music.wikisort.org - Composition

"She Wants to Dance with Me" is a song written and recorded by Rick Astley in 1988. It is the lead single from his second studio album, Hold Me in Your Arms. The song was released in United Kingdom on September 20, 1988; it entered the chart at the number 16 and its highest chart position was number 6; it stayed 11 weeks in the UK Singles Chart.[1] On the Billboard Hot 100, it also reached number 6.[1] Astley kicked off Paula Abdul's "Straight Up", and stayed at number one for two weeks in Canada.[1] It was an international success.

"She Wants to Dance with Me"
Single by Rick Astley
from the album Hold Me in Your Arms
Released	10 September 1988
Recorded	1988
Genre	Dance-pop disco
Length	3:24
Label	RCA
Songwriter(s)	Rick Astley
Producer(s)	Phil Harding Ian Curnow
Rick Astley singles chronology
"Don't Say Goodbye" (1988) "She Wants to Dance with Me" (1988) "Take Me to Your Heart" (1988)
Audio sample
file help
Alternative cover
Music video
"She Wants To Dance With Me" on YouTube

"She Wants to Dance with Me" was Astley's first self-composed single that he released. Astley performed the song at the 1989 Grammy Awards, and he changed the lyrics to:

Now I know I've been out of touch, and I never meant to wear these clads oh so much (referencing his big suit look)

— Rick Astley at the 1989 Grammy Awards.[1]

In 2019, Astley recorded and released a 'Reimagined' version of the song for his album The Best of Me.[2]

Composition

Astley was given the go-ahead to compose the first single from his second album, after rejecting producers Stock Aitken Waterman's intended lead track, "Nothing Can Divide Us" — which was then given to Jason Donovan.[3][4] The singer composed the track in the style of Whitney Houston's hit, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" in an effort to win the confidence of Pete Waterman, who was a huge fan of Houston's song.[4]

The original recording of this song is performed in the key of F# major in a moderate tempo of 117 beats per minute. The song features simple synth riffs accompanied by a sparse drum machine pattern. The lyrics are about an unknown woman who is uninterested in “wild romance” and simply wants to dance with the narrator.

Music video

The video was shot at Rumours at 33 Wellington St, London, UK. As of June 2020, the location is a Byron Hamburgers restaurant.

Track listing

7" single

1. "She Wants to Dance with Me" – 3:24
2. "She Wants to Dance with Me" (Instrumental) – 4:03

7" (USA) and Mini CD single

1. "She Wants to Dance with Me" (Watermix) – 3:14
2. "She Wants to Dance with Me" (Instrumental) – 4:03

12" maxi, CD and maxi cassette single

1. "She Wants to Dance with Me" (Extended Mix) – 7:14
2. "It Would Take a Strong Strong Man" (Matt's Jazzy Guitar Mix) – 7:46
3. "She Wants to Dance with Me" (Instrumental) – 4:03

12" single – Night & Day Remixes

1. "She Wants to Dance with Me" (Bordering On A Collie Mix) – 6:04
2. "She Wants to Dance with Me" (Remix) – 5:42

12" promo

1. "She Wants to Dance with Me" (Bordering On A Collie Mix) – 6:05
2. "She Wants to Dance with Me" (Album version) – 3:42

Personnel

• Rick Astley – lead vocals
• Ian Curnow – keyboards, Fairlight programming
• Robert Ahwai – guitars
• Phil Todd – saxophone
• Shirley Lewis – backing vocals
• Mae McKenna – backing vocals
• Leroy Osborne – backing vocals
• Mike Stock – backing vocals

Chart performance

Chart (1988–1989)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA Chart)[5]	15
Canada Top Singles (RPM')	1
Denmark (IFPI)[6]	4
Ecuador (Ecuadorian Singles Chart)[7]	1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[8]	2
Germany (Media Control Charts)	10
Iceland (RÚV)[9]	16
Ireland (IRMA)	4
Italy (Musica e dischi)[10]	7
Spain (AFYVE)[11]	5
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	12
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	12
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	6
US Billboard Hot 100	6
US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	5
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	13

Year-end charts

Chart (1988)	Position
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[12]	77

Chart (1989)	Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[13]	44
US Billboard Hot 100 [14]	88

References

---