Joe Jonas and DNCE, who thrive off of their innuendo, return with a fun and infectious, if utterly corny new single, “Dance.” Be prepared to ‘bust a groove.’

Ah, it just seems fitting that DNCE returns with a new single called “Dance,” right? Right. DNCE arrived in a big way when they dropped their innuendo-filled guilty pleasure, “Cake by the Ocean.” Despite the single’s success, their self-titled, 2016 album, was moderately successful at best. Nonetheless, the vibe given off by the band is intriguing, something that continues on “Dance.”

Like the pop group’s past music, “Dance” is fun and infectious to the nth degree.  The production work is slick: rhythmic guitar, a poppy drum groove, and a dash of horns.  Joe Jonas is in full-on, tongue-n-cheek mode, particularly with his multisyllabic treatment of words with far fewer syllables, such as “tonight” and “shy.” He’s a total cornball here, but, one can’t help but to be allured, at least to some degree.

In regards to form, there’s lots of section on “Dance.”  Both verses are brief, but ultimately succinct.  Each verse is then followed by a refrain, “And I can’t stop thinking about you,” capped off by key closing lyric, “‘Cause I think I’m falling in love.” The refrain leads into the pre-chorus, arguably the crème de la crème of the “Dance.”

“Don’t go, baby, bye-bye-bye / Tell me that you want me to-ni-ni-night / Oh no, don’t be sh-sh-shy-shy / Tell me that you want me to-ni-ni-night.”

Innuendo is written all over the pre-chorus, and continued on the chorus. It’s silly, but again, catchy and infectious.

“Baby, dance with me / Come on and dance with me / Clap your hands with me / Go to France with me.”

Considering that DNCE stuffs every section that they can possibly think of, there’s also a bridge, intact with some French.

Final Thoughts

All in all, “Dance” is fun, even if it’s incredibly corny.  It’s not transcendent in the least, but it follows the blueprint of previous hits by DNCE.  Is it another “Cake by the Ocean?” No, but certainly worthy of a spin or two…or three.

DNCE • Dance – Single • Republic • Release: 1.26.18

Photo Credit: Republic