Connections’ annual dance party that works its way through the decades returns on Friday to celebrate music from 1985-1995. While there’s lots of iconic songs from this period that are bound to get a spin, we’d love to hear a few lost classics.

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We went into a trance and dug deep into our musical memories of teenage years to recall some of the songs we danced around the lounge room to while Countdown or Video Hits played on the television. The songs we owned on cassingles and played on our Walkman.

Here’s five tunes we’d love to hear at the annual party, and take a look at the videos, you might get some fashion ideas on what to wear too.

Koo De Tah – Body Talk

This New Zealand band scored a huge hit with Too Young For Promises in 1985, but it was the follow up song Body Talk that we really loved. The band featured vocalist Tina Cross and musician Leon Berger. Berger went on to write and produce a lot of Melissa Tkautz’s early hits in the ’90s.

Collette – Ring My Bell

Collette Roberts scored a huge hit in 1989 when she released this acid-house tinged cover of Anita Bell’s disco classic. Collette followed it up with All I Wanna Do is Dance and That’s What I Like About You before releasing her debut album Raze the Roof. She was famous for her lycra bike pants and braces. A second album Attitude came out in the early 90’s.

Shanice – I love Your Smile

Released in 1991 this was the only hit for Shanice Wilson in Australia. She went on to sing lots of backing vocals for Toni Braxton and recorded a duet with John Secada for Disney’s Pocahontus. 

Euphoria – Love You Right

Euphoria burst onto the music scene in 1991 with Love You Right. we just love this clip for Simon ‘The Mentalist’ Baker’s shirtless backing vocals. After the song came out it was revealed that lead singer Holly Garnett was really singing the lead vocals, it was the powerful voice actually belonged to Keren Minshull, who is also in the clip. On their subsequent releases Minshull was featured more prominently. Sadly Garnett passed away in 1998.

Dana Dawson – 3 is Family

Dana Dawson released this RnB jam in 1995 and there are some stunning upbeat dance remixes – the Dancin Diva’s mix is a favourite. Sadly Dana passed away in 2010 after suffering colon cancer – she was just 36 years old.

Decadance: Electric Dreams 85- 95 is at Connections Nightclub on Friday. 

OIP Staff