# 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:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gaucho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c67d28/32.png) [@gaucho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaucho)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/21 "2005-05-18T17:35:18Z")
The Cool Jerk? The Humpty Hump? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/22 "2005-05-18T17:53:10Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Won’t You Charleston with Me? Thanks, **Eve** – this is what’s stuck in my head now. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/23 "2005-05-18T18:12:21Z")
How about Little Eva and The Locomotion? ---
**Author:** ![Fringe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b5a626/32.png) [@Fringe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fringe)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/24 "2005-05-18T18:55:34Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > 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. You mean when they danced to the song “Apache”? ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/25 "2005-05-18T19:52:02Z")
Only Lindy hoppers will know this one, but the [Shim Sham](http://www.jitterbuzz.com/less7.html) was a dance long before any of the songs that specifically mention it by name. In fact, it looks like the first song to be widely Shim Shammed to was written based on the timing of the dance. ---
**Author:** ![dotchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/26 "2005-05-18T20:00:42Z")
I can’t believe nobody’s mentioned the “Hokey Pokey” yet. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/27 "2005-05-18T20:12:24Z")
Does the waltz count? ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/28 "2005-05-18T20:17:58Z")
Clarifying, I was thinking of waltzes with lyrics, like this one: [Tennessee Waltz](http://www.kbapps.com/lyrics/top50/40tennessee.html). There are waltzes out there with lyrics older than that, but I can’t bring them up. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/29 "2005-05-18T20:22:59Z")
Bailamooooos! Let the rhythm take you over, bailamos! ---
**Author:** ![Hoodoo\_Ulove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/58956e/32.png) [@Hoodoo\_Ulove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoodoo_Ulove)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/30 "2005-05-18T20:37:41Z")
Stroll Watusi Mashed Potato ---
**Author:** ![dbygawdcapn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dbygawdcapn/32/3995_2.png) [@dbygawdcapn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbygawdcapn)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/31 "2005-05-18T21:07:38Z")
Do the Gator - Root Boy Slim ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/32 "2005-05-19T00:50:01Z")
You put your hand on your head Put your foot in the air Then you hop around the room In your underwear There ain’t never been nothin’ quite like this Come on baby it’s **The Wilbury Twist** ---
**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 19, 2005, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/33 "2005-05-19T01:46:37Z")
> [@rjk](#): > > 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. Oh, well, just because it’s fun… From [here:](http://www.luma-electronic.cz/lp/c/Checker/checker_bio.htm) > [@](#): > > Checker’s first single, “The Class,” showcased his skills as an impressionist; while the record became a minor novelty hit, none of its immediate follow-ups were successful. **In 1960, however, he recorded “The Twist,” a cover of a 1958 Hank Ballard & the Midnighters B-side. Checker’s rendition de-emphasized the original’s overtly sexual overtones** , focusing instead on the song’s happy-go-lucky charms. The single rocketed to number one during the autumn of 1960, remaining on the charts for four months; some time after it dropped off, it slowly returned to prominence, and in late 1961 it hit number one again; the only record ever to enjoy two stays at the top more than a year apart. After “The Twist” first made Checker a superstar, he returned to the top in 1961 with “Do the Pony”; that same year, he also reached the Top Ten with “Let’s Twist Again,” which assured the dance’s passage from novelty to institution Oh, yeah, I always liked Hank Ballard’s version better. “Overtly sexual overtones” and alla that. What did they expect out of the group that made _Work With Me Annie_, _Sexy Ways_ and _Annie Had A Baby_? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TheOnlySaneOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@TheOnlySaneOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheOnlySaneOne)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/34 "2005-05-19T01:51:30Z")
Oh, just remembered. Don’t know if this really counts, but: I love it when you **1, 2 Step**. 😃 ---
**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 19, 2005, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/35 "2005-05-19T11:59:01Z")
All these mentions of the Twist, and nobody remembers _Twist and Shout_? Originally written and recorded by the Isley Brothers, and then covered by some band on one of their early recordings? ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2005, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352/36 "2005-05-19T22:38:59Z")
How could I forget that? T_wist and Shout_ is one of my faves too. The Mamas and the Papas had a great version later on as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shall-we-dance-songs-that-say-so/304352.md?page=1)