“Dance Hall Days” is a new wave and synth-pop song by Wang Chung, released in October 1982, and re-released in December 1983 as a single from their album Points on the Curve (1984). It became the band’s first major hit, blending dreamy synthesizers, infectious grooves, and nostalgic lyrics, making it one of the most recognizable songs of the 1980s.
Dance Hall Days is about memories of youthful romance and dancing, with an almost surreal, nostalgic tone. Musically, the song features a hypnotic bassline, shimmering synths, and a smooth, atmospheric arrangement. Jack Hues’ soft, almost dreamy vocals add to the song’s unique vibe, making it a blend of danceable energy and introspective melancholy.
The song was a commercial success, topping the Billboard Hot Dance Chart in the United States, and reaching top ten in Canada, Australia, and many European countries. It helped establish Wang Chung as a prominent act in the new wave and synth-pop movement of the 1980s.
The music video had two versions— the first one, directed by Derek Jarman, features the band performing the song with home movies in background, intercut with the archive footage, the second one is a fantasy concept video set in the 1940s, the heyday of dance halls. This version was nominated for Best New Artist at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards, losing to “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by Eurythmics.