Disco Sunday #26: The Flirts
The Flirts were a trio of New York girls put together by hi-NRG inventor Bobby Orlando. One of their biggest hits, and certainly my favorite, was their 1982 Italo/hi Energy/new wave/synthpop crossover “Passion.” Legend has it that while assignment for a British music magazine to interview Sting in NYC, Neil Tennant took a detour to seek out Orlando on the basis of his love for this song. Impressively Tennant managed to convince him to produce his (then imaginary) band Pet Shop Boys, resulting in the “West End Girls” we all know and love today. So: here’s the song that inspired one of the UK’s finest synthpop exports.
And Neil’s not the only musician who fell for this song. For years I’ve been hearing that Felix da Housecat swiped this track for “Silver Scene Shower Scene” but I couldn’t hear anything other than the beat and synth sound. Then I found this extended R.E.M.I.X. and BOOM – the loop Mr. Housecat found so juicy is right there at 4:20-4:40.
MP3: “Passion” (R.E.M.I.X.) – The Flirts ** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
The Flirts went through many lineup changes over the years. I honestly can’t tell whether the girls on the two covers are the same, or whether any of *those* girls are in the video below:
Video: “Passion” – The Flirts (1983)
I guess the curly haired brunette is in all 3…but is that the same blonde? I am confused.
The Flirts’ first hit was a “so dumb it’s genius” sort of pop song in the vein of Toni Basil’s “Mickey”, called “Don’t Put Another Dime in The Jukebox.” It’s not as danceypants as “Passion” but it’s pretty funny and worth a listen.
MP3: “Don’t Put Another Dime in The Jukebox” – The Flirts
Bonus: learn how to pick up girls. (Hint: learn to dance!).
MP3: “How To Pick Up Girls” – Bobby Orlando with The Flirts
Buy music by The Flirts on The Amazon Thing
xx,
Baron von Luxxury is My Fake Name
P.S. I’m off to Austin for SXSW on Wednesday, and then I go immediately to India for 2 weeks so I’ll be posting pretty sparsely (if at all) from now until the beginning of April…I will miss you too!
P.P.S. Where the F is Bearbaby? Don’t you, like, crazy miss her posts?? COME BACK, GIRL – WE NEED YOU NOW MORE THAN EVERRRRR!
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Awesome post – Just this morning, I dug out my old Flirts vinyl for Motorama and Like a Thief in the Night. They were The Mary Jane Girls that new wavers could dance to.
@ Kels – I guess that would make Bobby O the white Rick James…which sounds about right, actually!
Hi Baron, tnx for the inspiration, good work
Oh man, can’t forget the classic “Calling All Boys.” An anthem, to say the least.
JUST WANT TO SAY. THE FLIRTS R ONE OF THE BEST GROUP I EVER HEAR IN MY SHORT LIFE(AM 22) I LIKE PASSION, DANGER, HELPLESS, I THINK BOBBY ORLANDO IS IF NOT THE GREATEST PRODUCER IN THE WORLD ATLEASE ONE OF THEM.
nice post…classic italo stylee!
[...] addictive synth-fromage melody lines intertwining across a Stacey Q meets Bobby Orlando hi-NRG bounce. A female singer trades curt vaguely French phrases with an incomprehensibly [...]
Thank u, Baron!
Great post.
[...] aka “Fancy” was such a fan of Bobby Orlando, and specifically The Flirts‘ song “Passion”, that he said “fuck it – I’m just going to copy it, except it’s gonna be a song [...]