Complete lyrics are at the bottom of this post.
Immortalized by 'ol Frankie himself, I just wanted to share the lyrics to this song. It embodies for me what often times happen on the dance floor: a brief, but magical love affair to some sassy tune between a leading lady and her leading man.
I spent the weekend at the Emerald City Blues Festival and learned a lot about the lead-follow connection so perhaps that's why this song in spinning around in my head. Every instructor said the same thing about how to have the best dance (not specific to blues):
- Connect with the music (sing with it if you can)
- In the beginning, spend some time to get to know your partner 1st
- Lead's initiate
- Follow's execute and showcase with flourish
- Relax and slow down, don't rush the dance: leader's wait for your follow to respond, follows wait for the lead
- Leads, showcase your follow and if something isn't working, don't force the move, just try something else.
- Follows don't stay in the middle ground, be clear about your movement and finish your moves instead of 2nd guessing what the next one is going to be.
The framework of a dance is finite: its got a start and finish and if both parties wish it, they can meet up again to dance or thank each other and go their separate ways. This isn't always so clean cut where people and relationships are concerned but if you keep in mind how much fun it can be and how good it can feel - I think these basic rules of dance can be used as the same basic guidelines in life.
After all, we call could use a good dose of that old black magic.
Lyrics: THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC
-by Frank Sinatra
That old black magic has me in its spell, that old black magic that you weave so well.
Those icy fingers up and down my spine
That same old witchcraft when your eyes meet mine.
The same old tingle that I feel inside, and then that elevator starts its ride
And down and down I go, round and round I go, like a leaf that's caught in the tide.
I should stay away, but what can I do?
I hear your name and I'm aflame
Aflame with such a burning desire that only your kiss can put out the fire.
For you're the lover I have waited for, the mate that fate had me created for.
And every time your lips meet mine, darling, down and down I go, round and round I go
In a spin, loving the spin I'm in, under that old black magic called love
(covers eyes, afraid to read, lest this Blog post send me into ANOTHER week-long trip into an abyss...)
ReplyDeleteQuote: "Does this not also apply to that day-to-day dance in life when boy meets girl ... Outside the dance floor, not everyone's dancing to the same music ... if both parties wish it, they can meet up again to dance or thank each other and go their separate ways."
ReplyDeleteMade me think (and I propose for your next blog the topic): How many times have you or the person you were dancing with simply walked off the floor?
Frances, I'm guessing you are so sweet that neither have you ever walked off in the middle of a dance; nor has anyone ever walked on you.
Blog about it. Propose the question, offer your thoughts and see where it goes... I dare you ;)
THANKS for taking the time to read and comment and for your kind words Mark
ReplyDelete1st Question: I hope this entry did NOT send you into "another week long trip into the abyss"
2nd question: I have never simply walked off the floor. There is always at least a thank you for the dance before we walk our separate ways. More often there's a hug and every now and again, the old fashioned kiss on the hand :)
I have walked out in the middle of the dance only once in my life (http://tee4life.blogspot.com/2009/09/casualties-of-salsa.html) and in this case the lead came with me so I don't really consider it walking out.
I'm not quite sure about how to pose the question on a blog and offering my thoughts because its very simple really and I shared some of it in an older post (http://tee4life.blogspot.com/2009/10/simple-rules-for-social-dance-floor.html)
or did i miss the point of your blog post suggestion?