Reclaiming the Rhythm of the Indie-Dance Era
Twenty years ago, “Do You Want To” swaggered onto the scene with glam-rock pulse and cheeky bravado, leading the charge for Franz Ferdinand’s sophomore album You Could Have It So Much Better. Released officially in September 2005, but already circulating through promos and club airplay in August, the track became an instant fixture in the indie dance ecosystem—especially in Hollywood’s electro-slick underground.
It wasn’t just a song. It was a signal. A signal that the post-punk revival had teeth, hips, and eyeliner.
We danced to it in clubs that pulsed with thrift-store finds and curated fast fashion. Sleek black hair, compact silhouettes, and the kind of glam that didn’t ask for permission. The music splashed in from overseas, and Franz Ferdinand were the messengers—angular guitars, art-school wit, and a rhythm section that knew how to move a room.
“Do You Want To” wasn’t coy. It was bold, flirty, and unapologetically stylish. The music video, directed by Diane Martel, turned an art gallery into a surrealist party, complete with robotic models and chaotic installations. It mirrored the energy of the track: playful, provocative, and perfectly in step with the aesthetic of the era.
The anthem that danced us into a scene we didn’t know we were living. It was youth in motion—unaware it was making history.
Franz Ferdinand didn’t just soundtrack the era. They shaped it. Emerging from Glasgow’s post-punk revival scene, they fused angular guitars with danceable beats and a visual identity that felt both retro and futuristic. “Do You Want To” was more than a single; it was a declaration. A flirtation. A stomp and a smirk.
And it wasn’t just beloved underground—it charted globally:
- #4 on the UK Singles Chart
- #1 on the UK Indie Chart
- #9 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay (US)
- #76 on the Billboard Hot 100
- Top 10 in Spain, Netherlands, and Scotland
- Certified Gold in the United States (RIAA)
- Certified Silver in the UK (BPI)
Now, Domino Records is celebrating the 20th anniversary with a limited edition orange vinyl reissue, remastered for 2025 and featuring all the classic tracks that made the album a defining moment in indie rock history.
Domino celebrates the 20th anniversary of Franz Ferdinand’s seminal sophomore album You Could Have It So Much Better with a limited edition Orange vinyl and 2025 remaster. Undeterred by any notion of a second album slump, the record picks up where their debut left off and features now classic tracks like ‘Do You Want To’, ‘Eleanor Put Your Boots On’ and ‘Walk Away’. This is pop music at its finest, drawing you in but challenging you at the same time.
And let’s be clear: Kids today call it Indie Sleaze. But that’s not what it was. It was the Indie-Dance scene. We know—because we lived it.
Drop a comment below: Were you there? Did you dance to this track under strobes and eyeliner? Share your memories, your club names, your thrifted looks, your favorite tracks from the era. Let’s reclaim the rhythm—and remind them what it really was.
