All this came with a sugary disco image and catchy bubblegum songs, also including Spirit, Body and Soul, Don't Make Waves and Don't Love Me Too Hard.

"This is where you end up when your policy is 'don't make waves'. This is where all those little surrenders lead to," said Bruno Retailleau of the centre-right Republicans.

She and her sisters Linda, Maureen, Anne, Coleen and Denise, who formed their singing group during the 70s, have had a string of hits including 1979's I'm in the Mood for Dancing and Don't Make Waves.

In today’s Senate — where the ability to raise $100 million is often the entry fee and where party leaders seek out staid candidates who don’t make waves — Reid’s personal story sounds as if he came from a different nation altogether.

They were strategic about it, she said: Don’t make waves.