Dancing with Myself

"Dancing with Myself"
Single by Generation X
from the album Kiss Me Deadly
Released	1980
Format	7", 12"
Genre	Punk rock, dance-punk
Length	3:30
Label	Chrysalis
Writer(s)	Billy Idol, Tony James
Producer(s)	Keith Forsey
Generation X singles chronology
"Friday's Angels" (1979) "Dancing with Myself" (1980)

"Dancing with Myself"
Single by Billy Idol
from the album Don't Stop and Vital Idol
Released	1981
Recorded	1980 (remixed in 1981)
Genre	New Wave
Length	3:19 (single version) 4:50 (on Don't Stop) 5:57 (on Vital Idol)
Label	Chrysalis
Writer(s)	Billy Idol, Tony James
Producer(s)	Keith Forsey
Billy Idol singles chronology
"Dancing with Myself" (1981) "Mony Mony" (1981)

"Dancing with Myself" is a punk rock song written by singer Billy Idol and bassist Tony James, and first recorded by their band Generation X. The song was first released as a single and a 12" in 1980 and, a few weeks after the single release, was included on the band's last album—1981's Kiss Me Deadly. It would become one of the group's most well-known songs, but had limited success in its initial release.

In 1981, Idol remixed and re-released "Dancing with Myself" as a solo single, toning down its aggressive guitar sound and instead emphasizing its power pop or pop rock elements. Two versions were issued—the 3:20 single version (which was later included on Idol's 11 of the Best compilation), and the 4:50 extended version that appeared on Idol's Don't Stop EP.

Idol plays "Dancing with Myself" at most of his concerts, always introducing the song as having been originally written and recorded by Generation X. Since its release, the song has become something of a sports anthem.

Background

The music video was directed by Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Poltergeist). The set was borrowed from an L.A.-based production of Ann Jellicoe's punk rock-themed play The Sport Of My Mad Mad Mother, produced by and starring Dan Shor.^[1]

Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones recorded the song with Idol. After recording the song, Jones had a seizure due to drug usage. Jones was rolled out of the studio on a stretcher.

Formats and track listings

Generation X release

7": Chrysalis - CHS 2444 (UK)

1. "Dancing With Myself" (3:30)
2. "Ugly Rash" (4:30)

12": Chrysalis - CHS 12 2444 (UK)

1. "Dancing With Myself" (4:06)
2. "Loopy Dub" (5:08)
3. "Ugly Dub" (3:05)

Billy Idol release

7": Chrysalis - IDOL 1 (UK)

1. "Dancing With Myself" (3:19) [Labelled as "Billy Idol featuring Generation X"]
2. "Love Calling (Dub)" (5:33)

12": Chrysalis - IDOLX 1 (UK)

1. "Dancing With Myself" (6:05) [Labelled as "Billy Idol featuring Generation X"]
2. "Love Calling (Dub)" (5:33)
3. "White Wedding" (8:20)
4. "Hot In The City" (5:20)

• "White Wedding" is the 12" Shotgun mix, but not labelled as such.

In other media

• It is featured in the 1987 film Can't Buy Me Love.
• It is featured in the 1999 film Pushing Tin.
• It is featured in the 2006 film Flushed Away.
• It is featured in a 2008 advertisement for the French health insurance company La Mutuelle Générale.
• A cover version by The Donnas is featured in the ending credits of the 2004 film Mean Girls.
• It is featured in the TV series Gossip Girl.
• It is featured in 2009 music video game Guitar Hero 5.
• It is featured in the episode "Famous Last Words" of TV series Castle.
• Artie from TV show Glee sings the Nouvelle Vague version of the song in the ninth episode, "Wheels" of Season 1.
• In the episode of Chuck "Chuck Versus the Beard" it is played as Chuck is sat in castle going through a Most Wanted deck of cards.
• It is closing song of an Ugly Betty episode ("Plus None", episode 5 of Season 4).
• Nouvelle Vague version was used as the theme song for the first season of LA Ink.
• It is heard in the background of the King of the Hill episode "Just Another Manic Kahn-Day" (aired 5/6/10).
• An episode of Beavis and Butt-head shows the duo critiquing the music video for "Dancing with Myself", comparing it to masturbation ("Playing with myself").
• Punk rock band Green Day covered "Dancing with Myself" on their 2009–2010 world tour, usually followed after the song "Scattered".
• Rock/New Wave band The Aquabats reference sections of the song's lyrics in their 2011 song "Radio Down!".
• It is used in the TV advertisement for the 2012 BMW 3 Series, where it serves as a backdrop to images of Olympic sportspersons and their "Winning Spirit".
• It is featured in the 2009 film The Men Who Stare At Goats.
• It is used at the promo of the fourth season of House.

Cover versions

• De Kreuners (1984) as "Ik dans wel met mezelf"
• Kids Incorporated (1989)
• Blink-182 (10 March 1997)
• Gonzo the Great (1998 episode of Muppets Tonight)
• 30 Foot Fall (2000)
• The Donnas (21 September 2004)
• Nouvelle Vague (10 July 2006)
• The Boomtang Boys
• Dag Vag as "Dansar med mig själv"
• Eläkeläiset as "Humppaan itsekseni"
• Green Day (Played live on 2000, 2005 & 2009 tours)
• Lisa Mitchell (Australian Idol 2006)
• Al Gonzales, New York based bagpiper, (www.theroyalpiper.com) with The Shots (2008)
• The Flukes (2007)
• Laura Bell Bundy (Recorded a country version for her CD Longing for a Place Already Gone released in 2007)
• Kevin McHale as Artie Abrams on Fox's Glee (2009)

Charts

Generation X version

Billy Idol version

References

1. ↑ "Actor Dan Shor talks with TV STORE ONLINE and his work on films like TRON, BILL and TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE and WISE BLOOD". TV STORE ONLINE. Retrieved 7 October 2013. 

External links

• Full lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics