OOPS UPSIDE YOUR HEAD ..
I was watching an old (old old) episode from Only Fools and Horses the other night. It was the episode where Del, Rodney and Grandad get a cheap holiday to Spain with Grandad ending up in the slammer for jay-walking. Priceless - and still so funny after all this time!There was a short montage early in the episode which shows Del and Rodney dancing in a nightclub and one of the dances they were doing was the one where everyone sits on the floor in a long chain patting the floor either side and swaying back and forth in unison. In my day it was done to a record called "Oops Upside Your Head" by The Gap Band and was just THE most amazing fun to do! It got me thinking about all the group dances there have been over the years and - with the (socially distant) party season approaching in these Covid-stricken days, I thought I'd remind you of some of them.
Possibly the earliest I recall was Little-Eva's (and later Kylie Monogue's) "The Locomotion". There was also "Simple Simon Says" by the 1910 Fruitgum Company back in 1968. And of course "The Birdie Song" by The Tweets (with a little bit of this and a little bit of that and shake your bum) in 1981. My least favourite is The Slosh - remember that one? It was originally done to a song by Daniel Boone on the album "Beautiful Sunday" and was a case of side stepping, slapping heels, clapping under one knee and turning to start the whole process again. Then there were those done by Black Lace - "Agadoo-doo-doo", "Superman" and "I Am The Music Man" - the latter of which, I am almost embarrassed to say, Steve and I were actually doing at our hotel just last week in Bournemouth!
Others that come to mind are "Tragedy" by Steps, "Saturday Night" by Whingfield, "The Macarena" by Los Del Rio, "Achy Breaky Heart" (favoured by line-dancers) by Andy S Thailand and (a personal favourite of mine) "Cha Cha Slide" by D J Casper . And - not dancing exactly - but walking in time to music - is Tony Christie's "Show Me The Way To Amarillo". And yes, people actually were getting up and walking round the dance floor in Bournenouth when that one came on! The dances may be crazy but we love them They make us feel alive. They convince even the worst dancers that they can dance - and why not? I hope you've enjoyed my little dance down Memory Lane. I certainly have! Have fun over Christmas. And stay safe.