# Shall we dance? Songs that say so! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 18, 2005, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352 "2005-05-18T02:55:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/1 "2005-05-18T02:55:56Z")
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? Thanks for any replies. ---
**Author:** ![TheOnlySaneOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@TheOnlySaneOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheOnlySaneOne)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/2 "2005-05-18T03:11:44Z")
Well, there’s always the Electric Slide and the Hustle. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/3 "2005-05-18T03:37:27Z")
_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. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee7513/32.png) [@Mona\_Lott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lott)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/4 "2005-05-18T03:48:39Z")
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**. ---
**Author:** ![Reepicheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@Reepicheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reepicheep)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/5 "2005-05-18T03:48:52Z")
There were tangos before Tom Lehrer but there was no Masochism Tango ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/6 "2005-05-18T04:04:04Z")
There’s always the **Safety Dance** … ---
**Author:** ![Priam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/77aa72/32.png) [@Priam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Priam)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/7 "2005-05-18T04:24:29Z")
> [@tanstaafl](#): > > There’s always the **Safety Dance** … But that died quickly because not even close friends were willing to dance to it. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/8 "2005-05-18T06:09:07Z")
The Freddie :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/9 "2005-05-18T06:42:14Z")
> [@Lee Ann Womack](#): > > I hope you never lose your sense of wonder > You get your fill to eat > But always keep that hunger 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. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/10 "2005-05-18T07:24:47Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/11 "2005-05-18T08:28:33Z")
That one about the hand jive? Isn’t it called “Wille and the Hand Jive” or something terribly clever like that? ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/12 "2005-05-18T12:25:30Z")
Locomotion Watusi > [@Sampiro](#): > > My favorite old Brit dance song is _Lambeth Walk_ Is this an old Brit dance song? I thought it was written for the Stage Musical _Me and My Girl_, in which it is prominently featured. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/13 "2005-05-18T12:55:01Z")
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’ ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/14 "2005-05-18T12:58:01Z")
Don’t forget the Leonard Zelig inspired dance craze, _The Chameleon_! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/15 "2005-05-18T13:16:12Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/16 "2005-05-18T13:48:54Z")
Introducing dances: \*The Mouse \* – Soupy Sales _The Tighten Up_ – Archie Bell and the Drells _The Nothing_ – Martin Mull \*The Time Warp \* – Rocky Horror Using existing dances: _Peppermint Twist_ – Joey Dee and the Starlighters ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/17 "2005-05-18T15:19:00Z")
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](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=219329), of course!) Thanks again to all. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/18 "2005-05-18T15:26:08Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Is this an old Brit dance song? I thought it was written for the Stage Musical _Me and My Girl_, in which it is prominently featured. 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.” ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/19 "2005-05-18T15:45:07Z")
Gods forgive me, but the first thing that came to mind is The Macarena. Oy. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/20 "2005-05-18T16:32:24Z")
How about The Stroll. Or the dreaded CHICKEN DANCE. Is there a Chicken of Bristol Dance? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352.md?page=2)