Examples Of The Children's Recreational Rhyme/Camp Song "Chili Chili"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on the children's rhyme/camp song "Chili Chili".

Part I showcases YouTube examples of this rhyme/song and includes its "standard" words/lyrics.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/03/some-similarities-between-childrens.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II presents some similarities between the children's rhyme/camp song "Chili Chili" and certain African American originated children's rhymes & cheers.

The content of this post is presented for cultural and recreational purposes.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
I happened upon examples of the camp song "Chili Chili" last week when I was "surfing" YouTube looking for the examples of children's recreational rhymes or camp songs. Prior to that time, I had never come across that song/rhyme. Yet, I was intrigued by the similarities between "Chili Chili" and some other children's rhymes that had been featured in pancocojams or in my other blog "cocojams2" (which focuses only on children's rhymes, cheers, or singing games).

This pancocojams series is the result of that "intrigue".

As a result of this online "research", my conclusion is that the rhyme/camp "Chili Chili" to be of African American origin based on its text, its tune, its accompanying movements, and its similar to other rhymes and cheers.

Although I don't know when this rhyme began used as a children's camp song, I believe it was after it was performed as a children's movement rhyme, singing game, or cheer in some African American communities.

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Example #1: CampLeadership.org Song: "Chili-Chili"



CampLeadership, Aug 4, 2010

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Example #2: Chili Chili ♫ Brain Breaks for Kids ♫ Dance Songs for Children ♫ Kids Songs by The Learning Station



TheLearningStation - Kids Songs and Nursery Rhymes, Jan 22, 2015

Chili Chili is a popular brain breaks for kids, camp song, action & dance song for kids. Chili Chili is from the CD, Brain Breaks Action Songs: Let’s Move!….

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This video has 924,937 total views [as of 3/11/2020 at 10:25 AM DST], making it by far the most watched YouTube video of the three “Chili, Chili" videos that I've found on YouTube.

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Example #3: Chili Chili - Moose Tube | GoNoodle


Juana Longinos, Jan 9, 2019

Chili Chili (Live) Moose Tube Boomerang

Song: Chili Chili
Artist: Moose Tube
Album: Chili Chili [March 2, 2018]

Note: https://family.gonoodle.com/activities/chili-chili has a much clearer video of this same video.

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LYRICS/WORDS FOR "CHILI CHILI" (CHILDREN'S CAMP SONG/RHYME)
[Clap to the beat throughout]
Hands up [put hands in the air]
Chili chili
Chili chili chili

Hands Down [put hands down near knees]
Chili chili
Chili chili chili

Turn Around [spin around on the spot]
Chili chili
Chili chili chili

Touch the ground [reach towards your feet]
Chili chili
Chili chili chili

Hey, _________
Don’t be afraid,
Show us how you boomerang!
[The called-on person does a dance move]

Boomerang
Chili chili
Chili chili chili

Boomerang
Chili chili
Chili chili chili

Source: https://campsongs.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/chili-chili/
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I put the directions in brackets instead of after a back slash / as is shown on that linked page.

"The boomerang" was a popular R&B dance (among African Americans) in 1965.

Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s2x3uZfMDU for a sound file of the 1965 record "Do The Boomerang" by Junior Walker & The All Stars. That instructional dance record follows in the very old traditional of African American instructional dance songs from pre-emancipation from United States slavery on.

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This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.

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