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Dominic Schenck

Dr. Cassell

ENG 1201

10 February 2021

Dancing On My Own

The original version of the song “Dancing On My Own” by Robyn in 2010 and the remade

version of the song “Dancing On My Own,” done by Calum Scott in 2016, share the same lyrics but can

be seen through two different interpretations. Robyn is shown in her music video dancing in a club while

listening to her version of the song and Calum Scott is shown in a group of solemn people in a cold, dark

room. Robyn uses upbeat tempos and party visuals to represent her version, while Calum Scott uses

slower tempos and intense vocals to represent his. Robyn and Calum Scott’s songs each display different

reactions to the loss of a relationship and use differences in their rhythms, vocals, and visuals to express

these interpretations and reactions.

Robyn’s original video for “Dancing On My Own” is set at a club party, where she can be seen

dancing alone while everyone else is dancing with another person. Robyn appeals to pathos primarily

throughout her song and video, seeing as her song is meant to build party-like emotions within the

listener. As Robyn dances, she smiles while red LED lights illuminate the dance floor and the lyrics state,

“I’m not the guy you’re taking home, I keep dancing on my own.” Robyn has previously broken up with

the person she refers to in the song and that person has found a new love, but she is going to continue

living her life, even if that means she has to do it on her own. Her reference to dancing on her own is

accompanied by a visual where she has sad facial expression, but still dances like the others around her

who have a partner.. “I just wanna dance all night. And I’m so messed up, I’m so out of line.” Robyn is

feeling some pain on the inside seeing her former lover with another person, and the only way she sees

herself able to heal it is from dancing the night away. In her mind, she knows the bond is lost, and her

realization of this helps her start deciding to thrive on her own. She is utilizing the dancing and partying

as a way to ease the pain of her former relationship.

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Calum Scott’s remade version of “Dancing On My Own” in 2016 has a much different

perspective on the loss of his relationship, and his vocal performance and visuals help convey this

message. Scott stands in the midst of a vast group of people who are completely solemn in the face, while

he sings about his heartbreak and sadness he feels from losing his relationship. “I’m in the corner,

watching you kiss her. I’m right over here, why can’t you see me?” Scott is devastated by his loss and the

sight of his former love moving on has been driving him to the edge. Scott sings these vocals at a slow

pace throughout the song with high pitches, which allows the emotions Scott is feeling to be felt by the

listeners. The soft piano keys in the background build the hopeless, sad emotions that Scott is feeling

within himself as he reminisces the times he once had with that person. In the video, the large group of

people around Scott is representative of his loneliness seeing as no matter how many people are around,

he won’t ever feel the same. Scott’s remade version of the song shares the common theme of dealing with

the loss of a relationship, but Scott is emotionally torn and it is dragging him down severely, while Robyn

has accepted that she will never share the same bond with that person and it is time for her to move on

and “dance on her own.”

The rhythm and vocals are critical to the development of the different interpretations and

messages surrounding the loss of a relationship given out by each version of “Dancing On My Own.”

Robyn’s use of uptempo beats and disco themes throughout the song causes her to appeal to a much

different audience than Calum Scott. Robyn appeals to a younger audience who is more susceptible to

partying and utilizing a good time to cope with a bad experience. The original song is meant to be played

for an audience who is planning to enjoy their time, rather than cope with sadness. On the other hand,

Calum is truly heartbroken by the loss of his significant other and his relationship, and is mourning.

Calum uses his voice and high pitches to match the slow piano instrumental and generate the sadness he

is feeling. The song is much slower and is much more suited for an audience who is dealing with serious

depression from a breakup or separation and cannot find a way to heal their pain. Robyn’s song lacks the

vocal strength to truly emphasize the message the lyrics are putting out. As Calum Scott puts his all into

every verse, the raw emotion he contains in his voice creates the sadness within the song’s lyrical
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message. Although each artist is feeling pain from their breakups, Robyn is going to live her life no

matter if she has her former love or not, while Calum Scott is truly heartbroken and is searching for a way

to escape his sorrow.

These two versions of the song “Dancing On My Own,” the original by Robyn and the remake by

Calum Scott, appeal to different viewpoints of the loss of a relationship with a significant other. Robyn

emphasizes self-care and the ability to move on and continue being herself even though she feels pain,

while Calum Scott emphasizes loneliness and a sense of hopelessness. The lyrics used in each song were

the same, but due to the differences in their construction have built a completely separate meaning and

message.

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Works Cited

Scott, Calum. “Calum Scott - Dancing On My Own.” Youtube, 15 June 2016,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=q31tGyBJhRY.

Robyn. “Robyn - Dancing On My Own.” Youtube, 28 May 2010,

. www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcNo07Xp8aQ