‘Dancing with Myself’ is a song by the punk rock band Gen X, first commercially released in the United Kingdom in October 1980, where it reached number 62 on the UK Singles Chart. It was remixed and re-released by the band's singer/frontman Billy Idol as a solo artist in the United States in 1981, where the song reached number 27 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.
The inspiration for the song occurred during a tour of Japan by the English post-punk band Generation X in mid-1979, when its vocalist/frontman Billy Idol and its bassist Tony James were struck by the sight of the young crowd in a Tokyo discotheque dancing with their own reflections in mirrored walls rather than with one another. This song is about more than just dancing. Idol told Rolling Stone: "The song really is about people being in a disenfranchised world where they're left bereft, dancing with their own reflections."
In 1981, Idol, now a solo artist after Gen X had broken up, had Forsey remix the record for its release as a single in the United States, fading down the guitar(s) and bass tracks from their dominance in the 1980 UK release and accentuating the vocal and percussion tracks, to produce a more rhythmic sound for the American commercial market. It became his first hit single in the United States and launched his career there.
For the 1981 United States single release a music video for use on the newly launched MTV was made, directed by Tobe Hooper, with Idol in a scenario drawn from the 1971 cinema film The Omega Man, playing a lone figure in a post-apocalyptic cityscape besieged upon a skyscraper rooftop by partying mutant street-waifs.
Label – Chrysalis
Songwriters – Billy Idol, Tony James
Producer – Keith Forsey
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]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
[Chorus]
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
[Verse 2]
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
[Chorus]
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
[Bridge]
Oh, oh, uh-oh, oh
Oh, oh, uh-oh
Oh, uh-uh, oh, ow!
[Guitar solo]
[Verse 3]
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
[Chorus 2]
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
Oohhhhhaaaawwww!!
Oh, oh, uh-oh
Oh, oh, uh-oh
Oh, oh, uh-oh
Oh, oh, uh-oh
[Outro]
(Dancing with myself, oh, oh) Oh, it'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, sweat
Oh!
Dancing with myself, oh!
Ow!
[Repeat and fade]