is the debut single by Andy Black (the solo project of Black Veil Brides frontman Andy Biersack), released on March 18, 2016, from his first solo album, The Shadow Side . The track marked a significant stylistic departure from the hard rock sound of his main band, leaning into an upbeat, goth-inspired pop-rock aesthetic that Biersack has humorously described as "goth Springsteen". Song Meaning and Inspiration
The single was an immediate success, debuting at No. 16 on both the Rock Digital Songs and Alternative Digital Songs charts.
Released on March 21, 2016, and directed by Patrick Fogarty, the official music video features a stark black-and-white aesthetic reminiscent of vintage horror films. It depicts Biersack around a Hollywood Hills estate, mirroring the song's themes of feeling out of place in affluent social situations. Commercial and Critical Success
The lyrics were born from a 30-minute conversation between Biersack and Stump about things they mutually hated, resulting in a "list" of social annoyances—such as small talk, faking smiles, and "the guy at the party playing Steve Miller Band on his guitar". Music Video
Watch the official black-and-white music video for 'We Don't Have to Dance' here: Andy Black - We Don't Have To Dance (Official) AndyBlackVEVO YouTube• Mar 21, 2016
It served as the official theme song for the WWE Payback event in 2016 and was included in the WWE 2K17 video game soundtrack.
net/news/black-veil-brides-frontmans-andy-black-project-we-dont-have-to-dance-video-released">full tracklist for his debut album, ?
Biersack wrote the track with a "supergroup" of collaborators, including Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy), Quinn Allman (formerly of The Used), and producers John Feldmann and Ricky Reed .