Readers recommend: songs to the power of two

Readers recommend: songs to the power of two – results dance mix

Art Tatum tinkles the keys with tea for two in mind. Photograph: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis

January has been grim and February not much better. Who knows where March will go? So, in this brief saunter through the theme of two, it’s also time to go dancing.

Art Tatum – Tea for Two. Time was, you could head to a hotel and go to a tea dance. Maybe, in some faded seaside resort, you still can. Compulsory hats for the ladies and proper cups and saucers, no mugs here. However, Beck makes life a lot simpler with two decks and a microphone in Where It’s At. The Chemical Brothers think you need two DJs and a pair of dancers to get this party started – Hey Boy, Hey Girl, it’s time to hit the dancefloor. The Stranglers are in agreement when it comes to dancing but don’t think you need any more
as It Only Takes Two to Tango.

Joe Jackson, on the other hand, isn’t part of a couple and he’s not very happy about it. Maybe his chances will improve this evening and he will become one of the Happy Loving Couples. Richard Thompson isn’t part of a couple either and he doesn’t fancy his chances on the dancefloor because he has Two Left Feet.

The Chemical Brothers double up with Hey Boy, Hey Girl and other dancefloor turns. Photograph: Yani Yordanova

Aldus Roger got his act together and his band’s going to wipe out all that left-footed opposition with the Lafayette Two Step.

Foals meanwhile don’t care if they make sense or not. They are just going to go out there and dance their socks off in two steps, twice.

Nitzer Ebb are Getting Closer: one step, two steps, getting closer. It must be near the end of the evening – if you haven’t pulled by now, it’s probably too late.

All the best parties end with a slow number, so we have Ibrahim Ferrer of Buena Vista Social Club offering his beloved partner Dos Gardenias. It must have worked because they are leaving the party hand in hand to go home with Explosions in the Sky – Your Hand in Mine.

There’s always the morning after and the McGarrigle sisters know that pain. Your wild youth will one day catch up with you. Kate & Anna McGarrigle – Dancer with Bruised Knees.