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Dance Mode!
Soundtrack album by Joff Bush
Released	21 April 2023 (2023-04-21)
Recorded	2022
Genre	Soundtrack
Length	42:25
Label	Demon
Producer	Joff Bush Marly Lüske Craig Parry Steve Peach Jazz D'Arcy Pluto Jonze
Joff Bush chronology
Bluey: The Album (2021) Dance Mode! (2023) Rug Island (2024)
Singles from Dance Mode!
"Dance Mode" Released: 27 January 2023 "The BeeeeeOOP Walk" Released: 24 February 2023 "Rain (Boldly in the Pretend)" Released: 24 March 2023

Dance Mode! is the second soundtrack album of the Australian animated television series Bluey, which was released on 21 April 2023 by Demon Records. Most of the soundtrack's music was composed and performed by Joff Bush, the composer for the television program, alongside a team of musicians.

The soundtrack was released through Demon Music Group, a subdivision of BBC Studios, who hold global rights to release the show's music. The first single, "Dance Mode", was released on 27 January 2023.

At the 2024 ARIA Music Awards, the album won Best Children's Album.

Background and composition

Joff Bush serves as the primary composer of Bluey, writing half of the television show's score himself and leading a group of additional composers, including David Barber. Bush graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium, where he met executive producer Daley Pearson, and before Bluey, worked on series such as The Family Law and Australian Survivor. Bush has stated that each episode has its own unique musical style, and he likes to become involved in the episodes as they are scripted; he regularly has detailed discussions with series creator Joe Brumm. Live instruments are regularly played for the recordings. Every episode of Bluey is individually scored, a decision made by Brumm, who was inspired by the original compositions for Charlie and Lola while working on the series in the United Kingdom.

Bush recorded a soundtrack for the first series of the program, titled Bluey: The Album, which was released on 22 January 2021. The soundtrack debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart in February 2021. It was recognised as the first children's album to reach the top of the charts in Australia. It won Best Children's Album at the 2021 ARIA Music Awards, and an APRA Screen Music Award for Best Soundtrack Album in 2021.

Dance Mode! features songs from the first, second and third series of Bluey. The first half of the album contains upbeat songs, while the second half contains quieter and reflective tracks. "Dance Mode" is described as an upbeat, EDM style song, while "Army" and "Grandad" lean into the bluegrass genre with banjo and whistle instrumentation.

Release

It was reported in January 2023 that the soundtrack, entitled Dance Mode!, would contain 17 songs and be released in 2023. The first single, "Dance Mode", was released on 27 January 2023.

The album was officially announced on 27 January 2023, with pre-orders opening on the same day. The album was released on 21 April 2023 on CD, streaming services, and orange vinyl. The album was also released on a limited edition zoetrope vinyl picture disc for Record Store Day on 22 April 2023.

Track listing

All songs written and produced by Joff Bush except where noted.

Personnel

Joff Bush & The Bluey Music Team

• Joff Bush – guitars, melodica, percussion, accordion, keyboards, bass, vocals, organ, synths, ukulele, Mellotron, piano
• Daniel O'Brien;– piano, percussion, guitars, vocals
• Craig Parry;– beats
• Stephen Peach – keys
• Marly Lüske – synths, bass, percussion, guitar
• Jazz D'Arcy – vocals, guitars
• Meg Washington – vocals
• Pluto Jonze – guitars, piano, drums, bass, harmonica, vocals

Additional performers

• Andrew Scrivens – guitar, banjo
• Julia R. Anderson – drums
• Julian Schweitzer – drums
• Carolyn Morris – cor anglais, oboe
• Christopher Pearson – bass
• David Orr – guitars
• Rose Parker – vocals
• Joseph Roberts – clarinet, flute, baritone, tenor & alto sax
• Katherine Philp – cello
• Pru Montin – trumpet
• Robert Schultz – trumpet
• Youka Snell – violin & vocals
• Saul Burrows – banjo
• Anthony Garrett – drums
• Dave Murtough – trombone
• Thomas Melohn – guitar
• David Barber – guitar & bass
• Rowan Hamwood – flute, piccolo, tin whistle
• Joe Brumm – drums & vocals
• Tiptoe Giants (Meg Lipworth & Vee Couper) – vocals
• Justine Garcia de Heer, Erik Williamson, Layla Collie and everyone else on the album – additional vocals ("Cat Squad!")

Technical

• Marly Lüske – mixing, mastering
• Daniel O'Brien – assistant composer
• Erik Williamson & Rose Parker – recording / assistant engineers
• Uncle Stripe – sound design
• Costa Kassab & Joe Brumm – cover artwork

Charts

References

1. ^ Smith, Alastair (26 January 2023). "Bluey activates "Dance Mode!"" (Press release). BBC Studios. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
2. ^ "New Bluey Track Coming This Month; Album Out Soon". TheMusic.com.au. SGC Media. 14 January 2023. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
3. "Bluey theme tune available online" (Press release). BBC Studios. November 2020. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
4. "ARIA Awards 2024 nominations — everything you need to know". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
5. ^ Crossen, Louise (16 July 2019). "Meet the composer behind Australia's best-loved TV shows". Griffith News. Griffith University. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
6. Barber, David. "Bluey Index". Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
7. ^ Carmody, Broede (30 January 2021). "Bluey becomes first children's album to top ARIA music charts". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
8. Potter, Anna (25 July 2020). "Globalising the local in children's television for the post-network era: How Disney+ and BBC Studios helped Bluey the Australian cattle dog jump the national fence". International Journal of Cultural Studies. 24 (2). University of the Sunshine Coast: 216–232. doi:10.1177/1367877920941869. S2CID 225404150. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
9. Goulis, Leah (4 December 2020). "Cheese and Crackers! Bluey album is coming for those who love the ABC songs". Kidspot. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
10. "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 1 February 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
11. Knox, David (25 November 2021). "Bluey wins ARIA Award". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
12. Knox, David (22 February 2022). "Screen Music Awards 2021: winners". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
13. "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 1 May 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
14. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
15. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
16. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
17. "Official Soundtrack Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
18. "Top Album Sales: Week of May 6, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
19. "Top Album Sales: Week of May 6, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
20. "Kid Albums: Week of May 6, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
21. "Soundtracks: Week of May 6, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 3 May 2023.

• 2023 soundtrack albums
• Demon Music Group albums
• Soundtracks by Australian artists
• Television animation soundtracks
• Bluey (2018 TV series)
• ARIA Award–winning albums