"Crying at the Discotheque" by Alcazar - laziest record ever or work of visionary genius?

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Like the song says, I'm standing on the borderline.

― K Nakerzyiad, Monday, 17 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Here's what Tim sez:

"Somewhat unsurprisingly, Crying at the Disoteque is as perfect a fusion of house and Abba as you might hope for (or necessarily want) – a brisk but fluffy groove, emotive chord progressions parading a sort of extroverted misery, verses that sound like choruses and choruses that sound like national anthems. Almost as addictive as Steps’ take on "Tragedy" – and that’s high praise indeed."

― Tim, Monday, 17 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Check the original source of the sample 'Spacer' - Shiela B. Devotion - this track is personally hard-wired, courtesy of K-Tel's Space Invaders compilation from 1980 (yes, it has not one, but TWO Dollar tracks), so I really can't comment on whether or not it's an improvement.

― K-reg, Monday, 17 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I should noted that my review came from a collection of singles reviews preceded by the question: "you know those songs you listen to ten times in a row, and then never again ever?

― Tim, Monday, 17 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

six months pass...

After surfing around for songs from the Queer as Folk soundtrack on the net, I ran into Crying at the Discotheque which I found to be one of the turning points in many varieties of music. This song has an emotional message that is backed up by strong lyrics. I don't think this song could have came off any better and anyone who actually takes the chance to find music that can often become relatively obscure overnight would be very pleased to find this diamond in the rough. To say that this isn't a work of genius would be a total destruction of this song and the message it stands for. Never have I heard a song that was able to capture a moment so well through it's words while still pumping out a catchy and crea

― Jason Yeoman, Tuesday, 9 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I was ranting about how much I liked this song last summer. It's the type of breezy-sounding single that would normally have me running for the hills in terror, yet there's something compelling about its execution that I can't deny. It should have been a bigger hit, dammit.

― Dan Perry, Tuesday, 9 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I heard this today and realised I don't like it because the DJ voice sounds like Irish golden oldies classic DJ Larry Gogan.

― Ronan, Tuesday, 9 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

not as good as sexual guarantee. i wish simon reynolds was here *he'd* be able to tell me why it was great. i honestly can't say why, but i think it's in the top 5 singles of the year.

― piscesboy, Tuesday, 9 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

And for people who didn't know it yet, the Army Of Lovers production team is behind this. Which of course explains a lot...

Although I still think Plaything Into Space uses that particular Spacer sample better. Or is that a Club-ist attitude?

― Siegbran Hetteson, Tuesday, 9 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Have people heard the follow-up cover of "Don't You Want Me"?

― Tim, Tuesday, 9 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I just heard it today. Jury's out on it so far; all I know right now is that I don't hate it.

The remix of "Crying At The Discotheque", however, is one of the greatest things I've ever heard.

― Dan Perry, Tuesday, 9 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

At any rate it's in the running to be awarded "Most Faithful Cover Version" ever. They may as well have just looped a stronger house beat under the original.

"Cryin' At The Discoteque" still rocks though.

― Tim, Tuesday, 9 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Have people heard the follow-up cover of "Don't You Want Me"?

Actually, the followup was Sexual Guarantee. Especially the "Johan S Vocal Club Mix" is excellent. Don't You Want Me is pretty terrible if you ask me. Even the first single Shine On was better.

― Siegbran Hetteson, Wednesday, 10 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Sexual Guarantee" is FANTASTIC!!!! I swear, where were these guys back when everyone was raving about M People and The Bucketheads?

― Dan Perry, Wednesday, 10 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I swear, where were these guys back when everyone was raving about M People and The Bucketheads?

Prancing around in frilly lace costumes accompanied by a huge breasted nurse in the Army Of Lovers videos?

― Siegbran Hetteson, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I nominate the previous post as 'Compelling and Undeniable Answer of the Year.' :-)

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

two years pass...

Can anyone tell me what's going on in the video for this song?? with the animals and whatnot?? i had never heard of this group until i went to europe last week and heard "the world we live in" over and over... what a fabulous song!!

― dave k, Saturday, 18 September 2004 23:09 (twenty-one years ago)

oh i just figured it out... it's a scifi movie shoot and the animals are the aliens!

― dave k, Sunday, 19 September 2004 04:37 (twenty-one years ago)

One of the guys in Alcazar had a hair transplant done on him a couple of years back. That's the reason I actually respect Alcazar.
But sometimes I wonder — what's the two girls actual role in the band? Compared to the Hair transplant and the other guy they're... just fillers in the band lineup, non? It's like a inverted A-Teens thing, I mean, come on, why are there two insignificant little boys in A-Teens now that they're not even singing Abba songs?

l8er d00ds

― Kaiser of Köln (Kaiser of Köln), Sunday, 19 September 2004 12:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, there aren't, because the A*Teens are no more. And the boys did occasionally sing. "I Promised Myself", people!

Alcazar are great. I picked up "Casino" cheap and it made me very very happy. I've only heard half of the new Sweden-only album, but it sounds very fine too.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 19 September 2004 12:33 (twenty-one years ago)

the girls play pivotal chorus roles in "the world we live in" which i played about 20 times last night, working late. I really urge you all to see this "discotheque" video - my favorite part is when the eagle starts walking like an egyptian.

― dave k, Sunday, 19 September 2004 15:55 (twenty-one years ago)

My jury's out on 'The World We Live In'.

― B.A.R.M.S. (Barima), Sunday, 19 September 2004 18:04 (twenty-one years ago)

I like it but I would almost prefer the bootleg to be the other way round. The backing music in "Land of Confusion" had a big effect on my early childhood.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Sunday, 19 September 2004 21:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Crying In The Discotheque > The World We Live In

― Atnevon (Atnevon), Sunday, 19 September 2004 22:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I am pretty much addicted to "The World We Live In" lately

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Monday, 20 September 2004 01:26 (twenty-one years ago)

bootleg?? what is "land of confusion"?

― dave k, Monday, 20 September 2004 02:15 (twenty-one years ago)

A Genesis song.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 20 September 2004 02:16 (twenty-one years ago)

"The World We Live In" marries the lyrics/vocal melody of "Land Of Confusion" to the backing music of Diana Ross's "Upside Down". It's like a mass-market version of Richard X!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 20 September 2004 02:19 (twenty-one years ago)

But without the alcazar namecheck, no doubt!

― dave k, Monday, 20 September 2004 03:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Why is Europop in 2004>>>Europop in late 90s?

I still shudder at the memory of the Vengaboys...

― Jacob (Jacob), Monday, 20 September 2004 03:49 (twenty-one years ago)

I think Euro typically works as a nicely unpretentious counter to "cooler" club sounds. Club music was very uncool and ultra-populist in 98/99 (trance) so euro had to move further and further into the realms of extreme naffness. Now that everyone's into electro and the like, Euro can safely reclaim the more inviting territory of camp pop seriousness.

Vengaboys weren't *all* bad though.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Monday, 20 September 2004 06:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Vengaboys did kitch pop tunes very well, "Kiss (When The Sun Don't Shine)" and "Shalalalala" are both excellent. The first two singles of theirs ("Up And Down" and "We Like To Party") are basically interchangeable, but the second is obviously better.

Fuck it, "Kiss" is fantastic. If I didn't post on another thread, an act called The Vengaboys had a hit in India recently. I still don't know if it's the same producers or wot.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 20 September 2004 11:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah but you CANNOT defend "we're going to ibiza". Which was their biggest hit.

― Jacob (Jacob), Monday, 20 September 2004 12:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Watch me! It's grea.... no. You're right. I thought "Boom Boom Boom Boom!" was their biggest hit, though.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 20 September 2004 13:00 (twenty-one years ago)

"We're Going To Ibiza" made absolutely no impact in the US that I can remember.

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Monday, 20 September 2004 13:05 (twenty-one years ago)

4 Vengaboys Up And Down Nov 1998
3 Vengaboys We Like To Party! (Vengabus) Mar 1999
1 Vengaboys Boom Boom Boom Boom Jun 1999
1 Vengaboys We're Going To Ibiza! Sep 1999
3 Vengaboys Kiss (When The Sun Don't Shine) Dec 1999
5 Vengaboys Shalala Lala Mar 2000
6 Vengaboys Uncle John From Jamaica Jul 2000
19 Vengaboys Cheekah Bow Bow (That Computer Song) Oct 2000
28 Vengaboys Forever As One Feb 2001

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 20 September 2004 13:06 (twenty-one years ago)

WOW who knew there were so many Vengasingles????!?!?!?

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Monday, 20 September 2004 13:21 (twenty-one years ago)

"We're Going To Ibiza" made absolutely no impact in the US that I can remember.

au contraire, maybe this was the final piece in the puzzle re P Diddy's perplexing penchant

― teh pow! (blueski), Monday, 20 September 2004 13:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Someday I will understand what you're talking about there and then the hate will flow free and clear like a babbling brook filled with flick-kinves.

― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Monday, 20 September 2004 13:30 (twenty-one years ago)

And that's not even counting the other Vengasingles "Parada De Tettas", "To Brazil!" and "Superfly Slick Dick".

― Siegbran (eofor), Monday, 20 September 2004 13:51 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

With the possible exception of "Ante Up", this is the best UK top 10 single of the decade so far.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 3 October 2005 10:38 (twenty years ago)

What is? Can't be "Crying At The Discotheque" 'cos that only got to #13.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 3 October 2005 10:40 (twenty years ago)

Marcello, I stand corrected. I could have sworn this got to #8, although I am probably thinking of the charts on The Box.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 3 October 2005 10:41 (twenty years ago)

Is it too early for an Alcazar revival?

― The Ghost of Black Elegance (Dan Perry), Monday, 3 October 2005 12:30 (twenty years ago)

two years pass...

If there is music as stone cold fucking genius as this, I want to know about it NOW!

P.S. I know Army of Lovers and Midi, Maxi & Efti.

Thank you.

― Kevin John Bozelka, Saturday, 29 March 2008 08:22 (seventeen years ago)

The passion of the groove
A generation on the move
Joining of the disco tribes
Let the music take you high

Poetry of the gods, or a wee bit embarrassing?

― Ismael Klata, Saturday, 29 March 2008 14:08 (seventeen years ago)

Poetry of the gods. After all, they consult the Oracle of Delphi later in the album on the done-right "Paradise." "Crying At The Discotheque" is the vision they receive. Only the Divine know the correct Chicistry that transforms wee bit embarrassing verse into poetry and lazy song into a work of visionary genius. And no mere non-diety can sing with such authoritative vacuity.

― Kevin John Bozelka, Saturday, 29 March 2008 18:02 (seventeen years ago)

seven months pass...

If there is music as stone cold fucking genius as this, I want to know about it NOW!

I've finally found one: There But For The Grace Of God Go I by Machine. I want more.

― Ismael Klata, Monday, 10 November 2008 21:27 (sixteen years ago)

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