80s Hard Rock & Glam Hits

Dance on your own with Billy Idol's "Dancing With Myself"! His iconic debut solo single (1981/82) bursts with New Wave energy and Power Pop hooks. Originally by Generation X (1980), Idol's driving version launched his solo career with its rebellious self-reliance theme and undeniable beat.

First recorded with his punk band Generation X in 1980, Billy Idol re-recorded "Dancing With Myself" for his solo debut single release starting in 1981 and included on his 1982 US EP/album. This defining solo version perfectly blends driving Power Pop guitar energy with the synthesizers and cool detachment of New Wave, capturing Idol's transition while retaining punk attitude within a polished rock sound influenced by Glam Rock aesthetics.

While not his biggest initial chart hit, "Dancing With Myself" became an enduring club favorite and MTV staple. Its energetic rhythm makes it a fantastic workout song. The lyrics, depicting solitary dancing amidst couples, are famously interpreted with a double entendre referencing self-pleasure. It remains one of Billy Idol’s most iconic tracks, embodying youthful energy and defiant independence today, April 13, 2025.

SONG MEANING: On the surface, "Dancing With Myself" describes observing couples on a dance floor ("Bodies close and bodies touching") while choosing or being left to dance alone, suggesting themes of alienation or self-sufficient independence. However, given the title and suggestive lyrics ("sweat, sweat, sweat," "touching myself"), it's widely interpreted, and acknowledged by Idol, as a clever double entendre for masturbation.