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Help me with my 80s dance troupe

 
 
Jackie Susann
00:18 / 10.08.04
A little background: I am suddenly living in Melbourne, without much to do, and pretty bored. One thing I have discovered is that the city, or at least my little corner of it, has an emerging laydeez 80s dance team. Obviously, then, my mission is to form the boyz equivalent so we can battle. So far, I have a rehearsal space and the beginnings of a roster but we are yet to settle on a song.

The first time we meet, the girls will be doing Mel & Kim's 'Respectable'. I am inclined to think we need something with male vocals, but that is flexible: more important is that it's fun and has a good beat. Ideally it would have some kind of story or something we could build a routine around since we only have a few weeks to get our act together. Suggestions, please?

(And don't bother telling me the 80s fad is over, thanks...)
 
 
the cat's iao
00:29 / 10.08.04
How about the Saftey Dance by Men Without Hats?

Or perhaps something by The Fine Young Cannibals?
 
 
moonweaver
00:34 / 10.08.04
being Melbourne and 80's, it would have to be "Funky Town" by Pseudo Echo.
the haircuts the air/synth guitars.

mmmmmmm
 
 
Saint Keggers
00:37 / 10.08.04
lol! I was going to say The Safety Dance before I clicked on this thread. Genius minds think alike it seems.

How about
Hungry Like the Wolf
You Spin Me Right 'Round
Tainted Love
Rock Me Amadeus
Hot For Teacher
Jump
 
 
STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK
00:40 / 10.08.04
I don't know why, exactly, but keggers, Hungry Like The Wolf would be perfect.
 
 
Lord Morgue
02:25 / 10.08.04
NO! If you're gonna do an 80's Dance War, you gotta do it RIGHT! I'm talking ELECTRIC BOOGALOO! I'm talking DUCK ROCK! I'm talking red members only jackets, the robot, the eel, the spinnaroony, moonwalking, everything! Hahaha- the girls won't know what hit 'em- even if they pull out the Flashdance moves! Oh, you could be in trouble if they start with that Xanadu stuff, but if all they got is Mel and Kim, you'll shit it in.
 
 
Tryphena Absent
03:35 / 10.08.04
I say Rock Me Amadeus by Falco because it's the best song ever. No joke.
 
 
Kit-Cat Club
07:37 / 10.08.04
Anna is right of course, but as a second choice what about 'Too Shy'?
 
 
pointless and uncalled for
07:52 / 10.08.04
Love Cats - The Cure.
 
 
Grey Area
08:05 / 10.08.04
My suggestions:

Bros - When Will I be Famous?
Bomb the Bass - Beat Dis
Heavy D & the Boys - Now That We've Found Love

...OK, Heavy D came out towards the end of the 80's, but you could get away with it.
 
 
■
08:30 / 10.08.04
Was watching some old Kenny Everett eps yesterday and think 'Too Shy' by Kajagoogoo would be best.
 
 
sleazenation
09:13 / 10.08.04
'We rule' by the Wee Papa Girl Rappers?
 
 
Triplets
09:39 / 10.08.04
I was just reading this thread and Too Shy came up on VH1 in work. It's a sign!

A SIGN!
 
 
Goodness Gracious Meme
09:42 / 10.08.04
ooh nice. (though actually it was 'Wee Rule')

hmm.

Rio - Duran Duran
Take on me - Aha
Fame - Kids from Fame
Adam and the Ants - Prince Charming(I'm voting for this having heard that a gang of beautiful boyz did the dance, in formation, as their Pride March routine. in perfect unison, for 3 miles.
Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy
Salt 'n Pepa - Push It (for the readymade fucking ace routine.)
Sinitta - Toyboy.

more later...
 
 
pointless and uncalled for
09:54 / 10.08.04
If you're going for the ready made routine then Ice Ice Baby should be considered.

Warning, technically it's not 80's on the grounds that it was released in 1990 but with the hair and the clothes and the shoulderpads I think there is grounds for calling it an 80's swansong.
 
 
Cat Chant
10:09 / 10.08.04
If the grrrlz are doing 'Respectable', then surely the only choice for the boys is 'Wham Rap'?
 
 
LDones
10:29 / 10.08.04
'Vacation' - by the Go-Go's.

If 'Vacation' doesn't make you rock out you have no soul.

'Nuff said.
 
 
William Sack
10:45 / 10.08.04
Male Stripper by Man 2 Man Meet Man Parrish is fun, has a good beat, and a story that you could build a routine around, but you're probably being forced in a predictable direction (and one you might not want ot go in) with the routine.

Just an Illusion or Music and Lights by Imagination? Love and Pride by King? Kiss Me by Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy. Instead of Prince Charming, why not Goody Two Shoes by Adam Ant.
 
 
Triplets
10:47 / 10.08.04
Stand and Deliver - Adam Ant

Because we all know it's the greatest neuromantic hit evar.
 
 
Goodness Gracious Meme
10:52 / 10.08.04
Wild Boys - Duran Duran

Boysy, a great narrative, plenty of potential for acting.


Or

Uptown Girl - Billy Joel.

Rrrrromance those those grrls into submission.
 
 
Axolotl
11:12 / 10.08.04
I second any nomination for anything by Adam Ant. However the possibility for doing old-school breakdance moves have to be considered; go watch "Breakin'" or (as suggested by Lord Morgue) "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo" and just rip them off. Depends what type of 80s dance off you're looking for really.
 
 
Lord Morgue
12:15 / 10.08.04
Failing the breakdance war idea, Wham Rap would be pretty sweet, but also consider Wang Chun's "Boom Boom Boom, let's go back to my room".
Actually, I've always wanted to see Rick Mayall do that one.
 
 
Alex's Grandma
00:43 / 11.08.04
Raping A Slave by The Swans.

Go on, you know it makes sense.
 
 
STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK
01:07 / 11.08.04
YES!!! YES!!! MALE STRIPPER!!!
 
 
Jackie Susann
02:40 / 11.08.04
Male Stripper was actually the first song I thought of, but I think the problem is the beat is too fast - it would be pretty hard to choreograph, I reckon. Of course it works well as a back-up if we can't get another act together since there's a certain set of actions that suggest themselves pretty clearly.
 
 
Jackie Susann
10:58 / 11.08.04
Also can anyone who wants to mention Breakin' (etc.) tell me how to like do backspins and shit? Cause my breakdancing is way way below par at the moment.
 
 
Char Aina
13:09 / 11.08.04
the body poppin is the shit you wanna focus on... the power moves you really need somoene to show you in person.
also, learn how to 'toprock', and if only one or two of your crew can break or pop, it will still look cool.
(toprock is what you do on top, or before you hit the lino. )

i second the matching jackets.
and maybe matching shoes if you can manage it.
for real street cool, you should design a tag each, and spray the back of your jacket.
it'd be best in wildstyle.

if you are in melbourne, i can send your email address to a friend of mine who went to RCA to learn dance... i dunno if she can or will help you, but she might.
she'd be into watching, at least.
 
 
Char Aina
13:33 / 11.08.04
a thread on bboy.org, notable both for being about toprock and having cool tags at the top.
also maybe worth looking into is uprock, or battlerock.
like the modern capoeira, i guess. looks greatwhen done right, as its full of tension and meaning. two of you battling on stage while the others do a simpler routine, maybe?

you realise you are gonna have to show us footage of this?
 
  
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