The Politics of Dancing (song)

"The Politics of Dancing"
UK 7-inch vinyl
Single by Re-Flex
from the album The Politics of Dancing
B-side	"Cruel World" "Flex It!"
Released	February 1983
Studio	Utopia (London, England)
Length	6:36 (album version) 4:14 (UK and European single version) 3:55 (US single version)
Label	EMI Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Paul Fishman
Producer(s)	John Punter
Re-Flex singles chronology
"The Politics of Dancing" (1983) "Hitline" (1983)

"The Politics of Dancing" is the debut single by the English new wave band Re-Flex, released in February 1983. It is the title track to their debut studio album. The song was written by keyboardist, backing vocalist, and band co-founder Paul Fishman.

Background

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]

Track listings

UK, European, and Australian 7-inch single [2] [3] [4] A. "The Politics of Dancing" B. "Cruel World" US, Canadian, and Japanese 7-inch single [5] [6] A. "The Politics of Dancing" – 3:55 B. "Flex It!" – 3:57 UK, European, and Australian 12-inch single [7] [8] [9] A. "The Politics of Dancing" (extended version) – 6:36 B. "Cruel World" (extended version) – 5:30

US 12-inch single [10] A. "The Politics of Dancing" – 6:47 B. "Flex It!" – 5:25 Canadian 12-inch single [11] A. "The Politics of Dancing" (long version) – 6:47 B. "The Politics of Dancing" (short version) – 3:59

Charts

Chart (1983–1984)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [12]	12
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [13]	13
Europe (European Top 100 Singles) [14]	19
Ireland (IRMA) [15]	28
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [16]	43
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [17]	12
South Africa (Springbok Radio) [18]	19
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [19]	28
UK Singles (OCC) [20]	28
US Billboard Hot 100 [21]	24
US Dance/Disco Top 80 ( Billboard ) [22]	8
US Rock Top Tracks ( Billboard ) [23]	19
US Cash Box Top 100 [24]	23
West Germany (GfK) [25]	25

References

1. "Interview with Paul Fishman from Re-Flex". Kickin' it Old School. 8 September 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
2. The Politics of Dancing (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Re-Flex. EMI Records. 1983. FLEX 2.
3. The Politics of Dancing (European 7-inch single sleeve). Re-Flex. EMI Records. 1983. 1A 006-2000117.
4. The Politics of Dancing (Australian 7-inch single sleeve). Re-Flex. EMI Records, Capitol Records. 1984. EMI-1182.
5. The Politics of Dancing (US & Canadian 7-inch single vinyl disc). Re-Flex. Capitol Records. 1983. B-5301.
6. The Politics of Dancing (Japanese 7-inch single vinyl disc). Re-Flex. EMI Records. 1983. EMS-17427.
7. The Politics of Dancing (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Re-Flex. EMI Records. 1984. 12FLEX 2.
8. The Politics of Dancing (European 12-inch single vinyl disc). Re-Flex. EMI Records. 1984. 1C K 052-20 0011 6.
9. The Politics of Dancing (Australian 12-inch single sleeve). Re-Flex. EMI Records. 1984. ED 72.
10. The Politics of Dancing (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Re-Flex. Capitol Records. 1983. 8574.
11. The Politics of Dancing (Canadian 12-inch single vinyl disc). Re-Flex. Capitol Records. 1983. 75049.
12. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. p. 249. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
13. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6705." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
14. "European Top 100 Singles". Eurotipsheet . Vol. 1, no. 1. 19 March 1984. p. 11.
15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Politics of Dancing". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
16. "Re-Flex – The Politics of Dancing" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
17. "Re-Flex – The Politics of Dancing". Top 40 Singles.
18. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (G)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
19. "Re-Flex – The Politics of Dancing". Swiss Singles Chart.
20. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
21. "Re-Flex". Billboard . Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
22. "Dance Club Songs" . Billboard. 28 January 1984. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
23. "Mainstream Rock Airplay" . Billboard. 21 January 1984. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
24. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending March 17, 1984". Cash Box . Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
25. "Offiziellecharts.de – Re-Flex – The Politics of Dancing" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 21 February 2019.

External links

• Song info & Music video
• " The Politics of Dancing " at Discogs (list of releases)