I was recently giggling to myself at a DJ gig: While I played a smart remix of Adele’s “Someone Like You,” I realized some of the audience was really working it to what was basically the slit-your-wrist track of 2011-2012, just remixed. What should be a freeing, spirited night out, was tinged with a bit of sorrow—the essence of drama queen.

As I look back on my upbringing, being reared on ’80s and ’90s stalwarts like Billy Bragg, Morrissey, Depeche Mode and Beautiful South, I was reminded that maybe, at least musically, I was a drama queen too. As I found my more traditional gayness, I always gravitated to the juxtaposition of dance and drama. From Erasure to Gloria Gaynor, ABBA to Yaz, some of the hottest tracks in history end with a broken heart.

So if you like your big moments decidedly disco but are looking to the future, start out with the most addicting cut of the last year, Bright Light Bright Light’s “Disco Moment.” With a strong base in the vocal style of Erasure, singer Rod Thomas conveys the sadness of a man broken down, internalizing a fight with his BF and slowly realizing it’s over while his (former) man twirls the floor like he won the fight. As the song opens, you know its going downhill: “If this is just another awkward conversation that we have. Let’s leave it ’til the morning, I want to go home … .”

“Experimenting With Rugs” is not the most dramatic (or descriptive) title in dance history, but pop singer Florrie croons Kylie-style over the genius beats of Fred Falke: “My heart isn’t big enough, no more. And I forgot what I see in you. ‘Cuz we’ve gone too far. I’ve forgotten who you are. Enough’s enough. I’m over you.” Ouch. Hey, wait. I just got the Florrie/Rugs pun. Punny.

However, the queen of crying on the dancefloor is, of course, Robyn: The pitiful character study in one-way love, “Call Your Girlfiend;” the sci-fi (or is it) love letter, “The Girl and The Robot;” and the guide to beginning stalking, “Dancing On My Own.” Robyn’s taken some of the gleeful fun of Madonna and Kylie, added a touch of crazy, and dramatically revealed the wallflower cum drama queen crying in the corner. Because sometimes joy isn’t the reason we’re spinning our asses off at 3 a.m.

Spin/Cry to your disco favorites as Moose and DJ Voxbox revive an era with Glenwood’ monthy RetroTea Dance, starting March 25.