My Gen X Playlist: Dancing with Myself – Billy Idol

My buddy and I drove to Vegas last month. It was a four and a half hour drive and we had a lot of time to catch up. His kids are college age and I asked him how they were managing through social media. He made an interesting comment. Since everybody has a camera at their fingertips, you’re always at risk of being recorded and uploaded on the internet. He made an interesting comment about dancing.

When we were their age, our group of friends used to go to the bars and clubs and have a great time. I was never the best dancer, but if you gave me enough drinks, I could easily find the beat. My buddy said these days he might think twice about jumping on the dance floor because he wouldn’t want to be plastered on social media as being a lousy dancer.

To be honest, he’s one of those happy go lucky guys that’s a great dancer. At least that’s what I remembered back then. I don’t think he’d have anything to worry about. But, point taken. Everybody has a camera at their fingertips. Honestly, that’s too much to worry about when you should just go out and have a great time. Another reason to be thankful I grew up Gen X.

I was wondering when I was going to add a Billy Idol song to the playlist. I remember Dancing With Myself was his first big hit.

Billy got the idea after watching Japanese kids at a Tokyo disco “dancing with themselves” in a nightclub. The kids would dance in a pogo style up and down, and there were mirrors in the club so they could watch themselves doing it.

Idol originally released “Dancing With Myself” as a single in 1980 with his band Generation X. The band broke up early in 1981, so Idol used the song to launch his solo career.

When he left Generation X, he came to the States and tried to get his solo career off the ground. With no idea what to do and a bit of depression creeping in, he went to the New York nightclub Hurrah to drown his sorrows. As Idol tells it, he was in the bar area when suddenly a crowd migrated to the dance floor. The song that got them up and dancing was “Dancing With Myself,” which he had recorded with Generation X.

Songfacts

This made me feel pretty nostalgic. At a bar with friends and a favorite song comes on and we all hit the dance floor, all smiles, without a care in the world. And this is coming from a guy who is a non-dancer, mind you. It was fun hearing this song again. Thanks, Billy.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

On the floors of Tokyo-o
Or down in London town to go, go
A-with the record selection and the mirror's reflection
I'm a-dancing with myself
Oh, when there's no one else in sight
A-in the crowded lonely night
Well, I wait so long for my love vibration
And I'm dancing with myself

Oh, oh, dancing with myself
Oh, oh, dancing with myself
When there's nothing to lose, and there's nothing to prove
And I'm dancing with myself, oh, oh, uh-oh

If I looked all over the world
And there's every type of girl
But your empty eyes
Seem to pass me by
Leave me dancing with myself
So let's sink another drink
'Cause it'll give me time to think
If I had the chance, I'd ask the world to dance
And I'll be dancing with myself

Oh, oh, dancing with myself
Oh, oh, dancing with myself
When there's nothing to lose, and there's nothing to prove
And I'm dancing with myself, oh, oh, uh-oh

Oh, oh, uh-oh, oh
Oh, oh, uh-oh
Oh, uh-uh, oh, ow!

Well, if I looked all over the world
And there's every type of girl
But your empty eyes
Seem to pass me by
Leave me dancing with myself
So let's sink another drink
'Cause it'll give me time to think
If I had the chance, I'd ask the world to dance
And I'll be dancing with myself

Oh, oh, dancing with myself
Oh, oh, dancing with myself
If I had the chance, I'd ask the world to dance
If I had the chance, I'd ask the world to dance
If I had the chance, I'd ask the world to dance
Ooh, aw!!
Oh, oh, uh-oh
Oh, oh, uh-oh
Oh, oh, uh-oh
Oh, oh, uh-oh
Oh, oh, dancing with myself
Oh, oh, dancing with myself
Oh, oh, dancing with myself
Oh, oh, dancing with myself
Oh, oh

Oh, oh, uh-oh
Oh, oh, uh-oh
Oh, oh, uh-oh
Oh, oh

Well, if I looked all over the world
And there's every type of girl
But your empty eyes
Seem to pass me by
Leave me dancing with myself
So let's sink another drink
'Cause it'll give me time to think
If I had the chance, I'd ask the world to dance
And I'll be dancing with myself

Oh, oh, dancing with myself
Oh, oh, dancing with myself
If I had the chance, I'd ask the world to dance
If I had the chance, I'd ask the world to dance
If I had the chance, I'd ask the world to dance, ow!

Oh, oh, uh-oh
Oh, oh, uh-oh
Oh, oh, uh-oh
Oh, oh, uh-oh
Oh, oh, uh-oh
(Dancing with myself, oh, oh) Aw, my leather's all wet

(Dancing with myself, oh, oh) And I'll sweat
(Dancing with myself, oh, oh) And I'll sweat, sweat, sweat, sweat
(Dancing with myself, oh, oh) Sweat, sweat, sweat, sweat
(Dancing with myself, oh, oh) Sweat, sweat, sweat, sweat
(Dancing with myself, oh, oh) Sweat, sweat, sweat, sweat
(Dancing with myself, oh, oh) Sweat sweat ow!
(Dancing with myself, oh, oh)
(Dancing with myself, oh, oh)
(Dancing with myself, oh, oh)
(Dancing with myself, oh, oh) With myself
(Dancing with myself, oh, oh)
(Dancing with myself, oh, oh)
(Dancing with myself, oh, oh)
(Dancing with myself, oh, oh)
(Dancing with myself, oh, oh) Whoa, yeah