...with Prince on vocals and extended... Is it perhaps the most definitive (or one of the most) and driving musical statements of his career? I think so. Definitive for his MPLS sound and for his take on life... As it first started...and ended. And that's all I'll say.

breakdown2k14 said:

I agree .this song is in my top 5 .I love everything about this song .the beat ,the vocals ,the message .I really wish prince didn't give this one away

Seriously, whether it is Prince on vocals or Andre Cymone--this song is an anthem for what was going on in the past and what is going on now. The message is immediate and infectious and just as applicable to what is going on in the world now as it was back when...maybe even more so. It makes me come to attention and get up and dance like there's no tomorrow every time I hear it.

The Dance Electric

Good morning children
Take a look out your window
Our world is falling
It's almost time 2 go
(Dance)
Dance the Dance Electric
The rhythm is love and love is blind
Love your enemies
There isn't much time, there isn't much time
Look - our world is falling
A rhythm-less house of blinded prophecy
Hear our Master calling
This isn't what He wanted us 2 be
We got 2 dance the Dance Electric
Listen 2 the rhythm of your soul
Come on and dance the Dance Electric
We better love each other, it's almost time 2 go
Don't - it don't make U happy
2 give another someone your own smile
Dance the dance electric
Never mind your hatred, try a brand new style
Dance the Dance Electric
Listen 2 the rhythm of your soul
U got 2 dance the Dance Electric
We better love each other, it's almost time 2 go
We... love... all... enemies
Look - U're livin' in Babylon
Makin', but not feelin' love at all
When your youth is gone, when it comes 2 dawn
A light of truth will shine and U will fall
That's why U got 2 dance the Dance Electric
Listen 2 the rhythm of your soul
U got 2 dance the Dance Electric
We better love each other, it's almost time 2 go
See the light inside of us
U're stuck in living, livin' life as bad
Whatever U do, don't U let your life go without my love
It's the only life that U will ever have
Why don't U (dance) dance the Dance Electric?
Listen 2 the rhythm of your soul
Why don't U dance the Dance Electric?
We better love each other, it's almost time 2 go (almost time 2)
Dance the Dance Electric
Listen 2 the rhythm of your soul
Come on and dance the Dance Electric
We better love each other, it's almost time 2 go...

It's baffling, some of the stuff he gave away to nobodies and/or sat on. "G-Spot" is another one. I can't imagine what it would have been like to be Prince in the 80s, knocking out dozens and dozens of great songs on a constant basis in such quantity that you have to invent pseudonyms and edit yourself down heavily just to deal with it all.

breakdown2k14 said:

I agree .this song is in my top 5 .I love everything about this song .the beat ,the vocals ,the message .I really wish prince didn't give this one away

He was too generous sometimes giving some of his best songs away.

it doesn't really matter what songs he gave to other artists.. he would perform them anyway.. but YES this is one of my favorite songs from the era it was recorded.

Did Prince and Andre work on this song together? Did Prince do his own version of this song.

tish9311 said:

Did Prince and Andre work on this song together? Did Prince do his own version of this song.

From princevault:

The Dance Electric is the first track on André Cymone's third studio album A.C., and, four weeks before the album's release, The Dance Electric was released as the album's first single. This track is the only studio collaboration betweenPrince and André Cymone during Cymone's solo career following his departure from Prince's band. In 2011, an expanded edition of the album was released on CD, including the Edited Version a.k.a. Single Version of the song.

.

Initial tracking for Prince's initial version took place on 17 August 1984 (two days before The Screams Of Passion) at theFlying Cloud Drive Warehouse, Eden Prairie, MN, USA (listed on the album as "Paisley Park Recording, Somewhere in Minnesota").

.

Prince reportedly gave the song to André Cymone after Cymone's mother asked Prince for a song (Cymone himself was too proud to do so). André Cymone recorded lead vocal overdubs between late 1984 and Summer 1985 at one of four studios (which one is not known): Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA, USA; Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA; Celestial Sound, New York, NY, USA; or Metro Studio, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

.

Prince also referred to "the dance electric" in the song God, recorded three days later.

In 2001, a 1986 live version by Prince and the Revolution was included on NPG Ahdio Show # 7, but the track was not available separately.

.

In 2012, a mostly-instrumental rehearsal version by Prince and the New Power Generation, likely recorded in mid-April 2012, was streamed on drfunkenberry.com to promote the forthcoming Welcome 2 Australia Tour; the site stated that "To begin every week of rehearsal, to get the rust off, Prince and the band jam one song for 30-45 minutes."

[Edited 7/16/16 10:52am]

purplethunder3121 said:

tish9311 said:

Did Prince and Andre work on this song together? Did Prince do his own version of this song.

From princevault:

The Dance Electric is the first track on André Cymone's third studio album A.C., and, four weeks before the album's release, The Dance Electric was released as the album's first single. This track is the only studio collaboration betweenPrince and André Cymone during Cymone's solo career following his departure from Prince's band. In 2011, an expanded edition of the album was released on CD, including the Edited Version a.k.a. Single Version of the song.

.

Initial tracking for Prince's initial version took place on 17 August 1984 (two days before The Screams Of Passion) at theFlying Cloud Drive Warehouse, Eden Prairie, MN, USA (listed on the album as "Paisley Park Recording, Somewhere in Minnesota").

.

Prince reportedly gave the song to André Cymone after Cymone's mother asked Prince for a song (Cymone himself was too proud to do so). André Cymone recorded lead vocal overdubs between late 1984 and Summer 1985 at one of four studios (which one is not known): Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA, USA; Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA; Celestial Sound, New York, NY, USA; or Metro Studio, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

.

Prince also referred to "the dance electric" in the song God, recorded three days later.

In 2001, a 1986 live version by Prince and the Revolution was included on NPG Ahdio Show # 7, but the track was not available separately.

.

In 2012, a mostly-instrumental rehearsal version by Prince and the New Power Generation, likely recorded in mid-April 2012, was streamed on drfunkenberry.com to promote the forthcoming Welcome 2 Australia Tour; the site stated that "To begin every week of rehearsal, to get the rust off, Prince and the band jam one song for 30-45 minutes."

[Edited 7/16/16 10:52am]

Thank you puplethuner3121

Personally, my favorite "Prince songs" are a lot of stuff he gave away.

Things like "101", I've said it before but people would still be freaking out if Prince put that out with his vocals.

tish9311 said:

purplethunder3121 said:

From princevault:

The Dance Electric is the first track on André Cymone's third studio album A.C., and, four weeks before the album's release, The Dance Electric was released as the album's first single. This track is the only studio collaboration betweenPrince and André Cymone during Cymone's solo career following his departure from Prince's band. In 2011, an expanded edition of the album was released on CD, including the Edited Version a.k.a. Single Version of the song.

.

Initial tracking for Prince's initial version took place on 17 August 1984 (two days before The Screams Of Passion) at theFlying Cloud Drive Warehouse, Eden Prairie, MN, USA (listed on the album as "Paisley Park Recording, Somewhere in Minnesota").

.

Prince reportedly gave the song to André Cymone after Cymone's mother asked Prince for a song (Cymone himself was too proud to do so). André Cymone recorded lead vocal overdubs between late 1984 and Summer 1985 at one of four studios (which one is not known): Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA, USA; Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA; Celestial Sound, New York, NY, USA; or Metro Studio, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

.

Prince also referred to "the dance electric" in the song God, recorded three days later.

In 2001, a 1986 live version by Prince and the Revolution was included on NPG Ahdio Show # 7, but the track was not available separately.

.

In 2012, a mostly-instrumental rehearsal version by Prince and the New Power Generation, likely recorded in mid-April 2012, was streamed on drfunkenberry.com to promote the forthcoming Welcome 2 Australia Tour; the site stated that "To begin every week of rehearsal, to get the rust off, Prince and the band jam one song for 30-45 minutes."

[Edited 7/16/16 10:52am]

Thank you puplethuner3121

I don't believe 'collaboration' would be the best word to describe this one.
This was a Prince & the Revolution song, that Prince gave to Andre.
All Andre did was do the voice over. Lisa & Wendy vocally/musically are still on the song.
Most likely Prince on some backing maybe, and definately on instruments. I don't know who else was on this one. This song was done around the time Prince and his band were doing a lot of music/rehearsal as mentioned above Screams of Passion Feline(the rest ofthe Family session) 'Roadhouse Garden' music and other stuff

The awesomeness of this song

the intensity and urgency

the timelessness of the music and message

The Dance Electric is one of my favorites

and I love that they did it on the Parade tour sometimes

Is there a copy of this song on youtube? I need to hear it.

Listening to it now, very Prince sounding. I think I liked it back in the day. I must admit, I didn't really pay attention to the lyrics but I did while listening to the song today.

Don't call them nobodies, they just aren't superstars