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Thu 21 Aug, 2003 07:13 pm
It's a dance, apparently. For the life of me I can't remember what songs I've heard it in, I know I've heard it sung, but I've never seen this dance or met anyone who knows it.
Have you ever done it, where does it comes from?
And how the hell do you spell it?
Anyway any answer would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ceili
The Watusi are/is and ethnic group in Africa. There was an R&B dance song in the 60's called "The Watusi"
Yes it was a kind of dance in the 60's.
Wah Watusi, By the Orlons
Words and Music by Dave Appell and Kal Mann
peak Billboard position # 2 in 1962
Wah, wah-a Watusi
C'mon and take a chance and get-a with this dance
Wah, wah-a Watusi
Oh, baby, it's the dance made-a for romance (shoo-bop, shoo-bop, ahh)
Baby, baby, when you do The Twist
Never, never do you get yourself kissed
'cause you're always dancin' far apart
The Watusi, girl, is-a really smart
Wah-a, wah, wah-a Watusi
C'mon and take a chance and get-a with this dance (shoo-bop, shoo-bop,
ahh)
Baby, baby, when you do The Fly
Your arms are wasted wavin' in the sky
Come on and hold me like a lover should
The Watusi makes you feel so good
Wah-a, wah, wah-a Watusi
Oh, baby, it's the dance made-a for romance
Yay!!
<instrumental interlude>
(shoo-bop, shoo-bop, ahh)
Baby, baby, that's the way it goes
Nothing happens when you Mash Potatoes
I just gotta fall in love with you
Watusi is the dance to do
Wah-a, wah, wah-a Watusi
C'mon and take a chance and get-a with this dance
Wah, wah-a Watusi
FADE
Oh, baby, it's the dance made-a for romance
Here is a real Watusi doing a real Watusi dance!
[/IMG]
From
http://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3watusi.htm
Quote:The Watusi was a very popular solo dance done in the early 1960s. Its popularity was near that of the Twist dance. In a 1964 TV Guide, Fred Astaire and Barry Chase do the Watusi.
I recall a few songs re:Watusi. From The Full Monty
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/t/tom-jones/138373.html
Quote:You gotta know how to pony
Like mony baronie.
You gotta mashed potato,
You gotta alligator.
Put your hand on your hip,
Let your backbone slip.
Do the watusi
Like your aunt lucy.
A rather long Patti Smith song:
http://www.oceanstar.com/patti/lyrics/land.htm
Quote:I put my hand inside his cranium, oh we had such a brainiac-amour
But no more, no more, I gotta move from my mind to the area
(go Rimbaud go Rimbaud go Rimbaud)
And go Johnny go and do the watusi,
Yeah do the watusi, do the watusi ...
Shined open coiled snakes white and shiny twirling and encircling
Our lives are now entwined, we will fall yes we're together twining.
But my favorite will always be The Watusi, by The Vibrations.
Peak: 25th place on Top40 in 1961.
From
http://www.top40db.org/Songs/ID_61261.shtml
Quote:Theres a dance called the Watusi its out of sight,
First you slide to the left then to the right.
The Watusi is out of sight,
You slide to the left, then to the right.
Take two steps up and keep it tight.
And do the Watusi, it sure is a sight.
Come, on try, sugar pie,
Keep with the beat and Watusi, Watusi with me.
...etc
You guys rock!!!
Thanks so much. This has cleared up one mystery of mine.
Ceili
There were alot of songs in the sixties who's sole purpose was to explain a dance step.
The Twist/Chubby Checker
Mashed Potatoes
Monster Mash
The Swim
The Limbo
The Bird
The Monkey
Mickey's Monkey
help me here....!!
The Roach
The Pony
The Peppermint Twist
The Jerk
That's right! Mem-riesssss! (Never heard of the roach, though!)
There's a dance
It's called the Roach
Their doing this dance from coast to coast
Well now form a big line
Da da da da
Squish
Oooo squash
Kill that Roach
Yeah
Still doesn't ring a bell!
Maybe it was just a local hit? Had a mean piano intro.
Had to be local! Or, maybe it was before my time -right, yuck, yuck!
Perhaps it was but if you remember The Twist and The Mashed Potatoes (gosh I loved that song. that wall of sound was exquisite!) then it wasn't before your time after all.
No way, was it before my time eoe!
That low sax in Mashed Potatoes -- yeah! Ooo-Ah-Ooo!
I don't know how to spell it, but as I recall it's a dance in which you stand stationary and bend your knees and wag your head up and down in an exaggerated way while moving your arms up and down with hands grasping, as if climbing a pole or something. Of course, you can only do this dance with a 60s mini shirt, sweater and little scarf around your neck. Teased hair is also required. I can't quite remember the song either, but I do remember there was one. Hope this helps. I'd be interested to hear if you got other responses and what they were. Now I'm curious.
That's funny that you don't remember the song, lola, but you do remember the dance! I think the guy in the picture has got it down.
....Thick eye liner, white lipstick, garter belts and a little clip on bow above your teased bangs!
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