You Can Dance (1987) - Album Review

(Album artwork by Herb Ritts)

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The day has finally arrived and we are going to get right into it! 

"You can dance, you can dance if you want to....get into the groove". 

You Can Dance was released on November 17, 1987 and it was Madonna's first remix album. 

Initially she was not so keen on hearing remixed versions of her songs, as she thought people drastically changed them, erasing her original vision: "I hate it when people do master mixes of my records. I don't want to hear my songs changed like that".

For this reason Madonna decided to remix some of her songs by herself. With the help of Patrick Leonard and John "Jellybean" Benitez, she took six songs from her previous three studio albums (Holiday, Everybody, Physical Attraction, Into The Groove, Over and Over, Where's The Party) plus one unreleased demo from the "True Blue" sessions (Spotlight) and remixed them all in a dance tune. 

(Photo by Herb Ritts)

A groundbreaking release at the time, You Can Dance is structured as a non-stop mix, meaning that each song eventually fades into the following one, highlighting the dance nature of the album. You Can Dance was basically the original Confessions On a Dance Floor and it served as an inspiration for other artists.

Released two months after Madonna successfully ended her massive Who's That Girl Tour, the album was critically appreciated and became a huge commercial success. To date, You Can Dance has sold nearly 6 million copies and it is the second best selling remix album in history, behind Blood On The Dance Floor by Michael Jackson. 

"This one was for the fans, for the kids in the club who wanted to hear these songs in a fresh new way"

(Photo by Herb Ritts)

REVIEW

Side A

Spotlight: The album starts with the first and only single released. A dance-pop track, Spotlight is a self-empowering anthem. Madonna tells us to put ourselves out there and go after our dreams: "No one knows you better than you know yourself / Do the thing you want don't wait for someone else / Life is just a party that's all you need to know / It's your turn to shine baby let yourself go". 

The "multi-chorus" feature, a killer bassline, instrumental breaks, a short piano solo towards the end, an amazing vocal performance by Madonna. This song has it all. 

Spotlight was released as a single only in Japan and it peaked at #3 on the Japanese International Singles Chart in 1988. 

Holiday: Spotlight slowly fades into this new, incredible version of Holiday, Madonna's first mainstream hit. This version presents more prominent drums, in line with the popular sound of 1987. The song, now an electronic dance number, still preserves its original funky nature and it will serve as a reference for the version that will appear on The Immaculate Collection in 1990. 

John "Jellybean" Benitez said about the track: "There are new sounds on the 1987 version of Holiday but it had a groove that needed no improvement". 

Everybody: Holiday fades into this new version of Madonna's first ever single, Everybody. Maybe it is just me but this version reminds me a lot of the version performed during the "Virgin Tour"(but not as funky, unfortunately). As with Holiday, the drums are much more prominent compared to the original. The song features an amazing drum break in the middle section. Emphasis is put on Madonna's verse "dance and sing, get up and do your thing", which opens and ends the track. 

I've never been that crazy about this version and I happen to think another song could have taken its place on the album. Still an enjoyable track anyway but I think the "funk" and the groove of the original version were erased almost completely. 

Physical Attraction: This song starting while Madonna sings "dance and sing, get up and do your thing" is one of the best moments on the album. Physical Attraction was barely changed from its original version. It is about fifteen seconds shorter, Madonna's vocals sound more polished but the production is pretty much the same. I absolutely adore this song and I love how Madonna gave it new popularity by including it on this album. A synth-funk masterpiece.

(Photo by Herb Ritts)

Side B

Over and Over: The holy Side B starts with this massive new version of Over and Over, the ultimate motivational anthem. Echoes, reverberations, bass, drum breaks, whistles, this is the absolute best version of this already amazing track. Seven minutes of pure energy. Possibly my favorite moment on the entire album and all time top 10 worthy, in all honesty. 

Into The Groove: We are not done yet. If you thought the original version from 1985 was the ultimate one you'll have to change your mind. This version truly makes Into The Groove shine even more with multiple drum breaks and an outstanding piano solo. This is the version Madonna presented at the Who's That Girl Tour and made every stadium crowd go crazy. Without a doubt the definitive version of Into The Groove. Eight minutes of bliss. 

Where's The Party: Into The Groove beautifully fades into the party anthem of the 1980's. Where's The Party, the smash hit that never was, is presented in all its new glory here. The multi-chorus feature is well showcased on this version. What was a pop gem is now an electronic dance hymn. "We can make it all right / We can make you dance / We can make the party last all night". 

In conclusion...

You Can Dance is one of my favorite albums by Madonna. 

I love how the songs were impeccably produced. The vocals are never overpowered by the production, preserving the melodic quality of the songs. I think this is what Madonna was referring to when she said other people didn't know how to remix her tracks properly. Very little attention was paid to the melody. 

The photoshoot Herb Ritts did for the album was also quite striking and continued Madonna's homage to Hispanic culture. 

I think this album was an important release for Madonna's career and artistic evolution, as it concluded what I consider the "pop queen" era, which started in 1982. With this record, Madonna reached the absolute peak of her innate ear for mass pleasing melodies (some people truly do not get how hard it is to create pop music), she was now ready to progress and become the controversial, daring, opinionated and brave artist that we know today. 

Let your body move to the music