The Ten Greatest Italo Disco Tracks Of All Time
The 80s wasn't just about neon and leg warmers; it was the birth of Italo Disco. An Italian response to the global dance music craze, these tracks are not just songs; they're time capsules. Dive in as we countdown the top 10 anthems.
Importing music to Italy in the eighties cost a lot of money, so much so that they decided to cut the outgoings and produce their version of dance music. Some might say it was an irreversible catastrophe that exposed atrocious music to the world for far longer than necessary. In contrast, others cherish its reaction in their shoulders, hips, and feet ever since, not to mention its lasting impact on dance music in general (it did influence New Order).
Need More Music? Check Out Our Massive, No-BS list of the Saddest Songs In Dance Music 😭
At its best, it's feel-good dance music drenched in Italian pizzazz and the excess of the absurd eighties. It’s glamour, romance, the fast lane, and best summed up in the Italian phrase “La Dolce Vita” (the good life). At its worst, it’s amateur, camp, euro-pop with the most uninspiring lyrics and music videos known to animal or man. To be a true purveyor of the sound, however, you must appreciate the opposite ends of the spectrum and with that, I present my curated selection.
10. Ryan Paris - La Dolce Vita
9. Divine - "I'm So Beautiful"
8. Generazione Anni 80 – Commanchero
7. Joe & Umberto - Quibos
6. Ago – Miracles
5. Limahl – Never ending Story
4. Radiorama – Aliens
3. Alan Cook – Bad Dreams
2. Paul Paul – Good Times
1. Giorgio Moroder – A Love Affair
How I Chose The Best Italo Disco Song In History
Picking my favorite Giorgio track was no easy feat, though. Seen as this is an Italo Disco list, I omitted what many people consider to be his most outstanding work in TV and film songs like “Chase” and “Push it to the limit,” I also omitted his collaborations with big names like his breakthrough hit with Donna Summer, “I Feel Love.”
In terms of his solo work, most people would probably choose “From Here To Infinity,” and as much as I love the song, for me, it would have to be, "A Love Affair."
It starts with the timeless lyrics, “Lazy afternoon drop in to the Hard Rock Cafe, I'm drinking coffee, she came my way, she drove a red Ferrari, dressed in some Armani, cursin' while she blew me away.” This is glamorized Italian romance at its finest. I can almost picture myself in a white blazer, peach turtleneck and thin gold chain, sipping coffee, peering over my gold-framed aviators and brushing my wet mustache as she walks in.
The production results from years of experience with the finesse of a true visionary at work. I consider his work with Joe Esposito in the Solitary Men LP among some of his finest. "A Love Affair" really is the perfect song to play on your way to room 147 while your wife is out of town. As a ringtone for your lover. It’s great for a holiday romance. Heck, it’s just as good imagining it all in your head. Its pure karaoke gold and a perfect example of Giorgio's continental refinement of the genre.