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Dancing in the Street
Martha-vandellas-dancing-street
song by Martha and the Vandellas
Released July 21, 1964
Format vinyl record (7" 45 RPM)
Recorded Hitsville USA (Studio A); June 19, 1964
Genre Pop, soul
Length 2:40
Writer(s) Marvin Gaye
William "Mickey" Stevenson
Ivy Jo Hunte
Producer William "Mickey" Stevenson
cover song by the Power Station

"Dancing in the Street" is a 1964 song first recorded by Martha and the Vandellas and later covered by the Power Station in concert.

About the song[]

Produced by William "Mickey" Stevenson and written by Stevenson and Marvin Gaye, the song highlighted the concept of having a good time in whatever city the listener lived. The idea for dancing came to Stevenson from watching people on the streets of Detroit cool off in the summer in water from opened fire hydrants. They appeared to be dancing in the water.

A second hit version was done by Mick Jagger and David Bowie as a duo in 1985, as part of the Live Aid charity movement. The original plan was to perform a track together live, with Bowie performing at Wembley Stadium and Jagger at the JFK Stadium, until it was realized that the satellite link-up would cause a half-second delay that would make this impossible unless either Bowie or Jagger mimed their contribution, something neither artist was willing to do.

The Power Station performed "Dancing in the Street" during the band's Summer Tour in 1985.

Other related appearances[]

Singles:[]

Albums:[]

Lyrics[]

Calling out around the world

Are you ready for a brand new beat

Summer's here and the time is right 

For dancing in the street

They're dancing in Chicago

Down in New Orleans

Up in New York City 

All we need is music, sweet music

There'll be music everywhere

There'll be swinging swaying records playing

Dancing in the street



Oh it doesn't matter what you wear

Just as long as you are there

So come on ev'ry guy grab a girl 

Ev'rywhere around the world

They'll be dancing 

They're dancing in the street



It's just an invitation across the nation 

A chance for folks to meet

There'll be laughing, singing, music swinging

Dancing in the street

Philadelphia, PA

Baltimore and D.C. now

Can't forget the Motor City 

All we need is music, sweet music

There'll be music everywhere

There'll be swinging, swaying, records playing

Dancing in the street



Oh it doesn't matter what you wear

Just as long as you are there

So come on ev'ry guy grab a girl 

Ev'rywhere around the world



Dancing

They're dancing in the street

Way down in L.A.

Every day 

Dancing in the street
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