We’ve all heard Chubby Checker do the twist, and most have heard of “The Bristol Stomp,” not to mention the macarena song, and even that one about the Charleston.
What I wonder is whether the songs were written to intoduce the dances, or just to follow along with a dance that was already popular. I’d guess that the twist was successfully introduced by the song, and “The Bristol Stomp” was a failed attempt at the same thing, but I don’t really know. The others are a complete mystery to me. Can anybody clear it up? For that matter, are there other songs with dances in the title, and did they introduce or follow the dance?
The Twist by Chubby Checker was a cover of Hank Ballard’s song of the same title, that had been released about three years earlier. The dance was already known and somewhat popular, although it turned into a bonafide “craze” after Chubby’s version became a hit.
In 1965 a group called Freddie and the Dreamers had a hit song called Do The Freddie . There was a dance called the Freddie, but I’m not able to describe it.
Some time in the mid 60s there was a chewing gum with the name of Teaberry. I’m not sure of the spelling (Teaberry). There was a dance in the commercial called The Teaberry Shuffle. .
I’ll let some other Baby Boomer tell you about the Monkey and the Frug .
The song my SO remembers her departed best friend by. Her friend was someone who definitely took a chance, and definitely would have danced. I recall MrsSqueegee playing the song many times after, weeping at thier parting. I heard that song today, probably for the first time in a year, and choked up. We very much miss her.
My favorite old Brit dance song is Lambeth Walk, which I’ll now have stuck in my head for the next three days. Of course, Do the Fonzie is hard to beat.
The 1910s and '20s were overrun with songs introducing dance hits (or hopeful dance hits):
(The Dance of the) Grizzly Bear
Everybody’s Doin’ It
Everybody Two-Step
Ballin’ the Jack
I Love to Do It [!]
Charleston
Won’t You Charleston with Me?
Black Bottom
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Stumblin’
On Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Will & Carlton use to do this stupid dance to a stupid instrumental. I don’t know what it was called, but I’m sure anyone who saw it can just see it now.
That was a very worthwhile highjack, squeegee. Remembering absent friends is important, and too rare.
Meanwhile, thanks to all for the replies. John Carter of Mars, I didn’t recall that CC’s The Twist was a cover, but since CC himself was a cover for Fats Domino, it’s not surprising. Mona Lott, I remember all of yours except the teaberry one, and am just as happy they’re gone. bienville, I remember both of yours too, and I should have gotten The Time Warp from RealityChuck’s list, as well as the Peppermint Twist. Finally, thanks to Eve as usual for the historical list. I’ve heard one or two of those songs, and will have to look up the rest. (Where? In Eve’s 1910s–20s pop music thread, of course!)
My understanding is that its inclusion was of the “Hey, kids, let me teach you that new dance craze that’s been sweeping the nation!” sort, sort of like the “I’d Rather Charleston” number in “Lady Be Good.”
bienville, I remember both of yours too, and I should have gotten The Time Warp from RealityChuck’s list, as well as the Peppermint Twist. Finally, thanks to Eve as usual for the historical list. I’ve heard one or two of those songs, and will have to look up the rest. (Where? In