Watch Me Now!
Throughout the course of this class we took a journey through popular music and its many dimensions. We have learned some historical information in regards to music such as the evolution of the many forms of mediation. We have journeyed through the politics of popular music as well as the geographies of music (inside and out). We also had the opportunity take a look at popular music as being taught in the educational system. We watched the Movie School of Rock with Jack Black and evaluated his approach and methods of taking a classroom and teaching them about Rock music. We also had the chance to share our creative thoughts by developing a multitude of assignments that could be used in the classroom centered on popular music. Within each lesson we had for this class, there was always a point where we either observed or acknowledged a process of evolution, so to continue wit that theme, today we are going to look at some Instructional dance songs and how things have changed over the years.
Instructional dance songs have been around for a while, since at least the 1950’s. With the success of that song, we have seen and heard many more since then. Many people discredit the artists of these songs (more particular in the hip-hop culture) because they feel that the songs are commercialized and that the artists lack creative lyricism. I must say that I am not a big fan of most of these songs, not because I don’t like them but because I am not much of a dancer. Which brings me to my point of how important these songs are to music. Whenever you hear a song you immediately want to start moving, whether it be nodding your head or taping your feet, music makes you want to move. When you go a party and there is music playing you always see people dancing (why do you think they are called school dances). Music and dances come together as one package, it is hard for one to dance if they do not have music and when music is being played it is hard for one to not dance; so it is hard to have one without the other, kind of like cereal and milk.
So what does this have to do with anything you may be asking? A lot! These artists recognized that in order for one to fully enjoy music, you have to tap into all aspects of it. You have to be able to reach each and every listener, from the person who likes to hear fresh beats to the busy body that wants to get up and move. Not only that but what about those people that love listening to music but they can’t dance because they don’t know the latest dance moves? This is where the creative lyricism (that most argued about the lack thereof) comes into the picture. You have to be extremely creative and talented to form your own dance and I credit those artists that are out there in the world that have done so. Now some of these songs/dances are not the most challenging but you have to give them credit for making an attempt. This brings me to my next point, the evolution of dance songs.
Like I mentioned earlier, instructional dance songs have been around for a while and to accompany those songs you have video footage as the tools for learning. It is one thing to hear the steps but how do you know if you are doing them correctly. Thanks to one of the evolving tools of mediation we can not only hear the song being sung but we can see the moves being performed as well. So now if I am visual learner, I can watch television and follow along as the artist is demonstrating the moves to me. This is key because with time, the dances in the songs have gotten more creative and complicated. Below is an example of how instructional dance songs have changed over time.
The first song was created and performed in the year of 1959 by an artist named Chubby Checkers. The name of the song is called the twist. The twist is a dance where it is simply twisting your body around the hips. Check out the video and lyrics below:
Chubby Checker - The Twist Lyrics
Come on baby let's do the twist
Come on baby let's do the twist
Take me by my little hand and go like this
Ee-oh twist baby baby twist
Oooh-yeah just like this
Come on little miss and do the twist
My daddy is sleepin' and mama ain't around
Yeah daddy is sleepin' and mama ain't around
We're gonna twisty twisty twisty
'Til we turn the house down
Come on and twist yeah baby twist
Oooh-yeah just like this
Come on little miss and do the twist
Yeah you should see my little Sis
You should see my my little Sis
She really knows how to rock
She knows how to twist
Come on and twist yeah baby twist
Oooh-yeah just like this
Come on little miss and do the twist
Yeah rock on now
Yeah twist on now
Twist.
The next song takes us to the year of 1992. The song is called the Jitterbug Stroll. This is a remake of the swing dance song called the Stroll. The remake of the song allowed for it to be updated to today’s audience while allowing for new moves to be incorporated. This dances is a bit more complex than the twist because it requires more advanced steps and movements. Take a look at the old and new version of this dance with the dance steps included:
Jitterbug Stroll
first group (the first bar in every group starts with the right leg always)
Hustle forward (2 beats)
Skip back (2 beats)
Boogie Forward twice (4 beats)
Hustle forward (2 beats)
Skip back (2 beats)
Boogie Forward twice (4 beats)
Hustle forward (2 beats)
Skip back (2 beats)
Boogie Forward twice (4 beats)
Stroll Around (sometimes also called jazz pivot turn) (8 beats)
Hustle forward (2 beats)
Skip back (2 beats)
Boogie Forward twice (4 beats)
Break step (4 beats) (step right, tap left behind right, step left, tap right behind left)
Turn 90 degrees (4 beats) (step right, turn 90 degrees, step back left, step back right, step forward left)
second group
Knee slap right (2 beats)
Knee slap left (2 beats)
Kick right and Shorty george 3 times (4 beats)
Knee slap right (2 beats)
Knee slap left (2 beats)
Kick right and Shorty george 3 times (4 beats)
Knee slap right (2 beats)
Knee slap left (2 beats)
Kick right and Shorty george 3 times (to the left) (4 beats)
Stroll Around (same as above)
Knee slap right (2 beats)
Knee slap left (2 beats)
Kick right and Shorty george 3 times (4 beats)
Break Step and Turn around (8 beats same as above)
third group
Suzie Q left (start with right leg cross over left) (8 beats)
Suzie Q right (start with left leg cross over right) (8 beats)
Suzie Q left (start with right leg cross over left) (8 beats)
Stroll Around (same as above)
Suzie Q left (start with right leg cross over left) (8 beats)
Break Step and Turn around (8 beats same as above)
fourth group (last one)
Boogie back kicking with right leg (4 beats)
Tick Tock (to the right) (4 beats)
Boogie back kicking with left leg (4 beats)
Tick Tock (to the left) (4 beats)
Boogie back kicking with right leg (4 beats)
Tick Tock (to the right) (4 beats)
Stroll Around (same as above)
Boogie back kicking with right leg (4 beats)
Tick Tock (to the right) (4 beats)
Break Step and Turn around (8 beats same as above)
and repeat from the top
Next we have the Cha Cha slide. The song and dance was created by a Chicago DJ by the name of DJ Casper in the year of 1996. This dance is a remake of the original dance called the Electric slide. The Cha Cha slide incorporated more steps while still maintaining some of the original flavor. If you every go to a African American wedding, family reunion or any other event where family is present I can guarantee 100% that either version of this dance (if not both) will be done. It is fun and easy to learn. Here is an example of the dance both new and old with the lyrics to the new one:
Artist: Dj Casper
Title: Cha Cha Slide
[Mr.C Talks]
[Mr.C]
To the left, take it back now ya’ll
1 hop this time, right foot let’s stomp
Left foot let’s stomp, Cha Cha real smooth
Turn it down, to the left
Take it back now ya’ll
1 hop this time, right foot let’s stomp
Left foot let’s stomp, Cha Cha now ya’ll
Now it’s time to get funky
To the right now, to the left
Take it back now ya’ll
1 hop this time, 1 hop this time
Right foot 2 stomps, left foot 2 stomps
Slide to the left, slide to the right
Criscross, criscross
Cha Cha real smooth
Let’s go to work
To the left, take it back now ya’ll
2 hops this time, 2 hops this time
Right foot 2 stomps, left foot 2 stomps
Hands on your knees, hands on your knees
Get funky with it, aahhhhhhhhhh yaaaa
Come on, Cha Cha now ya’ll
Turn it down, to the left
Take it back now ya’ll
5 hops this time
Right foot let’s stomp, left foot let’s stomp
Right foot again, left foot again
Right foot let’s stomp, left foot let’s stomp
Freeze, Everybody Clap yo hands
Come on ya’ll, check it out
How low can you go?
Can you go down low?
All the way to da floor?
How low can you go?
Can you bring it to the top?
Like it never never stop?
Can you bring it to the top?
1 hop, right foot now
Left foot now ya’ll
Cha Cha real smooth
Turn it down, to the left
Take it back now ya’ll
1 hop this time,1 hop this time
Reverse, Reverse
Slide to the left, slide to the right
Reverse Reverse, reverse reverse
Cha Cha now ya’ll
Cha Cha again
Cha Cha now ya’ll
Cha Cha again
Turn it down
To the left, that it back now ya’ll
2 hops 2 hops, 2 hops 2 hops
Right foot let’s stomp, left foot let’s stomp
Charlie Brown, hop it out now
Slide to the right, slide to the left
Take it back now ya’ll
Cha Cha now ya’ll
Turn it down
To the left, take it back now ya’ll
3 hops this time
Right foot now, left foot now ya’ll
Cha Cha it out
Turn it down
To the right, to the right ya’ll
To the left, take it back now ya’ll
4 hops this time
Right foot now now ya’ll, left foot now ya’ll
Cha Cha now ya’ll
Cha Cha again, Cha Cha again
Turn it down
Take it back now ya’ll
Right foot let’s stomp, left foot let’s stomp
6 hops this time
Right foot let’s stomp, left foot let’s stomp
Right foot 2 stomps, Left foot 2 stomps
Criscross, Criscross
Slide to the left, Slide to the right
Let me hear you clap yo hands
Cha Cha now, Cha Cha again
Turn it down
To the left, take it back now ya’ll
2 hops 2 hops, 2 hops 2 hops
Right foot 2 stomps, left foot 2 stomps
Hands on your knees, hands on your knees
Aahhhh yaaaa, get funky with it
Get down now ya’ll,
Come on, come on
Cha Cha now ya’ll
Let’s go to work
[Mr.C Talks]
The last song was released by a young hip-hop artist by the name of Soulja Boy Tell em’. The song was released in the year of 2007 and it was called Crank Dat Soulja Boy. The song is a combo song, where the artist instructs when to do the dance moves while rapping t the same time. This song created much buzz around the country with its creativity and catchy hook “Now, Watch me You....Crank Dat Soulja Boy.” With the excitement around this dance it had everyone from little kids at birthday parties to politicians doing the dance. Check out the video and lyrics of the song below:
In conclusion, music/dance is a very important part of our lives. It gives us an opportunity to express ourselves creatively while engaging others in the fun. It is a good way to relieve stress and get some sort of exercise. As we have seen above, with the change in times, the music will change and when the music changes the dances will change with them. Let’s just hoe that the artists will keep thinking of us and showing us how to move long with it.
posted by Trumanue Lindsey Jr at
2:52 PM
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