# Why was Sha Na na at Woodstock? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 11, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-sha-na-na-at-woodstock/364093 "2006-07-11T22:42:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 25
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-sha-na-na-at-woodstock/364093/25 "2006-07-12T13:47:09Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > To those wondering why the OP would ask the question: > > Woodstock is thought of as a “hippie concert.” Sha na na is not a band it is thought that hippies enjoy. Hence the suprise. On a slightly OT note: I don’t think I believe you when you claim not to understand the OP. Why must people be difficult on these boards? Anyway… [/QUOTE] Thanks for answering that. I wasn’t trying to be difficult. I was curious why the OP singled out Sha Na Na, and found the phrasing “give me a reason” a bit odd. As others have alluded, Woodstock’s performers list covered a broad range of genres that were popular with the young folks of the day. Not all of the attendees were hippies, and the acts certainly weren’t all “hippie-ish” bands - vis. Creedence Clearwater Revival, Santana, and Blood, Sweat, & Tears. Sha Na Na essentially pioneered the “50’s Nostalgia” schtick with their half tribute/half parody approach, and were better known during the 70’s than, say, The Grateful Dead. Having started college in '69, and seen the relative popularity of the various Woodstock performers in subsequent years, I didn’t find it at all strange that Sha Na Na was among them. In doing a little Googling on the topic I’ve found that they weren’t particularly well-known or popular **before** Woodstock, so on that basis the question of why they were included is a good one. But since the OP chose to ridicule me rather than answer why he only asked about Sha Na Na, I don’t know whether his question was inspired by that, or the hippie thing, or what. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-sha-na-na-at-woodstock/364093)._