Double Dutch Funk
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Artist:
Hell yes, it's Friday! And I needed a boost as I make my way to a night of live music and weekend hi-jinks. So I thought I'd catch a ride on that funkiest of vehicles, Frankie Smith's "Double Dutch Bus."
Not only was this percolating electro-styled dance track the coolest summer crossover hit of 1981, it captured the D.I.Y. fun of inner-city kids romping on the playground, jumping rope, shooting hoops, and inventing their own language and steps. If the slang used by producer/musician Frankie (my fellow Philadelphian) and his back-up singers helped sometimes-playful gangsta rapper Snoop Dogg get in touch with his inner "izzle" years later and inspired British cultural imperialist and musical pirate Malcolm McLaren's buoyant hit "Double Dutch," all the better. And Smith's signature tune has been sampled all over the place, most notably by Timbaland on his productions of Snoop's "Snoop Dogg (What's My Name, Pt. 2)" and Missy Elliott's "Gossip Folks," and on Aussie pop princess Kylie Minogue's "Cowboy Style."
This number still makes me feel good every time I hear it. And it never fails to carry me along on its funky journey. Wanna smile? Pay your fare - or just press the red button above - and climb on board!
And right below, you'll find the original "Double Dutch Bus" promo video with Mr. Smith doin' his thang on the Philly streets, hangin' with the neighborhood regulars, and makin' merry.
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Comments (26)
oh, those darn kids!!
damn, if I was not so beat from teaching I would be shaking what the good lord gave me!
I won't touch that :-)
not many people would!
M.C. Hammer can't touch that - or can he?
Well, word on the street is...
Aieee! Confronted with the possibility, the image is too frightening to contemplate.
I've heard Hammer is on the downlow. . . . hehe. Classic song! But wtf are they saying? First time I heard the song was on a Missy Elliott remake of it.
Augizzle: You done mizzled the rap on the orizzle? Fo' shizzle? I'm shocked!
No doubtizzle!
Wow, what memories this brings to me from enjoying myself when I viseted some friends at the end of the day. I remember a lot of good older men would start dancing on sidwalk , it did not take very long before real little one's surrounded him , soon all age's really got down when the big boom box showed up.
I remember these times as being simple and how much fun and joy we all had as I was treated like everyone else and then I thought how wonderful it would be if all of our group there are not treated like everyone else? It is getting much better but has away to go!
Augizzle: Thass the bizzle!
elmanolete: Nice recall. And you are quite correct. Peace!
Really enjoyed the video. By the way, I was looking to see some actual double Dutch. That stuff is doppel schoen.
Spike 1: There is definitely some rope being jumped, double-Dutch-style, early in the clip. Not an instructional video, but fun!
You're right. I never saw anyone this good personally. But I was awed by a championship competition I saw on TV once.
Yeah, Spike! Love Double Duchess! Caught 'em at an outdoor event a while back. My San Fran homegirls do it properly.
These are ral pro's, thank you for sharing this, Hey Spike I didn't see you dancing with them!
Well, this is the first time I'm hearing this...
I have to say it's awesome. Should be able to tear a day's boredom into a million pieces.
Amazing how fresh it sounds after all these years. Dare I say funky fresh? Yes, I dare!
They sure do, Mike! But, sorry, elm, I'd hurt myself big time. It does make me wish I could do it, though.
Thanx, Spike you sure got ahold of that fast. tell me what bridge and shore walkway is that,
As I implied earlier in the thread, elmanolete, Double Dutchess is doing it in San Francisco - the Embarcadero and the Bay Bridge are depicted in the clip. Very scenic.
I thought it was I passed over that bridge a few thousand times, when I gladley found a may to get out of my Gov. job I started a trucking./whse company and went all over the place and woked my .....off but was so much happier. I was in a very rough crowd including I only hired excon's since they paid for what they did.
It took me along time when I sold out to get cleaned up,alcoholism, violent, gambling and steppin out, I t is all gone & now I am a peace maker, but still living around a lot of Marine's, it is hard they way thing's are for them and their family's, I was a1st Class Corpsman.
All props, man. Keep on the good foot!
This brings back the memories of Manhattan during a steamy summer and this coming from a million radios and boomboxes. Bliss! A tip o' the hat to you, just the tune to get me out onto my funky sidewalk.
Bip-bop-bam and alakazam!