In The Fifties, Everyone Was Dancing To Hit By Billy Haley & His Comets

Jun 03, 2020 by apost team

Rock and roll band Bill Haley & His Comets' Rip It Up from Don't Knock the Rock became a highly successful dance hit in the 50s.

Early rock and roll music became a phenomenon because it was so energetic and optimistic, something that was much needed after two decades of Depression and war. People finally had some spare time and spare money. They were more than ready to buy a new record album and dance to it. Bands like Bill Haley & His Comets became hugely popular because of that. With hits like Rock Around the Clock, and See You Later, Alligator, they captured the imagination of a whole generation.

Bill Haley & The Comets became so popular that they were invited onto television programs and even cast in major motion pictures. A great example of this can be seen in the film Don't Knock the Rock. They perform a cover version of the Little Richard song, Rip It Up.

The lyrics testify to everything a young person wants from the weekend. They've just been paid, and now they want to take their money, get out of the house, and have lots of fun. It's a song that really resonated with teens. The song made it to No. 30 on the US charts and No. 4 in the UK. However, that wasn't the only notable thing about the number in the film.

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Though the song is great, the most notable thing about Bill Haley & The Comets' scene is the dancing. Early rock and roll still had plenty of swing elements in the composition. Early rock shows were held in gyms or small clubs, not arenas.

This was music to move to. And boy, how those dancers moved! There were plenty of lifts, spin-outs, and other athletic bits on display. Women lift their male partners. Boys flip girls high into the air, well over their heads.

Early rock was one of the last eras of popular partner dances. In the future, things would become much more individualized. These old rock dance routines provide a great look at a moment in time when youth culture was starting to change in big ways.

What are some of your favorite vintage movie moments? Let's talk about it in the comments!