How important WAS Blue Monday?

Just reading over the Wikipedia article on Blue Monday - Q Magazine voted it the 9th most influental song ever.

Was it really the first dance track? Does it deserve the praise it gets? Should it get MORE praise than it gets, if it did define the genre?

One things for sure is thats its got more staying power than anything else that could be called a dance track from even ten years later. Being in the dance arena at Oxegen when the DJ started BM was a revelation as to how many people still seem to like it, like it more than most of the other stuff he was playing anyway.

I don't think it can be called the "First Dance Track" by any measure...but it was and in many ways still is important for 2 main reasons:

1 - It was the first truely succesful fusion of 'Rock' and 'Electronic' in the dance arena. It showed the possibility of a new direction, or at least helped many others fully realize what they had been toying with, but had not the guts or spark to get it off the ground. I mean c'mon...EVERYTHING these days from Nine Inch Nails to Harry Connick Jr. can owe some measure of influence back to this pivital track and what it unleashed.

2 - It pisses off Diggy Mike B.

AND...(Ah, shit, he's back!) it does deserve any praise that it gets. Whether you like it or not, it is a catchy tune, it tells a relatable story and it blended the cutures together in a way that only the Cars have managed to do since. Before BM, you never had the punks and trendys in the same club at the same time rooting for the same thing. I only mentioned the Cars because they expanded on that theory and jumped in with both feet with that kind of fusion, only leaning more to the rockier side of the scale...and thus, well...we have us...in the now.

First dance track? Fuck whatever happened to Studio 54 and disco then. The drums of Blue Monday instantly lock onto people's minds, and there were some very novel sounds and arrangements which make it an important track in music history. The artwork and the money loss on the single simply add on to the legend.

Originally posted by Tristan The artwork and the money loss on the single simply add on to the legend.

Spoken like a legend Tris.

Quite honestly that is what I think of first when I think of BM.

Originally posted by Tristan First dance track? Fuck whatever happened to Studio 54 and disco then. The drums of Blue Monday instantly lock onto people's minds, and there were some very novel sounds and arrangements which make it an important track in music history. The artwork and the money loss on the single simply add on to the legend.

Ah, but disco and dance as we know it today are almost totally unconnected. Any time I've asked a DJ what they think of as the first dance track, theres two answers. BM and I Feel Love by Donna Summer. Its one of the few disco tracks thats not acoustic.

Another thing to note is that Dance Music is very, very, VERY European at this stage. And BM was probably the first European dance track.

Originally posted by MYOB Another thing to note is that Dance Music is very, very, VERY European at this stage. And BM was probably the first European dance track.

That's a good point, though I'm not sure if it's 100% valid.

Originally posted by Tristan > Originally posted by MYOB> Another thing to note is that Dance Music is very, very, VERY European at this stage. And BM was probably the first European dance track.

That's a good point, though I'm not sure if it's 100% valid.

Neither am I. I'm drunk, tired and confused. But the Detroit/New York "dance" scene was very very different to anything to ever come out of Europe; and its what came out of Europe thats now seen as Dance.

Originally posted by MYOB > Originally posted by Tristan> > > > > > Originally posted by MYOB> > Another thing to note is that Dance Music is very, very, VERY European at this stage. And BM was probably the first European dance track.>

That's a good point, though I'm not sure if it's 100% valid.

Neither am I. I'm drunk, tired and confused. But the Detroit/New York "dance" scene was very very different to anything to ever come out of Europe; and its what came out of Europe thats now seen as Dance.

And ironically, BM was influenced by the NYC sound...a la Shiek.

I always thought Bernard said that it was larger ripped off from an italian diso 12" - and as for it being the first dance / disco / salsa record ever --- purleeeeessssseeee.

Originally posted by FDISK I always thought Bernard said that it was larger ripped off from an italian diso 12" - and as for it being the first dance / disco / salsa record ever --- purleeeeessssseeee.

You may be very correct in stating that it has some Italian disco influence. That stuff infulenced quite a bit of the dance records coming out in the early 80's. Even the PSB's owe to them with the FIRST, unsuccessful version of West End Girls in 1981. Only evenually to sing an ode to that disco and fasion in Paninaro. Many similarites to BM and that scene.

Originally posted by Sir CHUNKS > Originally posted by FDISK> I always thought Bernard said that it was larger ripped off from an italian diso 12" - and as for it being the first dance / disco / salsa record ever --- purleeeeessssseeee.

You may be very correct in stating that it has some Italian disco influence. That stuff infulenced quite a bit of the dance records coming out in the early 80's. Even the PSB's owe to them with the FIRST, unsuccessful version of West End Girls in 1981. Only evenually to sing an ode to that disco and fasion in Paninaro. Many similarites to BM and that scene.

Erhm, PSB linked to Italo Disco: sure. NO linked to Italo Disco: don't think so. Yes, BM is very electronic, but not nearly in the way that Italo Disco was synthesized. (Italo Disco thouhg has identical structure to what today is called Euro Disco or Euro Dance.) I was too young to go clubbin' at the time of BM, so I'm not sure what the real impact was, but it quickly became a dancefloor classic that works almost as well today as it did 20 years ago.

I could agree that the first major dance track was Donna Summer's I Feel Love (~1976). In that case, the first major club track must be Kraftwerk's Autobahn (~1974).

For an excellent guide to the various styles of dance music, check out Ishkur's Guide to Electronic music. The discussion is endless...

/TLV

Oi!! Thanks /TLV!!!

I'm not sure now why it's seen as so influential, it was far from the first 'dance' track or electronic track. The band were inspired by other dance tracks to come up with it (see Klein and MBO - 'Dirty Talk', Donna Summer - can't remember what and Bobby O).

Even in the UK everyone seems to forget that the 80s started with many electronic pop acts that produced dance remix versions of their tracks (Human League, Ultravox, Soft Cell, Visage etc etc).

I remember at the time thinking that New Order had jumped on this style/sound a year or two late. Obviously I was wrong as it's now regarded as the record that started everything!

It was and is Bollocks, non essential pap.

Just copied from Euro disco music and Kraftwerk and Donna Summer.

I wish they would stop playing it live, they could play 2 good tracks in the time it takes to suffer Blue F*****g Monday

Originally posted by Digital Mike Binoche It was and is Bollocks, non essential pap.Just copied from Euro disco music and Kraftwerk and Donna Summer.I wish they would stop playing it live, they could play 2 good tracks in the time it takes to suffer Blue F*****g Monday

Uh-Oh...there he goes again. See...I knew we shouldna done another thread about BM!!!

Dancing on Ian's gravestone.

Honto?

Now...peep this yo. Is it possible that BM was circular and kind of re-influenced that same Euro Dance or whatever after is came out? That'd be kinda cool eh?

Soory I took the Bait

Originally posted by Digital Mike Binoche Soory I took the Bait

Blue Monday lover!!!!!

Take that back Chunky :D

Binoche lover, I can live with that

Originally posted by Digital Mike Binoche Take that back Chunky :D

Sorry...I couldn't resist.

It dosn't really matter if it was the first 'modern' dance track or not. It dosn't matter what songs were used as an influence, but I am sure Donna Summer's I feel love was an influence.

What is important that there was nothing and probably still isn't anything else that sounds like Blue Monday. For 1983 it is a very clever song, think of what other British bands such as Wham were doing back then.

At the time dance music was commericaly very unpopular, the disco fever had killed it off thanks to those other semi mancs known as the Bee Gee's (although they also largely created it as well). Blue Monday was a massive influence on the chart and apparantly a lot of brits first heared it inthe clubs of Ibiza.

I remember when I was a very small boy, there was dance music about. Heck I had my early years in europe. However, I do remember quite a few BoneyM and ELO tracks that were very dancable with good synths and drums.

Blue Monday was different in a way that it was probably the first post disco dance record that wasn't just made by some producer. Plus it had Hookey's bass. But it really fits in with a long tradition of eurodiso. Plus it made dance music fashionable again.

Having been into NORTHERN SOUL and frequent quite a few SOUL NIGHTS then going through the DISCO CLUBS they have been quite a few DANCE TRACKS even by the likes of CHIC and DONNA S which
seemed exceptional in their time.BLUE MONDAY for me was a great track and quite ORIGINAL for it's time.But i had heard numerous great DANCE tracks in my life by then so it was NOT as influential to me and MOST NOOL'S.That's what happens when you get OLD.I hate to sound like my dad and say THEY NEVER MAKE EM LIKE THEY DID WHEN I WAS A LAD.But most times THEY DON'T.Probably more to do with LIFE CHANGING and BRILLIANT TIMES you have before REALITY (in my case 2 weddings and 2 kids,a mortgage ,a career and all that stuff).Would i like to go back to days BEFORE this.Course i bloody would even if i did drink DOUBLE DIAMOND and WATNEY's. Rocket Mick

And walkers crisps tasted better then too

Originally posted by Ian MadManc What is important that there was nothing and probably still isn't anything else that sounds like Blue Monday. For 1983 it is a very clever song, think of what other British bands such as Wham were doing back then.

Nothing???

Divine's Love Reaction remains the best version of BM.

There were many other bands in the early eighties, not just Wham or any other band you've seen on the Hall of Fame. Many of them were doing 'clever' stuff. Ian, if didn't live through it, have opinions but don't lecture us on it!

Originally posted by Rocket Mick [bWould i like to go back to days BEFORE this.Course i bloody would even if i did drink DOUBLE DIAMOND and WATNEY's. Rocket Mick

Or even Long Life, specially brewed for the can

I think BM deserves its praise because even if it wasn't the first modern dance record, it was one of the most influential. "I Feel Love" may have come first, but "Blue Monday" was a huge seller and it appealed to both rock and disco/dance fans. It's also pretty much the blueprint for modern house.

At any rate, it introduced a lot of people to underground dance.

some of todays top dj's still mention BM. felix da houscat and paul okenfeld for example. electroclash owes a lot to BM imo. im sure if you walk into a club where its all techno and house of today and the dj throws in blue monday, people would still go crazy. its a track that has stood the test of time :)

Originally posted by kamar some of todays top dj's still mention BM. felix da houscat and paul okenfeld for example. electroclash owes a lot to BM imo. im sure if you walk into a club where its all techno and house of today and the dj throws in blue monday, people would still go crazy. its a track that has stood the test of time :)

Your sure and actually correct, from my limited experience of DJ'ing and less limited experience of nightclubs

Best reaction I've seen was at Oxegen where the DJ chucked it in towards the end of his set when everyone was starting the leave and there was a rush back towards the speakers.

I however seemed to be the only person able to punch the air in time with the intro, but at least everyone else there was going totally nuts for it.

Must agree with James, LOVE REACTION by Divine is superb

It's a damn good rock/dance hybrid which does owe a nod back to Giorgio Moroder/Donna Sumner & the Werkers from Dusselldorf. However, It's time to revisit some of the older stuff(EGG/Hurt-81/82)and dust off Perfect Kiss or Subculture for the live sets, as BM is getting too predictable in the live sets.

Hit the site, the Tampa Dec.13'86 gig date should have a Miami date following it a couple days later.The reason I went to the unlisted Miami gig a day or two later was Blue monday.It was listenable/danceable,and the only N-O song I was familiar with in 1986.Anyway check out Sylvester[Born to be alive]also big in the dance clubs in the early-mid '80's.One of So. Fla.'s local dance music scene icons now passed on,other than a car commercial,now forgotten.

It was the track that brought New Order into the mainstream, therefore the track that made it cool for white kids to listen to what was considered gay & black music. It's probably also one of the first tracks that could be classed as 'techno' in its earliest form... I also see it as a direct influence on the acid house sound. Kevin Saunderson (Inner City fame) has apparently noted New Order as an influence.

classic defined a musical era... and how much did factory loose on each 12 inch... brilliant!

Originally posted by doug rasmusen ...Sylvester[Born to be alive]...

I don't want to be too anal, nor take this too off topic... but you probably mean Patrick Hernandez, who did Born To Be Alive in 1979.

If you can track it down, I really recommend the German (?) mid/late-80's synth-cover of the track, released by the band Disco Connection. Nostalgia.

/TLV

Interesting,I thought Pat Hernandez was the producer.I used to go to a dance club in Ft. Lauderdale,early '80's, Backstreets. Both Sylvester and Hernandez hung out there.I'm not a music authority,so who did what and when isn't my field.Thank you for the info,I'll see where it goes."As I scratch my wooden head"