# Twerking? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 1, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739 "2013-09-01T17:24:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![sangfroid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@sangfroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sangfroid)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/41 "2013-09-02T19:33:20Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > And **considering what else you can run into at Wal-Mart** , I’d consider that lady an improvement to my shopping experience. (bolding mine) +1 As a kinda old-ish dude, I thought I knew what twerking was, but now I know for sure. Where is Sir Mix-a-Lot when you really need him…? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/42 "2013-09-02T19:50:59Z")
> [@Girlundone](#): > > [A Brief History of Twerking.](http://www.fuse.tv/2013/08/brief-history-of-twerking) Good link, but I think it’s important to also link to the [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6tLnYx7xbk) that popularized it all… Because it’s still f’n awesome! ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/43 "2013-09-02T20:18:38Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > [This woman’s got it down to an art form](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP9GmIKefL8&list=TLoskTZe6DEfg). That video is both ridiculous and awesome. I think I’m a fan, but I’m not sure whether to laugh or start touching myself. She’s got a lot more to work with than some of the girls in the other videos in this thread. Oh, my. :eek: “Comments are disabled for this video.” This may be the first time I’ve ever been mildly disappointed to see that. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/44 "2013-09-02T23:35:35Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > [This woman’s got it down to an art form](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP9GmIKefL8&list=TLoskTZe6DEfg). That video is both ridiculous and awesome. I think I’m a fan, but I’m not sure whether to laugh or start touching myself. She’s got a lot more to work with than some of the girls in the other videos in this thread. Oh, my. :eek: I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a _prehensile ass_ before. That said, I’m pretty sure Robert Crumb drew this scene back in the late sixties. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/45 "2013-09-02T23:50:33Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > People who twerk in public are worse than Hitler. > > Keep at least a telephone directory’s worth of space between you at all times! > > There were kids on my lawn the other day. I was Not Pleased. > > I just taught the word “twerk” to my autocorrect dictionary. 🙂 First you twerked for your caught, now you’re posting in this thread… … I’m on to you, **Cat Whisperer**. ---
**Author:** ![nikonikosuru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@nikonikosuru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nikonikosuru)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/46 "2013-09-02T23:54:56Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > [This woman’s got it down to an art form](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP9GmIKefL8&list=TLoskTZe6DEfg). That video is both ridiculous and awesome. I think I’m a fan, but I’m not sure whether to laugh or start touching myself. She’s got a lot more to work with than some of the girls in the other videos in this thread. Oh, my. :eek: In the middle of a Walmart. This gal’s got class. I was amused to hear her singing “[Bacon Pancakes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r57zosAFNw8)”. ---
**Author:** ![planetcory](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/planetcory/32/1032_2.png) [@planetcory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetcory)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/47 "2013-09-03T00:50:27Z")
> [@Girlundone](#): > > [A Brief History of Twerking.](http://www.fuse.tv/2013/08/brief-history-of-twerking) 2009 is the reason behind the current surge in the term’s popularity. The Twerk Team put out a series of videos featuring them sexily dancing to popular hits and they all went viral. They were… very skilled and most people didn’t know they were only 17 at the time, so the videos gained them millions of admirers and eventually a ton of imitators. It’s the name of the Twerk Team and the ubiquity of the copycat videos that kinda spread the idea of ‘twerking’ to the mainstream. It became a meme. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/48 "2013-09-03T00:53:47Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > There were kids on my lawn the other day. I was Not Pleased. Local garden center sells a remote-activated water sprinkler. It’s a hundred bucks, but it sure would keep pest animals off the lawn. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/49 "2013-09-03T01:49:53Z")
> [@planetcory](#): > > 2009 is the reason behind the current surge in the term’s popularity. > > The Twerk Team put out a series of videos featuring them sexily dancing to popular hits and they all went viral. They were… very skilled and most people didn’t know they were only 17 at the time, so the videos gained them millions of admirers and eventually a ton of imitators. > > It’s the name of the Twerk Team and the ubiquity of the copycat videos that kinda spread the idea of ‘twerking’ to the mainstream. It became a meme. Huh. I hadn’t known there was a “Twerk Team”. Did Cyrus also copy her current hair style from that video? ---
**Author:** ![planetcory](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/planetcory/32/1032_2.png) [@planetcory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetcory)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/50 "2013-09-03T02:01:54Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Huh. I hadn’t known there was a “Twerk Team”. > > Did Cyrus also copy her current hair style from that video? Nah, most likely [Rihanna](http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/bg/Rihanna+celebrates+in+Venice+8E9rwhGB2f7l.jpg?60934EP_RIHANNA_B-GR_09). ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/51 "2013-09-03T02:09:53Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > First you twerked for your caught, now you’re posting in this thread… > > … I’m on to you, **Cat Whisperer**. I ADMIT NOTHING! > [@aNewLeaf](#): > > Local garden center sells a remote-activated water sprinkler. > It’s a hundred bucks, but it sure would keep pest animals off the lawn. Oh, yeah! ---
**Author:** ![Girlundone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@Girlundone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girlundone)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/52 "2013-09-03T02:16:31Z")
Truly beautiful twerking requires a fair amount of junk in the trunk. I mean, azzless chicks like Miley can do it, but it doesn’t usually have the same impact. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/53 "2013-09-03T02:21:02Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > It’s an obscene dance move that involves shaking your butt > > sigh society is really going to hell in a handbasket > > back in my day dancing was a wholesome activity Was “the humpty dance” in your day? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/54 "2013-09-03T02:57:30Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > back in my day dancing was a wholesome activity For some of us “our day” included the rise of Slam Dancing. I’d rather have the twerking. ---
**Author:** ![Girlundone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@Girlundone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girlundone)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/55 "2013-09-03T03:05:15Z")
> [@](#): > > For some of us “our day” included the rise of Slam Dancing. and that shit hurt. With twerking you just get sore quads and glutes, not bruises. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/56 "2013-09-03T03:34:51Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > First you twerked for your caught \*cat ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/57 "2013-09-03T19:18:36Z")
What’s now called twerking is reminiscent of dancing in Jamaican dancehalls. Chaka Demus and Pliers’ [“Murder She Wrote”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-av7F1JBmj4) features a few proto-twerkers, and that came out in '94. Not sure exactly what Miley was trying to do, but it fell far short of the work observed here. ---
**Author:** ![Frosted\_Glass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frosted_glass/32/3926_2.png) [@Frosted\_Glass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frosted_Glass)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/58 "2013-09-03T19:46:03Z")
The recent twerk craze has been confusing to me too but only because I remember this being a fairly well known dance for at least 15-20 years. Although, it was definitely something that was more prevalent in music videos from the BET uncut era. Still, I find it strange to describe something that I grew up with as a current trend that my HS students are into. When I checked to make sure I wasn’t getting old and forgetful, I confirmed that Ying Yang Twins came out with “[Whistle while you twurk](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ying_Yang_Twins_discography)” when Miley was only 8 years old. To be honest, I am still trying to figure out how the VMAs are still on. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/59 "2013-09-03T20:22:24Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Did you dance to that famous Rolling Stones song, “Hey, hey, you, you, get off of my lawn”? 😛 I can’t find that dagnabbit “likey” button on this here new-fangled thing! ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739/60 "2013-09-03T20:45:06Z")
[Explaining Twerking to Your Parents](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/01/opinion/sunday/explaining-twerking-to-your-parents.html?_r=0) (or the fogies on the SDMB) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twerking/667739.md?page=4)