koolandthegangshow, Jul 23, 2013
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases several popular records and one version text (word only) example of an African American originated foot stomping cheer or another typle of children's cheer that each record inspired.
Information about each of these showcases records is also included in this post along with a link to that record's lyrics.
Links to additional examples of these children's cheers are also included in this post.
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases several popular records and one version text (word only) example of an African American originated foot stomping cheer or another typle of children's cheer that each record inspired.
Information about each of these showcases records is also included in this post along with a link to that record's lyrics.
Links to additional examples of these children's cheers 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 all the recording artists and composers of the songs that are featured in this post. Thanks also to all the unknown composers of these featured foot stomping cheers. Also, thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE ABOUT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ORIGIN OF THESE CHEERS
There have been LOTS of versions of these children's cheers and they have been found throughout the United States. Versions of cheers with the same title may have very different words.
These cheers may still be chanted by children (and other people) of any race or ethnicity. However, I believe that it's important to acknowledge that although the composers of these cheers aren't known, it's very likely that these cheer composers were African American.
I base this statement on the following points:
1. The source records are from African American music groups and the music forms for these cheers are African American originated music forms.
2. Almost all of the early examples of these cheers come from African Americans (as documented by a 1978 vinyl record (Mother Hippletoe), books, online blog sources, YouTube videos, my face to face collection etc.
3. The early examples of these cheers usually have call & response textual (word) structure, and/or include African American Vernacular English words. Also, the early examples of these cheers were performed with foot stomping, hand clapping, body patting choreographed and synchronized routines that have their sources in Africa and African Diaspora cultures.
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SHOWCASE VIDEOS, INFORMATION, & CHEER EXAMPLES
These examples are given in no particular order.
HOLLYWOOD SWINGING RECORD/SONG
[Video embedded above]
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all the recording artists and composers of the songs that are featured in this post. Thanks also to all the unknown composers of these featured foot stomping cheers. Also, thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE ABOUT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ORIGIN OF THESE CHEERS
There have been LOTS of versions of these children's cheers and they have been found throughout the United States. Versions of cheers with the same title may have very different words.
These cheers may still be chanted by children (and other people) of any race or ethnicity. However, I believe that it's important to acknowledge that although the composers of these cheers aren't known, it's very likely that these cheer composers were African American.
I base this statement on the following points:
1. The source records are from African American music groups and the music forms for these cheers are African American originated music forms.
2. Almost all of the early examples of these cheers come from African Americans (as documented by a 1978 vinyl record (Mother Hippletoe), books, online blog sources, YouTube videos, my face to face collection etc.
3. The early examples of these cheers usually have call & response textual (word) structure, and/or include African American Vernacular English words. Also, the early examples of these cheers were performed with foot stomping, hand clapping, body patting choreographed and synchronized routines that have their sources in Africa and African Diaspora cultures.
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SHOWCASE VIDEOS, INFORMATION, & CHEER EXAMPLES
These examples are given in no particular order.
HOLLYWOOD SWINGING RECORD/SONG
[Video embedded above]
Information about that song and lyrics for that song:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Swinging
"Hollywood Swinging" is a 1974 song by R&B/funk band Kool & the Gang from their album Wild and Peaceful. It was written by Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, George M. Brown, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Claydes Charles Smith, Dennis R. Thomas and Rick A. Westfield.
From https://genius.com/Kool-and-the-gang-hollywood-swinging-lyrics
"Hollywood Swinging" appears on the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas video game soundtrack, on the radio station Bounce FM radio station. The song appears in the films “Be Cool” (2005) and “Roll Bounce” (2005). The song also appeared on the television shows Lizzie McGuire and Criminal Minds. Also appeared on the Bringing Back the Funk, Brian Culbertson’s 2008 album. Played at Quicken Loans Arena during halftime at Cleveland Cavaliers home games. It also was covered in Sinbad’s comedy special, Where U Been? Realeased in 1974 and is the genre of funk."
-snip-
That website includes the complete lyrics as well as that information.
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AN EXAMPLE OF A "HOLLYWOOD SWINGING" CHEER
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Swinging
"Hollywood Swinging" is a 1974 song by R&B/funk band Kool & the Gang from their album Wild and Peaceful. It was written by Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, George M. Brown, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Claydes Charles Smith, Dennis R. Thomas and Rick A. Westfield.
"Hollywood Swinging" was the group's first number one R&B single, reaching that position in June 1974. The single was a successful crossover hit, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart as well.[3]
From https://genius.com/Kool-and-the-gang-hollywood-swinging-lyrics
"Hollywood Swinging" appears on the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas video game soundtrack, on the radio station Bounce FM radio station. The song appears in the films “Be Cool” (2005) and “Roll Bounce” (2005). The song also appeared on the television shows Lizzie McGuire and Criminal Minds. Also appeared on the Bringing Back the Funk, Brian Culbertson’s 2008 album. Played at Quicken Loans Arena during halftime at Cleveland Cavaliers home games. It also was covered in Sinbad’s comedy special, Where U Been? Realeased in 1974 and is the genre of funk."
-snip-
That website includes the complete lyrics as well as that information.
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AN EXAMPLE OF A "HOLLYWOOD SWINGING" CHEER
HOLLYWOOD ROCK SWINGING
Hollywood rock swinging.
Hollywood rock swinging.
My name is Aniesha
I'm number one
My reputation is having fun
So if you see me just step aside
"Cause mighty Aniesha don't take no jive.
Hollywood rock swinging.
Hollywood rock swinging.
My name is katrina
I'm number two
My reputation is me and you
So if you see me just step on back
'Cause mighty Katrina don't take no slack.
Hollywood rock swinging.
Hollywood rock swinging.
My name is Natasha
I'm number twelve
My reputation is ringing that bell
So if you see my just step aside
"Cause mighty Aniesha don't take no jive
-Apples On A Stick: The Folklore Of Black Children by Barbara Michels and Bettye White (1983; p. 14);
-snip-
That book's preface indicates that the source of all of the examples in that book were Black children from Houston, Texas.
-snip-
No performance directions are given in this book for any example. However, I've categorized it as a cheer in part because of that example's textual structure, and in part because an example of a cheer (with mostly different words) entitled "Hollywood Now Swinging/Dynomite" was included in the cheer section of the 1978 Mother Hippletoe vinyl album. I also recall seeing young Black girls perform"Hollywood Swinging" foot stomping cheers in various Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania neighborhoods in the mid 1980s. That said, by some time in the 1990s in Pittsburgh, that cheer became a partner hand clap game, and memories of its performance as a foot stomping cheer faded.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/05/examples-of-hollywood-goes-swingin.html for a 2016 pancocojams post entitled "Examples Of "Hollywood Goes Swingin" Cheers & Rhymes (1976 - 2000s)"
Hollywood rock swinging.
Hollywood rock swinging.
My name is Aniesha
I'm number one
My reputation is having fun
So if you see me just step aside
"Cause mighty Aniesha don't take no jive.
Hollywood rock swinging.
Hollywood rock swinging.
My name is katrina
I'm number two
My reputation is me and you
So if you see me just step on back
'Cause mighty Katrina don't take no slack.
Hollywood rock swinging.
Hollywood rock swinging.
My name is Natasha
I'm number twelve
My reputation is ringing that bell
So if you see my just step aside
"Cause mighty Aniesha don't take no jive
-Apples On A Stick: The Folklore Of Black Children by Barbara Michels and Bettye White (1983; p. 14);
-snip-
That book's preface indicates that the source of all of the examples in that book were Black children from Houston, Texas.
-snip-
No performance directions are given in this book for any example. However, I've categorized it as a cheer in part because of that example's textual structure, and in part because an example of a cheer (with mostly different words) entitled "Hollywood Now Swinging/Dynomite" was included in the cheer section of the 1978 Mother Hippletoe vinyl album. I also recall seeing young Black girls perform"Hollywood Swinging" foot stomping cheers in various Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania neighborhoods in the mid 1980s. That said, by some time in the 1990s in Pittsburgh, that cheer became a partner hand clap game, and memories of its performance as a foot stomping cheer faded.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/05/examples-of-hollywood-goes-swingin.html for a 2016 pancocojams post entitled "Examples Of "Hollywood Goes Swingin" Cheers & Rhymes (1976 - 2000s)"
Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/09/foot-stomping-cheers-alphabetical-list_6.html "Foot Stomping Cheers Alphabetical List (H - J)" for text (word only) examples of Hollywood Swinging cheers.
Based on its group/consecutive soloists textual structure, "Hollywood Swinging" cheers are a subset of children's cheers that I refer to as "foot stomping cheers."
"Group/consecutive soloists" is a form of call and response. In these cheers, the group voice is heard first, and a person has a soloist part. When the cheer ends with that soloist, it immediately begins again with the group voice and the next soloist. That person has an equal amount of time as the soloist. This pattern continues until every person in the group has one turn as tje soloist for that cheer. Depending on the cheer, each soloist may chant the same words (except her name/nickname and other personal information such as her astrological sun sign) or that soloist may chant mostly different words that fit the beat and theme of the cheer.
"Group/consecutive soloists" is a form of call and response. In these cheers, the group voice is heard first, and a person has a soloist part. When the cheer ends with that soloist, it immediately begins again with the group voice and the next soloist. That person has an equal amount of time as the soloist. This pattern continues until every person in the group has one turn as tje soloist for that cheer. Depending on the cheer, each soloist may chant the same words (except her name/nickname and other personal information such as her astrological sun sign) or that soloist may chant mostly different words that fit the beat and theme of the cheer.
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"FLY GIRL" RECORD
"FLY GIRL" RECORD
A Fly Girl - The Boogie Boys (1985)
djbuddyloverootsrap,
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A "FLY GIRL" CHEER
FLY GIRL
Group: Fly girl one.
Fly girl two
Pump it up, Teresa,
Just like you do (or, “Show me what you do”)
Soloist #1: “Oh” (or “Well”) My name is Teresa
Group: What?
Soloist #1: And I’m a fly girl.
Group: What?
Soloist #1: It takes a lot of men
To rock my world.
‘Cause I can fly like a butterfly,
Sting like a bee.
And that’s why they call me
SEXY.
Repeat the cheer from the beginning with the next soloist. Replace the former soloist’s name or nickname with the name or nickname of the new soloist. Continue until every one has had one turn as soloist.
-T.M.P., memories of the mid 1980s in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania; recorded on a casette tape by Azizi Powell in 1992
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/09/foot-stomping-cheers-alphabetical-list_40.html for additional examples of this foot stomping cheer.
Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/01/what-fly-fly-girl-fly-guy-mean-in.html for the pancocojams post entitled "What "Fly", "Fly Girl" & "Fly Guy" Mean In African American Slang"
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"ROCK THE BOAT" RECORD
Hues Corporation - Rock The Boat • TopPop
TopPop, Nov. 6, 2015
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE "ROCK THE BOAT" RECORD
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_the_Boat_(The_Hues_Corporation_song)
'"Rock the Boat" is a song by American trio The
Hues Corporation, written by Wally Holmes. "Rock the Boat" was first
featured on their 1973 debut studio album Freedom for the Stallion (a different
edit version, which was the single, later appeared on certain editions of the
band's 1974 second album Rockin' Soul).[1] ....
Initially, "Rock the Boat" appeared as though it
would also flop, as months went by without any radio airplay or sales activity.
Not until the song became a disco favorite in New York did Top 40 radio finally
pick up on the song, leading the record to finally enter the Hot 100 and zip up
the chart to number one the week of July 6, 1974, in only its seventh week on
the chart (and fourth week in the Top 40). The record also reached the top ten
in the United Kingdom. "Rock the Boat" is considered one of the
earliest disco songs. Some authorities proclaim it to be the first disco song
to hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while others give that
distinction to "Love's Theme" by Love Unlimited Orchestra, a
chart-topper from earlier in 1974. The song became a gold record. It is a heavy
airplay favorite on oldie and adult contemporary stations today."...
-snip-
Click https://genius.com/The-hues-corporation-rock-the-boat-lyrics for lyrics for and information about this song .
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A "ROCK THE BOAT" CHEER
ROCK THE BOAT. DON'T TIP IT OVER
Rock the boat. Don't tip it over.
Rock the boat. Don't tip it over.
Hey, Aniya. "Hey what?"
Hey, Aniya. "Hey what?"
Can you rock the boat? "No way."
Can you rock the boat?! "Ok."
She slides. She slides. She do The Butterfly.
She dips. She dips. She shakes her little hips!
ROCK THE BOAT. DON'T TIP IT OVER
Rock the boat. Don't tip it over.
Rock the boat. Don't tip it over.
Hey, Aniya. "Hey what?"
Hey, Aniya. "Hey what?"
Can you rock the boat? "No way."
Can you rock the boat?! "Ok."
She slides. She slides. She do The Butterfly.
She dips. She dips. She shakes her little hips!
-ti55, Mar 16, 2008, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9QuTsAtQPY
-snip-
This is my transcription of the video whose link is given above. This cheer is composed using the traditional foot stomping cheer structure. The "rock the boat/don't tip it over" line is a clear indication that this cheer was heavily influenced by The Hues Corporations' 1974 record "Rock The Boat".
-snip-
This is my transcription of the video whose link is given above. This cheer is composed using the traditional foot stomping cheer structure. The "rock the boat/don't tip it over" line is a clear indication that this cheer was heavily influenced by The Hues Corporations' 1974 record "Rock The Boat".
for a pancocojams post about this cheer.
Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/09/foot-stomping-cheers-alphabetical-list_22.html
"Foot Stomping Cheers Alphabetical List (P- Z)"for additional word only versions of this cheer.
-snip-
There have been other popular R&B/Funk songs entitled "Rock The Boat". Some of those records could also have inspired versions of children's cheers that are entitled "Rock The Boat".
"Foot Stomping Cheers Alphabetical List (P- Z)"for additional word only versions of this cheer.
-snip-
There have been other popular R&B/Funk songs entitled "Rock The Boat". Some of those records could also have inspired versions of children's cheers that are entitled "Rock The Boat".
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"ROCK STEADY" RECORD
Unidiscmusic, Feb. 11, 2011
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Information about this song
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Steady_(The_Whispers_song)
The Whispers - Rock Steady (Official Music Video)
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Information about this song
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Steady_(The_Whispers_song)
From
" "Rock Steady" is a single released by American group the Whispers, from their 18th studio album Just Gets Better with Time (1987). It was produced by the production duo Antonio "L.A." Reid & Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.
" "Rock Steady" is a single released by American group the Whispers, from their 18th studio album Just Gets Better with Time (1987). It was produced by the production duo Antonio "L.A." Reid & Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.
It was released on June 13, 1987,[2] and to date has been
their highest charting single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number
seven in late August, and was their second and final number one on the Hot
Black Singles Chart.[3]"...
-snip-
Click https://genius.com/The-whispers-rock-steady-lyrics for lyrics for this song.
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AN EXAMPLE OF A "ROCK STEADY" CHEER
ROCK STEADY
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, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPswNBnwvLQ&ab_channel=daileytigers Published on Nov 17, 2012
-snip-
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, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPswNBnwvLQ&ab_channel=daileytigers Published on Nov 17, 2012
-snip-
While "Rock Steady" is usually performed with foot stomping and hand clap movements, it doesn't have the group/alternating soloist textual structure. Therefore I don't consider it a foot stomping cheer (as that term is used in this collection.)
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/rock-steady-childrens-cheers-examples.html for the 2013 pancocojams post "Rock Steady" Children's Cheers (Examples & Comments).
It's very likely that Aretha Franklin's 1972 R&B song "Rock Steady" was inspired by the name of the Jamaican "Rocksteady" music genre. However, the tune, beat, and lyrics of that R&B song are different from Jamaican "Rocksteady" music. Furthermore, I believe that the name of The Whispers' 1987 R&B song "Rock Steady" was probably inspired by Aretha Franklin's earlier song. And I believe that most of the lyrics for the "Rock Steady" military cadences have their source in The Whispers' song entitled "Rock Steady".
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