Ciccone Youth was the tongue-in-cheek side project of Sonic Youth members Kim Gordon, Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo, and Steve Shelley and Mike Watts The Minutemen. In 1986 they first released a 3-song EP on which they performed deconstructed covers of two songs by Madonna: "Into the Groove" [which they retitled "Into the Groove(y)] and "Burning Up" along with one other song "Tuff Titty Rap". In 1988 they put these 3 songs on a full album's worth of music called The Whitey Album. It also included a cover of "Addicted to Love" by Robert Palmer which was recorded in a karaoke booth.
The name of the band is a combination of Maddonna's real last name, Ciccone, and a play on the band name Sonic Youth. Sonic Youth had formed in New York City in 1981 and were strongly associated with the NoWave art and music scene and were known for using alternative tunings on their guitars. When Sonic Youth released their 1987 album Sister it contained references to Ciccone Youth several times in the song "Master-Dik".
Lyrics:
Music can be such a revelation
Dancing around you feel the sweet sensation
We might be lovers if the rhythm's right
I hope this feeling never ends tonight
Get into the groove
Boy you've got to prove
Your love to me, yeah
Get up on your feet, yeah
Step to the beat
Boy what will it be
Gonna get to know you in a special way
This doesn't happen to me every day
Don't try to hide it love wears no disguise
I see the fire burning in your eyes
Only when I'm dancing can I feel this free
At night I lock the doors, where no one else can see
I'm tired of dancing here all by myself
Tonight I want to dance with someone else
Get into the groove
Boy you've got to prove
Your love to me, yeah
Get up on your feet, yeah
Step to the beat
Boy what will it be
Live out your fantasies here with me
Just let the music set you free
Touch my body, and move in time
Now I now you're mine
Now I now you're mine
Now I now you're mine
Get into the groove
Boy you've got to prove
Your love to me, yeah
Get up on your feet, yeah
Step to the beat
Boy what will it be
You've got to get into the groove
Boy you've got to prove
Your love to me,
Get up on your feet, yeah
Step to the beat
Boy what will it be
You've got to get
This record was so ahead of its time on so many levels. I remember how bold it seemed to cover Madonna material and getting into discussions with friends as to where ironic detachment ended and genuine affection began. The record ended up being not just a critical moment both in terms of the pop culture evolution toward tones of irony but a bigger moment widening the vehicle for "anti-establishment" rock. Embracing Madonna confused both the mainstream and punks. Few people were either innocent enough in spirit, open-minded enough in taste, or savvy enough in sense of humor to not be challenged at some level by this record.
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