After six years in seclusion after escaping an abusive relationship with late former husband and manager Jack Gordon, La Toya Jackson returned to the studio to record an autobiographical album entitled Startin' Over. "Just Wanna Dance" was recorded in 2002, but it wasn't until 2004 that it was released as Startin' Over's lead single.
Jackson began work on the song by visiting night clubs to hear what sort of music people were dancing to. To accomplish this, Jackson disguised herself as a male alter-ego named "Toy." As a result, the songs' sexually ambiguous lyrics describe a ribald night out at a club where the party-goers "don’t know if I’m a he or a she".The single was initially released under Jackson's nickname Toy, so disc jockeys would give the record a fair chance before tossing it aside. To Jackson's satisfaction, the strategy worked. Jackson phoned DJs who had played her track to reveal "Toy's" true identity saying, “One phone call at a time, I am letting them know all about Toy. While some of them knew that Toy was me, others were surprised. The overall response has been rewarding and encouraging.”
The single includes mixes by Vibelicious and Jason Randolph. About.com praised Randolph's "Extended Vocal" mix saying it had a "a running synth line that could move anyone to the dancefloor." Jackson's vocals were complimented as "suit[ing] the sing-songy verses quite well." Outword Magazine called the track "energetic" and "infectious".
Although the single reached the #13 position on the United States dance chart in October 2004, a commercial release never followed, mostly because Jackson's record company, Ja-Tail Records, had not yet secured a distribution deal. A follow-up single, "Free the World", was released 5 months later. On the back of the singles' success, Ja-Tail obtained a distribution deal with Universal-Bungalo Records. Jackson performed "Just Wanna Dance" for the first time on the grand finale of Mexican reality TV series La Academia on 18 December 2011.
Just Wanna Dance
La Toya Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chic-a-dic, chic-a-dic
(CHANT 2x)
Da-Da-De, Da-Da-De, Da-Da-De, Da-Da-Dum
I'm getting dressed
To look my best tonight
Run out my door
First on the dance floor
And I don't care if no one shows up but me
(CHANT 2x)
Danced on the floor
The guys all stare at me
The women hate me cause they wanna be me
Shaking my ass
With lots of class, that's why
But they don't know if I'm a he or a she
(B-SECTION)
Watching all my moves
Breaking all the rules
Seeing if I kick it with a girl or a man tonight
(CHORUS)
I just wanna dance until the
The morning light
Let's dance boys
Let's dance tonight and
Keep this party going till the night is over
( ALL NIGHT 3x)
All night, all night, all night
Let's keep this party going till the night is over
Guys on the floor
Rubbing my big back door
Ask if I wanna dance with him or with her
Sure, I don't care
Just keep your rhythm right
Didn't come to teach, just to shake my ass all night
(CHANT 2x)
I got so freaky
Then let my hair come down
Rubbed my back door against him, all the way to the ground
Everyone's looking
To see what I do next
I turned to her and kissed her neck and did it chest to chest
(B-SECTION)
(CHORUS 2x)
(ALL NIGHT 2x)
(CHANT 2X)
Let's dance, just wanna dance, let's dance
(CHORUS 3x)
La Toya Jackson's Just Wanna Dance is a song that celebrates one's love for dancing and partying. The song is an upbeat and lively club anthem intended to put the listener in a dancing mood. The first verse talks about getting dressed up to go out to the club, excited for the night. The singer expresses that they do not care if anyone else shows up because they are ready to hit the dance floor regardless. In the chorus, the singer declares their desire to dance until the morning light, and they encourage others to join in on the fun.
The second verse is where the song takes an interesting turn. The singer shares the attention they receive when they hit the dance floor. The guys are staring, and the women are envious. The singer enjoys shaking their ass with all the class they can muster. The twist comes when the singer declares that the other club-goers don't know whether they are a man or a woman, and it doesn't matter because they are there to dance. The line causes the listener to question how society perceives gender norms and challenges those norms.
The song's lyrics celebrate acceptance, love, and unity on the dance floor, regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation. La Toya Jackson's Just Wanna Dance is an excellent reminder that dancing and music can bring people together, beyond the barriers of limitations society places.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm getting dressed
I'm dressing up at my best
To look my best tonight
Dressing up to look stunning tonight
It's friday night and I can't wait to parta
Excited to party hard on Friday night
Run out my door
Leaving the house in a hurry
First on the dance floor
Being first to hit the dance floor
And I don't care if no one shows up but me
Not worried if no one else shows up for the party
Danced on the floor
Dancing on the dance floor
The guys all stare at me
Attracting attention from guys with her dance moves
The women hate me cause they wanna be me
Getting resentment from women who envy her dancing skills
Shaking my ass
Shaking her body in a seductive manner
With lots of class, that's why
Dancing in a stylish and elegant manner
But they don't know if I'm a he or a she
Creating confusion by appearing androgynous
Watching all my moves
Being observed for her dance moves
Breaking all the rules
Defying standard dance norms and creating her own moves
Seeing if I kick it with a girl or a man tonight
People are trying to figure out her sexual orientation
I just wanna dance until the
Willing to dance non-stop, from dusk till dawn
The morning light
Until the sun rises in the morning
Guys on the floor
Male dancers on the dance floor
Rubbing my big back door
Touching her voluptuous backside
Ask if I wanna dance with him or with her
People are interested in dancing with her, regardless of their gender
Sure, I don't care
Indifferent to who she dances with
Just keep your rhythm right
As long as they can dance in rhythm with her, all is well
Didn't come to teach, just to shake my ass all night
Not interested in teaching dance moves, just wants to keep shaking her body in her own way
I got so freaky
Dancing in a wild and sexy manner
Then let my hair come down
Letting her hair down and getting into a carefree mode
Rubbed my back door against him, all the way to the ground
Used her backside to seduce her dance partner
Everyone's looking
Attracting the attention of everyone around her
To see what I do next
Being anticipated for her next dance move
I turned to her and kissed her neck
Engaging in intimate acts with her female partner
And did it chest to chest
Having close body contact with her partner while dancing
Let's dance, just wanna dance, let's dance
Repeatedly expressing her desire to dance
Contributed by Aubrey I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Damien Xavier
Personal fav of La Toya. Also a great song RuPaul had his girls dance to
Charles Johnson
It sounds like a crack laced nursery rhyme. I love it💋
bestforlast char
so accurate
ST.2019
Lolz 😂
Lee Stevens
I like this... Some of the lyrics seem a bit odd, but I really like the beat. The beat seems so futuristic.
Toby
It sounds cheap lol but I love it anyways
Ken_Barbie🎀🦄
yesss
The Blessed One
I love Latoya's music, her music is very great and she is a very wonderful and decent human being. I know that everyone loves her. I always wish the best for her and I always hope that she is happy with her true family.
Ileana Vicktoria
Fantástica pieza musical, 👉 Just Wanna Dance
DXVI
0:52: Definitely Inspired by Michael The Way She Said “Shaking My Ass”.
0:59: Definitely Inspired by Janet The Way She Uses the “Sea Saw” Vocal Arrangment 4 the Pre Chorus