They emerged in the early 80s with an EP called 'Folk of the 80s', a work released in 1980 that showed the Doroschuk family's interest in the electronic sounds of the progressive rock scene. After picking up some local success, the group erupted onto the international scene a couple of years later with their hit single "The Safety Dance". Parent album 'Rhythm of Youth' did very well, reaching all the way to the #13 slot on the Billboard 200 chart. Touring showed that they had captured their own distinctive audience.
Still, the band faced a tough time living up the expectations put upon them by the success of "The Safety Dance", which had a popular music video and hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their follow-up tune "I Like", similar in synthpop spirit, received far less airplay. Their 1984 album 'Folk of the '80s (Part III)' showed the group in flux, the ever shifting 80s music scene seemingly leaving them behind.
Though saddled with the 'one hit wonder' label, Men Without Hats burst back into American and Canadian popular consciousness with their 1987 release 'Pop Goes The World'. The title track reached the #20 slot on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as #2 on the Canadian Singles Chart, and, showing a return to form, the group also devised a compelling music video that had considerable interest. The songs themselves showed a mix of lyrical bite and meta-commentary on the nature of fame as well as understated, even children's music inspired instrumentation and vocals.
"Pop Goes The World" ended up being also featured in the 1987 comedy film 'Date with an Angel', and it became the fifteenth biggest selling single in South Africa for 1988, showing the international appeal of the band. Ivan and Stefan Doroschuk alongside Lenny Pinkas made-up the group at that point. The touring band incorporated Bruce Murphy on keyboards and guitar, Marika Tjelios on bass, Richard Sampson on drums, and Heidi Garcia on vocals and keyboards.
Their next album, 'The Adventures of Women & Men Without Hate in the 21st Century', was released in 1989. Though getting a bit of interest from having featured a cover of ABBA's song "S.O.S.", the commercial failure of the album showed that their audience had significantly dwindled. The musicians on the album were essentially the touring band from 'Pop Goes the World'.
The band lasted as an electronic group as such into the early 90s, but they decided to drastically change their sound for 1991's 'Sideways'. The aptly-tilted album saw them aping contemporary alternative rock. Alienating many fans, the album didn't even relieve an American release. Soon after this deep career setback, the band officially disbanded.
As time went on, the group's iconic international hits "The Safety Dance" and "Pop Goes The World" continued to receive major airplay, leading some to label the group as a 'two hit wonder'. Ivan Doroschuk and keyboardist Bruce Murphy would record several demos in 1993, for a concept album tentatively titled 'UFO's are Real'. Yet it never was released.
After a few more years, Ivan Doroschuk returned to being a solo artist with the album 'The Spell' in 2000. He decided to perform simply as Ivan. In 2003, Men Without Hats partly reformed, and Ivan self-released the album 'No Hats Beyond This Point'.
On September 24, 2010, Ivan Doroschuk reformed Men Without Hats as a full group, with three hired backup musicians, and his band appeared at the Rifflandia Music Festival in Victoria, British Columbia. Performing ten songs from the Men Without Hats back catalog, the Ivan-fronted band (described by the Austin American-Statesman as "simply singer Ivan Doroschuk and some hired guns" and by Stefan as a "tribute band") began the "Dance If You Want Tour 2011" with a well attended and positively received performance at Austin's South by Southwest event in March 2011. At the North by Northeast festival in Toronto on June 18, Ivan announced that Men Without Hats would be releasing a new studio album and that it tentatively would be entitled 'Folk of the 80s: Part IV'.
On June 19, 2011, the group played at the Sound of Music Festival in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Stefan Doroschuk, though rumored to be returning to his brother's group, announced his intention to continue working separately. On March 6, 2012, Ivan Doroschuk's band announced via Facebook that their upcoming album would be called 'Love in the Age of War'.
On 22 April 2012, Men Without Hats released the new single "Head Above Water" from the aformentioned album. Their line-up at that time was Ivan Doroschuk, Lou Dawson, James Love and Rachel Ashmore. 'Love in the Age of War' finally came out on May 22, 2012 in Canada and on June 5, 2012 in the U.S. Their seventh album, it was also the group's first full studio release after a nine-year hiatus.
The band's 2013 tour found them traveling to San Diego, California as well as Mexico City. Going into 2014, the group is still going strong. See: http://safetydance.com/
Dancing In the Moonlight
Men Without Hats Lyrics
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We were dancing in the moonlight
Should've seen us dancing off the wall
Tell me, tell me two times, I'll remember
We were dancing in the moonlight
Just another fake we're looking for
Dancing in the moonlight
We were dancing in the moonlight
Yeah, dancing in the moonlight
Tell me, tell me things I can't imagine
We were chanting in the moonlight
And whatever it was, it ain't no more
Tell me once again, and I'll remember
We were dancing in the moonlight
Trying to open up an open door
Dancing in the moonlight
Yeah, dancing in the moonlight
We were dancing in the moonlight
Every step you take, you must admit
Yeah, things are getting better
Here comes more shit you can avoid
Tell me what you're looking for
There comes a time you must admit
Hey, these guys are pretty clever
They got us one thing more and more
(More and more, more and more, more and more, more and more)
Dancing in the moonlight
Yeah, dancing in the moonlight
Dancing in the moonlight
Yeah, dancing in the moonlight
We were dancing in the moonlight
Yeah, dancing in the moonlight
We were dancing in the moonlight
Just dancing
Men Without Hats' 1987 hit song "Dancing in the Moonlight" features a mix of abstract and straightforward lyrical elements that create a sense of nostalgic longing and searching for meaning. The first verse begins with a request for someone to jog the singer's memory regarding a past event, possibly indicating a sense of detachment from important moments in his life. As the chorus hits, it becomes clear that the memory in question is a joyous night of dancing under the moonlight with friends. The repetition of the phrase "just another fake we're looking for" is intriguing as it can either allude to the pursuit of meaningful connections with others in superficial social circles or a potential mistrust of the feeling of euphoria that comes with the impersonal and fleeting nature of such experiences.
The second verse hints at the possibility of a spiritual or psychedelic journey, as the blissful night turns into a chanting ritual that has now ended. The singer attempts to recall the exact nature of the experience and ponders if the door to the experience can be re-opened. The bridge talks about how every step you take, things are getting better in spite of the metaphorical "more shit you can avoid." This can be interpreted as the optimism that life can offer despite the challenges, while also acknowledging that negativity is still present. The song and its lyrics can be interpreted in many ways but the nostalgia and the longing for meaningful connections remain the central theme throughout.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me, tell me once, I can't remember
Asking someone to remind of a past time
We were dancing in the moonlight
Recalling that they were dancing under the moonlight
Should've seen us dancing off the wall
Describing how lively and energetic they were while dancing
Tell me, tell me two times, I'll remember
Asking someone to repeat a memory again
Just another fake we're looking for
Suggesting that they were seeking for authenticity and sincerity
We were dancing in the moonlight
Reiterating the fact that they were dancing under the moonlight
Just dancing in the moonlight
Emphasizing how they were simply enjoying themselves by dancing
Tell me, tell me things I can't imagine
Asking to be told something extraordinary
We were chanting in the moonlight
Recalling how they were singing in the moonlight
And whatever it was, it ain't no more
Implying that the memory has ended or changed
Tell me once again, and I'll remember
Asking to hear a memory repeated one more time
Trying to open up an open door
Describing their attempt to access something already available
Every step you take, you must admit
Acknowledging the progress made through each action taken
Yeah, things are getting better
Observing that things are improving
Here comes more shit you can avoid
Suggesting that they can prevent negative experiences
Tell me what you're looking for
Asking someone to share their desires or intentions
There comes a time you must admit
Realizing that one must accept or confess a truth
Hey, these guys are pretty clever
Recognizing the intelligence or skill of others
They got us one thing more and more
Noticing that they keep receiving more and more of something
Dancing in the moonlight
Repeat of earlier statement about dancing under the moonlight
Yeah, dancing in the moonlight
Reinforcement of the enjoyment of dancing
Dancing in the moonlight
Echoing the joy of dancing under the moonlight
Yeah, dancing in the moonlight
Reiteration of the pleasure of dancing under the moonlight
We were dancing in the moonlight
Final recall of the past memory of dancing under the moonlight
Just dancing
Simple, yet joyful
Contributed by Camden S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.