Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen song) explained

Dancing in the Dark
Cover:DancingInTheDark.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Bruce Springsteen
Album:Born in the U.S.A.
B-Side:Pink Cadillac
Released:May 9, 1984[1]
Recorded:February 14, 1984[2]
Studio:Hit Factory, New York City
Length:3:59
Label:Columbia
Producer:
Prev Title:Open All Night
Prev Year:1982
Next Title:Cover Me
Next Year:1984

"Dancing in the Dark" is a song written and performed by American rock singer Bruce Springsteen. It was the first single released ahead 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.

Writing and recording

Springsteen wrote "Dancing In the Dark" overnight, after Jon Landau convinced him that the album needed a single. According to journalist Dave Marsh in the book Glory Days, Springsteen was not impressed with Landau's approach. "Look", he snarled, "I've written seventy songs. You want another one, you write it." Despite this reaction, Springsteen sat in his hotel room and wrote the song in a single night. It sums up his state of mind, his feeling of isolation after the success of his album The River, and his frustrations of trying to write a hit single. Six takes of "Dancing in the Dark" were recorded on February 14, 1984, at The Hit Factory, and after 58 mixes, work was completed on March 8, 1984. The 12-inch single was released May 9, 1984, and was the highest-selling 12-inch single in the US that year.[3] [4]

Reception

Cash Box said that the song "is classic Springsteen: gutsy vocals set to a hard-driving backbeat" and "an added surprise is the addition of the synthesizer to the inspired playing of the E-Street Band."[5]

Chart performance

Released as a single prior to the album's release, the song entered both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Cashbox Top 100 charts on May 26, 1984, at No. 36 and No. 25 respectively. On June 30, 1984, it began its four week stay at No. 2 on Billboard, being kept from the No. 1 spot by Duran Duran's "The Reflex" and Prince's "When Doves Cry".[6] [7] That same week, it reached No. 1 on Cashbox, where it stayed for two weeks.[8] It was also the first of a record-tying seven top 10 hit singles to be released from Born in the U.S.A. "Dancing in the Dark" also held the No. 1 spot for six weeks on Billboard's Top Tracks chart.[9] The song reached No. 1 on the Radio & Records CHR and AOR airplay charts.[10]

"Dancing in the Dark" also had worldwide success. It became Australia's highest-selling single of 1984 (despite peaking at number five on the Kent Music Report), peaking at No. 1 in Belgium and the Netherlands, and charting within the top 10 in seven other countries.

In the UK, the song peaked at No. 4. It was the 29th-best-selling single of the year.[11]

The recording also won Springsteen his first Grammy Award, picking up the prize for Best Rock Vocal Performance in 1985.[12] In the 1984 Rolling Stone readers poll, "Dancing in the Dark" was voted "Single of the Year".[13] The track has since gone on to earn further recognition and is as such listed one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.[14]

In 2024, the song was re-popularized by English soccer fans during the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament who sang it with adapted lyrics paying tribute to midfielder Phil Foden.[15] As a result, Springsteen's original recording returned to the UK singles chart, reaching No. 36.[16]

Remixes

In a first-for-Springsteen effort to gain dance and club play for his music, Arthur Baker[17] created the 12-inch "Blaster Mix" of "Dancing in the Dark", wherein he reworked the album version. The remix was released on July 2, 1984. The result generated a lot of media buzz for Springsteen, as well as actual club play; the remix went to #7 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, and had the most sales of any 12-inch single in the United States in 1984.[17]

Music video

Directed by Brian De Palma, the video was shot at the Saint Paul Civic Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on June 28 and 29, 1984. The first night was a pure video shoot, the second was on the opening date of the Born in the U.S.A. Tour. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed the song twice during that show to allow De Palma to get all the footage he needed. The video is a straight performance video, with Springsteen not playing a guitar, allowing him to invite a young woman from the audience, performed by Courteney Cox, to dance along with him on the stage at the end. Although De Palma had told him that it was she whom he was supposed to select, Springsteen thought she was just a pre-selected fan attending and did not know until afterward[18] that she was a professional actress, brought in from New York City, who had already played in As the World Turns.[19] Despite this Cox has stated that she was one of many that Springsteen could have selected and that she was secretly hoping to not be picked.[20]

The video initially included a storyline in which Cox and several of her friends were getting ready to go to the concert with one of them getting picked. Vignettes were shot for this although they remained unused.[20] In September 1985, the video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Stage Performance[21] and was nominated for Best Overall Performance. Actor Alfonso Ribeiro later claimed to have drawn inspiration from Cox's dancing in the video in developing "The Carlton" for his character in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.[22]

Live performance history

On the 2009 Working on a Dream Tour, the song appeared intermittently during the encores. However, Springsteen for the first time played a number of music festivals during the routing, and "Dancing in the Dark" closed all of them: Pinkpop Festival, Bonnaroo Music Festival, Glastonbury Festival, and Hard Rock Calling. When played live in recent years, the song features a harder, guitar-driven sound, with the distinctive synthesizer riff being supplied by Soozie Tyrell's violin.

During the 2012 tour the song again became a regular at live shows with audience members selected to dance not just with Springsteen (reenacting the Courteney Cox scene from the video), but with other band members too, especially new band member Jake Clemons.[23] [24] [25] Springsteen family members appeared on stage for this song on occasion, with mother Adele doing the "Courteney Cox" dance at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia at the start of the tour,[26] and daughter Jessica dancing on stage with him in Paris on July 5.[27]

Personnel

According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon:[28]

Track listings

7": Columbia / 38-04463

  1. "Dancing in the Dark" – 3:59
  2. "Pink Cadillac" – 3:33

7": CBS / WA-4463 *

  1. "Dancing in the Black Dark" – 3:59
  2. "Pink Cadillac" – 3:33

(*Car-shaped picture disc released in the UK, featuring a pink Cadillac on the front side)

12": Columbia / 44-05028

  1. "Dancing in the Dark" (Blaster Mix) – 6:09
  2. "Dancing in the Dark" (Radio) – 4:50
  3. "Dancing in the Dark" (Dub) – 5:30

12": CBS / TA4436

  1. "Dancing in the Dark" (Extended Remix) – 6:09
  2. "Pink Cadillac" – 3:33

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1984–1985)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[29] 5
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[30] 1
Canada (CHUM)[31] 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[32] 11
France (IFOP)[33] 36
Italy (Musica e dischi)[34] 16
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[35] 4
US Dance/Disco Top 80 (Billboard)[36] 7
US Cash Box Top 100[37] 1
US CHR/Pop Airplay (Radio & Records)[38] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1984)Rank
Australia (Kent Music Report)[39] [40] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[41] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[42] 14
US Cash Box Top 100[43] 3
US CHR/Pop Airplay (Radio & Records)[44] 15
Chart (1985)Rank
Australia (Kent Music Report)[45] 74
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[46] 5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[47] 3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[48] 9

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: Marsh . Dave . BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN TWO HEARTS THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY, 1972–2003 . 2004 . Routledge . New York, NY . 0-203-49470-9 . 310, 346–347 . January 23, 2020 . June 5, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200605195406/https://www.routledge.com/ . live .
  2. Book: Heylin . Clinton . Springsteen Song by Song: A Critical Look . 2012 . Penguin. 81–82 . 9781101626030.
  3. Book: Marsh . Dave . Glory Days: Bruce Springsteen in the 1980s . registration . 1987 . Pantheon Books . New York . 0-394-54668-7.
  4. Web site: Born In the U.S.A. Studio Sessions . Brucebase . August 22, 2019 . August 24, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190824144313/http://brucebase.wikidot.com/stats:born-in-the-usa-studio-sessions . live .
  5. Reviews. Cash Box. May 19, 1984. 2022-07-23. 12.
  6. . Hot 100 . Billboard . New York . Billboard Publications, Inc. . June 30, 1984 . 60.
  7. Marsh, Glory Days, p. 219.
  8. Web site: CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JUNE 30, 1984 . June 12, 2014 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20120930235056/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19840630.html . September 30, 2012 . . Cash Box magazine.
  9. [Joel Whitburn|Whitburn, Joel]
  10. "National Airplay" Radio & Records June 29, 1984: 88
  11. Top 100 Singles. Music Week. Spotlight Publications. London, England. 10. January 18, 1986.
  12. Web site: Winners . . Grammy.com . The Recording Academy . October 15, 2015 . September 14, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160914033312/http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=%22bruce%20springsteen%22&field_nominee_work_value=%22dancing%20in%20the%20dark%22&year=All&genre=All . live .
  13. "Readers' Poll" Rolling Stone February 28, 1985: 26
  14. Web site: Experience the Music: One Hit Wonders and the Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll . . he Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. . July 21, 2019 . February 26, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110226130711/http://rockhall.com/ . live .
  15. News: Jordan . Chris . Springsteen song 'Dancing in the Dark' inspiring England fans at Euro 2024 in Germany . 2024-07-21 . . 17 June 2024.
  16. Web site: Springsteen’s Dancing In The Dark enters Top 40 for first time in four decades . Music-News.com . 2024-07-21 . 19 July 2024.
  17. Book: Marsh, Dave . Bruce Springsteen: Two Hearts : The Definitive Biography, 1972–2003 . Psychology Press . 2004 . 491.
  18. Web site: In new memoir, Springsteen recalls opening Born in USA Tour in St. Paul . Bream . Jon . September 27, 2016 . startribune.com . . April 21, 2018 . September 29, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160929120623/http://www.startribune.com/in-new-memoir-springsteen-recalls-opening-born-in-usa-tour-in-st-paul/394905041/ . live .
  19. Book: Onofrio, Jan . 1998 . Alabama Biographical Dictionary . Somerset Publishers . 90 . 9780403098118.
  20. The one where Courteney Cox doesn't want to dance with The Boss. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/fVciOXYDlqg . December 19, 2021 . live. March 25, 2017 . YouTube . theoffcanerashow.
  21. September 28, 1985. Volume 97 No. 38, DECEMBER 28, 1985. Billboard. 40. New York, NY, USA. September 2, 2016.
  22. Web site: The 'Fortnite' Dance Lawsuits Are Close to Falling Apart. Daniel. Cooper. Entrepreneur. February 15, 2019. December 3, 2020. May 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200516095545/https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/328287. live.
  23. http://metro.co.uk/2016/06/06/bruce-springsteen-danced-with-a-dude-dressed-like-courteney-cox-to-dancing-in-the-dark-and-it-was-epic-5925960/ Bruce Springsteen danced with a dude dressed like Courteney Cox to Dancing In The Dark and it was epic
  24. https://www.insideedition.com/headlines/14483-bruce-springsteen-helps-pregnant-fan-complete-bucket-list-by-dancing-with-her-on-stage Bruce Springsteen Helps Pregnant Fan Complete Bucket List By Dancing With Her On Stage
  25. https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/dancing-in-the-dark-at-88-with-bruce-springsteen-1.2763194 'Dancing in the Dark,' at 88, with Bruce Springsteen
  26. The Hollywood Reporter, March 30, 2012
  27. Web site: Brucebase – 2012 . Brucebase.wikidot.com . June 26, 2015 . January 28, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190128025705/http://brucebase.wikidot.com/gig:2012-07-05-palais-omnisports-paris-france . live .
  28. Book: Margotin . Philippe . Guesdon . Jean-Michel . Bruce Springsteen All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track . 2020 . . London . 978-1-78472-649-2 . 250 . October 4, 2022 . February 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230226235802/https://books.google.com/books?id=nrlRzQEACAAJ . live .
  29. Web site: Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989 . Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien . September 2, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131020025459/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=21533&pages= . October 20, 2013 .
  30. Web site: Radio 2 Top 30. Top 30. September 2, 2016. nl. https://web.archive.org/web/20160331175319/http://www.radio2.be/top-30/1985/07/06. March 31, 2016. dead.
  31. Web site: CHART NUMBER 1436 – Saturday, July 07, 1984 . September 2, 2016 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20061107202651/http://www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?chart=1436 . November 7, 2006 . . CHUM.
  32. Book: Nyman, Jake . 2005 . Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja . 1st . Tammi . Helsinki. 951-31-2503-3. fi .
  33. Web site: Le Détail par Artiste. InfoDisc. Select "Bruce SPRINGSTEEN" from the artist drop-down menu. September 2, 2016. fr. September 8, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160908124651/http://www.infodisc.fr/Tubes_Artistes_S.php. live.
  34. Web site: Classifiche. Musica e dischi. it. June 1, 2022. December 1, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161201160637/http://musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php. live. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, with "Dancing in the dark" in the "Titolo" field, click "cerca".
  35. Web site: South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Acts S. The South African Rock Encyclopedia. September 2, 2016. February 19, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200219040232/http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(S).html. live.
  36. August 18, 1984. Billboard August 18, 1984. Billboard. 31. New York City. September 2, 2016.
  37. Web site: Cashbox Top 100–June 30, 1984 . June 12, 2014.
  38. Web site: Bruce Springsteen. Radio & Records, Inc.. May 2, 2017. May 28, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180528052343/http://wweb.uta.edu/faculty/gghunt/charts/bspringsteen.html. live.
  39. Web site: Kent Music Report No 548 – 31 December 1984 > National Top 100 Singles for 1984. Kent Music Report. Imgur.com. January 23, 2023. January 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220108032026/https://i.imgur.com/MyookoA.jpg. live.
  40. Web site: Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s . Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien . September 2, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140828222607/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40275&pages= . August 28, 2014 .
  41. Web site: Official New Zealand Music Chart – End of Year Charts 1984. September 2, 2016. Recorded Music NZ. May 11, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150511175937/http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/?chart=3873. live.
  42. December 22, 1984. Volume 96 No. 51, DECEMBER 22. 1984. Billboard. TA-19. New York City. September 2, 2016.
  43. Web site: The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1984 . June 3, 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120930234839/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1984YESP.html . September 30, 2012 . Cash Box.
  44. Web site: Radio & Records Contemporary Hit Radio 1984 Year-End Chart . February 23, 2017 . April 27, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190427130607/http://www.popradiotop20.com/Year/RR-CHR-1984-Year.htm . live .
  45. Web site: Kent Music Report No 599 – 30 December 1985 > National Top 100 Singles for 1985. Kent Music Report. Imgur. January 23, 2023. May 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210519090120/https://i.imgur.com/SN2evHp.jpg. live.
  46. Web site: Ultratop Jaaroverzichten 1985. Ultratop 50. September 2, 2016. nl. June 10, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140610014852/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1985. live.
  47. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985. Dutch Top 40. September 2, 2016. nl. September 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160911200952/http://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1985. live.
  48. Web site: Dutch Charts Jaaroverzichten Single 1985. Single Top 100. September 2, 2016. nl. September 18, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160918220314/http://www.dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1985&cat=s. live.

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