THE KINKS - COME DANCING

Released: November 19, 1982

Charted:  UK: #12   US: #6 

"Come Dancing" is a song penned by Ray Davies and featured on their 1983 album “State of Confusion”. The track is a tribute to Davies' sister Rene, who passed away suddenly while dancing at a local dance hall. The lyrics, sung from the perspective of a working-class boy from East London, reminisce about his sister's joyous nights out at the Palais dance hall.

When 'Come Dancing' was initially released as a single in the UK in November 1982, it did not chart. Arista Records founder Clive Davis had concerns about its English-centric theme for the US market, but despite this, it was released there in April 1983. Surprisingly, the song became a major success in the US, reaching number six on the Hot 100 chart. The promotional music video, directed by Julien Temple and heavily aired on MTV, played a crucial role in its popularity. The song's US success prompted a re-release in the UK, where it reached number 12.

Ray Davies wrote "Come Dancing" as a nostalgic tribute to his older sisters, who enjoyed dancing. Initially, he stated that the song was about Gwen, his sixth sister who was seven years older than him. Later, Davies revised this to say the song was inspired by Rene, who was 18 years older. Rene had a tumultuous life, including an unhappy marriage to a Canadian soldier, which led her to frequently return to her childhood home in Muswell Hill, London. Tragically, Rene suffered a fatal heart attack while dancing at the Lyceum Ballroom in 1957, on the same day Ray received his first guitar from her as a birthday gift. "Come Dancing" was written 25 years later as a poignant memorial to Rene, celebrating her love for dancing.

When "Come Dancing" peaked at #6 on the US charts on July 16, 1983, it coincided with a notable presence of British acts dominating the Top 40. This phenomenon led to some journalists dubbing it the "Second British Invasion." The Kinks, originally part of the first British Invasion in the 1960s, contributed to this resurgence.