Donna Summer’s 1977 dance epic ”MacArthur Park” likely represented Peak Disco. Summer’s unmistakeable vocal style is accompanied by full orchestra, harp, and plenty of synths (all part of producer Giorgio Moroder’s signature sound). There are several key changes, the first appearing at 0:26 as a Baroque-inspired string intro transitions into pop ballad, preceding a shift to straight-ahead disco. If you need more, there’s also a 17-minute “suite” version. 😉
Tag: dance
Talk Talk | It’s My Life
British New Wave band Talk Talk scored a #1 US dance hit in 1985 with ”It‘s My Life,” written by Mark Hollis and Tim Friese-Greene. The tune was later very successfully covered by No Doubt in 2003, resulting in top-20 chart positions around the world. The intro and verse are based around an Eb to Db/Eb vamp — a deceptively simple progression obscured by the percolating bass line and layered synths. The chorus (starting for the first time at 0:53) is centered around A minor. The instrumental bridge (2:31 – 2:55) is based on Bb minor.
Matthew Wilder | Break My Stride
Matthew Wilder’s “Break My Stride,” released in 1983, featured a unique pop/reggae mix that made it a hit on the dance floor. It reached #5 in the US and #4 in the UK. The bridge, starting at 1:45, modulates at 2:03 as it returns to the last chorus.
Whitney Houston | I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Today we feature Whitney Houston’s up-tempo “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” (1987). The modulation is around 3:30, but do yourself the favor of listening to this whole song.
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