What music for "Hand Jive"?

I have a teen dance coming up and I'm going to show the audience how to do the "Hand Jive" dance from the 50's.

Any suggestions on what new/current music I can play for the dance?

Born To Hand Jive from the Grease Soundtrack

You could always go with the original "Willie and the Hand Jive" by the Johnny Otis Show just to show them what the hand moves are.

Eric Clapton also covered the tune.

"Faith" by George Michael has the boogie shuffle beat you're looking for.

You could go with any current song that has that rhythm.

Adam Weitz had a good routine to Hand Jive at the 2000 DJ Times expo (I think it was 2000) with some nice steps to put inbetween doing the actual hand moves. Interestingly enough, the next time I made it to AC in 2003, he was showing the exact same dance.

When I performed it at shows I had memorized the bit the MC does to intro the contest in the movie.

You could always go with the original "Willie and the Hand Jive" by the Johnny Otis Show just to show them what the hand moves are.

Eric Clapton also covered the tune.

"Faith" by George Michael has the boogie shuffle beat you're looking for.

You could go with any current song that has that rhythm.

The best cover thus far imho is George Thorogood's version

Wow--I never knew GT did a cover of the Hand Jive! Cool. I'll have to look for it!

Yeah the GT tune is "Willie and The Hand Jive" and I'm listening to it now.... it's on the 30th Anniversary compulation cd

1. Raye, Collin - Hurricane Jane (3:05)
2. Rascal Flatts - Everyday Love (3:02)
3. Travolta, John - Shanana - Born To Hand Jive (4:36)>
4. Thorogood, George - Willie And The Hand Jive (4:01)
5. Sedaka, Neil - Bad Blood (3:05)
6. Rolling Stones - Not Fade Away (1:46)
7. Raitt, Bonnie - Time Of Our Lives (3:54)
8. Otis, Johnny - Willie And The Hand Jive (2:32)
9. Nelson, Willie - Whiskey River [live] (3:30)
10. Frostbit Blue - Child Of December (4:27)
11. Clapton, Eric - Willie And The Hand Jive (3:24)
12. Cannon, Freddy - Abigail Beecher (2:21)
13. Buffett, Jimmy - Keith, Toby - Piece Of Work (3:14)
14. Bon Jovi - Keep The Faith (5:13)

Wow--I never knew GT did a cover of the Hand Jive! Cool. I'll have to look for it!


It rocks.....seriously as only George can do it......

Thanks guys, but I was hoping for something that the "kids" knew. Maybe some "Urban" or "Dance" songs. Something put out after 2006.

I don't really know what "Hand Jive" is, but, since you want cooler/hipper/newer stuff, what about that stupid song by Christina Aguilera? Or even that stupider song by Fergie? Maybe those will work.

I don't really know what "Hand Jive" is, but, since you want cooler/hipper/newer stuff, what about that stupid song by Christina Aguilera? Or even that stupider song by Fergie? Maybe those will work.

Go rent the movie Greese.... then you'll know what Hand Jive is.... it's in the school dance scenes

Go rent the movie Greese....

Hey, buddy, what did I ever do to you?

:sqerr:

Hey, buddy, what did I ever do to you?

:sqerr:

Nothin.... why? :sqbiggrin: Figured I'd edjamkatecha on the finer movie/musicals :sqwink:

Abbey : It's one of those unfortunate things that if you don't know the move/dance you couldn't possibly know what song to use. If you didn't know the twist, you'd be hosed. If you din't know the mash, you'd be hosed. If you didn't know how to stroll, you'd be hosed. Don't worry about it. Just tell them you don't know.

Hand jive:

slap front thighs twice,
clap twice,
right flat hand under left flat hand twice
left flat hand under right flat hand twice,
right balled fist on top of left balled fist twice,
left balled fist on top of right balled fist twice,
hitchhike right twice,
hitchhike left twice

repeat until song ends or limbs fall off. Easy if you have any rhythm.

Cap: the rhythm part is the hardest... :sqerr::sqeek:

Caucasians have the most problems unless they have much repetition. I mean, watch them do the Electric Slide. What, 20 years now and it's still a rhythmical calamity in action!! Either that or they all called in sick for Wedding Reception 101.

Thanks guys, but I was hoping for something that the "kids" knew. Maybe some "Urban" or "Dance" songs. Something put out after 2006.

Sorry for the following rant, but I must vent.....

The "kids" can't "know it" unless they hear it.

Most kids know Grease. If they don't, or have never heard of the Hand Jive, then they won't miss it. Frankly, I grow weary of all the great pop culture getting left behind or "urba-fied" these days. We don't get to choose when we're born. You can't put something away just because it's older.

Thank goodness that I have exposed my 10 year old to all types of genres. She can go from "Step It Up" to "High School Musical" to "Grease" or even "Beach Blanket Bingo" and enjoy them all.

If you only sell one flavor, then variety will die.

Thanks guys, but I was hoping for something that the "kids" knew. Maybe some "Urban" or "Dance" songs. Something put out after 2006.
Abbey, did you miss my post above?

You could always go with the original "Willie and the Hand Jive" by the Johnny Otis Show just to show them what the hand moves are.

Eric Clapton also covered the tune.

"Faith" by George Michael has the boogie shuffle beat you're looking for.

You could go with any current song that has that rhythm.
If you do not know the "boogie shuffle beat" for the Hand Jive, I would suggest listening to any of the above songs to become familiar with it.

Then simply use your familiarity of new/current songs to come up with one with a similar rhythm. Job done! :thumbsup:

Didn't Pee Wee Herman go to jail for doing the "hand jive"?:sqerr:

Chuck Berry wrote a song about it.

No Jon, that was about his Ding a ling a ling!:sqeek:

come on Ron they go hand in hand.

Oh, why don't you Billy Squire me!:sqembarrassed:

................. Go Back JACK do it again..

Name that tune!!!

Steely Dan my Man, Do It Again!

With a Gun, Kid Charlemagne!

How about I Want Candy by the Go-Go's? It has a very 'hand jive' beat to it

How about I Want Candy by the Go-Go's? It has a very 'hand jive' beat to it

uh, did you mean "Bow Wow Wow"?:sqconfused:

Or ya meant Nicks little brother.

uh, did you mean "Bow Wow Wow"?:sqconfused:

Ya! That rapper kid also had the hit, TAKE YA HOME!!

Awraaiiight!!!! :thumbsup: