10 Fav Rockin' Dance Songs

We'll start our dance with three dynamite songs from the 1980's. The first one is to remember the great dancer and actor that we just lost, Patrick Swayze. Who could ever forget the last song in the movie, Dirty Dancing? How many of us imagined being in Jennifer Gray's place in that scene?

You'll probably want to sing along to this one, too, so here are the lyrics to help us seniors along.

Boy: Now I've had the time of my life
No I never felt like this before
Yes I swear it's the truth
and I owe it all to you

Girl: 'Cause I've had the time of my life
and I owe it all to you

Boy: I've been waiting for so long
Now I've finally found someone
To stand by me

Girl: We saw the writing on the wall
As we felt this magical fantasy

Both: Now with passion in our eyes
There's no way we could disguise it secretly
So we take each other's hand
'Cause we seem to understand the urgency

Boy: just remember

Girl: You're the one thing

Boy: I can't get enough of

Girl: So I'll tell you something

Both:This could be love because

(CHORUS)
Both: I've had the time of my life
No I never felt this way before
Yes I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
'Cause I've had the time of my life
And I've searched through every open door
'Til I found the truth
And I owe it all to you

Girl: With my body and soul
I want you more than you'll ever know

Boy: So we'll just let it go
Don't be afraid to lose control

Girl: Yes I know whats on your mind
When you say:
"Stay with me tonight."

Boy: Just remember
You're the one thing

Girl: I can't get enough of

Boy: So I'll tell you something

Both: This could be love because

(CHORUS)
Both: 'Cause I had the time of my life
No I've never felt this way before
Yes I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
'Cause I've had the time of my life
And I've searched through every open door
Till I found the truth
and I owe it all to you

*Instrumental*

Boy: Now I've had the time of my life
No I never felt this way before

(Girl: Never Felt this way)

Boy: Yes I swear it's the truth
and I owe it all to you

Both: 'Cause I had the time of my life
And I've searched through every open door
Till I've found the truth
and I owe it all to you

Both: "cause I've had the time of my life
No I've never felt this way before
Yes I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you

Celebration reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in February of 1981 and the song dominated the radio for nearly the entire year, becoming an almost worldwide hit. We still love it today and it's the anthem for various sporting events and other celebrations.

You'll have to view this one in YouTube, so be sure to get it started, then come back to enjoy the rest of the music.

Rockin' Dance Music of the '70's

I Will Survive was all over the airwaves in 1979, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100, also reaching number one in the UK the next day. It was Gaynor's biggest hit and is probably the most famous of all the disco songs. It's funny that it was first released on the B side of a 45, but as its popularity increased, it was soon moved to the A side.

The song, "The Hustle" was created by Van McCoy to go along with the "couples" dancing that was making a comeback in the disco clubs during the 1970's. It reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Soul Singles chart during the summer of 1975.

The first vid shows the dancers that Van McCoy used when he introduced his new song. The second vid shows you How to do all the steps of the Hustle. Both have that great music, but with the "How to", you can dance along.

That's the Way I Like It was considered very risque when it was published, but soon became one of the most popular songs of the disco era. It was K C & the Sunshine Band's second number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and is one of the few chart-toppers in history to hit number one on more than one occasion during a one month period.

1960's Rhythm & Blues

Land of a Thousand Dances was first recorded by Chris Kenner in 1962. Kenner's version had 16 dances including: the Pony, the Chicken, the Mashed Potato, the Alligator, the Watusi, the Twist, the Fly, the Jerk, the Tango, the Yo-Yo, the Sweet Pea, the Hand jive, the Slop, the Bop, the Fish and the Popeye.

In 1965, Cannibal & the Headhunters recorded their version. The "na na na na na" verses were added by Cannibal, when he forgot the lyrics of the song.

Wilson Pickett recorded the best-known version of the song in 1966 on his album, The Exciting Wilson Pickett. This was his third Rhythm and Blues #1 and his biggest pop hit.

Wilson Pickett's version goes like this:

1-2-3
1-2-3
Ow! Uh! Alright! Uh!

Got to know how to pony
Like Bony Maronie
Mash potato, do the alligator
Put your hand on your hips, yeah
Let your backbone slip
Do the Watusi
Like my little Lucy
Hey! Uh!

Na na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na
I need somebody to help me say it one time
(Na na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na)
Wo--ow!

[Saxophone solo]

Wow! Uh! You know I feel alright! Huh! I feel pretty good y'all
Uh! Huh!
Na na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na
Come on y'all, let's say it one more time
(Na na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na)
Ooow!

Playing, it is a habit
With long tall Sally
Twistin' with Lucy
Doin' the Watusi
Roll over on your back
I like it like that
Do that Jerk-uh
Watch me work y'all
Ow! Do it!
Wow! Do it!
Just watch me do it

Aah help me
Aah help me
Aah help me
Aah help me

Here are two of the versions. The one by Cannibal & the Headhunters and by Wilson Pickett.

Dancing in the Street was produced by William "Mickey" Stevenson and written by Stevenson and Marvin Gaye. It was one of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas first songs released after coming to Mowtown. Being a "party song" it was considered a precursor of disco. Many young black demonstrators used it as a Civil rights anthem and it received some negative connotations and was pulled by some radio stations during the time of the Chicago riots. "Dancing in the Street" peaked at number two on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles chart when it was originally released in 1964, as the group's third album first single.

Now for a slower one, so we can catch our breath. If you like to Cha Cha, then My Girl is the perfect song for you.

"My Girl" is a 1964 song recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label which became a number one hit in 1965. Written and produced by The Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Ronald White, the song became the Temptations' first U.S. number-one single, and is today their signature song. Robinson's inspiration for writing this song was his wife, Miracles member Claudette Rogers Robinson. The song was featured on the Temptations album The Temptations Sing Smokey.
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