Forgotten Dance Style Was As Popular As 'The Twist' In The 60s

Aug 05, 2020

In 1962, a dance craze took place, and it was about as big as The Twist. While The Twist continues to play on radio stations, television programs, and online platforms, another "twist" captivated audiences back in the day — the Peppermint Twist.

Joey Dee & The Starliters released a song titled Peppermint Twist , and it was a phenomenon when released nearly 60 years ago. As the name indicates, the song rode the wave of success launched by Chubby Checker's original classic. Checker, himself, released a sequel song to The Twist .

Interestingly, other popular bands would cover Peppermint Twist. The legendary Bill Haley & His Comets of "Rock Around the Clock" fame produced their version, but it never saw a release until many decades later. The 1970s band The Sweet produced a surprising version as well.

For many, nothing can replace the original. Video of the band playing Peppermint Twist exists. Checking out those old black and white and color film images can be an eye-opening and entertaining experience. The video provides a glimpse when pop culture dance fads could sweep an entire nation.

The moving images may detract viewers from the song, but the material is worth hearing out. The lyrics make sure everyone listening knows the song is pushing a new dance craze.

The fast-paced beat leaves no confusion about the song's intention. It is right in line with typical tempos and rhythms for dance music during the era.

While a fun song, Peppermint Twist is a derivative of the original Chubby Checker classic. So, it did not endure among music fans like the original. "Oldies Stations" may rediscover it one day, as old, forgotten songs sometimes experience rediscoveries. Maybe a director will add it to the soundtrack of a movie.

Music lovers and fans of classic tunes might enjoy the video. Give people you know who like oldies a heads up about the fun video. It could bring back some memories or lead them to check out more old-time dance songs. And let us know: What's your favorite version of The Twist?