…Liza Minnelli was a Disco artist?

Well, I have that information from Wikipedia, and we all know that they are not always accurate. It’s also only one song. You know, the one with the Pet Shop Boys back from the late 1980s. No, you are not losing your mind, but apparently, she did, and the video is so so 1980s. Gosh, those were the days, my friends. LOL

Why I am I babbling about the 80s, the Pet Shop Boys and Liza Minnelli?

Well, I wanted to combine Jim’s Song Lyric Sunday with Glyn’s Mixed Music Bag, and I either didn’t know the disco artists starting with M on the Wikipedia list, or I didn’t like them or their music. I do, however, like “Losing My Mind” by Liza Minnelli & the Pet Shop Boys, so I am going rogue (as so often with these blog events) and chose that one.

What is disco music? I suspect many mainly think about the Bee Gee’s and John Travolta when they hear disco, but there is so much more to it:

A Brief History of Disco via Masterclass Articles

Disco originated in underground clubs in the late 1960s and became the hottest music in the world for the following decade. Here’s a brief overview of the rise and fall of disco:

• Disco is born in response to social issues. Disco music was introduced to the nightlife scene as a way to escape the rising social and economic issues of the era, such as war, political scandal, gang violence, unemployment, and soaring crime rates. The increasing race riots and homophobia of the 1960s led to unsafe spaces for people of color and members of the gay community.
• Disco hits the mainstream. Discotheques, like Studio 54 and Paradise Garage in New York City, allowed people from all walks of life, especially those in marginalized communities, to safely come together and dance. Funky sounds, trippy lights, reflective disco balls, and a positive atmosphere lead to disco’s rise in popularity. However, its mainstream popular music success did not happen until the release of the film Saturday Night Fever (1977) starring John Travolta. The film was a hit, and so was its soundtrack, which featured disco tracks from artists like the Bee Gees, Yvonne Elliman, and Kool & the Gang. More mainstream popular artists like Rod Stewart and Queen began incorporating disco elements into a few of their own songs, which further proved the genre’s influence.
• Decline. However, the systemic racism and homophobia that led to the emergence of disco helped contribute to its downfall, as many began to rebel against disco culture and what it represented. In 1979, anti-disco sentiments reached a fever pitch when Chicago deejay Steve Dahl (who was fired after the radio station he worked at shifted from a rock to a disco format) held “Disco Demolition Night” during a White Sox game. People were encouraged to bring their old disco records to the game, where Dahl blew them up in the field. Shortly after, the feelings about disco seemed to shift, with “disco sucks” becoming the new national tone and radio stations gradually dropping their disco playlists from their lineup.
• Lasting influence. Disco music continues to influence popular music acts, thanks to its infectious, danceable beats. The syncopated rhythms and repetitive vocals inspired artists like Kylie Minogue, Dua Lipa, and Daft Punk.

Please find out more about it here.

You can’t remember “Losing My Mind”? Here it is:

The Grunge wrote a great article about Liza Minnelli and the struggles she had to endure. I quote:

“There are the biggest, trendiest stars of the pop culture world, and then, there’s Liza Minnelli. She’s instantly recognizable with her trademark black hair and pixie cut, and somehow, it only adds to the illusion that she’s a timeless creature from some other world. Even when she was young — and starring in things like “Cabaret” — she was one of those stars who always seemed to have been plucked from another time … one where the world was still in black and white, and the stage lights were always turned down low.

And it’s no wonder — Minnelli was born into one of show business’ royal families. Her mother was, of course, the legendary Judy Garland — who was, in addition to being famous as Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz,” was also the poster child for the system of abuse that was rampant in Old Hollywood. That’s important, because it’s impossible to talk about Minnelli without talking about her mother. Her father — Vincente Minnelli — was just as famous behind the camera as a director, and although her parents split early on, Minnelli famously remarked (via The Guardian), “They married again so many times I have millions of parents.”

From “Cabaret” to her role as Lucille 2 on cult favorite “Arrested Development,” Liza Minnelli has been larger than life for, well, her entire life. But that hasn’t come without some major lows, though, and learning about the tragedies that she’s struggled with behind the scenes gives us a whole new appreciation for this incredible star.

It’s worth checking out the rest of the article here.

The Pet Shop Boys recently came back into my mind because we live in the west of Ireland and also went West seen from the UK so I constantly have their song “Go West” in mind.

ClashMusic wrote about them:

Despite their lifetime Brit Award, numerous number ones and Top 40 hits, it’s sometimes easy to forget how big the Pet Shop Boys actually are. They’ve sold over a hundred million records. A hundred million! And they’ve collaborated with some of the best artists of the last twenty years.

And why do we like them? Because the Pet Shop Boys are a constant revolving door. Each album pushes into a new direction, from ‘West End Girls’ to ‘Boys And Girls’ each innocent tone of Neil Tennant’s voice brings back a new wave of disco.

Having stretched into every corner of music, film and stage PSB have had so many hidden and secret projects that they’ve influenced more musicians today than anyone on the musical landscape. And they’re still top of their game.

Please read more here.

And before we go to the lyrics, something about the song itself from I Love 80s

The electro show tune “Losing My Mind” was released as the lead single from Liza Minelli’s ninth studio album Results, and, surprisingly, it was her only single to break into the UK Top 40, officially making her a one hit wonder.

The song was originally penned by Stephen Sondheim for the 1971 musical Follies, and has been sung by numerous singers in different versions of the musical, including the American singer Barbara Cook and British actress Julia McKenzie (Fresh Fields) during the 1980s.

Pet Shop Boys sprinkled their stardust over the song to give it a quintessentially 80s synthpop makeover, complete with 808 drums, synth choirs and strings.  

Frontman Neil Tennant never hid the fact that he is a huge fan of Lisa Minnelli, and she was keen to release a pop album, so it was the perfect match.

After their successful collaboration with Dusty Springfield in 1987 for the single “What Have I Done To Deserve This?“, and then again in 1988 with Patsy Kensit’s Eighth Wonder for the single “I’m Not Scared”, Tennant and Lowe jumped at the chance to produce an entire album with Minnelli, alongside the Australian producer and remixer Julian Mendelsohn. This wasn’t the first cover the duo had worked on, and they saw huge success with their own cover of the ballad “Always On My Mind“, which became the Christmas No.1 in the UK during 1987.

They penned several new tracks for Liza’s album, which also includes a cover of their hit “Rent” (at the request of Minnelli, who adored the song) and Tanita Tikaram’s “Twist In My Sobriety”, which suited Minnelli’s deep voice….

An official video wasn’t available on Youtube until March 12 2019, when it was uploaded on Liza Minnelli’s Vevo Youtube page. In Aug 2021, it had received over 785,000 views.The video itself is pretty dark and focuses heavily on Liza. We see her running through a torrential downpour, forgetting to switch her iron off (which is burning through a shirt on her ironing board), and placing her gloves in the fridge – just a normal day for me, then! There is also imagery of her male lover.

Read the rest here

“Losing My Mind”
(originally by Stephen Sondheim) lyrics via A-Z Lyrics

The sun comes up – I think about you
The coffee cup – I think about you
I want you so, it’s like I’m losing my mind
The morning ends – I think about you
I talk to friends and think about you
And do they know it’s like I’m losing my mind?

All afternoon doing every little chore
The thought of you stays bright
Sometimes I stand in the middle of the floor
Not going left – not going right

I dim the lights and think about you
Spend sleepless nights to think about you
You said you loved me
Or were you just being kind?
Or am I losing
Losing my mind?

All afternoon doing every little chore
The thought of you stays bright
Sometimes I stand in the middle of the floor
Not going left – not going right

I dim the lights and think about you
Spend sleepless nights to think about you
You said you loved me
Or were you just being kind?
Or am I losing my mind?

Or am I losing my mind?
You said you loved me
Or were you just being kind?
Or am I losing my mind?
Or were you just being kind?
Or am I losing my mind?
Losing my mind?
Losing my mind?
Losing my mind?
Losing my mind?
Losing my mind?

What is your favourite Minnelli song?

Please stay safe, stay kind and remember to listen to your favourite music.

Sorry, no German part today!