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A few days ago, my colleague Andy Kellman directed me to a handful of YouTube clips from The Scene, Detroit’s answer to Soul Train. The above video features the Funkateers, a pop-locking troupe from the show, choreographed to Tom Tom Club’s “Wordy Rappinghood.” It’s pretty great stuff, not least because the faded video making everything green, blue, and orange actually enhances the experience by situating it as otherworldly, from another time. Below the cut, a few other gems from this after-school series.
Teenagers dancing to A Number of Names’ “Sharevari,” one of the heavy influences on the early techno scene and a huge record in Detroit.
Kano’s “I’m Ready.”
Captain Rapp’s “Bad Times (I Can’t Stand It).”
And finally, this wondrous thing, from the mid-’90s, from The New Dance Show, The Scene’s successor. Please keep in mind that this footage contains music from German techno artists Jammin’ Unit as well as Chicago house legends Armando and Adonis, all mixed up with Duice’s “Dazzey Dukes”–a combination that seems strange to many for reasons far more social than musical, but which the energetic young dancers take in absolute stride:
Bread, cheese, fine white wine … what else do you need?
Awesome stuff, Michaelangelo.
That ‘Sharevari’ track is pretty rad, especially when that dude with the guitar is dancing to it.
these are the kind of entries that make me check idolator everyday. thank you. genius.
OMG, it’s taking everything in me not to simply write a friggin’ book about this show. For a REAL taste of “The Scene,” you’ll need to look up some of the absolutely amazing commercials that used to run during station breaks.
The one for male strip joint “Club Mozambique” was priceless (it’s possibly the origin of the name ‘Sexual Chocolate’), and the spot for Singleton Cleaners is even better–holla if you hear me, Detroit!
Nat Morris forever y’all!
And don’t forget “Blacula”
RESPECT!!!!