The Danse Society began in 1981 as goths with more than a touch of new romanticism, but after two albums and a fair to middling single (a cover of the Rolling Stones’ “2000 Light Years From Home”), they weren’t exactly burning up the charts. So what to do? Why, jump on the Stock/Aiken/Waterman bandwagon and imitate Dead or Alive!
“Say It Again” (download) has all the S/A/W trappings, from the beefy popping bass to the constantly clacking cowbell with lead singer Steve Rawlings, never known for having a stellar voice in the first place, doing his best Pete Burns impersonation. If there’s one thing about S/A/W, they knew how to stick with a production sound, often at the expense of the artist (right, Rick Astley?). But hey, not even S/A/W could tame Rawlings’ wild mane of mullet:
“Say It Again” was another one of those foolish career moves that alienates old fans while garnering precious few new ones. While the single did well in dance clubs and on progressive radio stations like good ol’ KROQ, the Danse Society saw their stab for mainstream success fade, never even to appear on an album. By the time the band recorded their final LP, Arista had dropped them and they had retreated back to their own goth-ish sound. As for “Say It Again,” it’s not a bad enough dance tune — I have a special fondness for it, but it’s nothing Dead or Alive weren’t already doing better. I don’t believe it’s ever appeared on CD. As a bonus, here’s a special Razormaid! remix (download) as well.
“Say It Again” peaked at #21 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play Chart in 1985.
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