The phrase “Safe Dance Song” might conjure images of carefully choreographed moves or perhaps tunes promoting responsible partying. However, rewind to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, and you might recall a different association. When lockdown measures swept across the globe, and the entertainment industry scrambled to respond, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots offered a timely acoustic rendition of a particular 80s hit during the One World: Together at Home event. Alaska Airlines even cleverly repurposed its lyrics for a TV advertisement highlighting their enhanced hygiene protocols. The song in question? Men Without Hats’ iconic “The Safety Dance.”
But here’s the twist: “The Safety Dance,” recorded by the Canadian band in 1982, wasn’t actually conceived as a public service announcement about safety at all. While some later speculated about a connection to emerging safe sex campaigns – a notion quickly debunked given AIDS was only just beginning to surface – the song’s true inspiration was far more prosaic.
Ivan Doroschuk, the band’s frontman, revealed the song was a direct protest against overzealous nightclub bouncers. Men Without Hats, initially a punk band, crafted “The Safety Dance” from personal frustration. “It originated when I was getting kicked out of clubs for pogoing — for hitting the dance floor whenever they played Blondie’s ‘Heart of Glass’ or The B52’s’ ‘Rock Lobster’,” Doroschuk explained in an interview with Time Out Sydney. The song, therefore, was a defiant cry for the freedom to dance as one pleased, a far cry from its later associations with pandemic-era precautions.
Initially released as a single from their debut album Rhythm of Youth, “The Safety Dance” didn’t immediately ignite the charts. “I Got the Message,” the album’s first single, failed to gain traction. However, their Canadian label decided to release “The Safety Dance” as a follow-up. It entered the Canadian Top 50 in February, showing modest success. The turning point came with a remixed 12-inch version, which gradually propelled the song into the global spotlight. Throughout the winter of 1983 and 1984, “The Safety Dance” exploded into a worldwide phenomenon. Its immense popularity, while launching Men Without Hats into a successful career, ultimately overshadowed their other musical endeavors, solidifying its place as their signature track.
What made “The Safety Dance” such an unexpected hit? Several elements contributed to its quirky charm. Doroschuk’s distinctive baritone vocal delivery was unconventional, almost rigid. The synth melody, while catchy, seemed somewhat basic compared to the sophisticated electronic pop emerging from the UK at the time. Even dance-craze themed lyrics, a familiar trope in pop music history, felt slightly dated in the evolving musical landscape of the early 80s.
Then came the music video, arguably as memorable as the song itself. Filmed in the quaint Wiltshire village of West Kington, a location far removed from rock and roll extravagance (its main claim to fame being its proximity to the Leigh Delamere services on the M4 motorway), the video was directed by Tim Pope, who later gained acclaim for his work with The Cure. The video presented a bizarre medieval fair, populated by dancing dwarves, Morris dancers, a Punch and Judy show, and even a cameo by Louise Court, future editor of Cosmopolitan, as an enthusiastically unhinged villager. This visually eccentric and slightly chaotic spectacle perfectly complemented the song’s peculiar, almost old-world musical vibe.
The infectious appeal of “The Safety Dance” lay in its relentless hooks, both lyrically and melodically. The opening lines, “We can dance if we want to,” became the spark for “You Can Dance (If You Want To)” by Go Go Lorenzo & The Davis Pinckney Project, a major hit within Washington DC’s vibrant go-go scene in 1986. Trouble Funk, a leading band in that scene, even incorporated it into their live performances, showcasing the song’s broad musical reach.
The enduring power of “The Safety Dance” is further evidenced by the sheer eclecticism of artists who have covered it. From the cutting-edge experimental hip-hop producer J Dilla, who reimagined it as a slowed-down instrumental, to the decidedly un-hip Status Quo, who recognized its boogie-adjacent qualities, the song has transcended genre boundaries. Garage rock band The Donnas injected their raw energy into it, while The Asteroids Galaxy Tour gave it a poppy, indie-infused twist. Even “Weird Al” Yankovic crafted a Brady Bunch-themed parody, cementing its status in popular culture.
Perhaps the most significant legacy of “The Safety Dance” is its unexpected role as an anthem of community. Mirroring the diverse cast of characters in its original video, the song has inspired countless group performances. From the flash mob rendition by the cast of Glee in a shopping center to countless amateur flash mob videos uploaded to YouTube, “The Safety Dance” has become synonymous with joyful collective expression. Even corporate giants like Lipton Iced Tea have tapped into this communal spirit, featuring Hugh Jackman leading a faux flash mob to The Feeling’s version of the song in an advertisement.
Ultimately, “The Safety Dance” demonstrates that a song doesn’t need profound meaning or lyrical complexity to resonate deeply. It’s a testament to the power of simple, infectious joy. Whatever Men Without Hats initially intended, the song has evolved beyond its origins. It has become a universally embraced burst of pure, unadulterated delight, a truly global “safe dance song” in the broadest and most heartwarming sense.
What are your favorite memories of “The Safety Dance”? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
