The Daily Affirmations Dance Party

There may be trouble ahead
But while there's moonlight and music and love and romance
Let's face the music and dance
Irving Berlin, “Let’s Face the Music and Dance”

You know the Woodstock generation of the 1960s that were
so full of themselves and conceited? None of those people could dance.
Charlotte Pingress, “The Last Days of Disco”

Seems like lately its just been one sort of tumult after another. Christchurch, NZ earthquake, Japanese tsunami and resulting nuclear crisis, Liz Taylor’s passing, Libyan civil war, drastic public service cuts, ongoing recession, Wisconsin labor union agitation, NFL lockout, Charlie Sheen world tour…. Just a real bummer.

What can we do about that? Well, excitement awaits! As I’ll explain in future posts, I have a multi-part series lined up on how you should live your life. It’s going to be lots of fun. By “fun,” of course, I mean something to replace your Ambien. Ok, so maybe excitement doesn't really await. That’s not going to add sorely needed mirth and merriment to anyone’s life. Well, not to anyone who’s not an intolerant, life-hating, buzzkill. You know. Sean Penn.

So, let’s shake it off before we plunge in to the abyss. In the “Animal House” spirit (“you know what we’re gonna do? Toga party!"), let’s have a dance party.

At least, let’s pretend like we’re having a dance party.

Now, what makes for a good dance party? Well, lots of people looking to have a good time, a big dance floor, and a wide variety of great songs, with a good mix of fast and slow dances. Good refreshments, though no finger food. You don’t want to eat out of a bowl where everyone’s been sticking their dirty hands. Think about your high school dances, except without the awkwardness, or with guys trying to sneak cheap liquor at every turn. I missed most of my school dances because, frankly, they were soooo common. I preferred staying at home to watch Love Boat and eat cheeseburgers. Actually, that still sounds like a sweet night.

The format here is basically a playlist. Take the list, play the tunes, then get down with your bad self. I realize making a list isn’t really the same as writing. Santa makes a list every year, but that doesn’t make it “The Sound and the Fury.” But hopefully seeing some of these titles will jog an old memory or inspire a new one. Or, hopefully, get you out of that seat and up on to your feet. “Get up off a that thing!” As it were.

The songs span the 1960s to the 1980s. There’s about three times as many songs as could actually play at a real dance, so feel free to program your own dance.

There’s no music from the 1990s. Mainly because the 90s had no dance songs. Unless you were into wearing flannel, cheap buzzes on cough syrup, and hating your parents, the 90s weren’t a dance decade. You may say, “what about rap?” Yeah, rap is barely music. At the risk of sounding like 1955 Southern Baptist preacher warning about Elvis, rap essentially consists of a mind-numbing electronic bass beat, a snippet of an actual, real song, and “kill my landlord” style criminal poetry about smacking bitches upside the head or backing that thing up over here to hit that. Rap lyrics are a lot like “and in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make,” only, exactly the opposite. Nor is anything included from the 21st Century. Here’s a thought: if no one is playing an actual musical instrument, its probably not music. Or if you’re only “singing” through a computer, you're not actually singing. Turn on your Guitar Hero if that’s what you want.

So get your date a corsage, get a haircut, wash your car, put on a tie, and head on over to the Daily Affirmations Dance Party. Let’s all get down and get funky.

The 1960s Dance Party

We start off early, right after the old folks have finished their 4 p.m. dinners, so they can stand and sway, complain that the music is too loud, try to outdo each others' knee replacement and acid reflux stories, and get home soon enough to go to bed by 8. Without breaking their hips. Oh, and there’s more of these songs because they’re shorter.

Twist and Shout- The Beatles
Louie, Louie- The Kingsmen
Locomotion- Little Eva
Be My Baby- The Ronettes
Where Did Our Love Go- The Supremes
Shout- The Isley Brothers
I Only Have Eyes For You- The Flamingos
Baby I Love You- The Ronettes
Beechwood 4-5789- The Marvelettes
My Girl- The Temptations
Our Day Will Come- Ruby and the Romantics
My Guy- Mary Wells
RESPECT- Aretha Franklin
Natural Woman- Aretha Franklin
Hold On, I’m Coming- Sam and Dave
Chapel of Love- The Dixie Cups
Twistin’ the Night Away- Sam Cooke
Wonderful World- Sam Cooke
When A Man Loves A Woman- Percy Sledge
Nowhere to Run- Martha and the Vandellas
Keep on Dancing- The Gentrys
He’s A Rebel- Darlene Love
Cool Jerk- The Capitols
Think- Aretha Franklin
Chain of Fools- Aretha Franklin
Wedding Bell Blues- The Fifth Dimension
Ooh Baby Baby- Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
My Cherie Amour- Stevie Wonder
Tighten Up- Archie Bell and the Drells
Tequila- The Champs
Do You Love Me?- The Contours
Rescue Me- Fontella Bass
People Get Ready- The Impressions
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin- The Righteous Brothers
Son of a Preacher Man- Dusty Springfield
The Twist- Chubby Checker
Shotgun- Junior Walker and the All Stars
Green Onions- Booker T. and the MGs
Soul Finger- The Bar Kays
Tell It Like It Is- Aaron Neville
Baby I Need Your Loving- Johnny Rivers
Ain’t That Peculiar- Marvin Gaye
Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing- Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Dance to the Music- Sly and the Family Stone
Uptight, Everything Is Alright- Stevie Wonder
Keep Your Hands Off My Baby- Little Eva
Its Gonna Work Out Fine- Ike and Tina Turner
Stay- Maurice Williams
This Boy- The Beatles
Drive My Car- The Beatles
When I Get Home- The Beatles
Can’t Do That- The Beatles
All Summer Long- The Beach Boys
Fun, Fun, Fun- The Beach Boys
Don’t Worry Baby- The Beach Boys
Yes, I’m Ready- Barbara Mason
Everybody Needs Somebody to Love- Solomon Burke
Its Not Unusual- Tom Jones
Shake- Otis Redding
Try A Little Tenderness- Otis Redding

The 1970s Dance Party

OK, now that the 1960s dance marathon has finished, lets move on to the 1970s. Pull out your corduroy suit, grow out your sideburns, lay down carpeting and install quadrophonic speakers and an 8-track tape player in your van, and walk around spouting a bunch of nonsense about things like EST or the equal rights amendment to get in the spirit of the thing.

Part 1 is pre-disco, early 1970s stuff.

Brown Sugar- The Rolling Stones
Tumbling Dice-The Rolling Stones
Give It To Me -J. Geils Band
Theme From Shaft- Isaac Hayes
I’ll Take You There- Staples Singers
Move On Up- Curtis Mayfield
Summer Breeze- Seals and Crofts
Nights In White Satin- The Moody Blues
Higher Ground- Stevie Wonder
ABC- Jackson 5
Never Can Say Goodbye- Jackson 5
I’ll Be There- Jackson 5
Funky Chicken- Rufus Thomas
Mr. Big Stuff- Jean Knight
Cissy Strut- The Meters
Got to Give It Up (Part 1)- Marvin Gaye
Rock Steady- Aretha Franklin
I Say A Little Prayer for You- Aretha Franklin
Me and Mrs. Jones- Billy Paul
Hey There Lonely Girl- The Delphonics
Respect Yourself- Staples Singers
Superfly- Curtis Mayfield
The Tears of a Clown- Smokey Robinson
Let’s Get It On- Marvin Gaye
Just My Imagination- The Temptations
What’s Going On- Marvin Gaye
Let’s Stay Together- Al Green
L-O-V-E- Al Green
Pick Up the Pieces- Average White Band
Knock on Wood- Eddie Floyd
Ooh Boy- Rose Royce
Flash Light- Parliament

Part 2, after intermission, is straight up Saturday Night Fever. Go back out to your van, do whatever you degenerates did in the 1970s out in the parking lot, put on your mood ring and gold chains, don your leisure suit and platform shoes, and dance the night away.

Rock With You- Michael Jackson
Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough- Michael Jackson
Love Machine- The Miracles
Brick House- The Commodores
Car Wash- Rose Royce
Get Down Tonight- K.C. and the Sunshine Band
That’s the Way- K.C. and the Sunshine Band
Stayin’ Alive- The Bee Gees
More Than A Woman- The Bee Gees
K-JEE- TSOP
Pina Colada Song- Rupert Holmes
Love’s Theme- Love Unlimited Orchestra
Lady Marmalade- Labelle
Dancing Queen- ABBA
Dazz- Brick
Play That Funky Music White Boy- Wild Cherry
Boogie Wonderland- Earth Wind & Fire
Sing a Song- Earth Wind & Fire
After the Love Has Gone- Earth Wind & Fire
Hollywood Swinging- Kool and the Gang
Right Back to Where We Started From- Maxine Nightingale
Love Rollercoaster- Ohio Players
You Sexy Thing- Hot Chocolate
Boogie Fever- The Sylvers
Boogie, Oogie, Oogie- A Taste of Honey
Disco Inferno- The Trammps
YMCA- The Village People
You’ll Never Find- Lou Rawls
We Are Family- Sister Sledge
Turn The Beat Around- Vicki Sue Robinson
Love Train- The O’Jays
Good Times- Chic
More, More, More- Andrea True Connection
Oh What A Night- The Four Seasons
I Will Survive- Gloria Gaynor
Last Dance- Donna Summer


1980s Dance Party

After Donna fades out, after a career-killing diatribe against gays (Rule number one of show business-know and do not attack your audience), swap your van for a Fiero (or a DeLorean with the flux capacitor option, stocked with enough plutonium to generate the 1.21 gigawatts necessary for time travel), trade that leisure suit for a ripped t-shirt or popped color pastel Izod shirt, cut your hair in a blender and color it in neon, strap on a dog collar and green eye shadow, and head back on to the dance floor.

Walkin’ On Sunshine- Katrina and the Waves
Vacation- The Go Go’s
Love Shack- The B-52’s
Rio- Duran Duran
True- Spandau Ballet
Crazy for You- Madonna
Relax- Frankie Goes to Hollywood
876-5309- Tommy Tutone
Jungle Love- Morris Day and the Time
Our Lips Are Sealed- The Go Go’s
Super Freak- Rick James
Don’t You Want Me- Gary Numan
Allison- Elvis Costello
Sweet Love- Anita Baker
1999- Prince
Let’s Go Crazy- Prince
Purple Rain- Prince
Man in the Mirror- Michael Jackson
Beat It- Michael Jackson
Billie Jean- Michael Jackson
Footloose- Kenny Loggins
Girls Just Want to Have Fun- Cyndi Lauper
Time After Time- Cyndi Lauper
Rebel Yell- Billy Idol
Its Raining Men- Weather Girls
Celebrate Good Times- Earth Wind & Fire
Jump- Pointer Sisters
I Want to Dance with Somebody- Whitney Houston
Sledgehammer- Peter Gabriel
Wicked Game- Chris Isaak
Come On Eileen- Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Rock the Casbah- The Clash
Tainted Love- Soft Cell
Hold Me Now- The Thompson Twins
What I Like About You- The Romantics
I’m Coming Out- Diana Ross
Let’s Groove- Earth Wind & Fire
She Works Hard for the Money- Donna Summer
Hungry Eyes- Eric Carmen
What Have You Done for Me Lately- Janet Jackson
I Want Candy- Bow Wow Wow
Hey Micky- Toni Basil
Carribean Queen- Billy Ocean
99 Luftballoons- Nena
Looking For A New Love- Jody Whatley
One Thing Leads to Another- The Fixx
Black Velvet- Allanah Myles
Tempted By the Fruit of Another- Squeeze
Party All the Time- Eddie Murphy
Let’s Dance- David Bowie
China Girl- David Bowie
Every Breath You Take- The Police

Now head out back into the night. Katz’s finally did close after all those years, so we can’t go there. Maybe Magnolia Café, then back home.

Next-12 easy rules on how to live your life, which is 10 more than God gave Moses. Call the extra two “lagniappe.”