20 November 1982
This was my first experience of the classic Top of the Pops water cooler moment; ‘I Don’t Wanna Dance’ was shown and then the next day everyone in my class seemed to be singing it. You can see how a stompy, grumpy-sounding song about not wanting to do something would appeal to a group of senior infants.
Why persons with grown-up freedom and disposable income liked it all the way to number one is harder to divine. ‘I Don’t Wanna Dance’ is not an enjoyable listening experience. Aside from the general stompiness and grumpiness, the squeaky keyboards sound particularly cheap and joyless. Grant sings this like he doesn’t want to sing either. In a year when even Bucks Fizz and Boy George were taking reggae grooves to the top of the charts, perhaps that catchy “I don’t wanna dance” chorus hook was just enough to keep the mainstream singles buyer interested.
