"The Politics of Dancing" is the debut single by English new wave band Re-Flex, released in 1983. It is the title track of their debut album. The song was written by keyboardist, backing vocalist, and band co-founder Paul Fishman.
"The Politics of Dancing" | ||||
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![]() UK 7" vinyl | ||||
Single by Re-Flex | ||||
from the album The Politics of Dancing | ||||
A-side | "The Politics of Dancing" | |||
B-side | "Cruel World" (UK, Europe, Australasia) "Flex It!" (North America, Japan, Philippines) | |||
Released | February 1983 | |||
Recorded | Late 1982 | |||
Studio | Utopia Studios, London, England | |||
Genre |
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Length | 6:36 (album version) 4:14 (UK/Europe single version) 3:55 (US single version) 6:49 (12" version) | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) | Paul Fishman | |||
Producer(s) | John Punter | |||
Re-Flex singles chronology | ||||
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The song has been used in many films over the years, including Firstborn (1984), Edge of Seventeen (1998), and Atomic Blonde (2017).
Keyboardist Paul Fishman would record song ideas on a pocket tape recorder while walking or traveling near his home in Hampstead, London, and then sequence them on his Oberheim DSX back at his flat. He would work on the songs and present three or four at a time to his bandmates to jam out to at their next session. He said this song was probably inspired by a train or something he had read, and he took an almost complete demo of it with nearly finished lyrics to the session.[1]
On the lyrics, Fishman said, "The sentiment of the song is really about the power of when people come together and express themselves through dancing and letting go. During the '80s, it was in its very early days but in the latter part of the decade the rave scene was pretty much the message in a nut shell. No, I don’t think people generally understand messages but some get it so that’s alright."[1]
Chart (1983-1984) | Peak position |
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Australia (Kent Music Report)[2] | 12 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[3] | 9 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[4] | 12 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[5] | 43 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[6] | 28 |
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[7] | 19 |
UK Singles (OCC)[8] | 28 |
US Billboard Hot 100[9] | 24[10] |
US Hot Dance Music/Club Play[11] | 8 |
US Cash Box Top 100[12] | 23 |
US Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay Chart | 25 |
West Germany (Official German Charts)[13] | 25 |
Authority control ![]() |
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