Reputations are created when one does something very well. When I was younger, reputations were derived from various arenas like sports and scholarship. Other "reps" were created from venues although not mainstream that carried significant "hood" points. Those were built on your ability to be a fighter in the streets, or by the way you were with the ladies. Either way, your reputation was who you were, and you did everything possible to keep it in regard. However, there was one reputation that everyone wanted to claim, and that was to be the dancer.
When ever there was a party, and if the DJ was any good, they would play the hottest dance song that rocked the house. For me that song would always be the latest James Brown hit.
The "Godfather of Soul" had a reputation also, his was
2 comments:
sorry, dude, wrong genre for me. I can admire people who do that "Yankee ting" of course - after all skill translates from any musical language, but it takes some caiso/soca/calypso to get me to REALLY do my groove thang! The mixture of rythms- that spanishy, africany,r&b flavor hits all the high points. Go to a West Indian party and watch the floor when "Pick it up and turn it around" starts to play - the people are almost jumping out of their skin! Yup- a good dancer rep is a good thing!
Chris, Big Ups to all my Caribbean steppers, as you say, certain songs generate a vibe that gets everyone to the dance floor. What you said in your comment is true, that " skill translates from any musical language" so one can appreciate these skills no matter what the DJ is playing. For you "Pick it up and turn it around" is your clap your hand and stomp your feet song, different name same effect, it's the music that makes you move. I know you feel me on that.
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