Waacking and Voguing (Street dances) Part II

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part series on the styles of street dancing known as "waaking" and "voguing". This post provides information & comments about voguing and showcases six videos of styles of vogue dancing.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/waacking-and-voguing-street-dances-part.html for Part I of this series.

Parr I provides information & comments about waacking and showcases two videos of that dance.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all the featured dancers. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of this video on YouTube.

WARNING: Music played for street dancing may contain mild profanity (such as the word that rhymes with "ditch") or more than mild profanity. Also, a number of YouTube street dancing comment threads contain profanity, homophobic content, and other content that may be considered objectionable.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT VOGUING
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vogue_(dance)
"Vogue, or voguing, is a highly stylized, modern house dance that evolved out of the Harlem ballroom scene in the 1980s.[1][2] It gained mainstream exposure when it was featured in Madonna's song and video "Vogue" (1990),[3] and when showcased in the 1990 documentary Paris is Burning (which went on to win the Grand Jury Prize at the 1991 Sundance Film Festival)...

Inspired by Vogue magazine, voguing is characterized by model-like poses integrated with angular, linear, and rigid arm, leg, and body movements. This style of dance arose from Harlem ballrooms by African Americans and Latino Americans in the early 1960s. It was originally called "presentation" and later "performance".[2] Over the years, the dance evolved into the more intricate and illusory form that is now called "vogue". Voguing is continually developed further as an established dance form that is practiced in the gay ballroom scene and clubs in major cities throughout the United States—mainly New York City.

Formal competitions occur in the form of balls held by "houses"—family-like collectives of LGBT dancers and performers.[2][5]... ("Legendary" in ballroom terms refers to a house that has been "serving", that is, walking or competing on the runway, for twenty years or more). The House of Ninja was founded by Willi Ninja, who is considered the godfather of voguing.[5][6] Members of a house are called "children". Sometimes children legally change their last name to show their affiliation with the house to which they belong.[2]...

Styles
There are currently three distinct styles of vogue: Old Way (pre-1990); New Way (post-1990);[7] and Vogue Fem (circa 1995).[2] Although Vogue Fem has been used in the ballroom scene as a catch-all phrase for overtly effeminate Voguing as far back as the 1960s, as a recognizable style of Voguing, it only came into its own around the mid-1990s.

Old way
Old way is characterized by the formation of lines, symmetry, and precision in the execution of formations with graceful, fluid-like action. Egyptian hieroglyphs and fashion poses serve as the original inspirations for old way voguing. In its purest, historical form, old way vogue is a duel between two rivals...

New way
New way is characterized by rigid movements coupled with "clicks" (limb contortions at the joints) and "arms control" (hand and wrist illusions, which sometimes includes tutting and locking)...

Vogue Fem
Vogue Fem (the spelling being an English appropriation to fr. femme, feminine) is fluidity at its most extreme with exaggerated feminine movements influenced by ballet and modern dance. …There are five elements of Vogue Fem: hand performance, catwalk, duckwalk, floor performance, and spins and dips. When competing in a Vogue Fem battle, contestants should showcase all five elements in an entertaining fashion.

Hand performance refers to the illusions and movements of the arms, wrists, hands, and fingers. The catwalk is the upright sashaying in a linear fashion. The duckwalk refers to the crouched, squatted, foot-kicking and scooting movements requiring balance on the balls of the feet. Floor performance refers to the movements done on the floor using primarily the legs, knees, and back. The dip is the fall, drop, or descent backward onto one's back with one's leg folded underneath. Mainstream dance forms popularized the dip, which is occasionally called the "death drop" when done in dramatics style. Due to popular media, the dip is sometimes incorrectly termed the "5000", "shablam", and "shabam"; such misnomers likely stem from older commentators chanting the word "shawam" when a voguer successfully completed a dip"...
-snip-
Additional information about voguing is also included in Part I of this series.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos are posted in chronological order with video with the oldest date posted first.

Example #1: Vogue Classique



trill, Uploaded on Jun 10, 2006

Energetically edited clips of all the legendary children (Willi Ninja, José and Luis Xtravaganza, et al) of the New York houses from the late 80's to early 90's. A handsome portion of New Way style thrown in with mostly Old Way (no Vogue Fem Queen this time; sorry Miss Dramatics) stylings. Features clips from the video for Malcolm McLaren's "Deep in Vogue," public access television demonstrations, and ball performances.

The soundtrack opens with the intro to "Happiness" by the Pointer Sisters and segues quickly into "Dub Break" by Ellis D, one of Junior Vasquez's monikers.

****
Example #2: Old School Vs. New School Vogue



chuckiechuckles2006, Uploaded on Jul 3, 2006
Vogueing ball footage from the guys at Sterile Cowboys & Co. Uploaded on Jul 3, 2006...

More info at www.sterilecowboys.org Video by Nicolas Jenkins
-snip-
Comment:
Franklin M. Lopez, 2012
"Those who comment negatively about "VOGUING" have no concept about the culture and its importance. VOGUING is about BELONGING, FAMILY, PRIDE, EXCELLENCE and is also a GATEWAY to MUCH greater things...Where "Kids" prove themselves by earning their "10's" and many get discovered by artists and accept CAREERS as professional dancers, models"

****
Example #3: Best VOGUE CLIPS you can't stop watching


PhillyProdigy09, Uploaded on Jun 27, 2010

some performance battles I just can't stop watching
-snip-
Comments:
Koleton Cox, 2012
"Can someone explain to me why is it this big deal when someone falls down to the beat? like i have seen this in every video i have seen on youtube and i never really got the history behind it? where does it come from and why is it used so much when dancing to this beat?"

**
LadyOrnitia, 2012
in reply to Koleton Cox
"It's called a dip, one of the elements of Vogue Fem."...

****
Example #4: Battle the Kings -vogue myzak-neu & beck be fab vs Honeysha Khan & amber lee revlon(2)*



Bruno Marignan, Published on Jan 4, 2013

Battle the Kings 2vs2 hiphop, house dance, popping, break et waacking-voguing.
-snip-
Comments:
itzpokey891, 2013
"yall betta work honey...a lil to wild but it was awsome where yall frm?"

**
*Corrected video title as per the dancer's comment:
Roseau Sabin Kevy, 2013
"from paris !! n thx u but my name is honeysha khan , from house of khan n not honey shak lmao !! but thx :) i appreciate that"

**
swaid wise, 2013
"How the hell you expect to win a vogue battle with no dips, no dives, or deathdrops?"

**
FERN IGU7, 2013
"two different era of vogin"

**
cojack424, 2013
"WHy am i just seeing this.......Work out.......I love a good old fashion vogue battle.....Although this is vogue fem vs new way vogue, but it's cute.......I'm sorry but the guy in all black is serving......He has all the elements of vogue,,,,arms, hands,.....He gets 10's across the board....... plus he's a cutie"

****
Example #5: STREETSTAR 2013 - Vogue Femme Final Battle Lasseindra (FRA) vs Ida"Inxi" Holmlund (FIN)



Published on Aug 22, 2013

Streetstar Vogue Femme Final Battle: WONDER WOMAN Lasseindra (FRA) WINNER against SAILOR MOON Ida "Inxi" Holmlund (FIN) at the Streetstar festival february 2013 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Judges: Archie Burnett (US), Javier Ninja(US) and Leiomy(US).

Dj: Vjuan Allure.

Comentator: Dashaun Wesley (US).
-snip-
Comments:
Naiilah Raks, 2014
"Actually Inxi (Sailor Moon) is a woman and Lasseindra (Wonder Woman) is a drag queen from the famous House of Ninja. Both are feeeeeeerce though!

**
Helen Preis, 2014
"...Women dance differently. Which is why ideally there should be separate categories for femme queen performance and women's performance. Girls are a bit more cautious if they do dramatic dips. But Streetstar did a great job doing old way, new way, femme and runway that year. "

****
Example #6: JAVIER NINJA - Vogue Demo at STREETSTAR 2013



streetstar, Published on Aug 22, 2013

Fantastic dancer Javier Ninja presents a New Way Solo at Streetstar.
-snip-
Note that the commenters on this video's viewer comment thread loved the dance but had less praise for the announcer as demonstrated by this comment:
Down Clown, 2014
"...the commentor was attempting to chant which is distracting to the dancer if not done right. Chanting is just as much part of vogue as are the angles of the dance, so you can't say that it isn't a big deal. Again, you don't know what your talking about homie.”

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

Waacking and Voguing (Street dances) Part I

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part series on the styles of street dancing known as "waaking" and "voguing". This post provides information & comments about waacking and showcases two videos of that dance.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/waacking-and-voguing-street-dances-part_5.html for Part II of this series. That post provides information & comments about voguing and showcases six videos of that dance's styles.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all the featured dancers. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of this video on YouTube.

WARNING: A number of YouTube street dancing comment threads contain profanity and homophobic content.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT WAACKING
From http://dancepundit.wordpress.com/2012/11/14/strike-a-pose/
"Waacking and voguing both fall under the “urban” or “street” dance genres. Waacking began in the 1970s on the West Coast, more specifically in Los Angeles. It can be recognized by it’s wild yet controled arm movements and posing. Waacking incorporates arm movements, footwork, and elements of drama as well as the dancer’s personal and unique style. There is also a wonderful aspect of musicality because the dancers are specifically tailoring their movements to the beats and the rhythm of the song.

Voguing, while very similar to waacking, began on the East Coast and became popular in the 80s. This dance emerged from the Harlem ballroom scene (and I am not talking about the waltz). Voguing is characterized by model-like poses integrated with angular, linear, and rigid arm, leg, and body movements. In its original form, it served as a non-aggressive battle between two feuding individuals. Just in case you were wondering, the term voguing was influenced by the poses models often take when gracing the pages of fashions magazines, like Vogue"...

****
From http://danceparade.org/wp/dp2012/genre-buzz-celebrating-the-waacking-style-of-street-dance/
"The dance style called Waacking involves fast and dynamic movements of the arms, which resemble the wrist roll in locking but more exaggerated and extended. This style of dance also incorporates sharp angular poses, which is called Voguing, a style commonly done together with Waacking. Essentially, I like to think of waacking as elements of jazz dance combined with locking because of the distinct arm actions and styling involved...

Disco Music was the perfect vehicle for Waacking, with its driving rhythms and hard beats. In the early 1970s in Los Angeles, dancer Lamont Peterson was one of the first to start using his arms and body to the music...
-
At the time Waacking was primarily a gay Black and Latino dance. Many people mistakenly believe that “Waacking” came from “Locking” because some of the movements are very similar. The Gay community is solely responsible for the creation of Waacking style of dance. Waacking and Locking do have some similarities but they are different dances. Waacking is the original name of the dance...

The name “Waacking" originated from The Soul Train Dancer Tyrone Proctor and Jeffrey Daniel’s of the Outrageous Waack Dancer’s in 1972 themselves (Because of the thrusting of the arms). “Garbo” is another name given to the dance by Andrew because of the posing he did (like the pictures of the glamour women of the 40’s) ...

The difference between “Waacking” and “Voguing” is “Waacking” became popular in the early 70’s on the West Coast. “Waacking” is mostly done to Disco Music. “Voguing” became popular in the late 70’s on the East Coast.”Voguing” is done to mostly House music.”…
Over 35 years “Waacking” is still going strong..."

****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos are posted in chronological order with video with the oldest date posted first.

Example #1: WAACKING DANCE: Step Ya Game Up (NYC 2009)



TheRussianTiger, Uploaded on Jul 30, 2009

Waacking preliminary at a hip hop jam called Step Ya Game Up. Battles in wacking (whacking), popping, locking, hip hop and house all took place directly after this. This jam happened in New York City on July 25th from 2:00pm to 4:00am. Very cool and rare dance style to see in battle. Battles judged by Tyrone Proctor! Enjoy the footage :)...
-snip-
Here are three comments from this video's viewer comment thread:
tenchichrono, 2010
"This dance started out in the gay dance clubs in LA/Hollywood. It's really similar to locking in a way."

**
baeksoltang, 2011
"I have first watched this vid in 2009 at the time when it was posted. I don't know what is going on in US, but waacking scene in East Asia (including Korea, Japan, China) has grown so big that it is almost as big as that of popping and locking now. It is getting recognized as a disdinct style under the umbrella of funk styles, as popping and locking do. You can see Pop&Lock events are transitioning to Pop&Lock&Waack events nowadays. As a locker my self, it's nice that Funk Style is flourishing"

**
Laggin6, 2013
"I love watching this very dramatic style of dance, but can't help thinking about people dancing like this in clubs and getting WAACKED in the head by those flying arm movements. I'm guessing that's where it gets that name? LOL!"
-snip-
“whack” = slang word for forcefully hitting (striking) someone or something
Note that "wack" also is a slang word that means "foolish" and "uncool" but that definition doesn't apply to this dance form.

****
Example #2: WAACKEISHA (CAN) vs PRINCESS MADOKI (FRA) Whacking Finals I STREETSTAR 2013


Published on Mar 22, 2013

Dazzeling Final Whacking Battle at Streetstar festival 2013. Winner is Waackeisha from Canada. www.streetstar.se
-snip-
Here are four comments from this video's viewer comment thread:
exit planet dust, 2013
"It's not "Whacking". It's Waacking."

**
Luiss Mota, 2013
"YASS Ms. Princess Madoki was giving me life honey she was serving WAACKeisha"

**
MrDambiSchool, 2014
"I have to strongly disagree with that. Madoki was a crowd pleaser, she gave face and attitude and sexiness and she grooved a lot, which was nice, but at the end of the day it's a waacking battle and girl you need to waack at some point. From 1:10 to 2:00, which is almost her entire round. She did 6 waacks... 6 And they were sloppy. Shes great at doing lines and feeling the music but like I said It's waacking and Waackeisha will give face while still showing that her technique is amazing and her waacks are just powerful and clean. It was a pretty obvious choice. "

**
Geoff Simmons, 2014
"waackeisha was hellllla clean though - they are both amazing and their styles are off the charts, but waackeisha was more on-point"

****
RELATED LINK
Here's a link to a Soul Train video that I believe showcases some of the dancers waacking:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P-TXxoWTSE
"Soul Train Line Don't Stop Til You Get Enough Michael Jackson"

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

Blaze featuring Palmer Brown - "My Beat" (Can You Dance To My Beat) video and lyrics

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a video of the 1998 song "My Beat" (also known as "Can You Dance To My Beat") by Blaze, featuring Palmer Brown. The song lyrics to this House music beat are given as part of the summary statement for this video. Information about House music and information about Blaze are also presented in this post.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Blaze featuring Palmer Brown for this recording. Thanks also to all featured musicians & dancers, and thanks to the publishers of this video on YouTube.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT HOUSE MUSIC
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_music
"House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the American city of Chicago in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized circa 1984 in Chicago, but beginning in 1985, it fanned out to other major cities across North and South America, as well as Europe and later Australia.[1] Early house music commercial success in Europe saw songs such as "House Nation" by House Master Boyz and the Rude Boy of House (1987) and "Doctorin' the House" by Coldcut (1988) in the pop charts. Since the early to mid-1990s, house music has been infused in mainstream pop and dance music worldwide.

Early house music was generally dance-based music characterized by repetitive 4/4 beats, rhythms mainly provided by drum machines,[2] off-beat hi-hat cymbals, and synthesized basslines. While house displayed several characteristics similar to disco music, it was more electronic and minimalistic,[2] and the repetitive rhythm of house was more important than the song itself. House music today, while keeping several of these core elements, notably the prominent kick drum on every beat, varies a lot in style and influence, ranging from the soulful and atmospheric deep house to the more minimalistic microhouse. House music has also fused with several other genres creating fusion subgenres,[2] such as euro house, tech house, electro house and jump house."...

****
INFORMATION ABOUT BLAZE
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaze_(band)
"Blaze is a house-music group formed in 1984 in New Jersey, USA...It was formed by Josh Milan, Kevin Hedge, and Chris Herbert, when Herbert introduced Milan, a member of his church choir, to Hedge, his childhood friend. Ironically, Herbert was the one who left the group in 1991, leaving Milan and Hedge to keep working together.[1]

The group's output consists mainly of house-music tracks with heavy gospel, soul and afrobeat influences (sometimes referred to as gospel house). When the group started, Herbert was the singer, with Milan playing the piano, and Hedge on production. After Herbert left, both Hedge and Milan started to share production duties, vocals, and playing most of the instruments of the group's tracks and albums. The group achieved notoriety with its remix of Lisa Stansfield's "People Hold On" in 1989, after signing with Motown/MCA Records.

... It is best known to modern audiences by its singles featuring Palmer Brown on vocals, the oft-remixed "My Beat," and the tribute anthem "I Remember House." Blaze's most recent album, released in 2005, is a mix compilation title called Found Love.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Blaze ‎- My Beat (1998)



DaGhostChild Published on Jun 7, 2012

http://www.discogs.com/Blaze-Feat-Pal...

As we dance to beat that seems out of time...
...To the one you feel in the metronome of your mind
Does it offend you that our rhythm looks strange
Or causes your thinking to be re-arranged
Could it be that you would understand those beat to which we dance
More clearly had you been given the chance
So as you struggle to find the feel with your feet

Ask yourself... can you dance to my beat

Watch us get down to this groove with a afro-funk feel
While we get hiiiiigh to a rhythm with spiritual appeal
Expressions of freedom from the descendants of slaves
God gives us the strength for new horizons we must breathe
First bondage than mental now financially oppressed
With this beat we dance we know we've passed the test
So as you struggle to catch the rhythm with your feet

Ask yourself... can you dance to my beat
(to my beat)

The rhythm... rhythm... rhythm... is our power section.

The freedom we feel in our soul
We dance to learn those lessons,
As our story continues to unfold
Our beats, our words our melodies, our gifts
From the givers of those gifts,
We're merely the terminals through which they have passed
So as you struggle to catch the rhythm with your feet,

Ask yourself, can you really dance to my beat
(to my beat)
(the rhythm)
(to my beat, the rhythm, to my beat)
(to my beat)

-snip-
The video shows people doing breakdancing (b-boying).
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-boying for information about breakdancing.

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

The REAL Sources & Meanings of The Saying "Hold My Mule"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post provides definitions of the vernacular saying "Hold my mule" and also includes early examples of that saying in secular and religious contexts.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks to the Rev. Shirley Caesar, the vocalist who is featured in this post for her musical legacy. Thanks also to the publisher of the video that is featured in this post.

****
WHAT "HOLD MY MULE MEANS"
In its literal sense, the person saying "hold my mule" asks someone to hold on to his or her belonging/s (such as his or her mule, shoes, purse, or hat) so that he or she is able to or better able to perform a particular activity. However, for the most part, "hold my mule" is a figurative expression that signals that something out of the ordinary is about to happen or that onlookers want something out of the ordinary (like a fight) to go down (to occur).

In a church context, a person who says "Hold my mule" is signaling that he or she or someone else is about to do a Holy dance (i.e. "get his or her shout on", "get happy"; "cut a step", "go in").

In a street context, "Hold my mule" is an announcement that the person saying this expression or someone else is about to escalate a verbal confrontation or is about to get into a physical confrontation - or that people are looking forward to an increase in confrontation as a result of verbal exchanges such as "throwing shade" (insulting, dissin someone etc.)

The definition for "hold my mule" that is found in urban dictionary.com differs from the one that I've indicated. The definition of that saying in that website (which I've read on at least one other website) is that "hold my mule" means "to refrain from a particular action (such as fighting)". I think that definition is either in error or it is a change from the old meaning of "hold my mule", perhaps because of that saying's similarity to the infinitive "to hold someone back" (from doing something).

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hold+my+mule
hold my mule
Southern expression: To refrain from beating some one's ass.
Origin: Has something to do with Jesus and his mule.

Son: Mommy, my teacher called me a dummy.
Mom: Lawd! Somebody hold my mule!

Tom: I heard that you got fired.
Dan: Yeah, I had to hold my mule on them beeotches!

Trina: Girl! They repossessed my car!
Keshia: Hold my mule!!!
by CatSuga October 10, 2006
-snip-

I (also) think that contributor's statement that the Biblical origin of "hold my mule" is wrong.

****
NON-RELIGIOUS USES OF THE SAYING "HOLD MY MULE"
1. Old Time Dance Song "Hold My Mule"
The earliest use of this phrase that I've found is the African American old time music song "Hold My Mule". "Hold My Mule" is a variant form of the African American old time [19th century] dance tune "Jim Along Josie". The song "Hold My Mule" is included in Dorothy Scarborough's 1925 book On The Trail Of Negro Folk Songs (pps 105-106)

Hold my mule while I dance Josey, [3x]
Oh, Miss Susan Brown.

Wouldn't give a nickel if I couldn't dance Josey [3x]
Oh, Miss Susan Brown.

Had a glass of buttermilk and I danced Josey [3x]
Oh, Miss Susan Brown.
-snip-
Anglo-American collector Dorothy Scarborough wrote "We find reference to this old song and dance* in a dance-song given me by Mr. E, R, Boyd, Jr. This is danced like a Virginia reel.

*Previously Scarborough wrote that "this old song" was "Josey" also known as "Jim Along, Josey". To clarify, Dorothy Scarborough's informants were White, but the song examples that they shared with her were from African Americans. Also, as clarification, the children's form of "Jim Along Josey" that is most familiar today in the United States (whose verses replace one verb after another, such as "jump" in "Jump Jim Along Jim Along Josie, jump Jim Along, Jim along Jo" with "run" etc) is just one form of the "Josie"/"Josey song. Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2Pq1qm_b4E for an example of the most widely known form of "Jim Along Josie" today. Note: "jim along" probably means the same thing as the movement phrase "get along".

In the context of the "Hold My Mule" (and other "Josie"/"Josey" songs), "Josey" is the name of a dance or the name of a dance step. But in other "Josey" songs, the word "josie", "josey" is a female's or male's name/nickname, and also the name of a particular type of woman's coat that was once quite fashionable (a "joseph").

Click http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=52464#1233225 for a comment that I wrote in 2004 on the Mudcat folk music forum about the various meanings of the word "Josie" (josey)

**
2. "Hold my mule" = an exclamation used to indicate that some confrontation is "fixin' (getting ready) to occur
For instance, in some online videos of "throwing shade" that I've watched, it appears to me that the saying "hold my mule" is spoken mirthfully by an onlooker as an indication that the shade (insults) being thrown (exchanged) are getting good (or "bad" depending on your point of view), and as a result, someone may get so angry that a real confrontation may occur.

(I'm not going to link to any video of throwing shade besides "Welcome To Reading and Shade 101"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZvTX4o3LAI.
However, "the legends' panel" was one of the recommendations of other videos about "reading and throwing shade" that was given in that video's summary. It seemed to me that in a couple of the legends panel's parody videos the saying "hold my mule" was "spoken" by Whitney Houston with the same intent that I indicated above (in point #2)

****
RELIGIOUS USE OF THE SAYING "HOLD MY MULE"
1950s Gospel Song "Shouting John" (also known as "Hold My Mule")
"Shouting John" (also known as "Hold My Mule") is a Gospel song that was popularized by Shirley Caesar.

Here are quotes from http://www.learngospelmusic.com/forums/index.php?topic=36922.0 about the phrase "Hold my mule":

BigFoot_BigThumb December 06, 2006,
"Isn't this based upon the Shirley Caeser song "Holkd My Mule" where the old man tells the church folks to literally "hold his mule" while he gives praise out in the middle of his field while he's plowing? I take it that you haven't heard this song. If not, the song is about an old man who goes to this saddidy church where he likes to shout, and they come to his house to tell him that they don;t carry on like that in this church. Well, this man has a testimony and he tells them since I can't shout in your church, "hold my mule" cuz I'm gonna praise him right here. So I guess that person is just using a saying to indicate that they're about to give God some praise. It's a country thang."
-snip-
"saddity" = African American Vernacular English word meaning "high society" (snobbisn).

Click http://www.gospelweb.net/ChurchHumor6/HoldMyMule.htm for a version of this fictional story.

Here's a video of Shirley Caesar singing this song:
Shirley Caesar "Shouting John Hold My Mule"



chj333, Uploaded on Feb 15, 2010

Shirley Caesar "Shouting John pt1"
-snip-
Here are three other comments about the saying "Hold my mule" from http://www.learngospelmusic.com/forums/index.php?topic=36922.0

vtguy84, December 06, 2006
"It's a simple Southern expression that just means "Pardon me." You usually hear it in the church before someone gets their praise on. I have also heard it outside of the church where if someone is ready to go off on another person, they will be like "Hold my mule while I go handle this issue."

To my knowledge, it has no Biblical symbolism."

****
SisterT on December 06, 2006

It means hold my shoes while I get my praise on!

****
uniquepraise on December 06, 2006

Quote from: SisterT on December 06, 2006, 11:10:24 AM
"It means hold my shoes while I get my praise on! LOL! :D

"And my hat! ;D"

****
RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-reading-someone-throwing-shade-no.html
What "Reading Someone", "Throwing Shade", & "No Tea No Shade" Mean

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

"Hold 'em Joe" (examples & lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases four sound files of the Caribbean song "Hold' em Joe" ("My Donkey Wants Water"). As a bonus, a sound file of a Jazz rendition of this song by Sonny Rollins is 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 the composer of this song, and thanks to all the featured artists for their musical legacies. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos, and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
LYRICS: HOLE'EM JOE (MY DONKEY WANTS WATER)
(composer: Sam Manning)

Hold 'em Joe, hold'em Joe, hold'em Joe
But don't let him go
Hold 'em Joe, hold'em Joe, hold'em Joe
But don't let him go

Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe,
Spring 'round the corner, hold'em Joe
Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe
Everybody want water, hold'em Joe
Fuma la catchimba, hold'em Joe

We on a journey he don't walk straight
And that is because he's so underweight
Donkey of mine he don't like weight
Put him on a cart he never walk straight

Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe,
Spring 'round the corner, hold'em Joe
Me donkey want water, hold'em Joe
Everybody want water, hold'em Joe
Fuma la catchimba, hold'em Joe

My ole donkey went courtin' one day
With a donkey named Melda across the way
She was twice his age, he put up a fight
Now he's cryin' every night
Oh lemme go, darling Melda,
You breaking my back bone
Lemme go, darling Melda,
You breaking my back

Some people say that my donkey is bad
an' that is because he's from Trinidad
Donkey of mine he won't work at all
All he want to do is break out him stall

Source: http://www.akh.se/lyrics/hold_em_joe.htm

****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
These videos are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates with the oldest videos given first.

Multiple versions of a song are presented not to rank which one is best, but to showcase some of the different interpretations artists have given of this song.

Example #1: My Donkey Want Water (Hold 'Em Joe) [10 inch] - Mac Beth, the Great


TheRealDJGIBS•, Uploaded on Jun 29, 2011

Digital archive of Musicraft 78RPM single 434;
My Donkey Want Water (Hold 'Em Joe) by Mac Beth, the Great with Gerald Clark and his Original Calypsos
℗1945 Guild/Musicraft Records
-snip-
-snip-
Here are two comments from this sound file's comment thread: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSOkTAK2HEI

TheRealDJGIBS, 2013
For those who think Belafonte wrote this song... haha. It was first recorded in 1925 by Sam Manning (Columbia 2409-X) and while the original Columbia 78 credits Manning as the composer, it was a well known "Jamaican Digging Song".

****
Glenroy Joseph, 2013
in reply to TheRealDJGIBS
"Sam Manning was one of the earliest of the Trinidad calypsonians to gain international recognition in the early 20th century. The song may have been derived from a Jamaican digging song, but it is clearly period calypso, although there is a similarity to a Jamaican folk music called mento"
-snip-
Here's a comment that provides information about Macbeth The Great from the discussion thread of another sound file of this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYXjvC-lO4A

branMar2002, 2013
"Macbeth The Great is Patrick MacDonald, a calypsonian from Trinidad who became an important part of Harlem's important west indian community. Patrick's son was Ralph MacDonald, who became one of the most in-demand studio percussionists of all time. Ralph was also an important composer and producer with hits such as "Feel like Making Love" (Roberta Flack), "Mr. Magic" and "Just The Two Of Us" (Grover Washington Jr.). May they all rest in peace."

****
Example #2: Hold em Joe



FredCDobbs00, Uploaded on May 21, 2011

This is from The Brute Force Steel Band of Antigua B.W.I. album. This album came out in 1953 as far as I know. I recently learned the identity of the lead singer from his son. His name is Anthony Herbert Hobbs.

****
Example #3: Harry Belafonte - Hold 'Em Joe (1954 AND 1957)



PilotOfTheAirwaves1, Published on Mar 5, 2013

This recording charted TWICE. First a #30 Pop hit in 1954, then a #84 Pop chart entry in 1957. By the SAME guy who recorded "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" in 1956 (that was later featured in the movie "Beetlejuice").

****
Example #4: Ziggy Marley - "Hold Em Joe" | Family Time



Ziggy Marley, Published on May 7, 2013

Hold 'Em Joe", a track off the Ziggy Marley album, FAMILY TIME.

****
BONUS EXAMPLE
Sonny Rollins - Hold 'Em Joe



khimerak, Uploaded on Jan 26, 2011

****
RELATED LINK
Visit this page of my cultural website for more Caribbean "folk"* songs:

http://www.cocojams.com/content/caribbean-folk-songs

*Technically, "Hold 'em Joe" isn't a folk song as the composer of this song is known.

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

African Proverbs (information, text examples, and music example)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post presents an excerpt about proverbs from of Ruth Finnegan's 2012 book Oral Literature in Africa. This post also provides a small sample of African proverbs and a video collage of a Fela Kuti song based on a Nigerian proverb, "Water no get enemy".

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

All copyrights rights remain with their owners.

My thanks to Ruth Finnegan, Open Book Publishers, Fela Kuti & his band, and all others who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of this video on YouTube.

****
EXCERPT FROM ORAL LITERATURE IN AFRICA BY RUTH FINNEGAN
"14. Proverbs 391
...Bantu proverbs, then, are noted for special patterns which in many cases give a poetic flavour to the saying. They use various devices to express the thought succinctly and sometimes rhythmically, or even in what Chatelain calls 'blank versification' (1894: 22). The effectiveness is heightened by the fact that often, though not always, there are archaic or unusual words and
picturesque phrasing.

Similar tendencies probably also occur in many non-Bantu proverbs, although no such detailed synthesis as Doke's has been published for any other language group. There is widespread evidence of balanced propositions. Yoruba proverbs, for instance, are said often to come in couplets with antithesis between the two lines, noun answering to noun and verb to verb: 'Ordinary people are as common as grass, / But good people are dearer than the eye', or 'Today is the elder brother of tomorrow, / And a heavy dew is the elder brother of rain', while repetition also occurs
effectively in the form 'Quick loving a woman means quick not loving a woman'. 1 Parallelism and chiasmus also occur as in the Baule praise of mutual help, 'Gauche lave droite, droite lave gauche' (Effimbra 1952: 289) and rhythm may also be evident. Fulani proverbs use assonance, special grammatical forms such as subjectless verbs or the subjunctive without specific time reference, and parallel phrasing as in 'An old man does what men don't like, but he does not do what men don't know' (i.e. his actions may be unpopular, but they cannot be unnoticed) (Arnott 1957: 389). Related forms sometimes employ elaborate and studied expression; particularly good examples of these are the neat Fulani epigrams cited by Arnott or the long and complex Akan 'drum proverbs' (Nketia 1958c; see also Ch. 17, pp. 488ff.).

In proverbs the actual performance as distinct from apt citation and picturesque form is not usually significant. Nevertheless, it is sometimes of interest, perhaps particularly where the words themselves are not so elaborately stylized as in Bantu proverbs. Thus in Limba, where proverbs are not highly developed in any fixed form and there is little stress on rhythm or balance, I was told that in the saying mocking unjustified self-importance ('Do not walk like a European while wearing a loin-cloth' ), part of its attractiveness lay in the way it was said, with a pause before the last word and the emphasizing of the idea of the loin-cloth by
the long-drawn-out way in which it was pronounced. Herzog says of the Jabo that proverbs are uttered in a much more rhythmic way than would be the case with the corresponding words in ordinary speech (Herzog 1936: 8).

Also a more studied and rhetorical utterance is likely when, as so often in West African societies, proverbs are used in formal speeches before law courts. It is possible then that where the poetic quality of a proverb is not so evident in its verbal content, this is sometimes compensated for by the manner or the context in which it is said.

The question, therefore, of the actual style of proverbs appears to demand further research. Whatever the details, however, it is clear that some sort of heightened speech, in one form or another, is commonly used in proverbs: and that this serves to set them apart from ordinary speech.

Since proverbs can refer to practically any situation, it would be impossible to give any comprehensive account of the content of African proverbs. Something of their variety can be gathered from the headings under which they are classed in many collections (in terms either of explicit content or implied allusion), for these headings include every aspect of human affairs.
Categories of the manifest content include such headings as Animals' (subdivided into, for instance, 'dangerous', 'game', and 'domestic'), 'Birds', 'Insects', 'Mice, rats, and others', 'Strangers, Europeans, and Europe', 'War, fighting, guns, and weapons', and innumerable others; while classifications in terms of the latent reference range from 'Man and woman', 'Efficiency and its conditions', 'Home life', 'Life and death', and 'Passage of time' to
'Conceit', 'Power', 'Cunning', and, of course, 'Miscellaneous'."...

****
EXAMPLES OF AFRICAN PROVERBS
From http://afritorial.com/the-best-72-african-wise-proverbs/
"Wisdom is wealth! One thing I respect deeply about Africa is the treasure of wisdom our ancestors have handed down to us. While some of our leaders may have forgotten them, the rest of us don’t need to. From prudent sayings on wisdom itself, to judicious encouragements, warnings and even quirky advice on learning, patience, unity, wealth, poverty, community, family, love and marriage, these quotes will inspire you to be the best you can possibly be.

African Quotes on Wisdom
◦ The fool speaks, the wise man listens. ~ Ethiopian proverb
◦Knowledge without wisdom is like water in the sand. ~ Guinean proverb
◦In the moment of crisis, the wise build bridges and the foolish build dams. ~ Nigerian proverb

African Quotes on Learning
◦He who learns, teaches. ~ Ethiopian proverb
◦Wealth, if you use it, comes to an end; learning, if you use it, increases. ~ Swahili proverb
◦Advice is a stranger; if he’s welcome he stays for the night; if not, he leaves the same day. ~Malagasy Proverb

African proverbs on Peace and Leadership
◦A fight between grasshoppers is a joy to the crow. ~ Lesotho proverb
◦There can be no peace without understanding. ~Senegalese proverb
◦A large chair does not make a king. ~ Sudanese proverb

African Quotes on Unity and Community
◦Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable. ~ Bondei proverb
◦A single bracelet does not jingle. ~ Congolese proverb
◦Many hands make light work. ~ Haya (Tanzania) proverb

African Proverbs on Money, Wealth, Riches and Poverty
◦ Make some money but don’t let money make you. ~ Tanzania
◦Lack of money is lack of friends; if you have money at your disposal, every dog and goat will claim to be related to you. ~ Yoruba
◦Do not let what you cannot do tear from your hands what you can. ~ Ashanti"

****
FEATURED VIDEO: Fela Kuti-Water no get enemy (H2O Africa official video)



NoBorders Campos, Uploaded on Feb 1, 2011

Collected pictures from all around to make this video for one of my all time favorite singers."Fela Anikulapo Kuti" may his legacy inspire a positive change in africa.
-snip-
Here's a comment from this video's viewer comment thread:
GoddessofLight12, 2011
"Ifa was cast for Water when She was coming from Heaven to Earth. She was told to sacrifice to make her way open and clear. She heard and performed the sacrifice. Now, whereever Water goes, She makes a way for herself and She has no enemies. Anyone who makes an enemy of Water will not last long. There is no Life without Water." Odu Ifa
-snip-
Note: Fela Kuti was a Yoruba (Nigerian ethnic group). His song "Water No Get Enemiy" was likely based on this religious story.
-snip-
Click http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107858713048/ for the lyrics to this song. Also, click http://www.wrasserecords.com/Fela_Anikulapo_Kuti_9/biography.html

****
Thanks visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

"Didn't It Rain" (Gospel song lyrics & examples)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post presents lyrics and four YouTube examples of the African American Gospel song "Didn't It Rain". Information about Roberta Martin, the composer of this song, is also included in this post.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Roberta Martin, the composer of this song. Thanks also to the featured artists and the publishers of the videos that are featured in this post. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT ROBERTA MARTIN
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberta_Martin
"Roberta Evelyn Martin (February 12, 1907 – January 18, 1969) was an American gospel composer, singer, pianist, arranger and choral organizer, helped launch the careers of many other gospel artists through her group, The Roberta Martin Singers.[1]

Born in Helena, Arkansas on February 12, 1907, Martin moved to Chicago with her family in 1917, where she studied piano. Although a high school teacher inspired her to dream of becoming a concert pianist, her future course was changed after accompanying the Young People's Choir at Ebenezer Baptist Church. She came into contact with Thomas A. Dorsey, known as the Father of Gospel Music, through her work as the pianist for the youth choir. With Dorsey's help, she and Theodore Frye organized the Martin-Frye Quartet...in 1933. Martin renamed the group the Roberta Martin Singers in 1936 and added Bessie Folk, Myrtle Scott and Delois Barrett Campbell to the group in the 1940s. The group set the standard for the gospel choir and mixed group, and had an extremely successful recording career, featuring such hits as "Only A Look," and "Grace."[2

She composed about seventy songs, arranged and published 280 gospel songs, and reached and inspired thousands of listeners selling sheet music. Her compositions include "He Knows Just How Much We Can Bear," and "God Is Still on the Throne" (1959), "Let It Be" (1950), and "Just Jesus and Me" (1966). Martin earned six Gold records[4] and the Roberta Martin Singers sang at Gian-Carlo Menotti's Spoleto Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy, in 1963. Her great contribution to the history of gospel music was her development of a distinctive gospel-piano style and the special sound of her group, which integrated for the first time men and women into the gospel chorus during the mid-40s when she brought female voices into her all-male group, which she accompanied on piano.[5]"...

****
LYRICS
(composed by Roberta Martin)

Didn't it rain, children
Talk 'bout rain, oh, my Lord
Didn't it, didn't it, didn't it oh my Lord
Didn't it rain?

Didn't it rain, children
Talk 'bout rain, oh, my Lord
Didn't it, didn't it, didn't it, oh my Lord
Didn't it rain?

It rained 40 days, 40 nights without stopping
Noah was glad when the rain stopped dropping
Knock at the window, a knock at the door
Crying brother Noah can't you take on more
Noah cried no, you're full of sin
God got the key and you can't get in

Just listen how it's rainin'
Will you listen how it's rainin'
Just listen, how it's rainin'
All day, all night
All night, all day

Just listen how it's rainin'
Just listen how it's rainin'
Just listen how it's rainin'

Some moaning, some groaning
Some groaning, some praying
Well, a oh
Didn't it rain till dawn
Rain, oh my Lord

Didn't it, didn't it
Didn't it, oh
Oh, my Lord
Didn't it rain

Ooh, God sent a raven to spread the news
To hoist his wings and away he flew
And to the north, and to the south
And to the east, and to the west
All day, all night, all night, all day

Well just listen how it's rainin'
Well just listen how it's rainin'
Oh, listen how it's rainin'

Some prayin', some cryin'
Some runnin', some moanin'
Will you listen how it's rainin'
Just listen how it's rainin'
Just listen how it's rainin'

Didn't it rain, children
Rain oh my Lord
Didn't it, didn't it, didn't it, oh
Oh, my Lord, didn't it rain
Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain

Source: http://www.metrolyrics.com/didnt-it-rain-lyrics-mahalia-jackson.html *

*I made minor changes to that transcription]

****
FEATURED VIDEOS
These videos are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates with the oldest videos given first.

Example #1: Didn't It Rain - James Cleveland & Chicago Metro GMWA Mass Choir (Sallie Martin)



matthew5and9 Uploaded on Dec 20, 2008

James Cleveland ministers in Chicago with Metro GMWA Mass Choir and a cast of all time greats

****
Example #2: Mahalia Jackson - Didn't It Rain



iamlikeasea, Uploaded on Oct 22, 2010

****
Example #3: Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Didn't It Rain



180boring Uploaded on Jul 15, 2011

Rosetta Tharpe plays 'Didn't It Rain'. Recorded in Manchester, England in 1964.

Taken from the DVD 'The American Folk Blues Festival: The British Tours'

****
Example #4: LRBC 21 - Ruthie Foster Gospel Jam - Didn't it Rain Children!



rd350c, Published on Oct 30, 2013

The Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise #21 - 10/18 - 10/25 2013.

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome

Read More