Jackson State University J-Settes' "Get Ready" Routine

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post provides information about Jackson State University [Mississippi] J-Settes dance team and the J-Setting style of dance that that group created.

This post also showcases seven videos of the J-Settes' signature routine "Get Ready" from 2010 to January 2016. Selected comments from several of those video's discussion threads are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Jackson State University's J-Settes. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT J-SETTING AND THE JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY J-SETTES
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J-Setting
"The word J-Setting is an informal word or slang that means to dance like the legendary Prancing J-Settes, the female dance team of the Jackson State University's Sonic Boom of the South marching band.

J-Setting has evolved to also become the name of the style of dance and dance culture that is modeled after the dance formations, movements and dress style of the "Prancing J-Settes". It originated in the late 1970s from African-Americans in the Jackson, Mississippi, area of the United States.

This dance style is characterized by a lead and follow format where one dancer initiates a series of high-energy dance moves, and the other dancers join in the movement. J-Setting features specific dance steps based on Prancing J-Settes marching techniques including the “J-Sette Walk,” the “Salt and Pepper,” the “Strut,” and the “Tip Toe”. In particular, the “Salt and Pepper” is a type of prance step for which the Prancing J-Settes are named and known. It is a high-knee lift or “high step” style of marching. Alternating legs lift with a bent knee to bring the foot up to the height of the opposite knee before returning the foot to the ground.

The JSU Prancing J-Settes typically march and perform in rows organized by height. J-Setting dancers also typically perform in a line or in multiple lines. While performing, dancers may also change dance formation similar to the way that marching bands change formation during shows on football fields."...
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For more information about J-setting, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/04/j-setting-jsus-prancing-j-settes-and.html for a previous pancocojams post entitled "J-Setting, JSU's Prancing J-Settes, And Black Gay J-Setters".
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Here's a description of "Salt and Pepper" which was posted in the comment thread for the YouTube video given as Example #7 below (in response to my question about the accuracy of this Wikipedia description.)
DW721, July 18, 2016
The salt and pepper is the march they do throughout most of this video. Specifically, when the music starts and the captain starts marching high and doing the cross movements with her arms. That is the salt and pepper."

Thanks DW721 for that clarification!

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
These examples are given in chronological order based on their publishing date on YouTube with the oldest dated example given first.

Example #1: J-Settes 2010 Homecoming Parade



RealJSettes88threw99, Published on Oct 30, 2010
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Selected comments from this video's discussion thread:
2010
1. blakpioneer
"Regardless of what people say about these girls, they are [profanity deleted] phenomenal!! I'm an alumnus of Alabama A&M University and I'm not ashamed to say that this school has us beat in EVERY category when it comes to a marching band!!!! Jackson State University is the trendsetter for the entire HBCU marching band world! These girls are invincible! They give you an untouchable performance from the time they prepare to enter the stadium, to the time they leave!!! MAD props! LOVE me some SONIC BOOM!!! "

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2. misspoohsamu
"That was so beautiful n shan is the first captain that i then seen of the jsettes that throw that many marches(dance) doing the parade. The other captains just dance when the band play. But i still love em all"

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3. jo662
"@chicagomarchingbands Until you do wat they do, you wont understand, they do A LOT in the parade and that takes a lot of stamina just to complete the parade."

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Reply
4. ChicagoMarchingBands
"@sevensjourney Not saying they should not be tired. Just don't show it! At least smile.....and only a few are doing that. that is what band camp is for to build up stamina......"

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5. jboyfreshVUU
"Those ripples came out of nowhere!! lol. love it! They have every right to be tired after marching that full parade. When I was in band our dancers never stopped, and were tired as hell near the end as well. The entire band was. Good job once again Settes!"

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6. tsu1208
"Those Ripples Was On Point!!!!!!!!"

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7.Poshboi Styles
What is the name of that beat that comes in @4:59

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Reply
7. YoungStunna9 [2011]
"@chfaithw6 It's called "Black and Blues" by Al jarreau"
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I think that this comment is in reply to the question given here as #6, but I'm not sure about that.

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2011
8. Kylen Parker
"Whjat is this song called?"

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Reply
9. descor1
"@Kylen901 get ready by the temptations"

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10. jstfantastic
"Oh luv dis. I like dat lil walk thing they do ^-^ like at 8:08 4 example."

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2012
11. 8thwonder0608
"Looking at this video again just makes me smile! Shanketta had a certain presence. She had the it factor. That's why the J-settes, under her leadership, shut the 2010-11 season DOWN. And that's why Shanketta is a LEGENDARY J-sette captain."

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Example #2: J-Settes 8/13/2011 (Get Ready)



RealJSettes88threw99, Published on Aug 13, 2011
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Selected comments from this video's discussion thread:

Jay White, 2015
"Where was this?

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Reply
Kiara Wilson, 2015
"Convention Center In Jackson" [Mississippi]

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Example #3: "Get Ready" Sonic Boom of the South Marching In to the Liberty Stadium (2014)



Otis Jefferson, Published on Sep 14, 2014
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Selected comments from this video's discussion thread:
2015
Bryan Gaston
"Ladies and Gentlemen! The SONIC BOOM of the South! Now thats an entrance...."

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Reply
haweygs
"I love the way the J-Settes come in too. They don't come in there looking cutie tootie like some other band's majorettes. They come in dancing and picking their legs up MARCHING like the rest of the band, and the ramp kick is awesome!" 

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nadiagaines
"What song is this"

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Reply
DJ Stevens
"Get Ready by the temptations"

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Example #4: 2015 JSU J-settes (Get Ready) Parade



MrUSMC1999, Published on Sep 13, 2015

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Example #5: JSettes 2015 SHC Parade (Get Ready)



RealJSettes88threw99, Published on Sep 15, 2015

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Example #6: 2015 JSU J-settes Homecoming Parade (Get Ready)



MrUSMC1999, Published on Oct 25, 2015
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Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread. These are all of the comments that have been posted to date in one sub-thread of that discussion. All of the comments are from October 2015. I've assigned numbers to these comments for referencing purposes only.
1. bobbyjay__
"their salt and pepper March is so old school. I'm living for it"

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Reply
2. Wardell Jefferson
"Really!!! What is old school for you."

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Reply
3.Wardell Jefferson
"LOOK YOU GUYS AGE IS REALLY SHOWING . BECAUSE ALL YOU WANT TO SEE IS FOR THEM TO KICK AN THROW THERE HAIR."

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4. Reply
marching17d3
"+Wardell Jefferson what are you saying? They been kicking and throwing their hair for 40 yrs lol. This is Get Ready. It hasn't changed since ole school Boom. Not much has changed with this unit. Some people just love to complain. Just support them old & new"

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Reply
5. dee hay
"+Wardell Jefferson Thanks Wardell .... Well I am Alumni J-Sette 88-92 so what he said it's true an I don't see him saying any about the captain. that's why we stop trying to help the ladies now . They only focusing on how high they can kick an trowing their hair. We was know for our Grace. Poised Beauty ."

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Reply
6. thegreatgatsby
"+dee hay Ole school can mean many different eras to different generations of kids. The current Jsettes consider "Ole school" to be the 1999-2002 era because of the most celebrated Jsette put 99 on the map. Not saying that the OldER School era isn't legendary. Like the 1990 Motown and classic performances."

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Reply
7. Shawn Tobias
"+Wardell Jefferson 80's definitely old school for me. I remember as a kid going to games back in 80-81. I remember that boom as well. Looks like these guys trying to take it back and march like you guys did back in the day. I heard they have a new band director."

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Reply
8. dee hay
"+marching17d3 I'm sorry an when did we do all that not when I was there .We gave you a production show, not all this bumping and grinding . You guys really need to stop talking like you know our History. He made a comment on the way they are doing S/P which is wrong. The balling of the fist look like they are going to fight someone. We stride on techniques and , making sure your Toes are pointed , let's look at how they stand at parade rest. But to you guys you see nothing wrong. An for the record know comment on the captain. Its the Settes as a whole".

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Reply
9. marching17d3
"+dee hay Sir or mam, I addressed him stating that all they were doing was swinging their hair & kicking, But the Get Ready routine for the jsettes has not changed in almost 40 yrs!! And if you were a Jsette during that timeframe, you should know that.
Are you truly upset because the kicks are actually higher now? Because the ole school jsettes did put on a production. But those kicks back then were at 9:00🕘"

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Reply
10. Wardell Jefferson
"Once gain if you don't know our history!!!! First GR was a moving formation second an on that 4th 8 it's a strut then kick an second much as they like grinding!!! They took that out an now they are bowing !!!! I will not address any no more!!! PS that's why the Director they have now because know want to be over Girl that didn't want to listen. Thee I Love"

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Reply
11. marching17d3
"+Wardell Jefferson they were "bowing" their heads on that part even in the 90's. They can't please everybody. There were some great things from the ole squads that the new school could learn from. But for the most part, the 80's and 90's routines were simple & not difficult to execute. In example, those 9 o'clock kicks 🕘"

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Reply
12. OneVoice41210 months ago
"+Wardell Jefferson You have to stick with the times. If the J-Settes were still doing the same type of field shoes and marching how they were back in the 80's.. no one in today's time would pay them any mind, because it was very simple. It would be a snooze fest. The J-Settes have become very complex, making very hard to execute field shows, innovative 8 counts, and marching routines over the years. Nothing will ever remain the same. Yes, I agree, the Salt & Pepper could look like it didn't back in '00 and earlier when Afrachanna was captain, however, it doesn't, it has evolved just like the rest of everything these ladies have done to still remain NUMBER ONE. Instead of complaining that they aren't like back in your days, just support. The current J-Settes themselves, when asked are said they love feedback from their big sisters, and learning things from former J-Settes, so I highly doubt they are a bunch of girls that don't want to listen. They aren't all about swinging their hair and high kicks, if they were, they'd be just like any other dance teams. The J-Settes are more than that and have been for decades. It has NOTHING to do with our age, because as a dancer I see and know a lot. I know dancing has evolved since the 70s and 80s and even 90s. So you can't expect a squad to look the same as they did over the last 40 years."

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Reply
13. marching17d3
"+OneVoice412 Right! If they were still doing it the 80's way, people would be screaming "OMG they are boring". It's called Evolving. Let evolution take its course..."

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Reply
14. dee hay
"+OneVoice412 Thank you for your feed back if only guys like you can responses that way.. Thee I Love"

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Reply
15. demetrius mccullough
"+Wardell Jefferson I wish you would just let things be. I understand that their not doing the salt n pepper the "old school" way, but that's your opinion. Dominique will be a great captain regardless."

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Reply
16. Wardell Jefferson
"OK THIS WILL BE THE LAST STATEMENT i WILL MAKE. I NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT ONE PERSON READ WHAT I SAID . AN YOU RIGHT I DO HAVE A RIGHT I MARCHED WITH THE BEST 87-91 A STATEMENT WAS MADE ABOUT OLD SCHOOL, SO I ASK WHAT DO THEY CALL OLD SCHOOL. BECAUSE FROM MOST OF YOU GUYS THAT MAKES COMMENT CONSIDER THE 90'S OLD SCHOOL."
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The earliest YouTube video that I've found of Jackson State University Marching Band & the J-Sette is from 1978 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHM_Qu9rTSA. I've also found a few YouTube videos of Jackson State's Marching Band & the J-Settes from the late 1980s & 1990s, including this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX0vNEHkEbs "JSU - Halftime 1989 (SU Game)". Click 9:07-10:49 for a segment of the J-Settes dancing.

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Example #7: 2015-16 JSU J-settes (Get Ready) Governors Parade



MrUSMC1999 Published on Jan 12, 2016
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Selected comments from this video's discussion thread
2016
OneVoice412
"Nothing warms my heart more than our beautiful black brothers and sisters entertaining the masses and seeing the smiles and movements from the crowd."

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Andrea Wilson
"I remember we did those same parade stands in my high school band"

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Tee Jack2000, January 2016
"Yall asses better march, kick, salt n peppa, all that good stuff! This what im talking about!"

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MakingThaMost, February 2016
I just flatlined seeing all them Nancy boots cross-marching at 0:17!!!!
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"Nancy boots" as a referent for the high white boots that the J-Settes wear was probably inspired by Nancy Sinatra's Grammy award winning 1966 song "These Boots Wear Made For Walking".

"Cross marching" is a referent for the way that the J-Settes cross their feet in front of each other while marching.

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BoxerBriefs4,April 2016
"This video is everything. They were so in-sync with each other:"

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