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Land of 1000 dances

TheOldMole Jun 14 2005 03:35 PM

A friend ran across this on the internet, purporting to be a list of songs that have their own dances associated with them. Their list: Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus C.C. Rider - Chuck Willis Da Butt - E.U. Fins - Jimmy Buffett King Tut - Steve Martin Macarena - Los Del Rio Shout - The Isley Brothers The Ketchup Song - Las Ketchup The Loco-Motion - Little Eva The Madison Time - The Ray Bryant Combo The Twist - Chubby Checker Vogue - Madonna The dance associated with the Chuck Willis version of CC Rider, for our younger viewers, was the Stroll. So presumably that’s why it’s included instead of “The Stroll” by the Diamonds. But do we accept this? Or should it be the song most associated with the dance? So presumably they’re going for songs that started dance crazes, not necessarily songs that have the dance in the title. Therefore, by this definition, “I’m Telling You Now” by Freddie and the Dreamers would be included, but not “Do the Freddy.” But also, by their definition, how can you count “Vogue” by Madonna? Voguing was around way before this song. And for that matter, “Peppermint Twist” by Joey Dee and the Starlighters predated the Chubby Checker song. Anyway, we weren’t able to come up with a definition of what counts and what doesn’t, but that didn’t stop us from tossing this out for further discussion. One thing we were clear on, though…this is a terrible list. A few they left out. Do the Freddy/I'm Telling You Now - Freddie and the Dreamers Funky Broadway – Wilson Pickett Pony Time – Chubby Checker Charleston – James P. Johnson Black Bottom Stomp – Jelly Roll Morton Ballin’ the Jack – first recorded version by Prince’s Orchestra in 1914 Walkin’ the Dog – Rufus Thomas The Hucklebuck – Paul Williams the Frog-Bop…it was popular in my circles, anyway, and it was done to Clarence “Frogman” Henry’s “Ain’t Got a Home” Others?

sharpie Jun 14 2005 03:43 PM

Do the Strand by Roxy Music (though I'm unsure whether there was a real dance associated with that song).

Yancy Street Gang Jun 14 2005 03:45 PM

The Mashed Potato?

Edgy DC Jun 14 2005 03:47 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 14 2005 03:47 PM

I don't think so (re: Roxy Music). Nor do I think there was an actual "Bottom Line."

MFS62 Jun 14 2005 03:47 PM

The Bristol Stomp. This one has been the subject of heated discussion over whether it referrs to Bristol, Tennessee or Bristol, CT (way before it was the home of ESPN) Later

Edgy DC Jun 14 2005 03:51 PM

This is why we need WCBS-FM Twistin' Songs: "The Twist" "Twist and Shout" "Let's Twist Again" "Peppermint Twist" Top of my head: "Soul Struttin'" -- The Fleshtones "Shake a Tail Feather" -- Numerous artists "Do the Snake" -- In Your Face

Johnny Dickshot Jun 14 2005 03:52 PM

MFS -- I happen to know it refers to Bristol, Pa. -- the Philly suburb, home of Super Joe McEwing and the songwriters -- a husband and wife team that took the $$ they earned from that song to open a bed-and-breakfast they now operate in Cape May.

Johnny Dickshot Jun 14 2005 03:53 PM

Do The Fonzie -- The Happy Days Gang

Lundy Jun 14 2005 03:53 PM

The Hustle

Willets Point Jun 14 2005 03:55 PM

Y.M.C.A. - The Village People (shudder)

Swan Swan H Jun 14 2005 04:01 PM

Walk the Dinosaur - Was (Not Was) Tighten Up - Archie Bell and the Drells maybe: Walk Like an Egyptian - The Bangles

seawolf17 Jun 14 2005 04:04 PM

Johnny Dickshot wrote: home of Super Joe McEwing and the songwriters -- a husband and wife team that took the $$ they earned from that song to open a bed-and-breakfast they now operate in Cape May. Super Joe McEwing and the Songwriters?!? Now that's a band.

MFS62 Jun 14 2005 04:06 PM

Thanks, JD. I thought I had missed a state. Do you know that the original name of the Bangles was the Bangs? But someone thought that might be a little suggestive. Not as suggestive (to me) as watching Suzanna Hoffs roll her eyes, though. I was hoping this thread would end before someone reminded us of the Macarena. Later

Willets Point Jun 14 2005 04:06 PM

A song that will be strictly prohibited at my wedding reception: Electric Slide

sharpie Jun 14 2005 04:22 PM

We Like The Bump (not sure what the actual title was/is)

Edgy DC Jun 14 2005 04:25 PM

"Do the Humpty Hump"

getalife Jun 14 2005 04:33 PM

Now I got this song in my head .... Remember when you held my hand Remember when you were my man Walk talk in the name of love Before you break my heart Think it over, think it over Roll it over in your mind Why don't you dance with me I'm not no Limburger Just a limburger Dance this mess around Dance this mess around, 'round, 'round Everybody goes to parties They dance this mess around They do the Shu-ga-loo Do the Shy Tuna Do the Camel Walk Do the Hip-o-crit Ah-Hippy Hippy forward Hippy Hippy Hippy Shake, Hippy Shake Oh-it's time to do 'em right Hey now, don't that make you feel a whole lot better? Huh? I say, don't that make you feel a whole lot better What you say? I'm just askin' Shake-Bake-Shake-Bake Everybody goes to parties They dance this mess around They do all 16 dances Do the Coo-ca-choo Do the Aqua-velva Do the Dirty Dog Do the Escalator Ah-Hippy Hippy forward Hippy Hippy Hippy Shake, Hippy Shake It's time to do 'em right Hey! Fred, now don't that make you feel a whole lot better now? Huh? Say, don't that make you feel a whole lot better? What you say? I'm just askin' Yeah, yeah, yeah... Stop! Dance on over Yeah, yeah Dance, dance, dance this mess around Dance this mess around Shake, shake-a-bake shake Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake Dance this mess around Yeah, yeah, yeah........

Yancy Street Gang Jun 14 2005 04:36 PM

This is the one that's in my head, thanks to this thread: (It's the latest, it's the greatest) (Mashed Potato) ya, ya, ya, ya A Mashed Potato started long time ago With a guy named Sloppy Joe You'll find this dance is so cool to do Come on, baby, gonna teach it to you (Mashed Potato) feel it to the beat now (Mashed Potato) come on and twist your feet now Baby (it's the latest) Come on, honey (it's the greatest) Come on, baby (Mashed Potato) Ya, ya ya, ya And then they dance it through and through They look for records they can do it to They found this dance was outta sight Doin' the lion sleeps tonight (Mashed Potato) ya, a-weem-o-wak, a-weem-o-waka (Mashed Potato) mmmm, ya, ya, ya, ya (It's the latest) aaaw, baby (It's the greatest) come on, honey (Mashed Potato) ya, ya ya, ya ---- Instrumental Interlude ---- Now everybody is a-doin' fine They dance alone or a big boss line And they discovered it's the most, man The day they did it to Please Mr Postman (Mashed Potato) wait a minute, wait a minute (Mashed Potato) deliver de letter (It's the latest) come on, baby (It's the greatest) aaaw, honey (Mashed Potato) ya, ya, ya, ya Well they got with more and more Ya ought to see 'em around the floor The Mashed Potato took a long, long list They even do it to Dear Lady Twist (Mashed Potato) get up from your chair now (Mashed Potato) ya, ya, ya, ya (It's the latest) come on, baby (It's the greatest) aaaw, honey (Mashed potato) feel the groovy beat now

getalife Jun 14 2005 04:42 PM

Is there an actual dance associated with The Monster Mash? What dance is that spaz kid that everyone loves and hates doing?

Willets Point Jun 14 2005 04:51 PM

Father Abraham

Edgy DC Jun 14 2005 04:54 PM

I think the dance that Shermy is doing in A Charlie Brown Christmas is pretty much the Monster Mash. These dance instruction songs tend to reference each other, so "Dance This Mess Around" also nominates "The HIppy Hippy Shake."

TheOldMole Jun 14 2005 05:08 PM

There was a Strand, but it predates Roxy Music. From "When you Dance," by the Turbans: You can do the rhumba or the tango Mambo, Cha-lypso or the Strand But when the lights are turned down low You'll go hand in boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom

MFS62 Jun 14 2005 05:18 PM

Mole, I thought by now you would have mentioned the Charleston. :lol: Later

TheOldMole Jun 15 2005 12:46 PM

Didn't I? Original version by James P. Johnson. And the Black Bottom Stomp, by Jelly Roll Morton

Willets Point Jun 16 2005 12:30 PM

The Hokey Pokey The Chicken Dance