"Dance Hall Days" by Wang Chung

Song#:  1869
Date:  04/21/1984
Debut:  88
Peak:  16
Weeks:  22
Genre:  New Wave, Synthpop



Pop Bits:  Wang Chung grabbed their first US Top 40 entry near the beginning of '84 with the #38 "Don't Let Go." This follow-up single would do even better getting into the Top 20. It would be a #1 hit at Dance when paired with "Don't Let Go." The tune also got to #24 at Rock. In their UK homeland, this would be their biggest single reaching #21

ReduxReview:  While I kind of initially missed out on "Don't Let Go," this song did not escape me. I really liked that staccato bridge/chorus led by Jack Hues' oddly interesting voice. The sleek production chugged along with some nice sax work to boot. It wasn't your typical pop single, which made it stand out on radio. I was hoping for a Top 10 showing, but I think getting to #16 was a solid showing for the tune.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  Around this time, Wang Chung's Jack Hues and Nick Feldman submitted a song they wrote to the management of UK singer David Van Day. Van Day had some success in the UK with two different groups, Guys 'n' Dolls and Dollar, a duo with his girlfriend Thereza Bazar (they were both members of Guys 'n' Dolls). Following Dollar's breakup, Van Day decided to go solo. His first single was a very modest hit, but it got some attention and Wang Chung were hoping their song, "Ringing the Bell," would be his follow-up single. Van Day did record the tune with Hues and Feldman producing, but it ended up getting set aside. The song did finally see the light of day in 1985, but was weirdly credited to the fake band name of Music Academy instead of Van Day. The song did not chart. Van Day was never successful in the US. His only encounter with the US charts was when Dollar's 1978 debut single "Shooting Star" reached #74 on the Pop chart (#14 UK). Since around 2003, Van Day has become a bit of a b-list celebrity in the UK appearing on various reality/competition shows as both a contestant and host.

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