The Underrated Legacy of Baccara: Evaluating their Success and Significance in European Music

When it comes to the female duo Baccara, opinions are sharply divided. On one hand, their music was highly successful in countries across Europe and even into South America. Their biggest hit singles, ‘Yes Sir I Can Boogie’ and ‘Sorry I'm A Lady’ achieved gold status and were often heard on the radio waves during their heyday of 1976-79. On the other hand, some critics have dismissed Baccara as shallow pop tunes with a lack of depth or emotion – just another notch in Eurovision's long list of cheeseball love songs designed solely for chart success rather than for artistic creativity. But is that really an accurate assessment? Through this blog post we will examine both sides; looking at what made Baccara so successful while also assessing how they contributed to the European dancefloor landscape before moving onto more contemporary electronic music forms like trance and house.

When we talk about influential female singers and groups in European music, it’s a shame that Baccara is often overlooked. This Spanish duo made waves in the late 70s with their chart-topping hits ‘Yes Sir I Can Boogie’ and ‘Sorry I'm A Lady’ that were heard all over the continent. However, many critics have dismissed them as shallow pop musicians who were only interested in chart success. In this blog post, we will explore both sides and evaluate Baccara’s contribution to the European dancefloor landscape and their relevance to contemporary electronic music forms.



The success of Baccara cannot be denied. ‘Yes Sir I Can Boogie’ remains one of the best-selling singles of all time, with over 18 million copies sold worldwide. Their songs were catchy, upbeat and easy to dance to, and they became instant crowd-pleasers wherever they went. Unfortunately, this success came with a price. Critics dismissed Baccara as the epitome of cheesy Eurovision pop and felt that their songs lacked depth and emotion. While it's true that Baccara’s music was more focused on creating catchy tunes with dance beats, it’s unfair to write them off as shallow or unimportant.

What was particularly noteworthy about Baccara was how they fused disco, pop and flamenco into their own unique sound. The flamenco style provided a foundation for the music, while the disco elements added an irresistible groove. This combination made their songs exciting, danceable and unforgettable, and the influence of their sound can still be heard in contemporary pop music. In short, Baccara created a sound that was all their own, so to dismiss them as just another pop act is to undervalue their contribution to European music.

It's true that Baccara came at a time when electronic dance music was not yet mainstream. In fact, they were among the first to introduce a disco sound into European music. As the 70s progressed, disco merged with other genres such as funk and soul, creating a broader spectrum of dance music. Eventually, electronic music forms like trance and house emerged, building on the foundation laid by early pioneers like Baccara. In the same way, current popular electronica artists like Dua Lipa and The Weeknd have credited disco music and its descendants as an influence in their music.

Even more than just their music, Baccara's success represented a turning point as women began to take more prominent roles on the music charts. Their originality and creativity paved the way for a generation of lady powerhouses such as Madonna, Whitney Houston, Cher and Beyoncé. Their influence goes beyond their catchy disco songs, and their place in music history deserves to be cemented.



In the end, it's time to give Baccara their due. Their music may have been dismissed as shallow pop, but they created some of the most iconic dancefloor sounds of their time. They were innovative, creative and fearlessly original. More importantly, they paved the way for female musicians of all genres to create their own lane in the often male-dominated music industry. The true legacy of Baccara lies in the influence they had on dance music as a whole and their unwavering commitment to creating music that made people happy. So next time you hear ‘Yes Sir I Can Boogie,’ take a moment to appreciate the way this Spanish duo changed the face of European music forever.