 and The Ultimate Collection
.
British rock
British rock describes a wide variety of forms of music made in the United Kingdom. Since around 1964, with the "British Invasion" of the United States spearheaded by The Beatles, British rock music has had a considerable impact on the development of American music and rock music across the...
group The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
, released as a single in that year and included on their album State of Confusion
State of Confusion
State of Confusion is a 1983 album by the English rock group, The Kinks. The record featured the single "Come Dancing", which hit #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was one of the band's biggest hit singles in the United States, equaling the 1965 peak of "Tired of Waiting for You". The album itself...
.
Production
"Don't Forget to Dance" was initially recorded at Grand Slam Studios in New Jersey and Konk Studios in London in September and October 1982. Mixing and editing continued through late 1982 and into early 1983. Although the song was ultimately released as the follow-up single to "Come DancingCome Dancing (song)
"Come Dancing" is a 1982 recording by British rock group The Kinks; a 1983 hit single in both the US and the UK, the track was included on the album State of Confusion.-Song themes and meaning:...
", also from State of Confusion, the Kinks' label, Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
, originally wanted to release it as the first single off the album. Ray Davies
Ray Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
convinced Arista to release "Come Dancing" first and ultimately prevailed. "Don't Forget to Dance" was eventually released as a single in August 1983 in the US and the following month in the UK.
Reception
The song did not chart in the UK, but made the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in the US, peaking at #29. In the US, it also reached #16 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and #23 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. It also reached #20 in Canada and #38 in New Zealand.
Lyrics
The lyrics are bittersweet, observing a lonely middle age woman. Although the subject's friends have all "either married, vanished, or just left alone" and she has a "broken heart", the singer states that "I bet you danced a good one in your time/And if this were a party/I'd really make sure the next one would be mine." The chorus exhorts the woman "Don't forget to dance, no, no, no/Don't forget to smile." Allmusic described the song as "elegiac", and Johnny Rogan called it one of Davies' stronger melodies. Critic Don McLeese of the Chicago Sun Times noted that Don't Forget to Dance' is gracefully melodic in the 'Waterloo SunsetWaterloo Sunset
Waterloo Sunset is a song by British rock band The Kinks. It was released as a single in 1967, and featured on their album Something Else by The Kinks...
' tradition."
Video
The video for "Don't Forget to Dance" was produced by Michael Hamlyn and directed by Julien TempleJulien Temple
Julien Temple is an English film, documentary and music video director. He began his career with short films featuring the Sex Pistols, and has continued with various off-beat projects, including The Great Rock And Roll Swindle, Absolute Beginners and a documentary film about Glastonbury.-Temple...
, who had the same roles for the prior "Come Dancing" video. The video was shot in July 1983 and was first aired in Germany on August 1. The first airing in the US was on September 3 on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and the first airing in the UK was in November. The video repeats elements from the "Come Dancing" video, including the Kinks playing themselves on the ballroom stage and Ray Davies pursuing the girl. The video also includes a dream sequence based on the band's early days and including a costume ball in a mansion. The scenes of the band playing in the ballroom may have been inspired by a concert the Ray Davies Quartet performed at the Lyceum Ballroom on New Year's Eve December 31, 1962
Compilations
Since its initial release, "Don't Forget to Dance" has been included on a number of Kinks compilation albums, including Come Dancing with the KinksCome Dancing with the Kinks
Come Dancing with the Kinks is a compilation album by English rock band, The Kinks, first released in 1986 and re-released in 2000. It has different track listings on its LP and two CD releases...
, You Really Got Me: The Very Best of the Kinks, The Kinks Greatest: 1970-1986 and The Ultimate Collection
The Ultimate Collection (The Kinks album)
The Ultimate Collection is a greatest hits compilation by British rock band The Kinks. It was released in the UK on May 27, 2002.The album includes all the hits, spanning from their debut album to their 1984 album Word of Mouth...
.