Dancing With Myself – Billy Idol | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: *Did Not Chart
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
As part of The Bromley Contingent, a motley group of teen punk rockers who followed the Sex Pistols, William Broad soon found himself standing in front of his very own band, Generation X. In short order, William re-invented himself as Billy Idol.
Generation X enjoyed some success, yet, dissension set in, the band fell apart, and Idol moved to New York. There he joined up with Kiss manager, Bill Aucoin, and – in 1981 – released the four song EP Don’t Stop.
Included on Don’t Stop was a track from Generation X’s final album, Dancing With Myself. The stage was now set for Idol’s pop ascendancy. MTV, the newly launched video channel, was hungry for content, and Billy Idol had just what they needed.
His viewer friendly blond bad-boy looks and a re-record of Dancing gave Idol’s video frequent exposure, and made him an 80’s icon.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Keith Forsey
Lyrics Written by:
- Billy Idol
- Tony James
Awards:
- The music video for “Dancing With Myself” won two awards at the 1984 International Monitor Awards, including Best Art Direction and Best Special Effects
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).