Song 4: How do you say De-Groovay?

[“Deeelight” photo by Monica Orozco]

“Groove in the Heart”  by Deee-Lite

Monica: It was hard to pick a song for this time in my life because there are so many dance songs I love. I chose “Groove is in the Heart” for what it represents. In my mid-20s I had entered into the Club Kid culture.

My second lover of no definition, saw Deee-lite perform somewhere in Hollywood. They weren’t popular at the time. When he got back from seeing them he couldn’t stop talking about Lady Kier and kept emphasizing how much she reminded him of me. Wild, sexy and captivating little red head (haha). I, of course, had to look her up. I didn’t feel like I looked like her, but thought it was a compliment to be compared to someone who had that kind of effect on someone.

Soon after he had seen them, the video for “Groove is in the Heart” started getting played a lot on MTV. The song became the biggest dance hit of 1990. It was really catchy and the song was so much fun. It also got a lot of play in the clubs. I also realize from the music that I love that it caters to a lot of different people. Here we were people from all different places and walks of life dancing together to this song. I connected with that.

My friend Michael, who loves shaking ass gave me the word “delight” or “delightful,” can’t remember which one now. The first thing that popped in my head was the Deee-lite album cover (World Clique.)

That shot is inspired and dedicated to Michael. He had recently had a birthday party, where the theme was the 90s. Oh my god am I that old where that time is now a party theme? Everyone had dressed up. I and a couple other friends were ravers, there were 90s hip-hop girls, and someone dressed up as Jamiroquai was dancing in the kitchen. I think from going to that party and his suggestion for the word “delight” it was obvious that I would choose to emulate that band. To my surprise I had actually started to look more like Lady Ms. Kier at this time. Once Michael saw the photo that was dedicated to him, he told me that he had been a major groupie that followed them to different cities. I had no clue about that, but somehow it just kind of made sense.  I wish I could have known him back then and been a Deee-Lite groupie with him.

5songpjct: I feel like with bands like Deee-lite and the club culture in general it was such a mixture of fun and wild abandon.

Monica: Music is a unifying thing and there is also escaping through dancing. That is why I love dancing. You could be free in how you were expressing yourself. Remind me to show you my chihuahua dance. Haha.

5songprjct: She was a style icon. She basically sparked that whole hippies in the 90s thing.

Monica: You are right. The platform shoes, jewelry, bodysuits, and bright colors. There was also the vintage hair and wigs, which has gone on to inspire my work. Again she was very expressive with her clothes. No one was dressing like her.

OUR fifth and final song with Monica tomorrow.

Check out more of Monica’s work at http://demonicaphoto.com/