New York DJ

One of the best things about being a DJ is being able to spin an obscure, underplayed song that people used to love years ago, but forgot how much they did since the song is rarely heard anymore. At many events with a more mainstream crowd present – such as weddings or corporate parties – song recognition is key, however, so here a DJ can’t get to crazy with these moments that often. But if a genre remains popular long enough, these crowds, too, like fresh additions to the usual selections.

This is what seems to be happening now to the retro ‘80s music genre. After almost fifteen years of ’80s-themed nights at dance clubs, a decade of “Flashback Lunch”-type programs on major radio stations, and countless CD compilations, we’ve noticed that among many crowds the novelty and charm of one-hit wonders like Soft Cell (“Tainted Love”) or the popular songs of "several-hit wonders" like the Go-Go’s is wearing off. That’s where a fresh batch of retro comes in. Lately we’ve been getting a great reaction on the dancefloor to less-predictable ’80s songs, like “The Promise” by When in Rome (go here for a blog entry on this song), or even the slightly corny “Your Love” by The Outfield. But a song I barely remember from the time it was released not only evokes that great, all-too-elusive “Wow, I haven’t heard this in a long-ass time!” moment, but also has aged well – I guess since so much current indie pop and rock sounds like it was made in 1982.

The song, “What Do All the People Know” by The Monroes, isn’t really recognizable by the name of the band, or even the title. But if you hear the tune, you’ll probably remember it and have a surprised and pleasant reaction like, "Oh, this song! Yeah. Nice!" Released in the early ’80s from the band’s debut EP (way too serious cover pictured), the one-hit wonder Monroes had modest success on the charts with the catchy song. While to new-waver ears back then it probably sounded like a mix of the Cars, Rick Springfield, and even Cheap Trick, to today’s hipster ears it likely and impressively will remind many of indie bands Arcade Fire or MGMT – which should give the tune some props among any self-respecting indie music snob.

Have a listen, and see if you agree that the song features one of the best uses of handclaps in pop music.

Often at events involving dancing where song recognition is key — like a wedding or a corporate event — I’ll be spinning in a particular genre and I’ll want to play a more obscure song that would go great with the song I’m playing at the moment. Sometimes, when you have a big, generous crowd, you can slip in one of these lesser-known tunes. But mostly, crowds at weddings or corporate events aren’t like those at underground dance clubs — they don’t want an auteur DJ spinning obscure tunes during the night, whatever the genre.

One relatively obscure song that I’ve loved almost since it was released in 1989 is "The Promise" by the group When in Rome. The song sounds at times like Depeche Mode, at times like ABC, and at times like Information Society. Okay, I guess it sounds like about every synthpop group that was big then, since for a few years there in the late ’80s these bands all seemed to have the same drum machines, synths, and moody vocals. I never thought the sound of the song was that original. But the melody was very catchy, the chorus pleasantly stuck in my head, the beat was as danceable as any good Depeche Mode or New Order song, and the lyrics, about a guy intensely pledging to his girl that he’d always be there for her, were sweet and romantic — in a high school prom sort of way, yes, but as far as nailing those teenagey feelings, "The Promise" is Shakespeare. While the tune was a relatively big hit shortly after it was released in ’88, it didn’t have staying power, and was soon largely forgotten, often not even making it onto the average ’80s one-hit wonder compilation.

When DJ-ing, I knew the song was a risk on the dancefloor, so I would always have to resist my urge to pull it out. But then, a few years ago, it was featured at the end of the film Napoleon Dynamite. Now, over the past several months, I’ve been playing "The Promise" and surprisingly find that many more people at events really know the song and dance to it. Even if many people still don’t know its name, and refer to it, as one guest did at a recent wedding I spun at in November, as "that one song from Napoleon Dynamite."

Hey, I’ll take it.