Comments on: it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing

it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing

madamjujujive — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 21:06:16 -0800

Max and Thomas have some classic fun doing the Lindy hip hop but, sometimes, there ain't nothin' like the real thing, baby: Helzappoppin, Groovie Movie, 50s Charleston in Harlem, Original UpRock, Swing Fever, Power Girls. Learn more about the history of this kickass dance at early Lindy Hop. (Alert: YouTube links)

By: Baby_Balrog

Baby_Balrog — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 21:14:15 -0800

Holy crap this post is awesome. That first lindy link - helzappoppin - absolutely blows my mind. I love the lindy hop - any dance move that can start as something so orderly and simple and transform into something so totally different is a thing of beauty. thank you madam. :D

By: madamjujujive

madamjujujive — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 21:20:17 -0800

See also: The Jit, a prior mefi post by klangstonklangston.

By: StopMakingSense

StopMakingSense — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 21:38:57 -0800

Who's that doing "Love Me or Leave Me" in the first link? I need to know if liking it makes me uncool or not.

By: madamjujujive

madamjujujive — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 21:48:02 -0800

I am pretty sure that is Sammy Davis Jr. singing in the first clip.

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 22:02:06 -0800

So both cool and uncool at the same time.

By: QuietDesperation

QuietDesperation — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 22:04:47 -0800

Excellent! By the way, see the entire Hellzapoppin' if you want to have a great time. An entirely insane comedy before insanity was fashionable.

By: turbodog

turbodog — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 22:05:47 -0800

Definitely Sammy Davis, Jr. Great post mjj. I'm working on a Lindy Hop post as well, but the only intersection might be Hellzapoppin'.

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 22:06:24 -0800

And let me add: I was alien to this slick tempo. Even the owner of the smallest enterprise acts with alacrity. The shoeshine boy flips his polishing rag with alacrity, the bartender serves a beer with alacrity...the soda clerk, when serving an egg malted milk, performs like a hopped up juggler. --Charlie Chaplin, My Autobiography (1964)

By: Holy foxy moxie batman!

Holy foxy moxie batman! — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 22:09:11 -0800

Holy Calamity! Baby those cats can swing!

By: trip and a half

trip and a half — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 22:41:28 -0800

Awesome post, mjjj. Thanks! I've been Lindy-ing for thirty years now, and it remains my favorite dance (well, tied with the waltz, I suppose), though I've learned many others. Its incredible versatility is attested to in the first link. If you've got the Lindy down, one-step, two-step, Western swing... all no problem. I used the Lindy as the basis for disco-dancing throughout the late 70's and early 80's. It's also perfect for Rock-a-billy. In my opinion, the Lindy is the waltz of the twentieth century, in that it is easily learned, and easily adaptable to many styles of music. Thanks again!

By: facetious

facetious — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 00:30:35 -0800

jesus that is the coolest thing ever.

By: quonsar

quonsar — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 08:44:29 -0800

I SAW A FAT ISRAELI DOING THE LINDY WITH HIS CIRCUMCISED CAT IN AN SUV IN PALESTINE. BUT THEN A MANTA RAY STUNG HIM IN THE CHEST WHILE CEILING ELEPHANT SHAT UPON HIM.

By: quonsar

quonsar — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 08:47:48 -0800

just trying to up the newsfilter quotient so this excellent post gets some notice...

By: foot

foot — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 08:51:45 -0800

Great post, thanks!

By: Astro Zombie

Astro Zombie — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 09:57:09 -0800

Minnesotans, take note: One of the dancers from the Hellzapoppin clip, Norma Miller, has written book about her experiences and will be reading from it at Majors and Quinn on Friday at 7pm.

By: matteo

matteo — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 11:06:39 -0800

mjjj for UN sec-gen

By: kindle

kindle — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 07:47:52 -0800

Frankie Manning was in Hellzapoppin, though I don't remember which one he is. He's an awesome man though, I got to listen to him a few years back talk about his life and the development of lindy (he's considered the creator of the aerial donchaknow).