Today's Dancehall Comments

In Jamaica dances and accompanying songs spring up almost simultaneously. Often a dance will gain popularity before a song but just as often songs will promote a dance. A few popular dances of the past couple of years:

Tek Wey Yuh Self
Hot Fuk

and obviously,

Dutty Wine

Many artists will devote songs to a single dance but often one song will prevail over the others and become the "official" track. For example, Tony Matterhorn's "Dutty Wine."

The Dutty Wine was such a hit that it spawned urban legends; stories of women who died trying to perform the maneuvers. These urban legends even prompted an ad agency to develop a commercial which featured women in an emergency room suffering from neck injuries after attempting a strikingly similar move. (Sorry, I can't remember the ad I only saw it once but it was for a big company...maybe a soft drink?) You can also find 1000's of videos on youtube of amateurs practicing this move as well as a multitude of "Dutty Wine Gone Wrong" videos of young woman busting their asses.

For more information, get your ass down to Jamaica or into the club. Or for the time being check out "Dutty Fridaze" videos on Youtube.

Dutty Fridaze is a weekly party in Jamaica hosted by the prominent selector Tony Matterhorn... More about these parties in weeks to come...

also see Weddy Wednesdays
or
Passa Passa
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/html/20031120T210000-0500_51896_OBS_THE__PASSA_PASSA__PHENOMENON.asp