Come See and Dance About Me
A final thought/playlist about dance music
My daughter sent me a list of all the songs the band at her wedding can play. It’s a pretty cool list; unfortunately, they can’t do any of the twelve songs I’m about to list here. So, and here’s the important thing:
My daughter and I have yet to select our father-daughter dance song.
So, of course, I’m wondering if it can, if it should, and if it WILL come from the list below.
Which brings me to you guys:
As you read and listen to the songs in this story, please tell me in the comments which ONE SONG from the goodies below you think would make the BEST father-daughter dance song. Many of you know me pretty well, and believe it or not, just like Leo Sayer, I really can dance. You don’t know my daughter, though, so I understand that this is more of a shot in the dark for you.
Also, know that my daughter will most likely veto everything we come up with, but we have to give this thing called love a chance.
I’m selecting songs that are primarily NOT what we’d consider in the Disco/New Wave mold. I made those lists before Christmas, and Kevin Alexander willing, you may still find them if you scroll through The Riff, being sure, of course, to patronize some of the other fine writers there, like Madeline Dovi and Jeffrey Harvey.
Genres be damned, then! Let’s get on with it and see how many feet and heads will roll.
- The Supremes, “Come See About Me.” I adore The Supremes and could have selected four or five other big hits, but this is the one I feel closest to, dance-wise. And “Someday We’ll Be Together” just doesn’t work.
- Depeche Mode, “Everything Counts.” Thematically, I can see this one fitting in — not so much the anti-Capitalist stuff, but that everything does count in large and small amounts, so don’t forget to talk and listen.
- George Clinton, “Atomic Dog,” because how could I not? I wonder where I was when George and P-Funk were strutting about the psychedelic post-Soul wave? Our family loves this song, especially Max, Palmer, and Warren:
“Dogs of the world unite! Funky dogs…”
4. Stevie Wonder, “You Haven’t Done Nothin’.” So funky that I’m afraid my lower back won’t be able to handle it, but I’ll try try try to make you proud in the process. I sooooooo love Stevie.
5. Prince, “When Doves Cry.” I could have picked “Dirty Mind,” but someone might have voted for it, and then where would I, or my daughter, be?
6. Time Zone (Afrika Bambaattaa and John Lydon), “World Destruction.” Can’t you see or hear it? I go to my daughter and tell her that The Riff has voted: “World Destruction” is the song you and I MUST dance to. I’ll duck then, and hope to come up for air another day.
7. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Heads Will Roll.”
I’ve never gotten enough of this one, and I’m so sorry I’m going all apocalyptic here, so maybe we should move on to a more peaceful anthem.
8. Gaga, “Bad Romance.” Ooooppps.
9. Rostam, “Bike Dream.” Maybe it’s only me, and maybe the dance floor is too big, but I love the driving beat, the accelerator pumping my blood, and the oh-so-calm voice behind it all.
10. Waylon Jennings, “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?” ‘Cause you may not know how other cultures do it, and maybe Hank didn’t do it this way, but Waylon did.
11. Public Enemy, “Fight the Power.” Let’s get eclectic, shall we? This one will surely stop the show.
12. And, I had to think long and hard and remember that things changed after this one came along, and though it’s tragic and disturbing, you can’t fight it for very long:
So there you go. My daughter and I are waiting.
Thanks to The Riff for publishing.