Slow Dancing (Lindsey Buckingham song)

Last updated
"Slow Dancing"
LBuckingham-SlowDancing.jpg
Single by Lindsey Buckingham
from the album Go Insane
B-side "D.W. Suite"
ReleasedOctober 1984
Genre Rock, New wave
Length4:05
Label Reprise/ Warner Music Group
Songwriter(s) Lindsey Buckingham
Producer(s) Lindsey Buckingham, Gordon Fordyce
Lindsey Buckingham USsingles chronology
"Go Insane"
(1984)
"Slow Dancing"
(1984)
"Wrong"
(1992)
Lindsey Buckingham UKsingles chronology
"Go Insane"
(1984)
"Slow Dancing"
(1992)
"Countdown"
(1992)

"Slow Dancing" is a track on Lindsey Buckingham's second solo album, Go Insane . Despite receiving power rotation on MTV, "Slow Dancing" failed to make the Billboard Hot 100, although it did reach #6 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles, an extension to the Hot 100. [1] 34 years after its release, "Slow Dancing" was performed live for the first time. [2]

Contents

"Slow Dancing" possesses a 4/4 dance beat with a heavy reliance on computer sounds, particularly the 8 bit Fairlight CMI. Buckingham stated in a 2018 interview with Stereogum that "Slow Dancing" explores the notion of having romantic aspirations when striving for human connection. [2] Early in the song's development, Buckingham had the idea of concluding "Slow Dancing" with a classical-inspired 3/4 waltz, and this concept was ultimately kept in the final version of the song. [3]

Critical reception

Several months before "Slow Dancing" was released as a single, the Los Angeles Times earmarked the song as Go Insane's "best shot at the charts". [4] Rolling Stone commented that "Slow Dancing's "whipcrack backbeat kicks "Slow Dancing" out of the living room and onto the dance floor where it belongs." [5]

Music video

Similar to "Go Insane", the video for "Slow Dancing" was shot in England and the video's special effects were done by David Yardley. [6] Buckingham considered the filming for "Slow Dancing" to be more elaborate than the video shot for "Trouble", particularly in regards to the number of shots, rhythm of the editing, and the use of effects. [2] The video for "Slow Dancing" was released to MTV on November 17, 1984. [1] In 1985, "Slow Dancing" was nominated for three awards at the 1985 MTV Video Music Awards: Most Experimental Video, Best Special Effects in a Video, and Best Editing in a Video, although it did not win any of these categories. [7]

Accolades

YearNominee / workAwardResult
1985 MTV Award [7] Best Special Effects in a Video Nominated
Best Editing in a Video Nominated
Most Experimental Video Nominated

Personnel

Chart performance

Chart (1984)Peak
position
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles [1] 6

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindsey Buckingham</span> American guitarist (born 1949)

Lindsey Adams Buckingham is an American musician and record producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the band Fleetwood Mac from 1975 to 1987 and 1997 to 2018. In addition to his tenure with Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham has released seven solo studio albums and three live albums. As a member of Fleetwood Mac, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Buckingham was ranked 100th in Rolling Stone's 2011 list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Buckingham is known for his fingerpicking guitar style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stevie Nicks</span> American singer and songwriter (born 1948)

Stephanie Lynn Nicks is an American singer, songwriter, and producer known for her work with the band Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist.

The MTV Video Music Award for Most Experimental Video was first awarded in 1984. The last of this award was given out in 1987, after which it was replaced with Breakthrough Video the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When Doves Cry</span> 1984 single by Prince

"When Doves Cry" is a song by American musician Prince, and the lead single from his sixth studio album Purple Rain. According to the DVD commentary of the film Purple Rain (1984), Prince was asked by director Albert Magnoli to write a song to match the theme of a particular segment of the film that involved intermingled parental difficulties and a love affair. The next morning, Prince had composed two songs, one of which was "When Doves Cry". According to Prince's biographer Per Nilsen, the song was inspired by his relationship with Vanity 6 member Susan Moonsie.

<i>Say You Will</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Fleetwood Mac

Say You Will is the seventeenth studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 15 April 2003. It followed 1995's Time and was their first album since 1970 without vocalist/keyboardist Christine McVie as a full member following her departure in 1998, though she participated in some songs as a guest musician; it would be her last time being involved with the band in a studio capacity before her death in 2022. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks shared keyboard duties throughout the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lose Control (Missy Elliott song)</span> 2005 single by Missy Elliott

"Lose Control" is a song by American rapper Missy Elliott featuring singer Ciara and rapper Fatman Scoop. It was released as the lead single from Elliott's sixth studio album, The Cookbook, on May 23, 2005. It contains samples from Hot Streak's "Body Work" and Cybotron's "Clear". The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, number two in New Zealand, and in the top thirty in various countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gypsy (Fleetwood Mac song)</span> 1982 single by Fleetwood Mac

"Gypsy" is a song by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac. The song was written by Stevie Nicks around 1979; the earliest demo recordings were made in early 1980 with Tom Moncrieff for possible inclusion on her debut solo album Bella Donna. When Nicks' close friend Robin Anderson died of leukemia, the song took on a new significance and Nicks dedicated the song to her in future performances. "Gypsy" was the second single release and second biggest hit from the Mirage album, following "Hold Me", reaching a peak of No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks.

<i>Law and Order</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Lindsey Buckingham

Law and Order is the first solo album by Fleetwood Mac guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Lindsey Buckingham, released in 1981. "Trouble", featuring drumming by Fleetwood Mac bandmate Mick Fleetwood, reached No. 9 on the U.S. charts; the album itself reached No. 32 on the Billboard 200. Lindsey appeared on Saturday Night Live on February 6, 1982 and performed "Trouble" and "Bwana" with Mick Fleetwood's Zoo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trouble (Lindsey Buckingham song)</span> 1981 single by Lindsey Buckingham

"Trouble" is the debut solo single by Lindsey Buckingham, released in 1981 from his debut solo album Law and Order. The single was Buckingham's first hit as a solo artist, peaking at number nine in the US and number 31 in the UK, where it remained charted for seven weeks. In Australia, it topped the chart for three weeks and became the eighth biggest-selling single of 1982. It experienced similar levels of success in South Africa, reaching number one for two weeks and finishing 1982 as the country's 13th best-selling single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Go Your Own Way</span> 1976 single by Fleetwood Mac

"Go Your Own Way" is a song by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac from their eleventh studio album, Rumours (1977). The song was released as the album's first single in December 1976 on both sides of the Atlantic. Written and sung by Lindsey Buckingham, it became the band's first top-ten hit in the United States. "Go Your Own Way" has been well received by music critics and was ranked number 120 by Rolling Stone magazine on their list of 500 greatest songs of all time in 2010, and re-ranked number 401 in 2021. They also ranked the song second on their list of the 50 greatest Fleetwood Mac songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghostbusters (song)</span> 1984 single by Ray Parker Jr.

"Ghostbusters" is a song written by American musician Ray Parker Jr. as the theme to the 1984 film Ghostbusters, and included on its soundtrack. Debuting at number 68 on June 16, 1984, the song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 11, staying there for three weeks, and at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart on September 16, staying there for three weeks. The song reentered the UK Top 75 on November 2, 2008 at No. 49 and again on November 5, 2021, at No. 38.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Hear It for the Boy</span> 1984 single by Deniece Williams

"Let's Hear It for the Boy" is a song by Deniece Williams that appeared on the soundtrack to the feature film Footloose. The song was released as a single from both the soundtrack and her album of the song's same name on February 14, 1984, by Columbia Records. It was written by Tom Snow and Dean Pitchford and produced by George Duke. The song became Williams' second number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 on May 26, 1984, also topping the dance and R&B charts, and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, behind "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham!. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song, and was certified platinum in the US and gold in Canada and the UK by the Recording Industry Association of America, Music Canada and the British Phonographic Industry, respectively. The music video was released in mid-April 1984. The song features background vocals from George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, who would go on to form the duo Boy Meets Girl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen song)</span> 1984 single by Bruce Springsteen

"Dancing in the Dark" is a song written and performed by American rock singer Bruce Springsteen. Adding uptempo synthesizer riffs to his sound for the first time, the song spent four weeks at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over one million singles in the U.S. It was the first single released from his 1984 album, Born in the U.S.A., and became his biggest hit, helping the album become the best-selling album of his career.

<i>Go Insane</i> 1984 studio album by Lindsey Buckingham

Go Insane is the second solo studio album by American rock musician Lindsey Buckingham, then the lead guitarist and male lead vocalist of Fleetwood Mac. The album was released on July 30, 1984, by Elektra Records and Warner Music Group, while Fleetwood Mac was on a hiatus between albums. It peaked at No. 45 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. Two promotional music videos were shot for the album. These include "Go Insane" and "Slow Dancing". Buckingham played all of the instruments on the album except for on "I Want You" and "Go Insane."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Love (Fleetwood Mac song)</span> 1987 single by Fleetwood Mac

"Big Love" is a song written by Lindsey Buckingham and performed by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac. The song first appeared on the band's 1987 album Tango in the Night. The song was the first single to be released from the album, reaching number 5 in the US and number nine in the UK. The single was also a hit on the American dance charts, where the song peaked at number 7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Go Insane (song)</span> 1984 single by Lindsey Buckingham

"Go Insane" is the title track of Lindsey Buckingham's second solo album. Released as a single in July 1984, it became Buckingham's second top 40 hit. "Go Insane" is also Buckingham's most recent U.S. solo hit ; on the other hand, it did not chart in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1985 MTV Video Music Awards</span> 1985 Award ceremony

The 1985 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on September 13, 1985, honoring the best music videos from May 2, 1984, to May 1, 1985. The show was hosted by Eddie Murphy at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holiday Road</span> 1983 single by Lindsey Buckingham

"Holiday Road" is a 1983 single composed and recorded by American guitarist/singer Lindsey Buckingham. Written for the 1983 film National Lampoon's Vacation, it was also used in the film's sequels National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985), Vegas Vacation (1997) and Vacation (2015). Despite only peaking at number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during its original release, it has since become one of Buckingham's best known songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Springs (song)</span> 1976 song by Fleetwood Mac

"Silver Springs" is a song written by Stevie Nicks and performed by British-American band Fleetwood Mac. It was originally intended for the band's 1977 album Rumours, but became a B-side to the song "Go Your Own Way". A live version was released as a single from the 1997 album The Dance; this version of the song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Countdown (Lindsey Buckingham song)</span> 1992 single by Lindsey Buckingham

"Countdown" is a song by Lindsey Buckingham, released in 1992 from his third solo album Out of the Cradle. In the UK, "Countdown" was released in July as the album's first single, although in North America, "Wrong" was released as the first single instead. While the song did not chart on the UK Singles Chart or the US Billboard Hot 100, it appeared on Billboard's Mainstream Rock and Adult Contemporary charts. Elsewhere, "Countdown" charted in Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Billboard - Volume 96, Number 47" (PDF). Billboard. November 24, 1984. pp. 32, 63. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Lapatine, Scott (December 10, 2018). "Lindsey Buckingham Reveals Stories Behind His Solo Songs And Whether He'll Ever Rejoin Fleetwood Mac". Stereogum. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  3. Simon Barber and Brian O'Connor (September 30, 2021). "Episode 212 – Lindsey Buckingham". Sodajerker (Podcast). Event occurs at 37:00. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  4. McKenna, Kristine (August 16, 1984). "Los Angeles Times, Go Insane". The Blue Letter Archives. Archived from the original on December 30, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  5. Connelly, Christopher (August 30, 1984). "Lindsey Buckingham's Tuneful Triumph". The Blue Letter Archives. Archived from the original on December 30, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  6. "Billboard - Volume 96, Number 47" (PDF). Billboard. August 24, 1985. pp. 33–34. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  7. 1 2 "1985". www.mtv.com. Archived from the original on June 9, 2000. Retrieved November 21, 2023.