Latest revision: Feb. 17, 2023
This pancocojams post is Part II of a two part pancocojams series on the American R&B songs & children's cheerleader cheers that have the title "Rock Steady".
This post presents information, text (word only), and YouTube video examples of the African American originated children's cheerleading cheers entitled "Rock Steady."
This post also includes my comments about the meaning of the term "rock steady".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/examples-of-comments-about-aretha.html for Part I of this series.
Part I features videos of Aretha Franklin's 1971 dance song "Rock Steady" and The Whispers' 1987 dance song "Rock Steady". Part I also includes my comments about the inspiration for the title of those two songs as well as information about the meaning of the term "rock steady" in those two songs, and information about the dance movement that was usually performed for those two songs.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and recreational purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to those cheerleaders who are featured in this post. Thanks also to the YouTube publishers of these videos.
****
THE INSPIRATION FOR THE R&B SONGS, UNITED STATES MILITARY CADENCES , AND CHILDREN'S CHEERS WITH THE TITLE "ROCK STEADY"
The name of Jamaican "Rocksteady" music genre* was the inspiration for the title of Aretha Franklin's 1972 hit record.
The title of the 1987 R&B song "Rock Steady" by The Whispers was inspired by the title of Aretha Franklin's 1972 song.
The United States military cadences with the title "Rock Steady" were influenced by R&B songs with that title. This conforms with the tradition that United States military has of lifting lyrics from popular music and especially R&B music to create cadences.
Several military cadences that I have found online include lyrics from the Whispers' version of that song which aren't included in Aretha Franklin's version of that song. a
The children's cheerleader cheers with the title "Rock Steady" were inspired by the 1987 "Rock Steady"
song by The Whispers instead of the 1972 "Rock Steady" song by Aretha
Franklin. Those cheers usually have some lyrics from the Whispers song that aren't found in Aretha Franklin's song. Furthermore, I've yet to come across any examples of
children's cheerleading cheers with the phrase "rock steady" (and
not just "rock"). Also, I haven't found any online examples of "Rock Steady" children's cheers prior to 1987.
*From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocksteady
"Rocksteady is a music genre that originated in Jamaica
around 1966.[1] A successor of ska and a precursor to reggae, rocksteady was
the dominant style of music in Jamaica for nearly two years, performed by many
of the artists who helped establish reggae"...
From https://www.liveabout.com/rocksteady-music-3552838
"The Word "Rocksteady"
Songs that described dances were very popular in the 1950s and 1960s in the US and Europe, as well as Jamaica. In the US, we had "The Twist", "The Locomotion", and many others, but one popular dance-song in Jamaica was "The Rock Steady" by Alton Ellis. It is believed that the name for the entire genre was based on this song title.
The Rocksteady Sound
Like ska, rocksteady is music that was popular for street dances. However, unlike the wild ska dancing (called skanking), rocksteady provides a slower, mellower beat, allowing for more relaxed dancing. Rocksteady bands, such as Justin Hinds and the Dominoes, frequently performed without a horn section and with a strong electric bass line, paving the way for many reggae bands that did the same."...
**By "children's cheerleader cheers", I mean
cheerleader cheers & chants that are performed by children and teens in
community cheerleader squads and/or in school cheerleader squads prior to
colleges or universities.
****
THE MILITARY CADENCE SOURCE FOR "ROCK STEADY" CHEERS
Here's one version of the United States Military cadence entitled "Rock Steady" from http://community.armystudyguide.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/9651093521/m/2181065521, posted by DS2000,22 January 2005
steady, (reply) STEADY!
Roll, (reply) ROLL!
Ready (reply) READY! - sometimes I use EASY here instead of READY. Or sometimes after they say ROLL, I will scream, "I can't here you!" then go back to the "Rock" at the beginning.
You've got the right, the right to rock steady, ( reply is the same )
You've got the right to ROLL when you're ready, ( reply is the same )
(then you say the top part again twice)
Rock, Rock, Steady, Steady Charlie Rock is always ready! ( reply is same)
Rock, Rock Steady, Steady 1st Platoon is always ready! ( reply is same)
Hope this helps!
Location: Baumholder, Germany."...
-snip-
Compare the line "Charlie Rock is always ready" with the line "cause your team ain't even ready" that is usually found in examples of "Rock Steady" children's cheers. I believe " 'cause our team is always ready" was the earliest version of that line, but that praise/encouraging version isn't (doesn't appear to have been been) as widely used in children's cheers as the insult, put down version of that line.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/rock-steady-military-cadences-with.html for examples of Rock Steady military cadences.
The 1987 "Rock Steady" song by The Whispers and the 1971 "Rock Steady" song by Aretha Franklin probably influenced the popularity of the "Rock Steady" cheer. However, most children who perform/ed these cheerleader cheers probably know about those R&B records.
-snip-
The children's "Rock Steady" have nothing to do with the "Rocksteady" Jamaican music genre which was and still is largely unknown in the United States.
****
I believe that the children's "Rock Steady" cheers have their source in African American culture because
1. Military cadences are the earliest documentation of the "rock steady" term and other lines that are found in those cheers. Most military cadences are of African American origin. Click these links for information about the African American roots of military cadences:
https://www.nps.gov/lowe/learn/news/calling-track-military-cadence-calls-how-a-southern-african-american-tradition-influenced-basic-training.htm Calling Track & Military Cadence Calls: How a Southern African American Tradition Influenced Basic Training, News Release Date: February 16, 2011
and
https://www.army.mil/article/51827/u_s_army_jody_call_has_black_roots U.S. Army Jody Call has black roots; By Ms. Yvonne Johnson (Army Homepage), February 14, 2011
2. The earliest documented examples of children's "Rock Steady" cheers are from African Americans. Furthermore, the creation of "Rock Steady" children's cheerleader cheers was influenced by African American Rhythm & Blues songs that were entitled "Rock Steady".
The children's cheer versions of "Rock Steady" showcase the praise and/or insult themes that are central to many African American social songs, rhymes and cheers.
My guess is that the words in the earliest examples of these cheers focused on praising the the cheerleader's athlete team i.e. "Rock Steady. 'cause our team is always ready" .
At some point, versions of "Rock Steady" chanted to confrontational/insult (dissing) cheers i.e. "Rock Steady. 'Cause your team ain't even ready".
WHAT "ROCK STEADY" MEANS IN CHILDREN'S CHEERLEADING CHEERS
The standard meaning for "rock steady" is being "consistent and dependable in one's behaviour or performance." https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rock-steady#:~:text=Consistent%20and%20dependable%20in%20one's%20behaviour%20or%20performance. That slang term comes from the saying "to be as steady as a rock".
As such, "Rock steady" is related to the American colloquial expression "You rock!" (meaning "You're great."/and/or "You're [doing something] very well")
In dance terms "rock steady" means that women and men continuously move their hips from side to side to the record's beat.
In mainstream cheerleading, cheerleaders don't shake their butts or rock their hips.
In contrast, as the name "stomp and shake" implies, hip swinging is an integral feature of stomp and shake cheerleader squads. Therefore stomp and shake cheerleaders and cheerleaders from squads that combine a larger portion of stomp and shake cheerleading, perform "Rock Steady" (and other cheers) in a more up tempo, percussive way with much more hip swinging.
In modified mainstream that includes some stomp and shake movements, to some greater or lesser degree, female cheerleaders shake their butts and rock their hips.
*Adhering to societal norms, male cheerleaders usually don't swing their hips while performing this cheer (including in stomp and shake cheerleading.)
"Rock Steady" isn't a foot stomping cheer because all of the words to "Rock Steady" cheers are spoken in unison. "Rock Steady" doesn't have the group/alternating soloist textual structure that is characteristic of foot stomping cheers.
Here's an example of a foot stomping cheer:
A BULLDOG
Ah bull dog.
Ah bull dog.
Ah bull dog.
Soloist #1: My name is Kayla.
Group: Ah bulldog.
Soloist #1: And I’m gonna show you how to work that bulldog.
Group: Ah bulldog.
Soloist #1: First you roll it.
Control it.
Then you bounce it.
Announce it.
Then you pop it.
Don’t stop it.
Then you creep it.
Don’t sleep it. (or “Don’t weep it”.)
Then you stop,
Think,
A ring a ding ding.
Repeat the exact same cheer with the next soloist. Continue with this pattern until every member of the group has had one turn as soloist.
- Jasmine, Indonesia, Brittany, Kayla, Felicia, & Tiara (African American females ages 9-12 years), Alafia Children’s Ensemble, Braddock, Pennsylvania, Collected by Azizi Powell 10/2000
-snip-
For information about foot stomping cheers, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/11/an-overview-of-foot-stomping-cheers.html "An Overview Of Foot Stomping Cheers From the 1970s To The Early 2000s & How And Where Some Of Those Cheers & Their Movement Art Has Survived In The 2000s".
SHOWCASE VIDEOS & TRANSCRIPTIONS (LYRICS) FOR SOME "ROCK STEADY" CHEERS
These examples are given in no particular order.
Most of these transcriptions were done by me from the videos.
Additions & corrections are very welcome.
CHEER LYRICS (Example #1)
Rock, rock steady
Cause your team
Ain't even ready
To rock rock rock rock
Steady eddy eddy eddy rock
Rock steady
[repeat several times]
-posted by Sydney Calloway, Uploaded on Jan 16, 2010
-snip-
This is my transcription from a video that was published by Sydney Calloway. That video is no longer available. The video's summary read "Jv cheerleaders preforming rock steady at an away game during a quater at the boys basketball game."
-snip-
The words "Steady eddy eddy" are included in many but not all of the "Rock Steady" cheerleading cheers. That phrase isn't found in either Aretha Franklin 1971 "Rock Steady" song or in The Whispers' 1987 "Rock Steady" song.
My guess is that the phrase "steady eddy eddy eddy" is based on the military cadence line "ready, ready, ready" line in some "Rock Steady" military cadences.
****
Example #2: Rock Steady
Pancocojams Editor's note:
This video that was uploaded by markus gray on Jun 8, 2010 is no longer available, as of at least July 6, 2017. Here are the words to that version of this cheer which were posted by markus gray: owever, I'm
"Rock Steady"....you know!!!!
CHEER LYRICS (Example #2)
Squad: Rock (clap clap clap) steady (clap clap clap)
YES we rock, we rock, we rock steady
One person: So what's up girl?
Squad: Rock, (clap clap clap) steady (clap clap clap)
YES we rock, we rock, we rock steady
I said we like to rock.
We like to rock steady.
I said we like to rock.
We like to rock steady.
Hit it. Steddy eddy eddy eddy
Rock.
-posted by markus gray, Uploaded on Jun 8, 2010
****
Example #3: PHS CHEERLEADERS Rock Steady
PHSExtraordinary, Uploaded on Nov 14, 2010
ROCK....STEADY......CAUSE YOUR TEAM......AINT EVEN READY!!!!! Lets go Rockets!!!!!! Varsity Cheerleaders
****
CHEER LYRICS (Example #5)
Rock, rock steady
Cause your team
Ain't even ready
To rock rock rock rock
Rock rock steady
Your team ain’t even ready
To rock rock rock rock
Rock rock steady
Cause our team is always ready
To rock rock rock rock.
-posted by PHSExtraordinary, Uploaded on Nov 14, 2010
****
Example #6: Rocksteady cheer
Babydoll5432, Published on Jul 7, 2012
Na na looks crazy
CHEER LYRICS
Rock rock steady
The angels are ready
To rock rock rock rock
Steady eddy eddy eddy
Rock
[repeat multiple times]
-posted by Babydoll5432, Published on Jul 7, 2012
****
Example #7: Dailey Tigers "Rock Steady"
.
daileytigers, Published on Nov 17, 2012
CHEER LYRICS
Lead girl- Hey Tigers are you ready
Entire squad: Well get down and rock steady
Well Tigers are ready.
Well get down and rock steady.
Well Tigers are ready.
Well get down and rock steady.
[Do a body patting and foot stomping routine with a sideways body wave movement]
[Same Lead girl] –Rock steady! Ready. Okay.
[Entire squad]
We,
we
are
ready
To
rock rock rock rock
Steady eddy eddy
Rock, rock steady
Your team ain't even ready
To rock rock rock rock
Steady eddy eddy eddy
Rock steady
Your team ain't even ready
To rock rock rock rock
Steady eddy eddy eddy
Rock.
-posted by dailytigers, Published on Nov 17, 2012
-snip-
This transcription doesn't include a description of the squad's entire routine.
This cheerleading squad includes a great deal of foot stomping & body patting in its cheerleading routines.
****
Example #8: BEN L. SMITH AND EASTERN GUILFORD CHEER OFF
ORIGINALCHEERPHI, Uploaded on Feb 21, 2008
THE EAGLES LETTIN' THE WILDCASTS KNOW THEY AINT READY TO ROCK WITH THEM AT THE ULTIMATE CHEER & DANCE EXPERIENCE TRIAD HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADING COMPETITION 2007
-snip-
“Wildcasts” is probably a typo for “Wildcats”.
-snip-
Second cheer “rock steady” [.042-1:16]
CHEER LYRICS
Say what, what, what, what*
Your team ain't even ready.
We rock
Steady.
'Cause your team
Ain't even ready
To rock, rock, rock, rock
To rock
steady
'Cause your team
Ain't even ready
To rock, rock, rock, rock.
Your team ain't even ready
To ROCK.
-snip-
*I'm unsure of this transcription. The squad might be saying "We rock, rock, rock, rock."
O(
****
Example #7: ROCK STEADY CHEER by Newark Varsity Squad
Audrey Schaener, Published on Jan 24, 2017
-snip-
This high school cheerleading squad is performing "Rock Steady" in a stomp & shake style.
Cheer lyrics:
Rock
Steady
'Cause your team ain't even ready to
Rock, Rock, Rock, Rock Steady.
-Newark Varsity Squad cheer, transcribed from the video by Azizi Powell
I'm not sure where this high school is located.
****
Example #8: Rock Steady Cheer
Candid practice videos from the beginning of the year.
McEvans Cheer
-snip-
This cheer beat reminds me of a slow down version of foot stomping cheers.
There is a McEvans High School in Shaw, Mississippi. I don't know if that is where the students featured in this video are from.
****
CHEER LYRICS
Rock
Whoo!
Rock Steady
Alright Alright
Rock Rock Rock
Whoo!
Rock steady
[add more foot stomping]
Rock
Rock steady
Rock Rock Rock
Rock steady
-McEvans High School cheerleaders, transcription by Azizi Powell from the video (additions and corrections are welcome)
****
Example #9: NHS Rock Steady Cheer 10 4 13
Nottingham High School Video, Published on Oct 8, 2013
-snip-
I'm not sure where this school is located. Google search lists a Nottingham High School in Syracuse, New York and a Nottingham, High School in Hamilton Township, New Jersey.
CHEER LYRICS
Rock
Rock steady
Oh yeah!
[repeat this entire portion multiple times]
Rock, rock, rock, rock
Steady steady, steady, steady
'cause he's not even ready
Rock
[repeat entire cheer]
-Nottingham High School cheerleaders, t
****
Example #10: Rock Steady
Fluco Cheerleading, Sep 14, 2022
Rock Steady
Rock rock rock rock
Steady- eady- eady eady
Rock
Rock steady
The flucos
Are getting ready
To
(x2 then go into remix)
(Remix)
Hold up
Remix
Rock, Rock, steady, steady
Their team ain’t even ready
to rock
Rock steady
Rock
Rock steady
Rock, Rock, steady, steady
Their team ain’t even ready
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
No comments:
Post a Comment