THE ICON! Billy Idol - Dancing With Myself | FIRST TIME HEARING REACTION

[@petercourtien4581]

“Eyes Without a Face” for yet another completely different Billy Idol.❤

[@IceManTX69]

Yes! And some Flesh for Fantasy!

[@sloebone7399]

They already did that one.

[@craiggillett5985]

Absolutely!! Another slice of Billy

[@petercourtien4581]

@@sloebone7399 oh thanks! I just watched it. Great reaction!

[@scottmacdonald1826]

"You steal a car and go to Las Vegas" is a fantastic lyric!!!

[@Cadinho93]

This song was a staple at the dance clubs in the '80s for sure. This song also dominated MTV in the early days. They played it at least every hour. Back when they only played music videos.

[@TonyM1961]

This, Mony Mony and White Wedding

[@Shrykespeare]

Only Billy Idol could knock a bunch of zombies off a building and STILL get them to dance.

[@joshjacobs3906]

@@Shrykespeare LMAO....Right you are

[@joshjacobs3906]

Ahhh....the good ol' days!

[@michellewhite585]

Man doilies those earlier years of nothing but music videos

[@dimedraweriv258]

He deserves to be in the Rock Hall of Fame

[@ronsadler6047]

Billy Idol was a great punk crossover. His music was a staple at the dance bars in the 80s. Best mix of punk rock and pop.

[@merlball8520]

It helped that he actually had talent as a vocalist. Punk relies heavily on style and lyrics so the vocal quality doesn't have to be that strong, and it often isn't as a result. Billy Idol transcended the genres he worked within because he was talented enough to do so.

[@garypatrick3001]

Billy Idol started in the band Generation X, which was part of the late 70's British Punk scene. The song "Dancing with Myself" was originally recorded as a Gen X song. When he moved to NY to embark on a solo career in the early 80's, Idol re-recorded this song as part of his debut EP record "Don't Stop." ("EP" standing for Extended Play, which was a collection of several songs, but not enough material to considered a full "Album.") Mony Mony was also on this debut EP. Both those songs were getting some club play when Billy released his self-title debut solo album, featuring the song "White Wedding." The video for "White Wedding" really blew up on MTV in late '82/early '83, catapulting Idol into stardom in the States.

[@stevepecorella2704]

I remember this was his breakout single. Disco was dying. Early 80s punk

[@MiguelLopez-is9te]

I still smile when I think of Billy Idol saying what this song was really about. 😳😄

[@donnamcmanus7360]

Kinda like Cyndi Lauper & She Bop? 😄

[@MiguelLopez-is9te]

@@donnamcmanus7360 👍😎👍

[@lizetteolsen3218]

@@donnamcmanus7360 Yep

[@phillyphan1225]

I always heard it was one of two things and it could be interpreted either way. When he spoke of writing it for Generation X he said it was inspired by a concert in Tokyo where kids would literally dance facing the mirror by themselves.. I also do know the self satisfaction implications but don’t think that was all there was. Just MO

[@djnva]

In his autobiography he specifically mentioned the Tokyo clubs and seeing everyone dancing by themselves. Grab the book-it is a great read.

[@bobblowhard8823]

I'm a 61 year old guy. I grew up listening and dancing to Billy Idol. When I hear this song now, I swear, I'm 20 years old again, dancing (with myself) and sweating in my living room!

[@SheynaVVV]

You're not alone!

[@azza652]

You're not the only one Bob.......

[@selmaroberson4447]

@bobblowhard8823I,m 52 and i,m always dancing with myself lol keep dancing i say

[@msbeaverhausen7226]

This song was huge when I was in high school. All of us kids would slam dance when it came on during the school dances and proms🤣 Billy was with Generation X. He was also awesome in The Wedding Singer!

[@marinergal2810]

Slam dance 🤣

[@mamatay7]

Omg, they for SURE need to react to The Wedding Singer!!!

[@danieljohnson2005]

@@mamatay7 They already did.

[@msbeaverhausen7226]

@@marinergal2810 Oh yes!! 1981 to 1985ish was all pogo dancing that led to slam dancing🤣🤣

[@tiffanytosh1569]

OMG! I forgot he was in The Wedding Singer! Great movie!!!

[@TexasMagnolia]

Just for y’all understanding. It wasn’t until currently, especially with Music Reactors, there’s a need to “label” music and artists. Music/Artists didn’t stay in a box of a genre…The Just Made Music.

[@jollyrodgers7272]

EYES WITHOUT A FACE is still my favorite from Billy.

[@Shrykespeare]

Today is Triply Billy Day! (Joel, Ocean, Idol). This was one of his earliest hits... in fact, it was his first single as a solo artist (aftering being part of the band Generation-X). It didn't do much, but after the huge success of "White Wedding", he re-released it, along with this video, and it EXPLODED. Then came "Rebel Yell", and he never looked back. Still to come on your list has to be "Hot in he City", "To Be a Lover", "L.A. Woman" (his amazing cover of the Doors song), and "Flesh For Fantasy". And if you want to check out MUCH OLDER Billy Idol, check out "Bitter Taste", which was released only last year! (He's STILL got it.)

[@jeannieswaite2569]

Loved the triple Billy's! I'd love a Kenny Loggins (Meet me Halfway) and a Billy Joel Keeping the Faith, or Matter of trust or You're only human! They need to know how Billy Joel can do anything voice wise. Even Innocent Man!!! Love him

[@ericroth9514]

Totally agree to his cover of L.A. Woman! Great stuff.

[@kbusby4824]

Would add Sweet Sixteen to that list.

[@johnwoodworth9127]

Could call it William Wednesday...

[@markbiglow566]

Just realized all three of today's posts were by a Billy (Joel, Ocean and Idol). Very cool.

[@markmaioli4]

Billy Idol and MTV were a match made in heaven! Flesh for Fantasy would be another side of Billy.

[@rray848]

Someone may have already answered you but you are up to almost 600 comments so I may have missed it... You asked when Billy started... He started as a guitarist for the punk group Chelsea in the 70s. He left that group with one of his band mates and became the lead singer of the punk group Generation X still in the 70s. They had success in the UK. In 1981 he left the group, moved to New York and started his solo career. Dancing With Myself was actually a hit from his band Generation X but he owned writing credits on it and reissued the song on his debut album and made it a hit for his solo career.

[@gypsyrocker]

BILLY Joel BILLY Ocean BILLY Idol!! We're having fun tonight! 😂

[@surlechapeau]

Jay & Amber, you'll love his "Cradle Of Love" and "Flesh For Fantasy"!!! Whew, waited a long time for this one :)

[@rosannerizzo3070]

His hits started in the and throughout the 80s but he was appearing in NY clubs in the late 70s

[@johnlake4809]

I freaking love Billy Idol

[@braintrustslayton8755]

This SONG was created because he saw people in a (cant remember either dance hall OR bar) dancing alone, and not caring. It amused him that there were LOTS doing it, instead of pairing up.

[@TFEnright5]

This was Billy’s first hit after he left the punk band Generation X. It actually was originally recorded with Generation X.

[@sandrahastings3436]

And way better by Gen X.

[@TFEnright5]

@@sandrahastings3436 I’d agree the Gen X version is a bit better. I like the more aggressive guitar in it.

[@revwillyg6450]

@@sandrahastings3436 same. Louder guitars in the Gen X version are better

[@tonybarruk2]

Hot take - "Dancing With Myself" is the missing link between Generation X and Tony James' next band Sigue Sigue Sputnik... could easily imagine SSS doing this!

[@jamielandis4308]

In the 80’s, if Billy came on, you danced…there was no choice.

[@matthewenies3668]

Song was about a Japanese fad in the late 70s / early 80s of dancing with your mirrored reflection. Dancing with Myself!

[@ProfessorMetalhead1]

Three Billys in one day. I respect it. 😆👍🏻

[@runyunhyde4373]

Us 80's kids loved to dance 🕺

[@tinanickerson1006]

This is what was called new wave....and if you look at the kind of dancing we did back then lol...lots of jumping up and down. lol...one of my fave songs of Billy Idol

[@tud1366]

"Hot in the City", "Sweet Sixteen", "Cradle of Love", "To Be a Lover", and "Flesh for Fantasy"

[@sassycassie1669]

"I'm a dancing with myself..." on every wedding reception dancefloor to this day.

[@joesmith8725]

New wave/post-punk! Billy Idol!

[@bradlynelson357]

Billy idol was a frontman in generation x the plucked him to go solo . So when he did this number he was trying to find his was way as a solo artist . Mony mony was a cover . But he hit the ground running at the inception of MTV . In fact he was on the tv add saying I want my MTV..

[@bakilacat1]

‘Rock the Cradle of Love’ is another goodie!!’ And ‘Hot in the City’ for sure!!😅

[@timme2844]

You gotta spin Eyes Without A Face.... Keep bringing the Idol!! Y'all fall'n in love... Great react!!

[@tcarnold6425]

Hot In The City for synth Billy!

[@daleclark2376]

Billy turned in an assignment in high school and the teacher returned it with the words "William is idle." Billy said he saw it and thought no, it should be idol--rock idol! And so Billy Idol was born, the legend grows!✌

[@scottallen3698]

Billy's solo career took off w Rebel Yell white wedding eyes without a face and the song you just listened too. Dancing w myself..1983-984.....please listen to Got to be lover.....piano, guitar, his back up singers Billy kicks ass on that song!!!

[@michaellynch9550]

Cradle of love from Billy Idol. I’m telling you guys.

[@lilpoohbear653]

Billy was the shiznit back in the day...he's spicy!! Fun tune!!

[@jeffreekoch9298]

post-punk, pop punk. we danced 🕺 to this often back then 😆 its new wave too. I was a kid that time. oh ya, Billy is definitely punk, came out of that scene. New wave is basically punk rock and dance music fusion. some had synthesizers

[@craiggillett5985]

This put a smile on my face: my siblings and I, four of us, crowded around the Tiny colour TV, watching the weekly video countdown on a Saturday night, all lined up with a billy snear on our face, our right hands pumping wearing fingerless cut off winter woollen gloves all under the age of 9 years…. Mum and dad cringing letting us do our thing….

[@indridcold3762]

This song always makes me bob my head.

[@rebeccawyse5562]

I do the Belinda Carlisle dance to this. I love it...play this in the back yard and y'all dance with the kids.

[@edw4664]

Eyes Without a Face. Memorable Billy Idol.

[@milkspan2604]

Billy was unique and most successful together with his congenial guitar partner Steve Stevens

[@sheiladrucker6872]

Billy is a Badaass!

[@nokindred]

You gotta remember that when this song came out that New Wave was at it's peak, which is basically a fusion of punk and disco.

[@TFEnright5]

Other Billy Idol songs I would recommend are Hot in the city, Catch my fall, Flesh for Fantasy, and Cradle of Love

[@JustTanya.]

I love me some Billy Idol. Just a lot of fun with his music. He has some meaningful songs as well. "Eyes Without A Face" is one of them. I also really love him because of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Spike is my favorite character on that series and his style is definitely Billy Idol LOL. 🤘😎🤘

[@robertkaplan3324]

Billy is in his 60s looks great sounds great

[@shannonbennett987]

I danced to this by myself, on many a packed dance floor over the years. Of course, that's not what the song is about but that's what it meant for me.

[@Jonni1027]

One thing I love about him is how much of a seeker of knowledge he is. He’s super smart and is curious about everything, and also compassionate and kind. Even in interviews I’ve seen back when he was young and at his most famous he’d seem absolutely wasted/high but STILL was able to carry on an interesting intelligent conversation haha

[@mkmstillstackin]

Man, those early-on MTV days were the best of times. This video was played at least once every hour, on the network, back then. Talk about songs that shaped my youth.

[@sukioki6983]

My daughter and I just saw Billy Idol in concert about a month ago. He still sounds great... Awesome show

[@dmr6340]

Good to know. I thought he died years ago 😂

[@Reani71]

I see in the comments that many people already mentioned that Billy was the singer of the punk rock band Generation X before his solo career, I just wanted to add that before he was in Generation X he also founded the punk rock band Chelsea (another founding member was Tony James, who later also was part of Generation X, but much later also of Sigue Sigue Sputnik and The Sisters of Mercy), he wasn't the singer in Chelsea (that was Gene October), he played the guitar. He left Chelsea quite early in 1976, three years before they even release their first album.

[@wickamo]

This is very early Idol. This is also very British Rock Style. Later he made much more harder rock songs and got much more rebellious with his lyrics. One of my favorite songs was ROCK THE CRADLE OF LOVE.

[@urWhiteKnight39]

my first mosh pit was to this song in the early 80s. i'd guess billy was there at the first mosh.

[@deborahpaley21]

CRADLE OF LOVE. Later 80s. Very slick, rockin' music video. Very sexy. He had been in a bad motorcycle accident so he couldn't dance and his image was in the wall art, dancing and singing to the song. You would LOVE it. AND, Director David Fincher directed it (Seven, Fight Club, Gone Girl etal).

[@joesmith8725]

Cradle of Love is a good one! Actually early '90s,

[@ReleaseTheQuackers]

Billy Idol is still rockin today and looks great to boot! Not only can he give you punk and rock, he can lay you out with an almost country vibe (Sweet lil 16) and Xmas classics like "Silver Bells", "Blue Christmas" and "Silent Night"

[@michelerosevear7466]

They should try out one of his more recent songs..."Bitter Taste" is one of my favorites. It's a song about his near-fatal motorcycle accident in Feb. 1990. Glad he survived; he still rocks it!

[@joshjacobs3906]

Cradle Of Love is a rocker from Billy. Peace from PA ✌

[@jenniferfoster1692]

Billy Idol was one of the most famous artists in the 80s..absolutely on top of the world. The dance floors were 100% packed when his songs came on. Don't let the videos distract you, it was a new era of MTV etc and they were experimenting with all kinds of wild video styles.

[@dylancole1910]

Yeah that’s what I love about him, he can be so versatile with his music but still be true to his image. This guy is a legend. I listened to this song for years before I saw this video, zombies were a surprise.. but also, not really. 😄

[@iranbarnes2]

Eyes Without a Face is a balad. Billy was in a punk band X. Early early punk. Female Punk try Plasmatics or Souxsie and the Banshees.

[@zortil]

This takes me back to my college days in the 80s. I love Billy Idol! I used to listen to his REBEL YELL cassette often in my yellow Sony Walkman.

[@kimmycook2698]

Eyes Without A Face, Flesh For Fantasy, Sweet 16, Don't Need A Gun, Cradle Of Love, Catch My Fall

[@brxee]

Nobody in the kitchen by themselves is still standing still by the end of this one!

[@alfavan31]

Eyes Without a Face is another Billy Idol song that is completely different than what you'd expect from his regular punk/pop sound. It's so good!!!

[@rosannerizzo3070]

Love this one. Always gets me dancing.

[@michaelhouston7950]

TO BE A LOVER & HOT IN THE CITY, GREAT SONGS BY THIS PHENOMENAL SINGER, BILLY IDOL IS SO GOOD 💪🐐💪

[@octoberguy]

My fave Billy Idol song is "To Be a Lover"... great honky tonk piano and a bit of edgy soul-Motown flair! So fun... and Billy's snarl is on point.

[@michelerosevear7466]

Absolutely LOVE "To Be A Lover"...in my top 5.

[@danieljohnson2005]

The band he was in was Generation X, and their biggest hit was “Kiss Me Deadly,” which you guys must, must, must checkout!

[@ChrisinOSMS]

Yes!

[@Krisgenx]

Took me back to his concert, 85 I think. 8 teenage girls crammed into a big old woody wagon that broke down on the way there…but we made it in time for his opening song!! ❤️

[@Music-Is-Real-Love]

Finally!!. Thank you very much.

[@Blissbomb2]

Billy used to be the lead singer for a engilsh punk rock band called " Gerneration X ". Mildly successful and disbanded in 1980.

[@ginaneumannbush8136]

Eyes without a face is a really good song from Idol!!!

[@jaquettajones]

Yes - he was in a band called Generation X. This was the first Billy Idol song I ever heard released in 1980

[@randallhaney7909]

Billy Idol .. Forgot to be a lover.. Live.

[@conniehansen3630]

Catch my Fall is my favorite Billy Idol song.

[@umainebearman]

Martha Quinn from MTV back in the 80s taught me that Billy sings "sweat" 20 times at the end. Just something I never though about but MTV taught me.

[@francotraipe2830]

WE LOVE YOU BILLY IDOL !!!!!

[@midnightfury9001]

"So let's sink another drink" love that line ♥️

[@jamessomers8808]

White Wedding came out in 1982, I was 12. Which is funny, because I would've said I was older than that.

[@gotham61]

Billy Idol was in a punk band called Generation X before going solo, and this song was originally a Generation X song in 1980 before Idol did this solo version as his first single in 1981..

[@debbiedebster5806]

My entire family was into Billy!! My dad especially 😂 this song will always be a favorite, I'll be throwin fists til I'm 90, should I make it!😉♥️✌ Omg, seeing the video again! I remember being at parties back when with MTV in background, Billy came on, all eyes were in the set & dancing!

[@lizeres4530]

He just released an album last year.

[@ePelle741]

See now? This one ALWAYS gets me out of my many random funks! Blast-worthy everytime! YES!

[@DC_Prox]

Yeah, super young, in fact this is one of the last songs he released with his band Generation X, before he went solo, and they put a new mix of the song on his solo debut. This song was used perfectly in the movie Flushed Away, it was a nostalgia needle drop but it was also thematically appropriate.

[@josephtrentacoste1259]

Eyes Without a face is a favorite. Hope you guys didnt forget about Rich Astley- It Would Take A Strong Man, She Wants To Dance With Me, Together Forever, Take Me To Your Heart, When You Need Somebody, Hold Me In Your Arms & his greatest song for me was Cry For Help all songs that gets you saying " Is That Really His Voice". One of the greatest.

[@ines_uk]

Even if you didn’t grow up in the 80’s , but let’s say 90’s or even 00’s, you’d still know this song and many others because of radio. We listened to radio so much more than now. So we got exposed to all kinds of music. I’m a 90’s kid but I know most of these songs so well. All just because of having radio on all the time. Love this song! ❤

[@gregoryperine6988]

Another must watch Billy Idol is to be a lover

[@tinahairston6383]

He began as a guitarist in the punk rock band, Chelsea, in 1976. Left that group and formed his own group Generation X which was successful in the UK with 3 studio albums but disbanded in 1981. Moved to the US to launch his solo career in 1981. His biggest success was from 81-88.

[@KierenP]

This was Billy Idol’s debut solo single after leaving Generation X. It’s funny when you learn what the true meaning of this song is.

[@GinaGeeILuvu]

This is very early Billy Idol, released in 1981! I love this song and I feel it’s more punk rock than some of the others that came later that are more rock rock! I believe this was his first big solo hit…as I remember! POV ❤❤

[@jeffbourchier2236]

During this same era, in a slightly different genre… ‘80s talent not to be missed. Amber, for Female Friday- Sade, 1984 Live Montreux. “Smooth Operator”

[@xeonschosenone]

The band was generation x and dancing with myself was his hit with them

[@sp33dr4c3r]

Love Billy. I'd say his most fun video/song combinations are To Be a Lover, (Rock the) Cradle of Love, and Money, Money. Please play some more! :)

[@thejorgeee]

1984 I attended a Billy Idol concert at a university gym in Vancouver BC. Later that night I'm at THE best club in the city and THIS song comes on. Having had a few cold ones and maybe the odd puff, I started Dancing by Myself on a large crowded dance floor and out of the crowd comes a Movie Star Beautiful Girl to dance with me the whole song. Song over...she disappears and I spend the rest of the night looking for her...but never found her. But I have this great memory of that night every time I hear this song. Thanks!

[@MartinMcMartin]

3 Billy's in one day lol

[@Cynthia...]

I remember listening to Billy Idol, it was my son’s era of music but I liked him as well.

[@tomasgonzalezmarin6118]

A complete classic by Billy Idol. My favorite will always be Eyes without a Face!! Best regards from Chile!! 🙂

[@ursulabklyn_mia6148]

This was a club banger. Love to dance to this song.

[@EricSmith-gx7lu]

One of my favorite Billy Idol songs. When I first saw the video when I was a kid, my mother said, "I can see why he's dancing with himself and no one else," lol

[@magneto7930]

Billy Idol started with the band called Generation X and he had his first solo album in 1982. This song you're reacting to is just Billy Idol having fun. No great message, just pure fun!