"Bangarang" Means Different Things In Jamaica & In The USA

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post highlights the differences between the meanings of the word "bangarang" in Jamaica and in the United States.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/10/three-reggae-records-with-title.html for a companion post that showcases three Reggae songs entitled "Bangarang". That post includes selected comments about the word "bangarang" from the discussion thread of one of those featured YouTube sound files.

The content of this post is presented for etymology and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks all those who are quoted in this post.

****
WEST INDIAN (JAMAICAN) DEFINITIONS FOR "BANGARANG"
From http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/english/bangarang
"Bangarang
Line breaks: banga|rang
Part of speech -noun

Meaning -An uproar or disturbance.

Origin - West Indian

probably imitative, but perhaps influenced by Portuguese banguelê 'riot, disorder'.
-snip-
By "probably imitative", my guess is that that editor means "imitating the sound of gun fire' ("bang bang").

**
From http://jamaicanpatwah.com/
"Jamaican Patois [Patwah] and Slang Dictionary"
Bangarang
English Translation - Commotion

Definition - slang term used to describe a loud uproar or commotion

Example Sentences
Patois: A wah cause di bangarang over deh suh?
English: What caused the commotion over there?

[posted by anonymous on July 5, 2013]
-snip-
Note: An anonymous blogger also posted the meaning "old clothes" for bangarang. I've not seen that meaning anywhere else. I therefore discount this "old clothes" definition for "bangarang".
[UPDATE 10/20/2014: According to the OED online (Oxford (University) English Dictionary) "rubbish" and then "old clothes" are old meanings for the words that became "bangarang". Read more in the comment by slam2011 below. Thanks, slam2011!,

Given those early meanings of "bangarang", the theory that it comes from the Portuguese banguelê 'riot, disorder' might be more doubtful.]

**
From http://niceup.com/patois.html#b "Rasta/Patois Dictionary and Phrases/Proverbs"
"bangarang - hubbub, uproar, disorder, disturbance."

****
WHEN WAS BANGARANG FIRST DOCUMENTED IN THE CARIBBEAN?
UPDATE 10/20/2014 [Hat tip to blogger slam 2014 who found information about this word in the Oxford English Dictionary online.

The first documented use of the word that became "bangarang" was in 1935.

In 1967 (some sources give this date as 1968) Lester Sterling & [Wilbur[ "Stranger" Cole recorded a tune with the title "Bangarang". Some say that this is the first Reggae record.
[Update ends]

Here's an excerpt pf an article from the Jamaican newspaper about that song:
From http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090719/ent/ent8.html "STORY OF THE SONG - One line makes a 'Bangarang'", July 19, 2009 by Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer
"For a song that has just one line of lyrics, Strange Jah Cole's Bangarang packs a wallop of a musical punch.

Not only did it hit number one when it was released in 1967, as Cole told The Sunday Gleaner, but Bangarang, on which saxophonist Lester Sterling does most of the lead duties, was covered relatively recently by Freddie McGregor. And the term's use in Parliament when the political battle got hot, after it has long ceased to be hip street terminology, seems to confirm that Bangarang has served the purpose of language preservation as a side effect to simply being a danceable tune."...

[Stranger Cole happened to visit a music studio in Jamaican when music producer Bunny 'Striker' Lee was working on a song]

"Lee was happy to see Cole, saying, "Pro, you are the right man I am looking for. I have a song called Bongo Chant. I want to do it Jamaican style with Lester Sterling."

"He played it for me with his mouth," Cole said, humming the melody for The Sunday Gleaner, much slower than the hit Jamaican version. As Lee finished humming, Cole picked up on the melody and sang the line "Moma no want no bangarang".

And they went into the studio to record.

When The Sunday Gleaner asks Cole what he was thinking when he did the line, he replies, "It is not what I was thinking, it is what the word means. 'Bangarang' means problems, so to break it down it is 'mother no want no problems'."...

He points out that many people sing "woman no want no bangarang", but he actually said Moma.
-snip-
Examples of comments from various YouTube discussion threads for that Lester Sterling & Stranger Cole record as well as examples of comments from discussion threads of Freddy McGregor's song with the title "Bangarang" are included in that pancocojams companion post about this word. Those self-identified commenters define ""bangarang" in similar terms as have already been given by West Indian sources or by sources quoting West Indian people.

****
AMERICAN [USA] DEFINITIONS FOR "BANGARANG"
From http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bangarang
"bangarang
1. Battle cry of the Lost Boys in the movie Hook.
2. Jamaican slang defined as a hubbub, uproar, disorder, or disturbance.
3. General exclamation meant to signify approval or amazement."
by Drewcifer511June 14, 2006

**
"bangarang
The ultimate in excellence. Better than cool, rad or awesome. Saved for very special occasions. Word first used in the movie "Hook".
Dude 1: Man, I just found a cheap cure for HIV/AIDS.

Dude 2: Bangarang"
by James Tao KlauenburchAugust 08, 2004
-snip-
The 1991 American movie "Hook" was definitely not the first time that the word "bangarang" was ever used. However, that movie may have been the first time that "bangarang" was used as an exclamation of approval.

Here's a quote that credits the word "bangarang" in the "Hook" movie to the Jamaican word "bangarang":
From http://www.ibtimes.com/bangarang-peter-pan-obama-pays-tribute-robin-williams-famous-hook-quote-after-actors-death-1655602 "Bangarang Peter Pan': Obama Pays Tribute To Robin Williams, Famous 'Hook' Quote After Actor's Death"
By Cristina Silva @cristymsilvac.silva@ibtimes.com on August 11 2014 9:06 PM
" "Bangarang!" It was the Lost Boys' battle cry in "Hook" and now it's how fans worldwide will remember comedian Robin Williams. President Barack Obama paid tribute to the actor after his death Monday with a statement referencing one of Williams' most famous scenes. "Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between," Obama's statement read.

So what does "bangarang" mean? Williams slipped into Peter Pan's iconic green tights in Disney's 1991 "Hook." In the movie, Williams plays an overweight, adult Peter Pan who must be reminded of his youthful ways by the Lost Boys, who yell out "bangarang" in one of the film's funniest scenes when Peter Pan takes on the Lost Boys' replacement leader, Rufio. The Lost Boys signal their approval [of Peter Pan shouting insults back at Rufio] with cries of "bangarang," according to IMDB.com.

Electronic music producer Skillrex paid tribute to the scene with his hit song "Bangarang" in 2012. Skillrex calls out in the song: “Shout to all my lost boys. We rowdy. Shout to all my lost boys. Bangarang!”

OK, but what does it mean? Apparently, it's a Jamaican word that means disturbance."...
-snip-
The word "disturbance" was hyperlinked to this page http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/eight-things-you-never-knew-about-steven-spielbergs-1991-film-hook/story-e6frfmvr-1226845734260 "Eight things you never knew about Steven Spielberg’s 1991 film ‘Hook’".
Here's the relevant quote from that page:
"Real word: Bangarang is actually a Jamaican word which means disturbance."
-snip-
Here's another source that indicates that "Electronic music producer Skillrex paid tribute to the scene [in the movie "Hook"] with his hit song "Bangarang":
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangarang_(song)
"The title is a reference to the 1991 film Hook, in which the Lost Boys' catch cry is "bangarang!" "

****
EDITOR'S COMMENT
My guess is that the word "bangarang" was appealing to the writers of the American movie "Hook" in part because of American's familiarity with both of that word's syllables - "bang[a]" and "rang", and in part because of the American vernacular meanings of the word "bang". Not only is the word "bang" associated with gun fire, in American vernacular English it can be used as a descriptor for something that is very good, awesome, and/or someone who is very attractive http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/bang. In addition, in American vernacular English "to bang [someeone] means to have sex with that person. [citation: online slang dictionary] Each of these meanings add to the cache and the memorability of the word "bangarang" for the "Hook" movie's viewers and for others.

The word "Bang" is also used in the United States [and by extention elsewhere] as an exclamation of approval and/or excitement. I'm not sure if that exclamation predates 1991 - the use of "bangarang" in the United States as it has been discussed in this post.

While West Indians might use "bangarang" as an exclamation, I don't think it means "something awesome", or at least it doesn't mean that in the same way that it is meant in the States. And if or when West Indians use the exclamatory form of "bangarang", I don't think that it usually "signify approval or amazement" except that it may mean approval of lyrics or statements that refer to Babylon [the establishment] falling. [Note: I recall reading some YouTube comments in which "bangarang" was used this way. However, I can't find them now.]

Any examples [with citations] and any corrections are very welcome.

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

"Can You Dig It" In Records & Movies (1969-1979)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post presents examples of the sentence "Can you dig it?" in two record and two movies from 1969 t0 1979.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to those featured in the videos or soundfiles showcased in this post and thanks to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.

****
COMMENTS ABOUT THE SENTENCE "CAN YOU DIG IT?"
"Can you dig it" is from African American Vernacular English (AAVE). Depending on its context, in African American Vernacular English the word "dig" can mean "to understand", "to agree", "to like it", to enjoy it, or "to notice (check out) someone or something. Also, in African American slang (and I believe largely from that source in general American slang) "diggs" means "a person's home" and "a dig" is a taunt (an insult, a "diss").

It seems to me that the question "Can you dig it?" usually means "Do you understand [what I'm saying] or "Do you agree with what I'm saying?".

The African American use of the word "dig" meaning "understand" dates from the 1930s or earlier, but the documented use of the queestion "Can you dig it" is dates from the 1969 recording "Grazing In The Grass" by The Friends Of Distinction.

There are a number of theories about the origin of these slang meanings of the word "dig". I prefer the theory that the word comes from the Wolof [West African] word "degg; "dega" meaning "to hear", "to find out", "to understand". http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/181383 by jamueddhin on February 25th, 2008 for one comment article on this theory. But some people believe that this meaning of "dig" comes from the Irish Gaelic tuigim (I understand) or the Spanish words "digame" (Talk to me).

****
FEATURED EXAMPLES OF "CAN YOU DIG IT?" (1969 - 1979)
These examples are presented in chronological order based on the date of the usage, with the oldest dated examples given first.

Example #1: GRAZING IN THE GRASS (1969)- FRIENDS OF DISTINCTION



VanessasRETROSOUL, Published on Dec 31, 2012
-snip-
Lyric Excerpt:
"(Grazin' in the grass is a gas, baby, can you dig it)
What a trip just watchin' as the world goes past
(Grazin' in the grass is a gas, baby, can you dig it)
There are so many good things to see
While grazin' in the grass
(Grazin' in the grass is a gas, baby, can you dig it)....

I can dig it, he can dig it
She can dig it, we can dig it
They can dig it, you can dig it
Oh, let's dig it
Can you dig it, baby"
-snip-
"Can you dig it" in The Friends Of Distinction's song "Grazing In The Grass" means "Do you like it?" or "Are you enjoying it?" and not "Do you understand it?"

Describing something as "a gas" is from 1920s Jazz lingo, and means that it is enjoyable, fun. http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2013/07/its-a-gas.html “It’s A Gas”

Click http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/anchorman/grazinginthegrass.htm for the complete lyrics to this song.
-snip-
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grazing_in_the_Grass
"Grazing in the Grass" is an instrumental composed by Philemon Hou and first recorded by the South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. Released in the United States as a single in 1968, it hit no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart....

The Friends of Distinction recorded a vocal cover version of the tune in 1969 which was also a Top Ten pop and R&B hit, reaching no. 3 on the former and no. 5 on the latter. The group's Harry Elston penned lyrics for the song and sang lead on it."

****
Example #2: The Beatles - Dig It (2009 Stereo Remaster)



A.A. Central Uploaded on Oct 5, 2009

From "Let It Be" (Stereo Remastered) from The Beatles Stereo Remastered Box Set.
-snip-
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dig_It_(Beatles_song)
" "Dig It" is a song by the Beatles featured on their album Let It Be. The song is credited to Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starkey. It is one of the few songs to be credited to all of the Beatles…
The excerpt on the Let It Be album fades in on Lennon's second "Like a rolling stone" and concludes with Lennon speaking in a falsetto: "That was 'Can You Dig It?' by Georgie Wood, and now we'd like to do 'Hark, the Angels Come'." The second sentence of that line is cut off in Let It Be's film recording of the jam session. ("Wee Georgie Wood" was a 4'9" music-hall performer and child star.)"
-snip-
The Beatles'Let It Be Album was released in May 1970.

****
Example #3: Isaac Hayes: Shaft (High Quality)


John Hernandez Uploaded on Aug 28, 2010

Soundtrack Of Shaft in high quality, my favorite song of all time.
-snip-
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaft_(1971_film)
"Shaft is a 1971 American blaxploitation film directed by Gordon Parks, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. An action film with elements of film noir, Shaft tells the story of a private detective, John Shaft, who travels through Harlem and to the Italian mob neighborhoods in order to find the missing daughter of a mobster."
-nip-

"Shaft" (also known as "The Theme From Shaft") is mostly an instrumental record. Here's an excerpt of the brief song that is sung by Issac Hayes with back-up singers:

“Who is the man
That would risk his neck for his brother man?
(Shaft!)
Can ya dig it?”...

They say this cat Shaft is a bad mother
(Shut your mouth)
But I'm talkin' 'bout Shaft
(Then we can dig it)

Source: click here
-snip-
In my opinion, the meaning "I understand" or "We understand" would be incorrect for the usages of "can you dig it" in the song "Shaft". I think that the line "Can you dig it" in the song "Shaft" means "Do you like it?" [the fact that there is a Black private detective who will "risk his neck for his brother man" ; i.e. "other Black people"]. And I think that the line "Then we can dig it" means "Then we like it; or "Then we approve of what you are aying."

****
Example #4: The Warriors - Can You Dig It



John Johnson Uploaded on Aug 4, 2010
'Can you dig it' from The Warriors.[1979]
-snip-
Here's my summary of the first part of this movie's Wikipedia page: The Warriors is a 1979 American cult action thriller drama film [about gangs fighting for their survival. The Warriors was adapted from a novel (itself adapted from the Ancient Greek text Anabasis by Xenophon), the film was adapted in 2005 as action figures and later in 2005 as a video game.
-snip-
Quoting from that page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Warriors_(film)
My summary of this page:
“Cyrus, leader of the Gramercy Riffs, the most powerful gang in New York City, calls a midnight summit of all New York area gangs, requesting them to send nine unarmed delegates to Pelham Bay Park. The Warriors, from Coney Island, attend the summit and become the focus of the drama that unfolds. Cyrus proposes to the assembled crowd a permanent citywide truce that would allow the gangs to control the city. In the resulting chaos, Luther frames the Warriors leader Cleon for the murder, and he is beaten down by the Riffs. The other Warriors escape, unaware that they've been implicated in Cyrus' murder. The Riffs put out a hit on the Warriors through a radio DJ. Swan, the Warriors' "war chief", takes charge of the group as they try to make it back home”...

****
Click http://www.cocojams.com/content/foot-stomping-cheers-0 for a footstomping cheer entitled "Can You Dig It" that my daughter collected from African American girls (ages 7-12 years old) at a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania summer camp in the mid 1980s.

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

Videos Of "Pepsi Cola Cheer" (Slide & Slide And Do The Butterfly)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a video clip from the Hannah Montana television show that features the children's cheer "Slide And Slide" (and do the Butterfly"). In addition, this post also includes 8 videos of girls performing a cheer that includes that same line or a very similar line. The text (words) to these featured videos are also included in this post. Note that this is only a small sample of the YouTube "Pepsi Cola Cheers" that include the words "slide and slide and do the Butterfly".

This is a companion post to http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-butterfly-cabbage-patch-dances-in.html. That post presents information and instructional videos of those two dances and examples of other children's cheers that refer to The Butterfly and/or the Cabbage Patch dances of the late 1980s /early 1990s.

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

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post, including the contributors of these cheer examples. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

****
EDITOR'S COMMENT
Overview
This sample of those cheers are referred to as the "Pepsi Cola Dance" or the "Pepsi Cola Cheer" because their beginning words repeat the brand name of that carbonated soft drink. However, examples of "Slide And Slide" (and do the Butterfly) may not include the beginning "Pepsi Cola Pepsi Cola" line or lines.

There are also other examples of children's cheers/rhymes that have "Pepsi Cola" in their titles or in their first lines, but don't contain the "slide and slide and do the Butterfly" verse.* There are also a number of children's rhymes and cheers that include the brand name "Coca Cola" in their title or in their words (for example "Coca Cola Came To Town" rhymes and versions of "The Boys Got The Muscles" rhymes)*. However, to date, I've not found any examples of "Slide And Slide" (and do the butterfly) which use the brand name "Coca Cola" (or any other soda brand name) instead of "Pepsi Cola". However, for what it's worth, it seems to me that the brand name "Pepsi Cola" is used more often in English language children's rhymes and cheers than the brand name "Coca Cola" or the brand name of any other carbonated soda.

Structure
Like other playground rhymes and cheers, "Pepsi Cola" (Slide And Slide) is mostly made up of two line rhyming verses. Also, like other playground rhymes and cheers, many versions of "Pepsi Cola" (Slide And Slide) are composed by combining two or more stand alone (independent) rhymes or cheers. The words "Pepsi Cola Pep Pepsi Cola" are introductory lines which are chanted for rhythmic effect and don't have any other connection with the rest of the cheer's words.

My comments after Example #2 provides an example of how introductory lines and two or more independent cheers/rhymes are used to create one cheer.

Why "Pepsi Cola" (Slide And Slide) Is Widely Known In The United States
It's my position that the "Slide And Slide" cheer is well known among children's cheerleading squads in the United States because of its inclusion on the Hannah Montana television show. That video clip & the words to that version of this cheer are given as Example #1 below. It should be noted that on that show the "slide and slide" cheer doesn't include the beginning "Pepsi Cola Pepsi Cola" or "Coca Cola Coca Cola" lines. It's also my position that the way that cheer was performed on the Hannah Montana show greatly influenced the way that girls have performed and continue to perform that cheer, particularly with regards to the wiggly hand movements that are done while saying "and do the Butterfly". In those cheers, "The Butterfly" refers to a Jamaican Dancehall Reggae dance that was adopted by United States Hip-Hop dancers. However, I doubt that girls performing that cheer know that.

More On Cultural Influences
The "Slide And Slide" (and do the Butterfly) cheer is important because it serves as an example of the increasing influence of African American culture on the cheer words and the performance of traditional (mainstream) children's cheerleading.

Traditional cheerleading cheers focus on the athletic team and on the game being played and not on the cheerleading squad as is the case with the "Slide And Slide" cheer. Furthermore, traditional cheerleaders didn't chant about shaking their "little hips" as the "Slide And Slide" cheerleaders do because traditional cheerleaders are prohibited from shaking anything but their pom poms. Yet, it seems to me that the proponents of "old school" traditional cheerleading are fighting a losing battle to retain the old ways of saying and doing cheers, particularly among the pre-high school and university age cheerleaders, in large part due to the influence of the Bring It On cheerleader movie series ** and the inclusion of cheers like "Slide And Slide on popular children's oriented shows such as Hannah Montana.

*Visit my cocojams.com website for examples of contemporary English language children's rhymes and cheers. Among the pages of that website which include examples of children's rhymes & cheers are http://www.cocojams.com/content/childrens-cheerleader-cheers,http://www.cocojams.com/content/handclap-jump-rope-and-elastics-rhymes, and http://www.themoviedb.org/collection/16698-bring-it-on-collection
"The "Bring It On" franchise is a collection of [five] films about two competing high school cheerleading squads.(2000-2009)"
-snip-
These cheerleading squads combine acrobatic moves with urban (African American) originated dance style movements.
-snip-
"Outside of the United States, American-style cheerleading is sometimes referred to as Bring It On-style cheerleading.[15] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bring_It_On_(film)

****
FEATURED VIDEOS
With the exception of the Hannah Montana video clip, these videos are presented in chronological order based on their YouTube posting date. The videos with the oldest dates are given first.

Example #1: Hannah Montana Lost Episode #5 - Cheerleaders



doublekproductions36 Uploaded on Dec 16, 2007
-snip-
The "Slide And Slide" cheerleader routine begins at 1:58 - 2:11 of this clip. The words chanted are:
"And slide and slide and do the Butterfly
And dip and dip and shake my little hips
I want you and you to cheer with me too"
-snip-
On the “do the butterfly” line, Miley wiggles her hands which are crossed slightly below her chin while she does the “Butterfly” dance movements.

By the way, judging from the number of examples found online, the "You Might Be Good At __" cheer which "Lily" performed in that clip (2:21 - 2:40) is also quite popular among children's cheerleaders in the United States.

-snip-
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_Montana for information about this American television show.

****
Example #2: The girls dancing pepsi cola!



ImBeyondBeautifull Uploaded on Jun 29, 2011

Awww so cute Dancing to beyonce having fun
-snip-
Here are the words to this example:

Pepsi-cola
Pep Pepsi cola
Pepsi-cola
Pep Pepsi cola
I can slide and slide
and do the Butterfly
I can dip and dip
and shake my little hips
I want you and you
To do it with me too
To the Front [clap clap clap clap)
To the Back (clap clap clap clap)
To the Side
Front
Back
Side side
Let me see you Butterfly
Five six seven eight
Let me see that booty shake
My mother's short and fine
She got a butt like mine
And when she cross the street
The cars go beep, beep, beep
The cars go beep, beep, beep
-snip-
This cheer is composed of five different sections, four of which have spoken words.
1. The words "Pepsi Cola" serve as the introduction to the cheer.
2. The words "I can slide and slide" start the beginning of the 2nd section of this cheer.
3. The words "To the front" start the 3rd section of this cheer.
4. The words "My mama's short and fine" start the 4th section of this cheer/
5. The 5th section of this cheer consists of the girls doing a foot stomping routine without words.

****
Example #3: Pepsi cola dance


msanagisele1, Uploaded on Jul 26, 2011

Stars are born
-snip-
Here are the words to this example:

Pepsi Cola pep Pepsi Cola.
Pepsi Cola pep Pepsi cola.
I can slide and slide and do the Butterfly.
I can dip and dip
And shake my little hips.
I want you and you
To cheer with me too.
Front (clap clap clap clap).
Back(clap clap clap clap).
Side side.
Front.
Back.
Side side.
Watch me do the Butterfly.
Up down, turn around.
Watch me score a touchdown.

****
Example #4: Pepsi Cola Cheer



MzMadame, Uploaded on Aug 21, 2011

Kennedi's School Cheer
-snip-
Here are the words to those cheers:

pep pepsi cola
I can slide and slide
And do the butterfly
I can dip and dip
and shake my little hips
I want you and you
To do what I do
I say Front [clap clap clap clap)
Back (clap clap clap clap)
Front
Back
Side side
Let me see you Butterfly
Five six seven eight
Let me see your booty shake

A bowl of cereal
A slice of banana
We are the girls from Louisiana
The coach got the brains
The boy got the muscle
The girls got the legs
So hustle hustle
My team got one
dynamite
My team got two
dynamite
My team got three
tick tick tick tick
BOOM dynamite
Psych!
-snip-
"Booty" = butt
"Hustle" means "get to work"
“Psych!” means “I’m just kidding
-snip-
The "A Bowl Of Cereal" cheer begins at .037 of this video.
The line "My team got one" actually begins a new cheer which might be performed independent of any other cheer.

"Dy- No-Mite" was the signature exclamation of the fictitious character "J.J." in the 1974-1979 American television series Good Times. I believe that this is the source of that word being used so often in children's rhymes and cheers. The word "dynamite" means that something or someone is very good. However, in children's rhymes and cheers that word is also equated with the actual dynamite explosives.

****
Example #5: Pepsi-Cola Cheer



chris kozlowski, Published on May 25, 2012
-snip-
Here are the words to this example:

Pepsi-cola
Pep pepsi cola
Pepsi-cola
Pep pepsi cola

We slide and slide
We do the butterfly
We dip and dip
And shake our little hips
We want you and you
To do it with us too
I saya to the Front
to the Back
to the Side to Side
Front
Back
Side to side
Criss cross applesauce
But that’s not all
That’s no all
We’re gonna break it down for you**
Go Team!
-snip-
**Break it down" means to do your best dance moves.

****
Example #6: us dancing pepsi cola



jose cali Published on Jul 25, 2012
-snip-
Here are the words to this example:

We stomp our feet
We boogie to the beat
We turn around
We touch the ground
We wiggle it
Just
a little bit
We slide and slide and do the butterfly
We dip and dip
and shake our little hips
I want you and you
to cheer with me too
Front (clap clap clap clap clap)
Back(clap clap clap clap clap)
Side to side
Front,
Back,
Side to side
Let me see you do the Butterfly.
5, 6, 7, 8
Let me see your booty shake.

****
Example #7: Cheer, Pepsi Cola



Carla Johnson, Published on Mar 26, 2013

4 out of 7 of my girls doing the pepsi cola cheer, they had an awesome coach for a 7 and under age range
-snip-
The words to this example are the same as the words in Example #3 except that the last line is "Let me see a touchdown". Yeah!"

****
Example #8: Pepsi-Cola Dance



Cailey19Cailey, Published on Aug 2, 2013

My little sister really likes to do cheers her favorite one is Pepsi-Cola! She 3 years old almost four!
-snip-
Here are the words to this example:

Pepsi-cola
pep pepsi cola
pep pepsi cola
pep pepsi cola
So I can slide and slide
And do the butterfly
So I can dip and dip
and shake my little hips
I want you and you
To do what I do
To the Front
To the Back
To the Side
To the Side
Front, Back, Side, Side
Let me see that Butterfly
Five six seven eight
Let me see that booty shake

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

#RacismEndedWhen Tweets That I Really Like

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post documents selected tweets for #RacismEndedWhen [the hashtag "Racism ended when"].

Background:
"On Sunday, the Republican National Committee tweeted out an ill-advised tribute to civil rights icon Rosa Parks, praising the late activist for "her role in ending racism."
@GOP
Today we remember Rosa Parks’ bold stand and her role in ending racism.
9:58 AM - 1 Dec 2013
-snip-
I learned about that GOP tweet and its resulting hashtag via a Huffington Post article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/01/gop-rosa-parks_n_4368211.html
-snip-
Although I don't tweet, I couldn't resist clicking that hashtag. I learned that @FeministaJones started #RacismEndedWhen in response to that Republican's tweet.
And I decided to archive some of the #RacismEndedWhen tweets that I like.

Tweets provide opportunities for insightful, witty humor and in-your-face truth talking. These tweets are compiled for folkloric, cultural, sociological, and, yes, for entertainment reasons.

I divided these selected tweets into two groups:
Group 1 are ironic, sarcastic tweets that hopefully convey the point that racism hasn’t ended because of ___________ or that _________ wasn’t proof that racism has ended. I call this group "Sarcastic/Ironic #RacismEndedWhen Tweets"

Group 2 tweets provides a serious example of something that would indicate that racism would have ended. I call this group "Serious #RacismEndedWhen Tweets".

These tweets aren't presented in any order of preference. However, I assigned each tweet a number for reference purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

WARNING: While all the tweets quoted on this blog are "clean", some #RacismEndedWhen tweets include profanity, the "n word" fully spelled out, and other content that may be considered problematic.

****
#RacismEndedWhen link https://twitter.com/search?q=%23RacismEndedWhen&src=hash&f=realtime December 1, 2013

Group 1: Sarcastic/Ironic #RacismEndedWhen Tweets
1. Attack Slug‏@BadassGuacamole56m
#RacismEndedWhen Steve Harvey started hosting Family Feud

**
2. Lizz Winstead
#RacismEndedWhen The Jeffersons "moved on up."

**
3. Ken Schultz‏@kenthinguy23s
#RacismEndedWhen Mitt Romney bridged the racial divide by demanding to know who let the dogs out.

**
4. Mistletoe Ethaniel‏@m_ethaniel30m
#RacismEndedWhen Disney released 13 movies starring black princesses and all-black casts.

**
5. Blu_wire@11‏@Blu_wire1132m
#RacismEndedWhen the lone black character stopped being the first to die in horror movies.. oh wait..

**
6. Corey Smith‏@corey_smith8033m
#RacismEndedWhen Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney made 'Ebony And Ivory'

**
7. Darth Shada ✨‏@DarthShada35m
#RacismEndedWhen Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin were inducted into Mensa.

**
8. Amy McCarthy‏@aemccarthy39m
#racismendedwhen Vanilla Ice dropped his first record.

**
9. ROY vs BEAU ®‏@TheKonfident11h
#RacismEndedWhen ....Mr. Drummond adopted Willis & Arnold.

**
10. Adwoa Asiedu‏@adjpants44m
iCannot RT @fuelbot: #RacismEndedWhen Justin Timberlake got cornrows.

**
11. Jane Doe, MD‏@DrJaneChi2h
#RacismEndedWhen Bill Clinton played the sax on Arsenio Hall.

**
12. Adwoa Asiedu‏@adjpants52m
BAHAHA!! My fave! RT @nationsfilm: #RacismEndedWhen Barbara Billingsley said, "Can I help? I speak jive." in Airplane!"

**
13. Haitian Shade Tree‏@UnaGotadeL1uvia2h
#RacismEndedWhen Elvis invented rock n roll

**
14. Comrade‏@Kyronne1h
#RacismEndedWhen Disney had a cartoon with a Black Princess

**
15. Malus Lupus‏@Cae_919m
Hold on a sec... I thought #RacismEndedWhen we all remembered the Titans? Can the #GOP confirm?

****
Group 2: "Serious #RacismEndedWhen Tweets".
1.HenryS‏@Surprise4231m
#RacismEndedWhen the GOP stopped trying to keep minorities from voting…oh, wait.

**
2. Sue‏@Stroppy_Girl40m
#RacismEndedWhen everyone who settled in North America made good on their broken treaties with indigenous peoples and...oh, wait. Nevermind.

**
3. Woochie‏@shimmygod1h
#RacismEndedWhen the police stopped following black & hispanic folks on the road

4. Tits N Giggles‏@Tits_NGigs55m
#RacismEndedWhen everyone unanimously wanted to put an end to "stop & frisk"
Oh, yeah....

**
5. LC‏@Retracasil16m
#RacismEndedWhen White Americans paid to watch majority black movies that did not star Denzel Washington or Will Smith.

**
6. Chris Bourg‏@mchris4duke48m
#racismendedwhen When professions that proclaim diversity as a core value actually became diverse #librarianship #88percentwhite

**
7. Ronin Mara‏@RoninMara42m
#RacismEndedWhen sit-com characters of different ethnicities started joking about things that had nothing to do with each other's ethnicity

**
8. J. Gladiator‏@_AdvntrsofJess_46m
"@CoquiNegra: #RacismEndedWhen I stopped being mistaken for The Help instead of the Professor...oh wait; that never happened"

**
9. daphne barconey‏@deebarc11m
#RacismEndedWhen people of color can purchased items with their debit cards at Barney's and not stopped or go to jail

**
10. Claire‏@Bishpleaz10m
#RacismEndedWhen People gave credit to funny hashtags to the black women who started them. Oh wait.

****
RELATED LINK
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/12/01/3007041/gop-credits-rosa-parks-ending-racism/ GOP Credits Rosa Parks For ‘Ending Racism’
"The Republican National Committee celebrated the 58th anniversary of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, by proclaiming in a tweet that racism has ended" [tweet given above]

****
ADDENDUM December 7, 2013
Here's an excerpt from a Salon article that relates to the topic of Black people using twitter:
"
..."As American pop culture lurches its way toward presenting a marginally more complete picture of the society that births it, the media are rushing to catch up. The fabled “national conversation on race” is happening. Equal parts hilarious, historical and painful, the complex clumsiness of its execution is matched by its necessity. We have to talk about it — we’re just not that good at it yet...

Black Twitter, as both a player and a phenomenon, has been front and center of most of these discussions. As a member of “Black Twitter,” I’m conflicted about the moniker. My participation in feminist, geek or New York Twitter have yet to receive the same level of scrutiny as my membership in Black Twitter. At the same time, there’s joy in the name. Black. Twitter. Using the same social media everyone else is, this cultural movement has been a repeated source of insightful analysis, hilarity and virtual support that affirms the shared and diverse experiences of being black both online and off. One in four black people who are online at all is tweeting, using the platform to offer instant feedback on the news of the moment."

Article title: "The American media has no idea how to talk about race on-screen

But they're (slowly) learning, thanks to social media campaigns that are forcing difficult conversations" by Sydette Harry
http://www.salon.com/2013/12/05/the_american_media_has_no_idea_how_to_talk_about_race_on_screen/
****
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Special thanks to @FeministaJones for starting this hashtag.

I cosign what this tweet says:

Beatrice E Peterson‏@MissBeaE32s
Hopefully #racismendedwhen will spark a larger dialog about racism and diversity in all aspects of life.
-snip-
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

The Chain Gang Cadence (The Soul Patrol Shuffle)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a video clip from the 1990 American movie "Cadence" [also known as "Stockade" in Europe.]

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: CADENCE


cadence 1990 chain gang march (soul patrol shuffle)

CJDone, Published on Jul 3, 2013

cadence 1990 chain gang march (soul patrol shuffle)
-snip-
Comment from this video's viewer comment thread:

Francesca Van der Geld via Google+
2013
"Cadence is a 1990 film directed by (and starring) Martin Sheen, in which Charlie Sheen plays an inmate in a United States Army military prison in West Germany during the 1960s. Sheen plays alongside his father Martin Sheen and brother Ramon Estevez. The film is based on a novel by Gordon Weaver.

PFC Franklin Bean (Charlie Sheen) gets drunk and goes AWOL upon the death of his father. As punishment, he is thrown into a stockade populated entirely by black inmates. But instead of giving into racism, Bean joins forces with his fellow inmates and rises up against the bigoted prison warden, MSgt. Otis McKinney (Martin Sheen).

This comes from a great but underrated movie called Cadence in the USA and Stockade in Europe."

****
RELATED LINKS
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/10/sam-cooke-otis-redding-chain-gang.html for videos of the song "Chain Gang" as well as the lyrics to that song.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/military-influences-on-fraternity.html for a pancocojams post on the influence of the United States military on fraternity & sorority steppin.

****
OTHER USES OF "SOUL PATROL"
"Soul Patrol" is also a referent for a military unit of African Americans in the American Vietnam War.
From http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Patrol-Riveting-African-American/dp/0891418172
Soul Patrol: The Riveting True Story of the First African American LRRP Team in Vietnam by Ed Emanuel(Author)
Publisher: Presidio Press (July 29, 2003)

Book Review by Kregg P Jorgenson on February 11, 2004
"Soul Patrol by Ed Emanuel is a fine tribute to the LRRP/Rangers he served with during the Vietnam War. More than that, it also offers an indepth look at the bravery and heroism of black American soldiers who not only served honorably but with proud distinction. The motto that 'Rangers Lead The Way' is clearly evident in Emanuel's book and one that speaks to the sacrifice and service of those who wore the patch."
-snip-
This review is not a recommendation of this book by this blog editor, but is given to point out that use of the phrase "Soul Patrol".

****
"Soul Patrol" is also the name of vocalist Taylor Hick's fans. Taylor Hicks is a White American soul singer who was the winner of the 2006 "American Idol" television show.
From http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1532468/taylor-wins-idol-shouts-out-soul-patrol.jhtml
“ 'Soul Patrol!' Hicks screamed upon learning he'd won the competition and a recording contract to boot.... Hicks' devotees have picked up his trademark chant — an homage to the music that the singer thrives on — as their nickname.”

****
Thanks to the composer of the "Chain Gang" song and the choreographer & performers of "The Soul Patrol Shuffle". Thanks also to all those who were quoted in this post & thanks to the publisher of this movie clip on YouTube.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

Non-Military Examples Of "Everywhere We Go"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases four non-military examples of "Everywhere We Go". These examples are from an American movie, an American commercial, an American camp, and an English soccer [football] game.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Editor's note:
Non-military versions of "Everywhere We Go" are adaptation of the United States military cadence with that name.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/everywhere-we-go-marine-corp-cadence.html for a pancocojams post that features examples of USMC versions of "Everywhere We Go".

WARNING: The examples of military cadences in that post are "clean" ("family friendly"). However, many other examples of military cadences & many comments about military cadences that are found in the website links given below (particularly in the Wikipedia page on cadences and in many YouTube viewer comment threads), as well as in many other websites/blogs about military cadences often contain profanity, explicit sexual references, excessive violence, and other content which isn't suitable for children.

****
FEATURED VIDEOS & TEXT EXAMPLES
(These examples are posted in chronological order based on their posting date with the oldest dated examples presented first.

WARNING: Although these are "clean" examples, viewer comment threads for these videos may contain profanity, sexually explicit references, racist comments, politically argumentative comments and other content that are inappropriate for people of any age.

Example #1: Remember The Titans - We are the Titans



rudyy16, Uploaded on Jun 21, 2007
we are the titans
-snip-
Military cadences used for most non-military purposes are called "chants". This chant begins at .059

This video included Portuguese subtitles on the screen. Here are those words:

Portuguese subtitles from that video:
cinco, seis,
cinco, seis, sete, oito!
Aonde quer que vamos
Sempre nos perguntam
Quem somos
Entao respondemos
Somos os Titas
Os poderosas Titas
-snip-
Here's the English language translation:
[One person counts down to the beginning of the chant]*
5,6,
5, 6, 7, 8
Everywhere we go
People wanna know
Who we are
So we tell them
We are the Titans

Mighty Mighty Titans
Ooh ah Oh yeah
Ooh ah oh yeah

[repeat the entire chant a number of times]

*These chants often begin with counting down numbers. This is one way of ensuring that everyone starts chanting & moving [if there is an accompanying routine] at the same time.
-snip-
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remember_the_Titans
"Remember the Titans is a 2000 American sports film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Boaz Yakin. The plot was conceived from a screenplay written by Gregory Allen Howard. The film is based on the true story of African American coach Herman Boone portrayed by Denzel Washington, as he tries to introduce a racially divided team at the T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia during the early 1970s."

****
Example #2: Frosted Flakes we are tigers commercial.mpg

.

Kevin Moriarty, Uploaded on Jan 8, 2010
-snip-
Here are the words to this chant, as posted by countryladyfromNC answered, 2006 on http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061114085652AAUXC6I

WE ARE THE TIGERS
we are the tigers

THE MIGHTY MIGHTY TIGERS
the mighty mighty tigers

EVERYWHERE WE GO
everywhere we go

PEOPLE WANNA KNOW
people wanna know

WHO WE ARE
who we are

SO WE TELL THEM
so we tell them

WE ARE THE TIGERS!!
we are the tigers!!

THE MIGHTY MIGHTY TIGERS!!
the mighy mighy tigers
-snip-
The caller's words are capitalized.

****
Example #3: Everywhere We Go

.

CampHerrlich, Uploaded on Jun 26, 2010
Fun Camp song complete with Kazoos!
-snip-
Transcription*
Everywhere we go
People always ask us
Who we are
Where do we come from
We always tell them
We come from Wilbur Herrlich**
And if they can’t hear us
We shout a little louder.

[continue from the beginning, each time getting louder]
-snip-
*Transcription by Azizi Powell

**Substitute the name of your city or camp, or school or other group
Some versions add the line “and we can’t be prouder” after this line

Note: Some versions of "Everywhere we go", after the line "We come from ___", this line is added "and we can’t be prouder”.
Also note that some versions of "Everywhere we go" end with the line “If they can’t hear us, they must be Deaf. However, I think that reference is insensitive. Instead of that line, my suggestion is that at the end of the last & loudest rendition, the group can yell “YEAH!

****
Example #4: Everywhere We Go', Barmy Army, 5th day/5th Ashes Test, SCG 2011, recorded in the crowd.

.

gogetyerselfalife, Uploaded on Jan 6, 2011

Play this very LOUD and scare the neighbours. My best recording of the Barmy Army singing 'Everywhere We Go', final day of 5th Test @ SCG, Sydney, Australia, Ashes tour 2010-2011. This was about an hour before England cleaned up the last 3 wkts to win the Test by an innings, and make the final score England 3, Australia 1. Also see my channel to watch the 'Moment of Victory' with the Last Post playing when the final wicket falls and the Barmy Army chants '3-0 to the Ingerland'.
-snip-
Here the words to that chant:
http://test.barmyarmy.com/barmysongs/

[caller]: Everywhere we go
Crowd: Everywhere we go
The people want to know
The people want to know
Who we are
Who we are
Where we come from
Where we come from
Shall we tell them
Shall we tell them
Who we are
Who we are
Where we come from
Where we come from
We are the England
We are the England
The Mighty Mighty England
The Mighty Mighty England
We are the Army
We are the Army
The Barmy Barmy Army
The Barmy Barmy Army
Andrew Strauss's Barmy Army
Etc Etc

****
Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube and those who I quoted in this post.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More