The Lindy Hop is an American dance which was born in the African-American communities of Harlem, New York City, in 1928 and has evolved since then. It was very popular during the swing era of the late 1930s and early 1940s. Lindy is a fusion of many dances that preceded it or were popular during […]
Danger Zone
“Danger Zone” is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins in 1986, with music composed by Giorgio Moroder and lyrics written by Tom Whitlock. The song was one of the hit singles from the soundtrack to the 1986 American film Top Gun. It was the best-selling soundtrack of 1986 and one of the best-selling […]
One For My Baby
“One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)” is a song written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the movie musical The Sky’s the Limit (1943) and first performed in the film by Fred Astaire. Harold Arlen described the song as “another typical Arlen tapeworm” – a “tapeworm” being the trade slang […]
Makin’ Whoopee
“Makin’ Whoopee” is a song first popularised by Eddie Cantor in the 1928 musical Whoopee!. Gus Kahn wrote the lyrics and Walter Donaldson composed the music for the song as well as for the entire musical. The musical was based on Owen Davis’s play, “The Nervous Wreck”. Donaldson was a prolific and popular American songwriter, […]
Hot Stuff
“Hot Stuff” is a song by Pete Bellotte, Harold Faltermeyer, and Keith Forsey released as the lead single by American singer Donna Summer on her seventh studio album Bad Girls, produced by English producer Pete Bellotte and Italian producer Giorgio Moroder in 1979 through Casablanca Records. Up to that point, Summer had mainly been associated […]
Largo Al Factotum
“Largo al factotum” (Make way for the factotum) is an aria (cavatina) from The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini, sung at the first entrance of the title character, Figaro. The repeated “Figaro”s before the final patter section are an icon in popular culture of operatic singing. The term “factotum” refers to a general servant […]
Boogie Wonderland
“Boogie Wonderland” is a song by American band Earth, Wind & Fire with the Emotions, released in April 1979 on Columbia Records as the first single from their ninth album, I Am (1979). The song peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard dance chart, number six on the Hot 100, and number two on […]
Blue Skies
“Blue Skies” is a popular song, written by Irving Berlin in 1926. “Blue Skies” is one of many popular songs whose lyrics use a “bluebird of happiness” as a symbol of cheer: “Bluebirds singing a song/Nothing but bluebirds all day long.” The sunny optimism of the lyrics are undercut by the minor key giving the […]
Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby
Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby” is a song written by Louis Jordan and Billy Austin. The song’s first recording, by Jordan, was made on October 4, 1943. It was released as the B-side of a single with “G.I. Jive” with the title “Is You Is or Is You Ain’t (Ma’ Baby)”. […]
Your Feet’s Too Big
“Your Feet’s Too Big” is a song composed in 1936 by Fred Fisher with lyrics by Ada Benson. It has been recorded by many artists, notably the Ink Spots and by Fats Waller in 1939. Leon Redbone, Chubby Checker and even the Beatles have sung it although their version was never released. The song became […]