STORY INSPIRED BY A MOMENT AT KEEP IT SIMPLE WEEKEND 2022 HOSTED BY CUSTOM STEPPERS IN BIRMINGHAM, AL
The joy in music for steppers is that there is so much to listen to. A big part of learning Chicago Stepping is listening to and knowing music. It’s a well-broadcasted secret that stepping is a pantomime. Steppers not only listen for everything that composes the song’s musicality – the beat, the snare, and other instruments and sounds that bring the song to life, but they also listen to the words to know the story. When an instructor told me, “You definitely need to get your music game up. You ain’t heard nothing,” I had to understand what that advice meant for my dance.
On the stepper set, you will hear many songs that are not on typical mainstream radio or TV. I remember when DJ Art of Noyze (R.I.P.) played at sets in Virginia and reminded me of songs I either forgot or never heard before. DJs at the stepper sets dig in the crates all the time. I hear songs that my father sang or that I watched my parents dance to when I was a child. Learning to step also means knowing your music and being aware of the best parts and/or the surprises in the songs.
A Musical Mishap Moment
At the “Keep It Simple” weekend with Pony Mack and Lenora in Birmingham, Alabama, one of my friends ended the dance in the middle of the song because he thought it was over. He said, “The song stopped, so I ended the dance. I walked away and started dancing with someone else. The music started up again. Then I realized it was the same song. It was not over.” It was a break in the song, and he had unintentionally walked off on his dance partner before the song was finished.
Walking off in the middle of a song is a big NO-NO for any lady or gentleman on any dance floor. He was embarrassed and apologetic and returned to the woman and promised her another dance. “Luckily she was understanding. She told me, I thought I had messed up and you didn’t want to dance with me anymore.” After a good laugh about this experience with him, I told my friend, “Know your music!”
Our conversation inspired this article. Much love and thanks to DJ Myron “the R,” DJ Cross, and LC Henderson for your knowledge of music for steppers. They helped me identify these songs and fill in the gaps. Today’s post is a short music lesson. It’s a moment to share and highlight some unique or special songs we step to – songs that change the beat, songs with breaks, and some long songs.
Stay on Beat Even When The Beat or Melody Changes
The Isley Brothers released Key to My Heart, and You’re Beside Me as a medley combining two songs. It is played as one song. As steppers finding the beat matters in the dance. When you encounter songs where the beat or melody changes, be ready for it. The skill here for a stepper is to stay on beat. Here are a few of those songs.
The Stylistics
The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers
The Dramatics
Barbara Streisand + Barry Gibb
Know the Long Songs for Twice the Dance
An average song on the steppers set is 3-4 minutes long. This list is a sample of songs you can step to that are at least six minutes long. You may hear them regularly on the set, especially in Chicago. There are many songs I could list here, but these are a select few. One DJ mentioned playing these songs when he needs restroom breaks. Some steppers are selective about who they dance with on long songs. That’s why knowing this matters.
The Whispers
More of the Night 6:02
Minnie Riperton
Here We Go 7:01
The Ebonys
Life in the Country 6:15
Angela Winbush
Keep Turning Me On 6:30
The Isley Brothers
Here We Go Again 7:37
Alicia Meyers
On a Break, the Song is Not Over
A break in a song is a section consisting of just instruments or percussion, usually allowing a solo instrument or the voice to take the spotlight. In some songs, the break can be mistaken as the outro of the song, which indicates that the song is about to end. Don’t be fooled by the moment of silence or break in songs. The song ain’t over until it’s over. On this list, “To the End of the World” seems to be the longest song too, and has a break at the 9:05 mark. Don’t have the musical mishap that my friend did. Wait for the rest of the song and keep on stepping!
Metheny
Dramatics
Loggins + Messina
Michael Jackson
Curtis Mayfield
I hope this music lesson was good for you. It was good for me to dig deeper into music for steppers. Are there songs that you believe should be on this list? Please share in the comments. Stay tuned in with our livingthe8count Facebook group as we continue to learn about the music we step to and the people behind the music. That conversation has already started and shall continue.
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Welcome! I am the writer Sonji Stewart. These are my travel stories about my Chicago Stepping experiences, traveling from city to city to dance. I hope my stories encourage you to join me in the adventure.
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