“Dance Hall Days” (1982) is an unappreciated GEM of a song that deserves more love

Understand, OP. I was 15 when it came out and just adored it for all the same reasons. I love the shuffling beat.

I remember when they appeared on Joan Rivers' short-lived nighttime talk show. They explained that the name Wang Chung was supposed to be the sound that a guitar string makes. Nothing Chinese. They also seemed really gay.

Oh, great. Another "unappreciated GEM" troll.

Hey, cunt. Just because YOU discovered something you like it doesn't mean the world is behind you.

In any sense of the world.

I liked "Dance Hall Days," but I could never make out most of the lyrics. "We were cool on craze" always sounded like "We were cool on Christ."

I think "To Live and Die in L.A." was a better Wang Chung song.

R4 it’s true about that lyric. Also, when they say “in our dance hall days” I always heard “in our dance hall dance”

Take your baby by the ears/And play upon her darkest fears ...

Yikes.

At least he didn't call it "underrated," R3.

Me too r5! I know exactly what OP means too. Some songs just make you feel EXACTLY like it's the 80s again.

Wang Chung is one of my very favorite bands from the 80s!! The entire album is fantastic, OP. "Points on The Curve." I have never had it out of circulation for longer than a year at a time. People tend to remember "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" if they remember Wang Chung at all. But "Dance Hall Days" was a joyful, exciting track when it came out, and I remember feeling elation when I first heard it on the radio. I bought the 45 and then the album on cassette, and also their second album and the "To Live and Die in LA" soundtrack as well. Wang Chung made some killer music. Lyrically and vocally they were rather cool and cerebral, but musically they were warm, tuneful, and versatile, mixing interesting synth textures with arty chords, strong, unique vocals and seriously catchy pop hooks. I adore them.

They were underrated for sure

^^By whom? Why care about how others rate them?

OP something isn't a hidden gem or underrated because you just found out about it. This song is well known and used in TV shows and movies to show its the 80s.

R12 I didn’t just discover it, nor did I say that in the OP.

I totally understand what you mean, OP, and I agree. Dancehall Days captures the '80s zeitgeist perfectly.

I had forgotten about this song. So, I thank the OP for reminding me how great it is. Also, with so much other wonderful 80s music, I never really appreciated the song in its time. Now, I do.

It sounded different from other songs on the radio. Now, I can see how laudable that is.

This song just came on an 80s playlist and nostalgia kicked in. Love it.

Gee, really? I HATED this song.

One of my favs

This was their best song.

you beat me to it r20.

I loved Wang Chung and Let's Go is my favorite song by them.