Everybody was the eighth track from the album titled Madonna. It was released in 1982 and would be the beginning of a relationship between me and Madonna’s music, which would span decades. – “Let the music take control find a groove and let yourself go.”
Love! What is it?
Hi, my name is Chris and I love to dance. The first time I danced in public was in broad daylight, in the Cum-Park Plaza parking lot. Cum-Park Plaza was a small shopping center in my small hometown, Burlington, North Carolina. I was on my way to Rose’s Department store when I noticed a group of people gathered in the parking lot, dancing to loud disco music. There were about twenty people inside the roped area, getting down to tunes like Funky Town, Knock on Wood, That’s The Way (I Like It), The Beat Goes On by the Whispers, and my favorite, Let It Whip, by the Daz Band. I stood around watching everyone dance and then looked around to see if I recognized anyone. When I was sure I didn’t know anyone, I walked into the center of the roped-off area and joined the party. I remember doing the bump with a girl I had never met. I was sixteen years old. It was 1977.
A few years later I started going out every weekend with two girls from my hometown. The three of us went to a club named Daddy-O’s, which was in Greensboro, North Carolina. We would arrive in our early eighties outfits, step onto the dance floor, and instantly take over the club. Boy, we had a blast in those days.
A year later we had grown tired of Daddy-O’s and decided to crash the gay bar on the other side of town. I was a little nervous about walking into a gay bar, but I was open to trying something different. (Secretly, if the truth is told, I had always wanted to go.) The minute we walked into the place I noticed three muscular guys dancing next to each other. All three of them had their shirts off and they were lined up like a train, grinding each other from behind. I just stood there with my jaw dragging the floor. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
This club had a completely different energy than Daddy-O’s, and I’m not talking about the obvious difference. The thing I liked about this bar was the fact that I could dance by myself and no one looked at me as if I had a second head. I could do whatever I liked on the dance floor and it didn’t phase anyone. This made me feel very comfortable and free.
The next week the two girls returned to Daddy-O’s, while I went back to the gay bar. I decided I had found my spot. I never spoke to anyone when I went. I would walk into the club, check my coat, and hit the dance floor. If people paid attention to me, I never noticed. I didn’t go there to meet people, I went there to dance.
After a certain amount of time, I had developed a nickname in the club. They called me “The Ice Princess”. To be fair, it was a really accurate name for me. A huge part of that had to do with my Christian upbringing. I was scared to death to get close to another person, especially another man. I was in my early twenties and still a virgin.
I spent every Friday and Saturday night on the dance floor, dancing by myself. When I danced I could feel my soul leave my body. The music always had the power to take me far, far away. Dancing was my drug. I didn’t do drugs or drink that much. I just danced.
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I know you’ve been waiting, yeah
I’ve been watching you, yeah
I know you wanna get up, yeah
Come on
Everybody, come on, dance and sing
Everybody, get up and do your thing
Everybody, come on, dance and sing
Everybody, get up and do your thing
Let the music take control
Find a groove and let yourself go
When the room begins to sway
You know what I’m trying to say
Come on, take a chance
Get up and start the dance
Let the D.J. shake you
Let the music take you
Let your body take a ride
Feel the beat and step inside
Music makes the world go ’round
You can turn your troubles upside down
Gonna have to change your mind
Gonna leave your troubles behind
Your body gets the notion
When your feet can make the motion
Dance and sing, get up and do your thing (repeat 3 times)
I know you’ve been waiting, yeah, yeah
I see you sitting there, I’ve been watching you
Across the room, yeah, yeah
I’ve been watching you, I see you sitting there by yourself
Yeah, yeah
Come on, come on, come on
Let the music take control
Find a groove and let yourself go
When the room begins to sway
You know what I’m trying to say
