1992 KWS: Please Don't Go

I mentioned back on 'The Power' about how the early nineties were a fertile ground for one hit wonder Europop dance merchants to ply their lightning in a bottle trade before fading back into obscurity. KWS are a case in point......to a point - 'Please Don't Go' was originally a 1979 KC and The Sunshine Band ballad given a dance makeover to get it moving with a purpose. There's no great art to layering a 4/4 dance beat over an existing piece of music to 'dance it up'; after all, anyone can do it* but in this case 'Please Don't Go' actively benefits from the spark the beat provides by giving a firm boot in the pants to the lethargic self pity of the original (KC was never that convincing on the slow stuff) that puts a twinkle in the eye of the plea of the title. Never too busy or brash, there's enough going on without going any hardcore dancecore throwing the baby out with the makeover (if you see what I mean) and KC's song provides a touchstone that's never far below the surface.

All in all, it's pure nineties Eurodance that's endured/dated as a guilty-ish pleasure the way most of them have. Which is interesting, seeing as KWS were a duo very much from the UK. But they remain an example of my observation in that their version of 'Please Don't Go' is straight re-tread of Italian act Double You's dance version released early 1992, faithful to the last beep and close enough certainly for the Italians to take legal action and win. Which makes this a rip off of a cover. And KWS a pair of very bad eggs.


* Jonathan Peters/Luminaire even managed to do as much to 'The Flower Duet' from Delibes' 'Lakme' in 1999, a re-mix that's as effective as it is unexpected.