weston culture » Joy Retro Disco

Joy Retro Disco presents What You Waiting For by Gwen Stefani

trish — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:14:17 +0000

I’ve been cleaning out my iTunes over the last couple of weeks – desperately trying to squeeze another couple of gigs room on my hard-drive – and this song just jumped out at me while I was trawling through the least-played lists last night.

I know it’s a noughties song and so is barely retro, but there’s something about it that makes me want to get up and move. I’m not sure if it’s the OTT Alice-inspired video, or its theme of overcoming writer’s block, or the uncensored refrain screeching out “Take a chance you stupid ho!” (or all three) but I like it.

This is the song of my life right now, and as such, it is inducted into the glorious Joy Retro Disco Hall o’Fame. Welcome the Gaga-inspiration, Ms Stefani.

Joy Retro Disco presents What a Wonderful World by Axwell & Bob Sinclair feat. Ron Carroll

trish — Sat, 09 May 2009 03:36:43 +0000

Joy Retro Disco presents

Uplifting Tunes for your Weekend

I must have first heard this tune when I was having a really bad day, as I recall my initial thoughts of it being “bloody useless hippy crap”.

However, my bad day passed and after hearing this 2008 dance anthem a few more times, I really really warmed to it. Warmed to the point where the harmonies of “What a wonderful world it would be” often get stuck in my head on a continual loop.

What I love about the song now, and I think what I reacted to on the first listening, is the spoken word bit where Ron Carroll lists what a wonderful world would look like – people are smiling, having a good time, loving one another, sharing, there is only peace, love, joy.

I know it’s over the top but if you’re familiar with the concept of redressing, then you’ll know that you often need to swing things all the way over to the polar opposite before they will balance in the middle again. So, in living a modern western life, we see and hear so much negative stuff in the world that we need a litany of wonderful to get some balance back.

Interestingly, while I first heard of redressing through politics and philosophy, it seems to be being borne out in the research in the field of positive psychology. They have found that to flourish in a relationship, work or life, you need about three positive encounters for each negative encounter (Losada). Some even say you need at least five positive encounters for each negative (Gottman).

So while many may scoff at the idealistic lyrics of this tune, they actually serve a purpose, and if we allowed ourselves more positive encounters then our lives would be richer for it.

But back to the music… I mainly love this tune because it is a love generation, trance anthem that can getting you tapping into the warm fuzzies without attending a weekend workshop or scoffing a handful of ecstasy.

Am off to twirl with abandon now…

Joy Retro Disco presents I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash

trish — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:08:43 +0000

Uplifting tunes for your weekend.

Oh, it was tough to decide which version of this uplifting tune to go with this week, but I had to go with the original by the dude who actually wrote and performed the original hit, Johnny Nash. Nash had a number one hit with I Can See Clearly Now in 1972 (four weeks at number one on the billboard charts), but the tune is probably more well-known for the 1993 cover by Jimmy Cliff, which was included in the soundtrack of the film Cool Runnings.

Whichever version you prefer, this is a tune of hope, a tune to sing along to when things are going well and a tune to really crank up when things go to shit. So adaptable.

It’s gonna be a bright, bright sunshiney day.

Joy Retro Disco presents Shackles (Praise You) by Mary Mary

trish — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:55:06 +0000

Uplifting tunes for your weekend

Take those shackles off my feet so I can dance.

Okay, I may not be about to praise “him” because I’m, like, an atheist, and as a feminist, I would have difficulty believing in a patriarchal all-loving, all-condemning god. But.

I love this song because it taps into a joyful hope that is so necessary at the moment, and it crosses over into mainstream pop because it is about overcoming adversity.

Mary Mary copped a bit of flack from Christians for the pop success of this tune. But one would think that the impact it’s had as a mainstream hit would give it way more “spreading the gospel” credentials than whoever the latest godboy-band is.

Everybody needs hope. Everyone needs some sort of emancipation. Whoever or whatever your god may be, you get the opportunity to toss off those shackles now with Mary Mary.

Joy Retro Disco presents H.A.P.P.Y. Radio by Edwin Starr

trish — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:40:11 +0000

Uplifting tunes for your weekend!

Soul singer Edwin Starr might be more well-known for his 1970 classic, War (What is it good for), but it’s this little 1979 stomper that I love.

I’m not sure what it is about this tune but it has been well and truly stuck in my head all week. It’s infectious and unselfconsciously positive. You gotta love that.

Also, being from the true disco era it lends itself to very authentic disco dance moves. You know what I mean. Think soul train. Think back, forth, back, forth, hip, swivel, swivel, point.

In fact, I tested out the true joyocity of this tune today by playing it for Caro. While she is not an avowed advocate of the disco beat, she does know how to move her feet. Together we bring you this Y.M.C.A.-inspired chorie of the H.A.P.P.Y.

H. Okay legs apart, knees bent, with arms raised and bent to the sides. “You are an H!”

A. Legs apart, arms together above the head

P. Legs together, both arms together and curving toward body at left hip

P. Repeat

Y. Legs together, arms apart. [Finger pointing optional]

Then make up your own moves. Impro. Impro. Impro.

Get dancin!

4 My People by Missy Elliott

trish — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:01:10 +0000

Joy Retro Disco presents

Uplifting Tunes for your weekend!

Oh, I had a dilemma this week folks. Choose a tune with god- or drug-references?

Drug won. But only because I was trying to redress a very bad I did in my Top Tunes for a Women’s Dance list last weekend. I didn’t put any Missy Elliott in. So here is Mssy Elliott giving props to her peeps. (Oh dear, I have had way too much caffeine.)

Actually the reason Ms Missy got this week’s top tune is because everytime I hear this version of 4 My People (thank Basement Jaxx), I just want to move. I feeeel the spirit – of a different kind. So to me, it doesn’t really matter if it’s about club culture and taking durgs or not, it’s a tune that can equally be danced to in the lounge room, kitchen or office. (Yes, I tested it. It works.)

So turn it up, grab your glow sticks, and lets celebrate the fact that we have sassy women like Ms Missy hollering for the females in a male-dominated culture.

Ten top tunes for a Women’s Dance 2009-style

trish — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 11:39:45 +0000

Happy International Women’s Day! Woooo!

Wave your handbags in the air! Shake your chardies like you just don’t care!

International Women’s Day is usually a time when we stop and take stock of where our society’s at on the gender agenda. We acknowledge and celebrate those who have come before us, who lobbied, yelled, insisted, or politely but firmly let those with power know that you couldn’t treat over half the population like second-class citizens. We also look at what still needs to be done to end discrimination based on gender.

But, instead of listing off all the wonderful women who inspire us here at westonculture, I thought I’d take a different tack. (I have a hunch that those lists will be flowing freely around the net this week – and I want to write about wonder-women everyday, not just one day a year…). So.

Remember when IWD was all about marching through the streets and then dancing all night at a women’s dance? Women’s dances seem to be as rare as sanitary belts these days. But unlike the elastic little helper, I really miss them. They were places where all the sisterhood – femocrats, mothers and dykes – could get together and celebrate the joy of being born with a womb.

So I’d like to celebrate the celebration of women. And it got me thinking… If we were to have a women’s dance tonight, what ten songs would be essential? Would we still be bouncing around to the seventies’ favourites or would the modern women’s dance include new female empowered voices?

Here’s my Top Ten Tunes for a Women’s Dance 2009-style

10. Mr Big Stuff – Jean Knight Yes, well some things don’t change. Mr Big Stuff still struts his sense of entitlement in 2009 and women are still singing the song. Are you going to continue putting up with his shit? Hell, no.

9. Respect – Aretha Franklin The anthem that launched a thousand divorces? A song that also ticks all the boxes for an IWD anthem: Women rule? Check. Men drool? Check.

8. Lady Marmalade (remake) – Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya & Pink And one for the laydeez of the oldest and most empowered profession (according to Scarlet Alliance anyway). Voulez-vous coucher avec Christina, Kim, Mya and Pink?

7. She Works Hard for the Money – Donna Summers Do doop do doop. So hard for it honey! Do doop do doop. She works hard for the money so you better treat her right. … Nuff said.

6. I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor A song of strength and resilience that perfectly encapsulates that moment when we realise that no matter what happens, we will make it through this.

5. Sweet About Me – Gabriella Cilmi Because sometimes you’ve got to ditch the Good Girl, the sweet one, and let em know you’re not their “Love”, “Darl” or “Sweetie”. Repeat after Ms Cilmi, “Nothin’ sweet about me!”

4. Androgyny – Garbage One for the bois? Nah, just one to remind us what Madame De Beauvoir taught us – one is not born a woman… thank goddess…

3. Lola’s Theme – Shapeshifters There’s something satisfying about dancing around singing “IIIII’m a different person” at the top of your voice. It’s like announcing to the world that you don’t have to be defined by circumstance, that you have a smidgeon of control in your life, and life does get better.

2. Im Nin Alu – Ofra Haza Every women’s dance needs a song where you can flail your arms around and dance like a dervish. And heck, I think we need a tune that translates (from the Hebrew) to “Even if the gates to the rich are closed, the gates to heaven are not closed.”

1. We are Family – Sister Sledge Sure, women in 2009 may live very diverse lives, but it’s what we have in common, our desire for better lives for all, that makes us powerful. We are family. I’ve got all my sisters and me.

Ahh, we have come a long way baby.

Happy IWD 2009!

Can’t Stop Moving by Sonny J

trish — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:54:28 +0000

Joy Retro Disco presents:

Uplifting tunes for your weekend!

I thought I’d get a little bit modern with this weekend’s tune and play something new(ish).

This little sampled leg-shaker from Sonny J is one of the most infectious pop-dance tracks I’ve heard in recent years. I’m not sure if it’s because it samples one of my favourite musical genres (70s pop funk), or if it’s the cheesy new-age affirmation in the middle, or because the video is just so darn cute – with all those happy faces and saturated colour. Yes the spirit is moving…

Don your purple and orange dungarees, turn it up and shuffle to the love fest…

Valentine tune: You + Me = Love by Undisputed Truth

trish — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:30:58 +0000

Joy Retro Disco presents:

Uplifting tunes for your weekend!

Twas the night before Valentines and all through the house, not a creature was sleeping, not even a mouse.

Oh, it’s been a frantic V Eve here at Club C’ran. With the day of the valentine tomorrow, we’ve been a-looking for a festive tune to bring in the new year of lurv. We had a long-list and then a short-list and have finally chosen the positive tune to see in the new cheer.

It is Undisputed Truth’s 1976 disco hit, You + Me = Love. There was strong competition on the love front. Donna Summer, Diana Ross and the C+C Music Factory were all contenders to the end, but it only took one spin of the Undisputed Truth’s tune through the big speakers to get the assembled (okay, Ms Ride) dancing in the halls.

Sure, the lyrics may not be the odes that are traditionally favoured in this season, but this tune has a hands-in-the-air fervour that brings the joy back to love. And, well, it’s just a lot a fun.

Oh, apparently it’s sung by Taka Boom, younger sister of Chaka Khan.

Kick off your heels, close your eyes, put your hands in the air and enjoy the next 10 minutes of joyful love.

Mucho love-o on this weekend de valentino!

Proud by Heather Small

trish — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 07:56:38 +0000

Joy Retro Disco presents:

Uplifting tunes for your weekend

“What have you done today to make you feel proud?” asks Ms Small, in this anthem to self-belief and the power of positive change.

I thought this was a fitting tune for this weekend as the show that made it a mainstream earworm, The Biggest Loser, is back on the box this Sunday. That show’s use of this tune as its theme song in previous seasons has had me loving and loathing it – sometimes at the same time. Sure, on one level it is a cheesy 90s dance anthem with double-doses of self-help cheerleading lyrics, but on another level it’s, um, actually there is only one level.

There’s a certain irony about choosing this song as a positive tune because “pride” is not regarded as a virtue in the mainstream world. Not only is it forever cursed as one of the seven deadly sins – and it’s apparently the thing that comes before a fall - but it is also regarded as a “low energy” state by those of a new-age bent. Pride gets a caning in David Hawkins’ book, Power vs Force, as yet another example of the ego-gone-wild destroying the world.

But these people have obviously not been gay. If they had, then they would understand that being proud of who you are when the world tells you that you are worthless, or worse, you should be strung up, is not about ego. It’s about believing that you are a worthwhile human being who deserves to be loved and treated with respect.

And that’s what this song is about. As its recent popularity has shown, it’s not just queers who need a little pride. I reckon whenever we can say, “I am living true to my values and my self”, we should feel proud because we live in a society that has other ideas.

So, go on, step out of the ordinary! Feel your soul ascending! Get on your way! No one can stop you now!

What have you done today to make you feel proud?