The Politics of Dancing

I’ve always thought that the ’80s were an underrated decade, particularly musically. The outrageous, electronic music of the decade can really be appreciated in retrospect as a reaction against the conservatism of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. And, somehow, it has become relevant again. Consider, for example, this video of the ’80s classic, “The Politics of Dancing,” in which dancing is presented as a form of protest against authoritarian government. (Not such a crazy idea; yesterday’s Times had a piece about the dangers of dancing in Iraq.) Not the best video, but it shows that the more things change….

Anyway, there are plenty of reasons to enjoy this video other than its politics. The electronic drums! That keyboard player! Those sideburns!

Those were the days…