{{short description|1989 single by Sigue Sigue Sputnik}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Use British English|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox song |name=Dancerama |cover=Sigue Sigue Sputnik Dancerama.jpg |alt= | caption = |type=single |artist=Sigue Sigue Sputnik |album=Dress for Excess |B-side=Barbarandroid |released={{start date|1989|3|13|df=yes}}<ref>{{cite magazine|date=11 March 1989|title=News|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/89/Record-Mirror-1989-03-11.pdf|magazine=Record Mirror|page=5|accessdate=25 May 2022}}</ref> |recorded=1988 |studio= |venue= |genre=Synth-pop |length= * {{duration|m=4|s=45}} (album version) * {{duration|m=3|s=44}} (single mix) |label=Parlophone |writer= * Anthony James * Martin Degville * Neal Whitmore |producer=Neal Whitmore |prev_title=Success |prev_year=1988 |next_title=Albinoni vs Star Wars |next_year=1989 }}
"'''Dancerama'''" is a song by the British band Sigue Sigue Sputnik released in March 1989 as the second single from their second album ''Dress for Excess''. It peaked at number 50 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref name=uk/>
==Release== "Dancerama" was originally recorded in 1986. This early rough version was only released as the B-side to the 7-inch single "Sex Bomb Boogie" that was only released in Germany.<ref>{{Citation |title=Sigue Sigue Sputnik - Sex Bomb Boogie |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/208004-Sigue-Sigue-Sputnik-Sex-Bomb-Boogie |language=en |access-date=2022-05-25}}</ref> This version then remained rare until it was included on the 2020 expanded re-release of ''Flaunt It''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sigue Sigue Sputnik - Flaunt It |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/16023326-Sigue-Sigue-Sputnik-Flaunt-It |website=Discogs |language=en |access-date=2022-05-25}}</ref>
Several different versions of the song were released as singles. The 7-inch release features a remix of "Dancerama" by Queen drummer Roger Taylor.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lemieux |first1=Patrick |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WulVDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA106 |title=The Queen Chronology |last2=Unger |first2=Adam |date=2019 |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=978-1-926462-10-3 |pages=106 |language=en|edition=2nd }}</ref> The B-side "Barbarandroid" was also remixed by Taylor; however, this is not credited on the single. Three 12-inch singles were released. The first features, alongside the two 7-inch tracks, an extended version of "Dancerama".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Sigue Sigue Sputnik - Dancerama |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/207800-Sigue-Sigue-Sputnik-Dancerama |website=Discogs|language=en |access-date=2022-05-25}}</ref> The second 12-inch release features the same 12" extended version, but it is subtitled 'Kashmir Remix'. It also has a remix of "Dancerama" that prominently features a saxophone, subtitled 'Saxy Remix'. Both of these versions were remixed by Neal X and Tony James at Abbey Road Studios on 1 February 1989.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Sigue Sigue Sputnik - Dancerama (Or Is It Sex?) |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/214231-Sigue-Sigue-Sputnik-Dancerama-Or-Is-It-Sex |website=Discogs|language=en |access-date=2022-05-25}}</ref> The final 12-inch release is a picture disc which contains five tracks, of which the final one is a hidden untitled track, lasting less than a minute. The first track is an introduction lasting two minutes and the second is the 7-inch remix of "Dancerama". The third is another remix of the track by Stephen W. Tayler, titled 'Album Mix Extended', and the fourth track is "Barbarandroid".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sigue Sigue Sputnik - Dancerama (A Picture Disc) |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/208005-Sigue-Sigue-Sputnik-Dancerama-A-Picture-Disc |website=Discogs|language=en |access-date=2022-05-25}}</ref> A CD single was also released that features the 7-inch remix, the 12-inch extended and the 'Album Mix Extended' versions. "Barbarandroid" was not included on the release, although it is incorrectly listed on the insert.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sigue Sigue Sputnik - Dancerama (Or Is It Love!) |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/876006-Sigue-Sigue-Sputnik-Dancerama-Or-Is-It-Love |website=Discogs|language=en |access-date=2022-05-25}}</ref>
Described by James as "cartoon manga like", two versions of the cover artwork were released. Both were conceived by James and designed and created by the Bill Smith Studio. The 7-inch single, CD single and the first 12-inch single feature the subtitle '[Or is it love!]' on the cover with a cartoon of two characters kissing.<ref name=":0" /> However, the cover of the second 12-inch release features the subtitle '[Or is it sex?]', with the explicit image (partially censored) of these two characters having sex.<ref name=":1" />
==Music video== The inspiration for the music video was the 1962 sci-fi featurette ''La Jetée'' and was suggested by Janet Street-Porter, who at the time was going out with Tony James. It was filmed in Paris by Mark LeBon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Sputnik Story 17:1 |url=https://www.sputnikworld.com/The_Sputnik_Story_17_1.html |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=www.sputnikworld.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2002-12-09 |title=Sigue Sigue Sputnikworld:singles |url=//www.sputnikworld.com/2discograpy_singles.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021209062846/http://www.sputnikworld.com/2discograpy_singles.html |archive-date=9 December 2002 |access-date=2015-11-09}}</ref>
==Reception== {{Album ratings | rev1 = ''Number One'' | rev1score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="NumberOneReview">{{cite magazine|last=Adeva|authorlink=Adeva|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/33140467048/in/album-72157706456718525/|title=Spot the Spin: Sigue Sigue Sputnik – "Dancerama" (Parlophone)|magazine=Number One|date=22 March 1989|page=42|issue=300|location=London|publisher=IPC Magazines Ltd.|issn=0266-5328|access-date=2 January 2024|via=Flickr|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102193847/https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/33140467048/in/album-72157706456718525/|archive-date=2 January 2024}}</ref> | noprose = yes }} Reviewing for ''Record Mirror'', Tim Nicholson wrote "The Sputnik Corporation seems to be going into liquidation if this criminally limp excuse for a bit of plastic is anything to go by. Barry Blue may have got away with it 15 years ago, but Tony James really should know better. Perhaps if they sacked Dogville (ugly and tone deaf – I'm impressed), they might finally find what they've been looking for".<ref>{{cite magazine |date=18 March 1989 |title=45 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/89/Record-Mirror-1989-03-18.pdf |magazine=Record Mirror |page=37 |access-date=25 May 2022}}</ref> The reviewer for the ''Huddersfield Daily Examiner'' wrote "I hate to admit it, but I don't find this throbbing love song – laced with a luscious layer of guitar-topping – half as nauseating as I hoped it would be".<ref>{{cite news |date=25 March 1989 |title=Singles |page=19 |newspaper=Huddersfield Daily Examiner}}</ref> Reviewed in the ''Cambridge Evening News'', the song was described as "by their own pitifully low standards, a neat and catchy song moving at a gentle, but effective pace".<ref>{{cite news |date=27 March 1989 |title=Singles |page=10 |newspaper=Cambridge Evening News}}</ref>
==Track listings== '''7": Parlophone / SSS 5''' # "Dancerama" – 3:44 # "Barbarandroid" – 4:21
'''12": Parlophone / 12 SSS 5''' # "Dancerama" (12" Extended) – 8:19 # "Dancerama" (7" Mix) – 3:44 # "Barbarandroid" – 4:21
'''12": Parlophone / 12 SSSX 5''' # "Dancerama" (Kashmir Remix) – 8:18 # "Dancerama" (Saxy Remix) – 7:09 # "Barbarandroid" – 4:21
'''12": Parlophone / 12 SSSPD 5''' # "The Dancerama Club" (Introduction) – 1:57 # "Dancerama" (7" Mix) – 3:44 # "Dancerama" (Album Mix Extended) – 5:45 # "Barbarandroid" – 4:21 # "Untitled" – 0:53
'''CD: Parlophone / CD SSS 5''' # "Dancerama" (7" Mix) – 3:44 # "Dancerama" (12" Extended) – 8:22 # "Dancerama" (Album Mix Extended) – 5:42
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1989) !Peak<br />position |- !scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Timo|date=13 August 2015|title=Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit SEN - SIG|url=http://suomenlistalevyt.blogspot.com/2015/08/sen-sig.html?m=1|access-date=2020-07-21|website=Sisältää hitin}}</ref> |23 |- {{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|50|artist=Sigue Sigue Sputnik|artistid=23085|rowheader=true|refname=uk}} |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Sigue Sigue Sputnik}} {{authority control}}
Category:Sigue Sigue Sputnik songs Category:1989 singles Category:1989 songs Category:Songs written by Tony James (musician) Category:Parlophone singles