A bright, fleeting spark of youthful joy captured in rhythm — a reminder that even the simplest excitement can echo through a lifetime
Released in 1975, “Excitement” by Dave Bartram stands as one of those lesser-known yet quietly enduring gems of the mid-1970s pop landscape. Though Dave Bartram is more widely recognized as the lead vocalist of the band Showaddywaddy, this solo effort revealed a more personal, almost reflective side of an artist often associated with high-energy retro rock and roll revival.
Upon its release, “Excitement” reached No. 48 on the UK Singles Chart, a modest position compared to the chart-topping successes Bartram enjoyed with his band. It did not storm the charts, nor did it dominate radio waves for months on end. Yet, for those who discovered it, the song carried a quiet resonance—one that often lingers longer than louder hits.
The track emerged during a time when the UK music scene was shifting. Glam rock was fading, disco was rising, and nostalgia-driven acts like Showaddywaddy were bridging generations. In that context, “Excitement” feels almost like a personal aside—a moment where Bartram steps away from the crowd to reflect on something more intimate: the fleeting, almost fragile nature of emotional highs.
Musically, the song leans into a gentle pop arrangement, far removed from the upbeat rock ‘n’ roll energy fans might expect. Its melody is smooth, carried by a restrained instrumental backdrop that allows Bartram’s voice to sit front and center. There is a softness here, a deliberate pacing that mirrors the theme itself. The excitement described in the song is not explosive—it is subtle, almost hesitant, like a memory being revisited rather than an event unfolding in real time.
Lyrically, “Excitement” explores the anticipation and emotional tremor that come with love and connection. But more than that, it hints at how quickly such feelings can pass. There is a sense—never explicitly stated, yet deeply felt—that the singer is looking back, measuring the distance between what once was and what remains. It is this undercurrent of reflection that gives the song its lasting emotional weight.
There is no widely documented dramatic backstory tied to the creation of “Excitement”, no studio conflicts or headline-making anecdotes. And perhaps that is precisely the point. The song feels genuine, unburdened by spectacle. It seems to come from a place of quiet sincerity, as though Bartram simply wanted to capture a feeling before it slipped away. In many ways, it mirrors the kind of songs that were often overshadowed by bigger hits, yet found a second life in personal collections, late-night radio, and memory itself.
What makes “Excitement” worth revisiting today is not its chart position or commercial impact, but its emotional honesty. It speaks to a universal experience—the brief moments when life feels vivid and full, when something as simple as a glance or a promise can set the heart racing. And just as importantly, it acknowledges how those moments soften over time, becoming something quieter, more reflective.
Listening to Dave Bartram here, one cannot help but sense a certain vulnerability. It is a reminder that even artists known for lively performances carry within them a more contemplative voice. That voice, in “Excitement”, is gentle but unmistakable.
In the end, the song endures not as a chart-topping anthem, but as a delicate fragment of its era—a small, glowing memory preserved in melody. And for those who take the time to listen closely, it offers something rare: a chance to feel, if only for a few minutes, the echo of a simpler, more immediate kind of joy.