Like they do it in Harlem, baby.

[jacktellslies]

Forgive me if it seems out of character, but I happen to be quite fond of the high-five. My favourite variety shall always be the awkward miss, as when two nerds at the end of an eighties film swing wide and then laugh jovially while the film slows and an enthusiastic pop song starts to play. I'm also fond of the shockingly strong ones that demonstrate that one's partner in the high-five has researched the physics involved. A truly masterful high-five, by the by, can be achieved by aiming for the other person's elbow. Try it. The results are magnificent. You're guaranteed at least one exclamation of, "Damn, girl!" out of every five.

My pretty paramour, when presented with my enthusiasm in this matter, is kind and wise enough to do me the service of reminding me that the high-five is distressingly American. And in an attempt to educate me, he demonstrates the correct response to such things: properly terrifying British disdain.

Unfortunately, there are (and I really am sorry to say it) so few things that I love about American culture that when I find one I cling to it. Peanut butter, for example, can send me into ecstasies.

And so, in celebration of this venerable American institution, may I present the Andrews Sisters, who have been teaching us the etiquette of shaking hands like black people for decades:

On the Andrews Sisters themselves: simultaneously gawky and sassy is not a combination one tends to see in modern popular music. It's our loss. And of course, bonus points will always be awarded for tap dancing with sailors.

Comments

[jezebellydancer.livejournal.com]

Thanks. That just joltd me out of my antihistamine haze. I'm doing time steps in my office now.

You know what they say about all the buttons on a sailor's pants?

Thirteen reasons to say 'no.' A pity of the current uniform just has a mundane fly. I always found the buttons a challenge.

[earlofgrey.livejournal.com]

Ha! There are a good many naval men in my family, and I like to think that I inherited some of that spirit. To adventure! Travel! Pretty girls in foreign ports! And homosexuality!

Can You Name One?

[popejeremy.livejournal.com]

I think American pop culture is rife with examples such as this one, where white people imitate how charming black people can be. Can you think of a single one where black people imitate how charming white people are? I can't.

I think it potentially means two things

1. This is only something that the oppressor class does.


2. White culture isn't that charming!

I think it's probably a little bit of both.

Re: Can You Name One?

[earlofgrey.livejournal.com]

True on both counts. Although the trend of black urban teens dressing like nerdy suburban white kids and riding skateboards delights me. I interpret it is a direct response to cultural appropriation, although I could be wrong. White kids can't steal it back without simply looking like the original, and the new twist is so clearly technically better, and more self aware.

Re: Can You Name One?

[popejeremy.livejournal.com]

Personally, I don't like to guess as to the social meaning behind fashion trends. It's like a riddle to which all the answers are wrong.

[http://users.livejournal.com/__uptight/]

aside from my unadulterated love of high-fives (really, it's all i do, and the elbow thing really does work) my love of the andrews sisters knows NO BOUNDS. they are so incredible and every time i listen to them i have to make the obligitory "wow the andrews sisters are really, really fantastic" speech. their harmonies are so perfect! they're kind of racist but i'm okay with it! they make it sound like going to war would be pretty fun! their harmonies are SO PERFECT.

gah, i love them. and that video? the most beautifully american thing i have seen in a while.

[earlofgrey.livejournal.com]

I doubt that this is the best response, but the overwhelming racism of the Andrews Sisters' songs feels to me like cultural archaeology. "In the past, people were crazy racist all of the time, and they thought that was ok. Fascinating!"

[http://users.livejournal.com/__uptight/]

no! that's actually exactly why i love it! have you heard "rum and coca-cola?" if you join the army, hot bitches in trinidad will serve you alcohol because they LOVE americans there!

[randiriel.livejournal.com]

It is one of the great tragedies of my life that I wasn't born an Andrews Sister.

[earlofgrey.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure that you weren't.

[chronographia.livejournal.com]

Now if those white folks could only manage a high five with the appropriate amount of PANACHE, so as to keep it from looking like an over-dressed game of pattycake.

OH, WHITE FOLKS. I shake my head at us.

[earlofgrey.livejournal.com]

I was rather impressed with the demonstratory self-inflicted high-five, too.

Alas! I fear that no amount of caps locks or shame would be sufficient to cure us.

[doktorvox.livejournal.com]

Cher Monsieur:

Mon acconte du Twitte existes au http://twitter.com/Mr_Camembert , en je voudrais peut-etre ecriver pour la blog du sex avec une machine du temps. Quand tu dormis, je touche tes bas.

Danke shoen.