Who Did The Best Version of "Dancing In The Street"? - Opinions Sought

3/02/12

[MplsSteve]

OK, I just got done watching my alma mater win the McNaughton Cup in college hockey. Now I have a musical question for you.

Regarding the song "Dancing In The Street", who did the best version? Fingers crossed, I hope I linked these properly...

Martha And The Vandellas (1964) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdvITn5cAVc

Mick Jagger/David Bowie (1985) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y-x2fWKbmo

Van Halen (1982) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5qT2C_Ggpg

Or if there's a version that I missed, let me know.

[Psycho_Bunny]

No one. I hate that song.

[SatinDoll]

Martha and the Vandellas - no doubt about it.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Mamas and the Papas - Dancing in the Street (not really much of a "music video")

[USAFJeeper]

Van Halen... as if it was a real question.

[sheikdetailfeather]

Martha and the Vandellas

[CharlesWayneCT]

A pretty bad version:

The Carpenters Live - Dancing In the Street

I'll have to admit I like the Carpenters. But I think I'm partial to the Dave Bowie version of this particular song, if only because it's the first one I remember hearing.

[jmacusa]

The Grateful Dead. Live way back in Ithac NY 1977. I was there.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Fred Firth -- I can't even describe this as "Dancing in the Street", but the song is in there somewhere...

[sushiman]

The Kinks ...from the album Kinda Kinks , 1965 . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk5VEaC3nGE&feature=related

[Dr. Sivana]

The Jagger/Bowie version adds to the lyrics, including international locations.

One of those locations (cited by Bowie) is “the streets of Brazil”. Brazil is in the southern hemisphere. Hence it is NOT summer there (the original premise of the song).

On that basis, I would disqualify the Jagger/Bowie contribution. Actually, after “State of Shock” by Jagger/M. Jackson, I would disqualify ANY collaboration including Sir Jagger.

[CharlesWayneCT]

This one has some interesting features.....

Atomic Kitty - Dancing In the Street

[LukeL]

Family Guy called the Jagger/Bowie Version the gayest video of all time.

[Figment]

Martha and the Vandellas

[Dr. Sivana]

Family Guy called the Jagger/Bowie Version the gayest video of all time.

While I wouldn't recommend "Family Guy" as an authoritative voice for anything. The video (which I just viewed) is up there. However, Bowie's own "DJ" and "Boys Keep Swinging" (both from the "Lodger" album) are more clearly deviant (and five years earlier!). Of course, I understand that Angela Bowie once caught this pair in flagrante delicto, so that background story makes the charge more compelling.

[U-238]

Martha and the Vandellas

[dead]

Family Guy called the Jagger/Bowie Version the gayest video of all time.

Clearly, they don't remember Elton John's "I'm Still Standing."

[fhayek]

Martha

[2ndamendmentpa]

Whoa - you mean the epic Barton Hall show? Lucky you!

(for those who are wondering - this is widely considered to be the very best show the Dead ever played)

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1977-05-08.sbd.cantor.sacks.266.shnf

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Martha and the Vandellas.

Jagger & Bowie stank like a run-over skunk lying in the hot sun.