it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing

September 4, 2006 9:06 PM

Max and Thomas have some classic fun doing the Lindy hip hop but, sometimes, there ain't nothin' like the real thing, baby: Helzappoppin, Groovie Movie, 50s Charleston in Harlem, Original UpRock, Swing Fever, Power Girls. Learn more about the history of this kickass dance at early Lindy Hop. (Alert: YouTube links)
posted by madamjujujive (17 comments total)

Holy crap this post is awesome. That first lindy link - helzappoppin - absolutely blows my mind. I love the lindy hop - any dance move that can start as something so orderly and simple and transform into something so totally different is a thing of beauty.
thank you madam. :D
posted by Baby_Balrog at 9:14 PM on September 4, 2006

See also: The Jit, a prior mefi post by klangstonklangston.
posted by madamjujujive at 9:20 PM on September 4, 2006

Who's that doing "Love Me or Leave Me" in the first link?

I need to know if liking it makes me uncool or not.
posted by StopMakingSense at 9:38 PM on September 4, 2006

I am pretty sure that is Sammy Davis Jr. singing in the first clip.
posted by madamjujujive at 9:48 PM on September 4, 2006

So both cool and uncool at the same time.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:02 PM on September 4, 2006

Excellent! By the way, see the entire Hellzapoppin' if you want to have a great time. An entirely insane comedy before insanity was fashionable.
posted by QuietDesperation at 10:04 PM on September 4, 2006

Definitely Sammy Davis, Jr.

Great post mjj. I'm working on a Lindy Hop post as well, but the only intersection might be Hellzapoppin'.
posted by turbodog at 10:05 PM on September 4, 2006

And let me add:

I was alien to this slick tempo. Even the owner of the smallest enterprise acts with alacrity. The shoeshine boy flips his polishing rag with alacrity, the bartender serves a beer with alacrity...the soda clerk, when serving an egg malted milk, performs like a hopped up juggler.
--Charlie Chaplin,
My Autobiography (1964)
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:06 PM on September 4, 2006

Holy Calamity! Baby those cats can swing!
posted by Holy foxy moxie batman! at 10:09 PM on September 4, 2006

Awesome post, mjjj. Thanks!

I've been Lindy-ing for thirty years now, and it remains my favorite dance (well, tied with the waltz, I suppose), though I've learned many others. Its incredible versatility is attested to in the first link. If you've got the Lindy down, one-step, two-step, Western swing... all no problem.

I used the Lindy as the basis for disco-dancing throughout the late 70's and early 80's. It's also perfect for Rock-a-billy.

In my opinion, the Lindy is the waltz of the twentieth century, in that it is easily learned, and easily adaptable to many styles of music.

Thanks again!
posted by trip and a half at 10:41 PM on September 4, 2006

jesus that is the coolest thing ever.
posted by facetious at 12:30 AM on September 5, 2006

I SAW A FAT ISRAELI DOING THE LINDY WITH HIS CIRCUMCISED CAT IN AN SUV IN PALESTINE. BUT THEN A MANTA RAY STUNG HIM IN THE CHEST WHILE CEILING ELEPHANT SHAT UPON HIM.
posted by quonsar at 8:44 AM on September 5, 2006

just trying to up the newsfilter quotient so this excellent post gets some notice...
posted by quonsar at 8:47 AM on September 5, 2006

Great post, thanks!
posted by foot at 8:51 AM on September 5, 2006

Minnesotans, take note: One of the dancers from the Hellzapoppin clip, Norma Miller, has written book about her experiences and will be reading from it at Majors and Quinn on Friday at 7pm.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:57 AM on September 5, 2006

mjjj for UN sec-gen
posted by matteo at 11:06 AM on September 5, 2006

Frankie Manning was in Hellzapoppin, though I don't remember which one he is. He's an awesome man though, I got to listen to him a few years back talk about his life and the development of lindy (he's considered the creator of the aerial donchaknow).
posted by kindle at 7:47 AM on September 6, 2006