Let’s talk about party music.
Normally, when music nerds like me praise a certain song or album, they do so because certain attributes of the music are outstanding. In most cases, it’s pretty common sense what these attributes are: the song’s structure, its production quality, its lyrical content, its complexity, its melodic and harmonic inventiveness, its ability to transmit emotions and create an atmosphere, etc. We call a piece of music “high-quality”, or a “masterpiece” when it checks out several of the boxes listed above.
But this method doesn’t really work for music made for partying. Now, we all have different tastes, and I know well that there are people out there whose idea for a good party soundtrack is some kind of complex, experimental, thought-provoking music, and that’s totally alright, good for them. But for me – and I believe for most people – tunes at a party, whether it’s in a house, a club or a festival, don’t have to be anything noteworthy in terms of “quality”. I’m looking for a good time there, not groundbreaking musical ideas.
A good party music track has to check different boxes: it has to be catchy, danceable, filled with positive energy, easy to belt out and have an easily consumable production. These apply to all the different genres popular for parties, whether it’s chart-toppers, retro pop hits, techno, alternative rock, Latin, RnB, or anything else. Still, music critics tend not to value these attributes of a song that’s clearly “only” meant to be a dancefloor banger.
I disagree with this. I think these kinds of songs should be viewed as a different category because they have a different purpose: to make you dance, sing at the top of your lungs, forget about tomorrow and have a fun night. The songs which achieve this the most should be considered masterpieces in their own right. Yes, even if usually alcohol is needed as well for maximum effect.
And there aren’t many true party anthems, that transcend genre preferences, generations, that are so irresistible they tear down one’s snobbish preconceptions about club music, that are known by heart by virtually everyone who’s at least vaguely informed about pop culture, and that regardless of time, place, audience and party-theme, will make everyone rush to the dancefloor and make the building erupt with euphoria.
Only a handful of tunes are members of this elite club. I believe this is one of them:
And for this one track alone, which I’ve heard play in countless parties, never without success, I knew I can’t miss Cascada’s performance when it was announced she will come basically to my doorstep, to Kasbah Nightclub. Her music is the epitome of what I’ve written about: yes, it’s self-repetitive, shallow and painfully simple, but in the right setting, it just works.
I knew what to expect, and I got exactly that: I knew it wasn’t going to be a sophisticated concert, and it wasn’t. It was simply a woman with a charming stage presence, who can actually sing well, performing some absolute bangers. And it worked perfectly: looking around, everyone – including some fifty-something people who were unexpected in the crowd of drunk uni students – had tremendous fun, and sang along to the hooks collectively. But to be honest, as big as a hit Evacuate the Dancefloor was and as catchy Miracle is, we were all really waiting for that one song. Everytime We Touch.
It’s not easy to understand why is this one is on a higher level compared to all the other eurodance songs following a very similar recipe. Perhaps it’s how they took an amazing hook from an otherwise mediocre pop-rock song and found out how to make it hit the hardest, perhaps it’s the progressing jackhammer beats in the chorus, perhaps it’s Natalie Horler’s charismatic and cheerful delivery, perhaps it’s all at the same time. What’s easy to understand is the effect it has, because it’s pretty clear:
Not my video – mine was way worse in quality
If this isn’t what a good party should look like, I don’t know what is. I had an amazing time, and I encourage everyone to go and see a Cascada show if they can. And in any circumstance, I’m gonna defend my opinion, that Everytime We Touch is a flawless masterpiece. If you don’t believe me, go to a party and see it yourself.
AllThingsSixString 