Favorite 80's Dance Songs #1 - "Blue Monday"

Tweet

After nine not-so-mainstream tunes, we have reached #1 in my Favorite 80's Dance Songs series, and there is a remote chance that you might recognize this one: "Blue Monday" by New Order. When Joy Division vocalist Ian Curtis hung himself in 1980, the three remaining members of the influential Manchester band, guitarist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook, and drummer Stephen Morris, carried on as New Order (with Sumner assuming vocal duties and Morris' girlfriend Gillian Gilbert on keyboards.) Early on, New Order seemed to go out of their way to alienate fans. They rarely gave interviews, they did not perform encores in concert, and, until 1984, did not include singles (they have released a whopping 38 singles) on their albums. 1983's "Blue Monday" was one of those singles (their label, Factory Records, had to place a sticker on the Power, Corruption & Lies album that read "DOES NOT CONTAIN 'BLUE MONDAY.'") Why all the fuss? "Blue Monday" is the biggest selling 12" single in history (and the band didn't see a dime. Together with Factory founder Tony Wilson, New Order owned a failing Manchester nightclub, The Hacienda. All "Blue Monday" profits were directed back into trying to keep the club afloat.) "Blue Monday" was famously covered by Orgy, as well as by Flunk, and 808 State. New Order has also remade the song twice. As far as I'm concerned, the original version of "Blue Monday" is the greatest dance tune ever recorded. That's really all I need to say! Enjoy! (Info verified by Wikipedia)