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"'''Dance in the Dark'''" is a song by American recording artist [[Lady Gaga]], from her second studio album ''[[The Fame Monster]]''. Recorded in 2009, the song was inspired by the intimate experience between two people alone in a bedroom. According to Gaga, "the record is about a girl who likes to have sex with the lights off because she is embarrassed about her body." She explained that she came across such women while working on the [[MAC AIDS Fund]], and that the song is not about freedom, but rather the assurance that Gaga understood their feelings. The song was initially planned to be released after "[[Telephone (song)|Telephone]]" but due to a dispute between Gaga and her record company, "[[Alejandro (song)|Alejandro]]" was released instead.
"'''Dance in the Dark'''" is a song by American recording artist [[Lady Gaga]], from her second studio album ''[[The Fame Monster]]''. Recorded in 2009, the song was inspired by the intimate experience between two people alone in a bedroom. According to Gaga, "the record is about a girl who likes to have sex with the lights off because she is embarrassed about her body." She explained that she came across such women while working on the [[MAC AIDS Fund]], and that the song is not about freedom, but rather the assurance that Gaga understood their feelings. The song was initially planned to be released after "[[Telephone (song)|Telephone]]" but due to a dispute between Gaga and her record company, "[[Alejandro (song)|Alejandro]]" was released instead.


Containing influences of [[retro (music)|retro]] and [[New Wave music]], "Dance in the Dark" begins with a [[stuttering]] introduction and a spoken interlude, where Gaga takes the names of famous people, who met with a tragic end of their lives. Critics gave mostly positive reviews of the song. It charted on the lower regions of the [[UK Singles Chart]] and inside the top-ten in Hungary. Gaga performed "Dance in the Dark" as the opening song of [[The Monster Ball Tour]]. In the US shows, she appeared behind a [[scrim (lighting)|scrim lit]] screen to perform the song, while in the UK shows Gaga performed it on a set reminiscent of New York City night scene. The song was also performed on the [[2010 BRIT Awards]], dedicating it to her departed friend [[Alexander McQueen]].
Containing influences of [[retro (music)|retro]] and [[New Wave music]], "Dance in the Dark" begins with a stuttering introduction and a spoken interlude, where Gaga takes the names of famous people, who met with a tragic end of their lives. Critics gave mostly positive reviews of the song. It charted on the lower regions of the [[UK Singles Chart]] and inside the top-ten in Hungary. Gaga performed "Dance in the Dark" as the opening song of [[The Monster Ball Tour]]. In the US shows, she appeared behind a [[scrim (lighting)|scrim lit]] screen to perform the song, while in the UK shows Gaga performed it on a set reminiscent of New York City night scene. The song was also performed on the [[2010 BRIT Awards]], dedicating it to her departed friend [[Alexander McQueen]].


==Background==
==Background==
Bill Lamb from [[About.com]] characterized the song as dealing with the "artifice of appearance".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top40.about.com/od/albums/fr/ladygagathefamemonster.htm|title=A Real Work of Pop Art – Not a Stopgap Release|last=Lamb|first=Bill|date=2009-11-29|work=''[[About.com]]''|publisher=[[The New York Times Company]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> To the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', Gaga described the inspiration behind "Dance in the Dark" as being the intimate experience taking place between two people alone in a bedroom. According to her, the record is about a girl who likes to have sex with the lights off, because she is embarrassed about her body. "She doesn't want her man to see her naked. She will be free, and she will let her inner animal out, but only when the lights are out", Gaga explained.<ref name="wisdom">{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/12/gaga-.html|title=Gaga Wisdom: Words from the Lady, Part 2 |last=Powers|first=Ann|date=2009-12-15|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> She added that like the song, she has to struggle with issues of body image and self-doubt in her own life.<ref name="explain"/> While working on the [[MAC AIDS Fund]], she realised that women of her age do not speak their mind, in fear that their boyfriends would not love them if they did so.<ref name="wisdom"/>
Bill Lamb from [[About.com]] characterized the song as dealing with the "artifice of appearance".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top40.about.com/od/albums/fr/ladygagathefamemonster.htm|title=A Real Work of Pop Art – Not a Stopgap Release|last=Lamb|first=Bill|date=2009-11-29|work=''[[About.com]]''|publisher=[[The New York Times Company]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> To the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', Gaga described the inspiration behind "Dance in the Dark" as being the intimate experience taking place between two people alone in a bedroom. According to her, the record is about a girl who likes to have sex with the lights off, because she is embarrassed about her body. "She doesn't want her man to see her naked. She will be free, and she will let her inner animal out, but only when the lights are out", Gaga explained.<ref name="wisdom">{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/12/gaga-.html|title=Gaga Wisdom: Words from the Lady, Part 2 |last=Powers|first=Ann|date=2009-12-15|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> She added that like the song, she has to struggle with issues of body image and self-doubt in her own life.<ref name="explain"/> While working on the [[MAC AIDS Fund]], she realised that women of her age do not speak their mind, in fear that their boyfriends would not love them if they did so.<ref name="wisdom"/>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
"All of these new things entering my life are changing the way I view my purpose, but ['Dance in the Dark'] in particular is about me wanting to live — but also, the song isn’t called 'Dance in the Light'. I’m not a [[gospel music|gospel singer]] trying to cross people over. What I’m saying is, 'I get it. I feel you, I feel the same way, and it’s OK.'<ref name="explain">{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1628355/20091216/lady_gaga.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga Explains Real Meaning Of 'Dance In The Dark'|last=Ditzian|first=Erik|date=2009-12-16|work=''[[MTV]]''|publisher=[[MTV Networks]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref>
"All of these new things entering my life are changing the way I view my purpose, but ['Dance in the Dark'] in particular is about me wanting to live — but also, the song isn’t called 'Dance in the Light'. I’m not a [[gospel music|gospel singer]] trying to cross people over. What I’m saying is, 'I get it. I feel you, I feel the same way, and it’s OK.'


"I hope and pray that I can inspire some sort of change in people subliminally through the show. They’re singing 'Dance in the Dark,' but they’re dancing and they’re free, they’re letting it out. But the songs are not about freedom, they’re about [the fact that] I get it. I feel the way you feel."<ref name="wisdom"/>
"I hope and pray that I can inspire some sort of change in people subliminally through the show. They’re singing 'Dance in the Dark,' but they’re dancing and they’re free, they’re letting it out. But the songs are not about freedom, they’re about [the fact that] I get it. I feel the way you feel."<ref name="wisdom"/><ref name="explain">{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1628355/20091216/lady_gaga.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga Explains Real Meaning Of 'Dance In The Dark'|last=Ditzian|first=Erik|date=2009-12-16|work=''[[MTV]]''|publisher=[[MTV Networks]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
The song was initially planned to be released after "[[Telephone (song)|Telephone]]" but due to a dispute between Gaga and her record company, "[[Alejandro (song)|Alejandro]]" was released instead.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/lady-gaga/news/202724-lady-gaga-elton-john|title=Lady GaGa Will Release Alejandro As Next Single|last=Reporter|first=MTV|date=2010-04-06|work=''MTV''|publisher=MTV Networks|accessdate=2010-05-05}}</ref>
The song was initially planned to be released after "[[Telephone (song)|Telephone]]" but due to a dispute between Gaga and her record company, "[[Alejandro (song)|Alejandro]]" was released instead.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/lady-gaga/news/202724-lady-gaga-elton-john|title=Lady GaGa Will Release Alejandro As Next Single|last=Reporter|first=MTV|date=2010-04-06|work=''MTV''|publisher=MTV Networks|accessdate=2010-05-05}}</ref>
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==Critical reception==
==Critical reception==
Bill Lamb from [[About.com]] praised the song, stating: "Going for an epic, tragic pop song, 'Dance in the Dark' churns along, heavy and gutsy with a sing-along chorus that is one of the best in Gaga's repertoire. This is my favorite type of pop because it has a lot of layers. The beat hits you first, and you can groove to the track on just that alone, but the melody asks politely for you to switch partners before Gaga smoothly cuts in and twirls you away into pop heaven."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dancemusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/Lady_Gaga_-_The_Fame_Monster.htm|title=Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster review|last=Lamb|first=Bill|date=2009-10-11|work=''About.com''|publisher=The New York Times Company}}</ref> Paul Lester from [[BBC]] felt that the song was "generic machine RnB".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/fbd3|title=Lady Gaga The Fame Monster Review|last=Lester|first=Paul|date=2009-11-20|work=''[[BBC]]''|publisher=[[BBC Online]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> Evan Sawdey from [[PopMatters]] commented that the song is a "delightfully dirty retro workout [...] to make for one surprisingly effective pop cocktail."<ref name="popmatters">{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/116603-lady-gaga-the-fame-monster|title=Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster < Review|last=Sawdey|first=Evan|date=2009-11-23|publisher=[[PopMatters]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> Scott Plagenhoef from [[Pitchfork Media]] felt that Gaga had morphed into [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] on the song.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13823-the-fame-monster/|title=Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster|last=Plagenhoef|first=Scott|date=2010-01-13|publisher=[[Pitchfork Media]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> Nick Levine from [[Digital Spy]] commented that "'Dance in the Dark' is the sort of song that, well, makes you want to dance with your top off in a grotty German bondage basement."<ref name="digi">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/albumreviews/a187843/lady-gaga-the-fame-monster.html|title=Music – Album Review – The Fame Monster|last=Levine|first=Nick|date=2009-11-23|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> Edna Gunderson from ''[[USA Today]]'' called the song "campy".<ref name="usa">{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2009-11-24-listen24_ST2_N.htm|title=Listen Up: Lady Gaga's 'Fame Monster' is so cool, it's cold|last=Gunderson|first=Edna|date=2009-11-24|work=[[USA Today]]|publisher=[[Dow Jones & Company]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> Sal Cinquemani from [[Slant Magazine]] commented that "'[[Bad Romance]]' and 'Dance in the Dark' are stacked with towering new-wave synths and seemingly endless hooks; if melodies could be time-stamped, these would have "'80s" branded on their asses. [...] The song isn't a cautionary tale per se, but a call to arms to misfits everywhere." She went on to declare the song as one of the highlights of ''The Fame Monster''.<ref name="slant">{{cite web|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/lady-gaga-the-fame-monster/1916|title=Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal|date=2009-11-18|publisher=[[Slant Magazine]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> Ben Patashnik from ''[[NME]]'' felt that "Dance in the Dark", alongwith another song "Monster", was "slightly disposable".<ref name="nme">{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/lady-gaga/10984|title=Album review: Lady Gaga – 'The Fame Monster' (Polydor)|last=Patashnik|first=Ben|date=2009-12-03|work=[[NME]]|publisher=[[IPC Media]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> Michael Hubbard from [[MusicOMH]] complimented the song for its "monumental chorus and some Madonna-esque spoken-word moments, including this shout out to a lost Royal: 'You will never fall apart Diana, you're still in our hearts / Never let you fall apart/ Together we'll dance in the dark.'"<ref name="omh">{{cite web|url=http://blog.musicomh.com/musicomh/2009/11/lady-gaga-the-fame-monster-trackbytrack.html|title=Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster, track-by-track|last=Hubbard|first=Michael|date=2009-11-23|publisher=[[MusicOMH]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref>
Bill Lamb from [[About.com]] praised the song, stating: "Going for an epic, tragic pop song, 'Dance in the Dark' churns along, heavy and gutsy with a sing-along chorus that is one of the best in Gaga's repertoire. This is my favorite type of pop because it has a lot of layers. The beat hits you first, and you can groove to the track on just that alone, but the melody asks politely for you to switch partners before Gaga smoothly cuts in and twirls you away into pop heaven."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dancemusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/Lady_Gaga_-_The_Fame_Monster.htm|title=Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster review|last=Lamb|first=Bill|date=2009-10-11|work=''About.com''|publisher=The New York Times Company}}</ref> Paul Lester from [[BBC]] felt that the song was "generic machine RnB".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/fbd3|title=Lady Gaga The Fame Monster Review|last=Lester|first=Paul|date=2009-11-20|work=''[[BBC]]''|publisher=[[BBC Online]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> Evan Sawdey from [[PopMatters]] commented that "Dance in the Dark", along with "Monster" are "delightfully dirty retro workout [...] to make for one surprisingly effective pop cocktail."<ref name="popmatters">{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/116603-lady-gaga-the-fame-monster|title=Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster < Review|last=Sawdey|first=Evan|date=2009-11-23|publisher=[[PopMatters]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> Scott Plagenhoef from [[Pitchfork Media]] felt that Gaga had morphed into [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] on the song.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13823-the-fame-monster/|title=Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster|last=Plagenhoef|first=Scott|date=2010-01-13|publisher=[[Pitchfork Media]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> Nick Levine from [[Digital Spy]] commented that "'Dance in the Dark' is the sort of song that, well, makes you want to dance with your top off in a grotty German bondage basement."<ref name="digi">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/albumreviews/a187843/lady-gaga-the-fame-monster.html|title=Music – Album Review – The Fame Monster|last=Levine|first=Nick|date=2009-11-23|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> Edna Gunderson from ''[[USA Today]]'' called the song "campy".<ref name="usa">{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2009-11-24-listen24_ST2_N.htm|title=Listen Up: Lady Gaga's 'Fame Monster' is so cool, it's cold|last=Gunderson|first=Edna|date=2009-11-24|work=[[USA Today]]|publisher=[[Dow Jones & Company]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> Sal Cinquemani from [[Slant Magazine]] commented that "'[[Bad Romance]]' and 'Dance in the Dark' are stacked with towering new-wave synths and seemingly endless hooks; if melodies could be time-stamped, these would have "'80s" branded on their asses. [...] The song isn't a cautionary tale per se, but a call to arms to misfits everywhere." She went on to declare the song as one of the highlights of ''The Fame Monster''.<ref name="slant">{{cite web|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/lady-gaga-the-fame-monster/1916|title=Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal|date=2009-11-18|publisher=[[Slant Magazine]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> Ben Patashnik from ''[[NME]]'' felt that "Dance in the Dark", alongwith another song "Monster", was "slightly disposable".<ref name="nme">{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/lady-gaga/10984|title=Album review: Lady Gaga – 'The Fame Monster' (Polydor)|last=Patashnik|first=Ben|date=2009-12-03|work=[[NME]]|publisher=[[IPC Media]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref> Michael Hubbard from [[MusicOMH]] complimented the song for its "monumental chorus and some Madonna-esque spoken-word moments, including this shout out to a lost Royal: 'You will never fall apart Diana, you're still in our hearts / Never let you fall apart/ Together we'll dance in the dark.'"<ref name="omh">{{cite web|url=http://blog.musicomh.com/musicomh/2009/11/lady-gaga-the-fame-monster-trackbytrack.html|title=Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster, track-by-track|last=Hubbard|first=Michael|date=2009-11-23|publisher=[[MusicOMH]]|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref>


==Chart performance==
==Chart performance==
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Gaga performed "Dance in the Dark" as the opening song of [[The Monster Ball Tour]]. The show began with Gaga appearing behind a giant, green, laser lit video screen featuring [[scrim (lighting)|scrim lights]], in a futuristic silver jewelled jumpsuit with bulbs on it.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=music&sc2=reviews&sc3=performance&id=99551|title=Lady Gaga "The Monster Ball"|last=Foucher|first=David|date=2009-12-02|work=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]|publisher=Edge Publications, Inc|accessdate=2010-05-11}}</ref><ref name="sjm">{{cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_13994185|title=Review: Lady Gaga thrills S.F. crowd with strange, sexy show|last=Harrington|first=Jim|date=2009-12-14|work=[[San Jose Mercury News]]|publisher=[[MediaNews Group]]|accessdate=2009-12-15}}</ref> She had matching eye makeup and wore a mask, beginning to sing "Dance in the Dark", "while dancers dressed in white balaclavas and white jumpsuits moved around her."<ref name="toronto">{{cite news|url=http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/columnists/jane_stevenson/2009/11/29/11967326-sun.html|title=Lady Gaga puts on a Monster show|last=Stevenson|first=Jane|date=2009-11-29|work=[[Toronto Sun]]|publisher=[[Sun Media Corporation]]|accessdate=2009-11-30}}</ref><ref name="gazette">{{cite news|url=http://communities.canada.com/montrealgazette/blogs/wordsandmusic/archive/2009/11/28/concert-review-lady-gaga-romances-bell-centre-crowd-nov-27.aspx|title= Concert review: Lady Gaga romances Bell Centre crowd, Nov. 27|last=Dunlevy|first=T'Cha|date=2009-11-28|work=[[The Gazette (Montreal)|The Gazette]]|publisher=[[Canwest]]|accessdate=2009-11-28}}</ref> The scrim resembled an electric math grid which was lifted during the performance.<ref name="mtvref">{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1628611/20091220/lady_gaga.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga Brings San Diego A Feast For The Eyes And Ears? |last=Montogomery|first=James|date=2009-12-19|work=''MTV''|publisher=MTV Networks|accessdate=2009-12-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uni-dir.net/f/3455-live-review-lady-gaga-brings-her-pop-theatricality-boston-first-u-s-monster.html|title=Live Review: Lady Gaga Brings Her Pop Theatricality to Boston in First U.S. Monster |last=Corey|first=Jordan|date=2009-12-09|work=[[Boston Herald]]|publisher=The New York Times Company|accessdate=2010-05-13}}</ref> Jane Stevenson from ''[[Toronto Sun]]'' felt that it was not until Gaga had moved on to the next song after "Dance in the Dark", that the Monster Ball "was alive".<ref name="toronto"/> In the [[The Monster Ball Tour#2010 Revamped Shows|revamped]] European shows of The Monster Ball tour, the song was once again added as the opening song of the setlist, as a part of the segment titled "City". Gaga performed it in a set, reminiscent of New York City night scene, with flickering neon signs displaying the words "Ugly", "Sexy" and "Liquor", [[Fire escape|fire escape stairwells]] and a broken yellow taxi.<ref name="omhmo">{{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/music/gigs/lady-gaga_0210.htm|title=Lady GaGa @ O2 Arena, London|last=Hubbard|first=Michael|date=2010-02-26|publisher=MusicOMH|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref>
Gaga performed "Dance in the Dark" as the opening song of [[The Monster Ball Tour]]. The show began with Gaga appearing behind a giant, green, laser lit video screen featuring [[scrim (lighting)|scrim lights]], in a futuristic silver jewelled jumpsuit with bulbs on it.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=music&sc2=reviews&sc3=performance&id=99551|title=Lady Gaga "The Monster Ball"|last=Foucher|first=David|date=2009-12-02|work=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]|publisher=Edge Publications, Inc|accessdate=2010-05-11}}</ref><ref name="sjm">{{cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_13994185|title=Review: Lady Gaga thrills S.F. crowd with strange, sexy show|last=Harrington|first=Jim|date=2009-12-14|work=[[San Jose Mercury News]]|publisher=[[MediaNews Group]]|accessdate=2009-12-15}}</ref> She had matching eye makeup and wore a mask, beginning to sing "Dance in the Dark", "while dancers dressed in white balaclavas and white jumpsuits moved around her."<ref name="toronto">{{cite news|url=http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/columnists/jane_stevenson/2009/11/29/11967326-sun.html|title=Lady Gaga puts on a Monster show|last=Stevenson|first=Jane|date=2009-11-29|work=[[Toronto Sun]]|publisher=[[Sun Media Corporation]]|accessdate=2009-11-30}}</ref><ref name="gazette">{{cite news|url=http://communities.canada.com/montrealgazette/blogs/wordsandmusic/archive/2009/11/28/concert-review-lady-gaga-romances-bell-centre-crowd-nov-27.aspx|title= Concert review: Lady Gaga romances Bell Centre crowd, Nov. 27|last=Dunlevy|first=T'Cha|date=2009-11-28|work=[[The Gazette (Montreal)|The Gazette]]|publisher=[[Canwest]]|accessdate=2009-11-28}}</ref> The scrim resembled an electric math grid which was lifted during the performance.<ref name="mtvref">{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1628611/20091220/lady_gaga.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga Brings San Diego A Feast For The Eyes And Ears? |last=Montogomery|first=James|date=2009-12-19|work=''MTV''|publisher=MTV Networks|accessdate=2009-12-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uni-dir.net/f/3455-live-review-lady-gaga-brings-her-pop-theatricality-boston-first-u-s-monster.html|title=Live Review: Lady Gaga Brings Her Pop Theatricality to Boston in First U.S. Monster |last=Corey|first=Jordan|date=2009-12-09|work=[[Boston Herald]]|publisher=The New York Times Company|accessdate=2010-05-13}}</ref> Jane Stevenson from ''[[Toronto Sun]]'' felt that it was not until Gaga had moved on to the next song after "Dance in the Dark", that the Monster Ball "was alive".<ref name="toronto"/> In the [[The Monster Ball Tour#2010 Revamped Shows|revamped]] European shows of The Monster Ball tour, the song was once again added as the opening song of the setlist, as a part of the segment titled "City". Gaga performed it in a set, reminiscent of New York City night scene, with flickering neon signs displaying the words "Ugly", "Sexy" and "Liquor", [[Fire escape|fire escape stairwells]] and a broken yellow taxi.<ref name="omhmo">{{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/music/gigs/lady-gaga_0210.htm|title=Lady GaGa @ O2 Arena, London|last=Hubbard|first=Michael|date=2010-02-26|publisher=MusicOMH|accessdate=2010-04-30}}</ref>


Gaga performed "Dance in the Dark" at the [[2010 BRIT Awards|BRIT Awards]] on February 16, 2010, at [[Earls Court Exhibition Centre]]. The performance was inspired by then recent death of her friend, fashion designer [[Alexander McQueen]]. Initially she had planned a different version of the performance, but changed the concept at the last minute, since she wanted to pay tribute to McQueen.<ref name="wsjt"/> Hence she chose acoustic versions of her songs "[[Telephone (song)|Telephone]]" and "Dance in the Dark". She started the performance by sitting in front of a piano and announcing "This is for Alexander McQueen." Gaga was dressed in a complete white outfit with a huge [[Marie-Antoinette]] style wig.<ref name="pays"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1251515/Brit-Awards-2010-winners-Lady-GaGa-Lily-Allen-JLS.html|title=Brit Awards 2010: Lily Allen finally wins her first Brit as emotional Lady Gaga cleans up with three gongs|last=Johnson|first=Chris|date=2010-02-17|work=[[Daily Mail]]|publisher=[[Associated Newspapers]]|accessdate=2010-02-17|last2=Cable|first2=Simon}}</ref> The whole performance was low-key compared to her previous ones.<ref name="wsjt">{{cite news|url=http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/02/16/lady-gaga-performs-telephone-dance-in-the-dark-as-tribute-to-alexander-mcqueen-at-brit-awards/|title=Lady Gaga Performs "Telephone," "Dance in the Dark" As Tribute to Alexander McQueen at Brit Awards|author=WSJ Staff|date=2010-02-16|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|publisher=[[Dow Jones & Company]]|accessdate=2010-02-17}}</ref> After finishing an acoustic performance of "Telephone", she got up from her piano as the disco groove of "Dance in the Dark" was heard throughout the room. She took to a giant keytar and performed a [[techno (music)|techno]] rendition of the track.<ref name="pays"/> After the show, she posted a message on her [[Twitter]] account: "Tonight's performance is inspired by our friend. Mask by Phillip Treacy, Sculpture by Nick Knight, Music by Lady Gaga. We miss you."<ref name="pays">{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631990/20100216/lady_gaga.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga Pays Tribute To Alexander McQueen At Brit Awards |last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|date=2010-02-16|work=''MTV''|publisher=MTV Networks|accessdate=2010-02-17}}</ref>
Gaga performed "Dance in the Dark" at the [[2010 BRIT Awards|BRIT Awards]] on February 16, 2010, at [[Earls Court Exhibition Centre]]. The performance was inspired by then recent death of her friend, fashion designer [[Alexander McQueen]]. Initially she had planned a different version of the performance, but changed the concept at the last minute, since she wanted to pay tribute to McQueen.<ref name="wsjt"/> Hence she chose acoustic versions of her songs "[[Telephone (song)|Telephone]]" and "Dance in the Dark". She started the performance by sitting in front of a piano and announcing "This is for Alexander McQueen."<ref name="pays"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1251515/Brit-Awards-2010-winners-Lady-GaGa-Lily-Allen-JLS.html|title=Brit Awards 2010: Lily Allen finally wins her first Brit as emotional Lady Gaga cleans up with three gongs|last=Johnson|first=Chris|date=2010-02-17|work=[[Daily Mail]]|publisher=[[Associated Newspapers]]|accessdate=2010-02-17|last2=Cable|first2=Simon}}</ref> The whole performance was low-key compared to her previous ones.<ref name="wsjt">{{cite news|url=http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/02/16/lady-gaga-performs-telephone-dance-in-the-dark-as-tribute-to-alexander-mcqueen-at-brit-awards/|title=Lady Gaga Performs "Telephone," "Dance in the Dark" As Tribute to Alexander McQueen at Brit Awards|author=WSJ Staff|date=2010-02-16|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|publisher=[[Dow Jones & Company]]|accessdate=2010-02-17}}</ref> The stage was decked out in white, and perched on a pedestal was a statue of Gaga wearing a piano skirt and the lobster-claw heels she wore in her "[[Bad Romance]]" music video. After finishing an acoustic performance of "Telephone", she got up from her piano as the disco groove of "Dance in the Dark" was heard throughout the room. She wore a lace bodysuit and a large bouffant wig, took to a giant keytar and performed a [[techno (music)|techno]] rendition of the track.<ref name="pays"/> After the show, she posted a message on her [[Twitter]] account: "Tonight's performance is inspired by our friend. Mask by Phillip Treacy, Sculpture by Nick Knight, Music by Lady Gaga. We miss you."<ref name="pays">{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631990/20100216/lady_gaga.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga Pays Tribute To Alexander McQueen At Brit Awards |last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|date=2010-02-16|work=''MTV''|publisher=MTV Networks|accessdate=2010-02-17}}</ref>


==Credits and personnel==<!--Source: album liner notes-->
==Credits and personnel==<!--Source: album liner notes-->

Revision as of 03:56, 14 May 2010

"Dance in the Dark"
Song
This article is about the Lady Gaga song. For the racehorse, see Dance in the Dark (racehorse).

"Dance in the Dark" is a song by American recording artist Lady Gaga, from her second studio album The Fame Monster. Recorded in 2009, the song was inspired by the intimate experience between two people alone in a bedroom. According to Gaga, "the record is about a girl who likes to have sex with the lights off because she is embarrassed about her body." She explained that she came across such women while working on the MAC AIDS Fund, and that the song is not about freedom, but rather the assurance that Gaga understood their feelings. The song was initially planned to be released after "Telephone" but due to a dispute between Gaga and her record company, "Alejandro" was released instead.

Containing influences of retro and New Wave music, "Dance in the Dark" begins with a stuttering introduction and a spoken interlude, where Gaga takes the names of famous people, who met with a tragic end of their lives. Critics gave mostly positive reviews of the song. It charted on the lower regions of the UK Singles Chart and inside the top-ten in Hungary. Gaga performed "Dance in the Dark" as the opening song of The Monster Ball Tour. In the US shows, she appeared behind a scrim lit screen to perform the song, while in the UK shows Gaga performed it on a set reminiscent of New York City night scene. The song was also performed on the 2010 BRIT Awards, dedicating it to her departed friend Alexander McQueen.

Background

Bill Lamb from About.com characterized the song as dealing with the "artifice of appearance".[2] To the Los Angeles Times, Gaga described the inspiration behind "Dance in the Dark" as being the intimate experience taking place between two people alone in a bedroom. According to her, the record is about a girl who likes to have sex with the lights off, because she is embarrassed about her body. "She doesn't want her man to see her naked. She will be free, and she will let her inner animal out, but only when the lights are out", Gaga explained.[3] She added that like the song, she has to struggle with issues of body image and self-doubt in her own life.[4] While working on the MAC AIDS Fund, she realised that women of her age do not speak their mind, in fear that their boyfriends would not love them if they did so.[3]

"All of these new things entering my life are changing the way I view my purpose, but ['Dance in the Dark'] in particular is about me wanting to live — but also, the song isn’t called 'Dance in the Light'. I’m not a gospel singer trying to cross people over. What I’m saying is, 'I get it. I feel you, I feel the same way, and it’s OK.'

"I hope and pray that I can inspire some sort of change in people subliminally through the show. They’re singing 'Dance in the Dark,' but they’re dancing and they’re free, they’re letting it out. But the songs are not about freedom, they’re about [the fact that] I get it. I feel the way you feel."[3][4]

The song was initially planned to be released after "Telephone" but due to a dispute between Gaga and her record company, "Alejandro" was released instead.[5]

Composition

"Dance in the Dark"
A 30-second sample of "Dance in the Dark". The song has influences of retro and New Wave music in its composition, and features Gaga singing in a synth-like voice.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Dance in the Dark" has influences of retro and New Wave music in its composition.[6][7] According to Michael Hubbard from usicOMH, the song begins with a stuttering introduction and orgasmic groans, followed by Gaga singing the song.[8] A spoken interlude, like that of Madonna's 1990 single "Vogue" is also present.[9] The lyrics of the song refers to mythological beings the Vampires in the lines "Run run her kiss is a vampire grin/The moonlight's away while she's howlin' at him". Gaga explained that the lines were means of expressing how people rely on external motivations to cope with internal anxiety. "She doesn't feel free without the moon," Gaga said. "These lyrics are a way for me to talk about how I believe women and some men feel innately insecure about themselves all the time. It's not sometimes, it's not in adolescence, it's always."[3] The spoken interlude replaces the Hollywood glamour and style icons of "Vogue", and refers to famous people who met with a tragic end of their lives, namely Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Sylvia Plath, Princess Diana, Liberace, Kubrick and JonBenét Ramsey.[10][7]

Critical reception

Bill Lamb from About.com praised the song, stating: "Going for an epic, tragic pop song, 'Dance in the Dark' churns along, heavy and gutsy with a sing-along chorus that is one of the best in Gaga's repertoire. This is my favorite type of pop because it has a lot of layers. The beat hits you first, and you can groove to the track on just that alone, but the melody asks politely for you to switch partners before Gaga smoothly cuts in and twirls you away into pop heaven."[11] Paul Lester from BBC felt that the song was "generic machine RnB".[12] Evan Sawdey from PopMatters commented that "Dance in the Dark", along with "Monster" are "delightfully dirty retro workout [...] to make for one surprisingly effective pop cocktail."[6] Scott Plagenhoef from Pitchfork Media felt that Gaga had morphed into Madonna on the song.[13] Nick Levine from Digital Spy commented that "'Dance in the Dark' is the sort of song that, well, makes you want to dance with your top off in a grotty German bondage basement."[10] Edna Gunderson from USA Today called the song "campy".[9] Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine commented that "'Bad Romance' and 'Dance in the Dark' are stacked with towering new-wave synths and seemingly endless hooks; if melodies could be time-stamped, these would have "'80s" branded on their asses. [...] The song isn't a cautionary tale per se, but a call to arms to misfits everywhere." She went on to declare the song as one of the highlights of The Fame Monster.[7] Ben Patashnik from NME felt that "Dance in the Dark", alongwith another song "Monster", was "slightly disposable".[14] Michael Hubbard from MusicOMH complimented the song for its "monumental chorus and some Madonna-esque spoken-word moments, including this shout out to a lost Royal: 'You will never fall apart Diana, you're still in our hearts / Never let you fall apart/ Together we'll dance in the dark.'"[8]

Chart performance

In Hungary, the song debuted on the Mahasz Single Top 10 lista chart at number-nine on November 30, 2009 but fell off the chart the next week.[15] In the United Kingdom, "Dance in the Dark" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at eighty-nine, on December 12, 2009, but was present on the chart for one week.[16]

Live performances

A blond woman stands with her right hand stretched forward. Her hair is golden yellow and falls in curls to her shoulder. She is wearing a purple leotard and jacket, which has tall shoulder pads. Behind her, a green truck is visible.
Gaga performing "Dance in the Dark" in the revamped European shows of The Monster Ball Tour.

Gaga performed "Dance in the Dark" as the opening song of The Monster Ball Tour. The show began with Gaga appearing behind a giant, green, laser lit video screen featuring scrim lights, in a futuristic silver jewelled jumpsuit with bulbs on it.[17][18] She had matching eye makeup and wore a mask, beginning to sing "Dance in the Dark", "while dancers dressed in white balaclavas and white jumpsuits moved around her."[19][20] The scrim resembled an electric math grid which was lifted during the performance.[21][22] Jane Stevenson from Toronto Sun felt that it was not until Gaga had moved on to the next song after "Dance in the Dark", that the Monster Ball "was alive".[19] In the revamped European shows of The Monster Ball tour, the song was once again added as the opening song of the setlist, as a part of the segment titled "City". Gaga performed it in a set, reminiscent of New York City night scene, with flickering neon signs displaying the words "Ugly", "Sexy" and "Liquor", fire escape stairwells and a broken yellow taxi.[23]

Gaga performed "Dance in the Dark" at the BRIT Awards on February 16, 2010, at Earls Court Exhibition Centre. The performance was inspired by then recent death of her friend, fashion designer Alexander McQueen. Initially she had planned a different version of the performance, but changed the concept at the last minute, since she wanted to pay tribute to McQueen.[24] Hence she chose acoustic versions of her songs "Telephone" and "Dance in the Dark". She started the performance by sitting in front of a piano and announcing "This is for Alexander McQueen."[25][26] The whole performance was low-key compared to her previous ones.[24] The stage was decked out in white, and perched on a pedestal was a statue of Gaga wearing a piano skirt and the lobster-claw heels she wore in her "Bad Romance" music video. After finishing an acoustic performance of "Telephone", she got up from her piano as the disco groove of "Dance in the Dark" was heard throughout the room. She wore a lace bodysuit and a large bouffant wig, took to a giant keytar and performed a techno rendition of the track.[25] After the show, she posted a message on her Twitter account: "Tonight's performance is inspired by our friend. Mask by Phillip Treacy, Sculpture by Nick Knight, Music by Lady Gaga. We miss you."[25]

Credits and personnel

Source: [1]

Charts

Chart (2009) Peak
position
Hungarian Singles Chart[15] 9
UK Singles Chart[16] 89

References

  1. ^ a b The Fame Monster (Media notes). Interscope Records. 2009. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |publisherid= ignored (help)
  2. ^ Lamb, Bill (2009-11-29). "A Real Work of Pop Art – Not a Stopgap Release". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-04-30. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d Powers, Ann (2009-12-15). "Gaga Wisdom: Words from the Lady, Part 2". Los Angeles Times. Gannett Company. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  4. ^ a b Ditzian, Erik (2009-12-16). "Lady Gaga Explains Real Meaning Of 'Dance In The Dark'". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-04-30. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  5. ^ Reporter, MTV (2010-04-06). "Lady GaGa Will Release Alejandro As Next Single". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-05-05. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  6. ^ a b Sawdey, Evan (2009-11-23). "Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster < Review". PopMatters. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  7. ^ a b c Cinquemani, Sal (2009-11-18). "Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  8. ^ a b Hubbard, Michael (2009-11-23). "Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster, track-by-track". MusicOMH. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  9. ^ a b Gunderson, Edna (2009-11-24). "Listen Up: Lady Gaga's 'Fame Monster' is so cool, it's cold". USA Today. Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  10. ^ a b Levine, Nick (2009-11-23). "Music – Album Review – The Fame Monster". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  11. ^ Lamb, Bill (2009-10-11). "Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster review". About.com. The New York Times Company. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  12. ^ Lester, Paul (2009-11-20). "Lady Gaga The Fame Monster Review". BBC. BBC Online. Retrieved 2010-04-30. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  13. ^ Plagenhoef, Scott (2010-01-13). "Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  14. ^ Patashnik, Ben (2009-12-03). "Album review: Lady Gaga – 'The Fame Monster' (Polydor)". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  15. ^ a b "Single (track) Top 10 lista – November 30, 2009". Mahasz (in Hungarian). Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 2010-04-30. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  16. ^ a b "ChartStats – Artist – Lady Gaga". The Official Charts Company. Chartstats.com. Retrieved 2010-04-30. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  17. ^ Foucher, David (2009-12-02). "Lady Gaga "The Monster Ball"". Edge. Edge Publications, Inc. Retrieved 2010-05-11.
  18. ^ Harrington, Jim (2009-12-14). "Review: Lady Gaga thrills S.F. crowd with strange, sexy show". San Jose Mercury News. MediaNews Group. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
  19. ^ a b Stevenson, Jane (2009-11-29). "Lady Gaga puts on a Monster show". Toronto Sun. Sun Media Corporation. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  20. ^ Dunlevy, T'Cha (2009-11-28). "Concert review: Lady Gaga romances Bell Centre crowd, Nov. 27". The Gazette. Canwest. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
  21. ^ Montogomery, James (2009-12-19). "Lady Gaga Brings San Diego A Feast For The Eyes And Ears?". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2009-12-21. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  22. ^ Corey, Jordan (2009-12-09). "Live Review: Lady Gaga Brings Her Pop Theatricality to Boston in First U.S. Monster". Boston Herald. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-05-13.
  23. ^ Hubbard, Michael (2010-02-26). "Lady GaGa @ O2 Arena, London". MusicOMH. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  24. ^ a b WSJ Staff (2010-02-16). "Lady Gaga Performs "Telephone," "Dance in the Dark" As Tribute to Alexander McQueen at Brit Awards". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
  25. ^ a b c Vena, Jocelyn (2010-02-16). "Lady Gaga Pays Tribute To Alexander McQueen At Brit Awards". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-02-17. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  26. ^ Johnson, Chris; Cable, Simon (2010-02-17). "Brit Awards 2010: Lily Allen finally wins her first Brit as emotional Lady Gaga cleans up with three gongs". Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
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