Edited by Azizi Powell
This post presents a definition of & theories about the sources of the African American colloquial expression "Ah sookie sookie now".
This post also showcases selected sound files or videos that include that expression or the phrase "suca suca". An addedum to this post also includes information about and links to the "sucu sucu" musical genre.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/what-sukey-jumps-means-information-song.html for a related post on the meanings of the word "sukey jumps" and three "Sukey Jump" music examples.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
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DEFINITION FOR THE EXPRESSION "AH SOOKIE SOOKIE NOW"
"Ah sookie sookie now" is an African American originated colloquial expression that is said in appreciation of the physical body of another person or persons.
From http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sookie+sookie+now
"sookie sookie now
an expression of admiration, or satisfaction, especially in regards to the shape and beauty of a female
A beautiful girl with a tight body walks by and you look at her and say "Ahhhhhhhhhh sookie sookie, now!!"
by jojo Oct 24, 2003
-snip-
Although it's less common, females can also say "Ah sookie sookie now!" in appreciation of a male's sexy physique. For instance, in the song "I Do" by the R&B/Hip Hop group Blaque, young women sing "ah sookie sookie now" in appreciation of attractive men.
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POSSIBLE SOURCES FOR "AH SOOKIE SOOKIE NOW"
(I admit that I alternate my preference for theory #1 & theory #2.
Both of these theories rest on the fact that people can use certain words and phrases in a particular way, with a particular meaning, even though they don't know why they are saying those words and phrases)
Theory #1
The 1970s colloquial expression "ah sookie sookie now" has its source in the 19th century term "sukey jumps". "Sukey Jumps" is a long obsolete 19th century and early 20th century African American English referent for country dance gatherings for Black folks and the fast paced dance music that was performed at those gatherings.
Those dance gatherings were named "Sukey Jumps" as a reference to the Black women ["Sukies"; "Sookies"] who would be enthusiastically dancing [jumping all around] there. The phrase "ah sookie sookie" could have evolved over a period of time from men's appreciation of the attractive females (the "Sookies") they saw.
-snip-
Additional comments about the meaning/s of the referent "sukey jumps" can be found by clicking the link to the pancocojams post on that subject which is given above.
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Theory #2
The phrase "ah sookie sookie now" comes from the phrase "suca suca". "Suca" derives from the French word for sugar "sucre". Therefore, "suca suca" ("sookie sookie") means "sweet sweet". Men seeing a sexy, physically attractive female might respond with the exclamation "Sweet sweet" (as in "Sucre sucre").
The phrase "suca suca" is found in the Zap Mama recording of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian song "Iko Iko".* A sound file of that song is found below. The New Orleans, Louisiana connection between "suca suca" and "ah sookie sookie now" is reinforced by the fact that King Floyd, the singer who recorded the song "Groove Me" which begins with "ah sookie sookie now" is from New Orleans. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Floyd
In previous posts [on the Mudcat Cafe Folk & Blues forum]*, I wrote that "ah sookie sookie" may have derived from the Spanish word for sugar "azucar". Hat tip to Mudcat blogger Q who pointed out that if that phrase came from any Latin language source, given the greater French influence in New Orleans, that Latin language source would have been French rather than Spanish.
*There are countless theories about the meaning/s of the phrase "iko iko" and the meanings of other words & phrases in that song. Click this page of my cocojams website for several theories about the meanings of the song "Iko Iko": http://cocojams.com/content/text-analysis-iko-iko.
**I also previously wrote that the referent "sukey jumps" may have come from the West African (Akan language) female name "Akosua" (female born on Sunday). I now retract that theory, in large part because that name isn't pronounced the same as the word "sukey". If I'm not mistaken, the Akan pronunciation for "Akosua" is ah-KOH-su-ah.
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FEATURED EXAMPLES THAT INCLUDE THE EXPRESSION "AH SOOKIE SOOKIE NOW"
Example #1: Ah Sookie Sookie Now!
Abi Jenkins Published on Nov 25, 2012
-snip-
This is a clip from the hit record "Groove Me" by King Floyd.
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Example #2: King Floyd-Groove Me.flv
davedrummer7Uploaded on Sep 7, 2010
Here's a comment from this video's viewer comment thread http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZG9Sclq_54:
On this day in 1971 {January 16th} King Floyd performed "Groove Me" on the late Dick Clark's 'American Bandstand'...
Three months earlier on October 24th, 1970 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; eventually it peaked at #6 and spent 20 weeks on the Top 100...
And on January 2nd, 1971 it reached #1 {for 4 non-consecutive weeks} on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart
King Floyd passed away on March 6th, 2006 at the age of 61...
R.I.P. King Floyd and Mr. Clark {1929 - 2012}...
-sauquoit13456, 2013
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Example #3: Blaque - I Do
ghettoonline, Uploaded on Apr 18, 2009
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Example #4:
[WARNING: I believe this song includes the "n" word and some profanity. Also, the comments on this sound file's viewer comment thread contain profanity and other objectionable language.]
07) Big KRIT - Sookie Now (feat. David Banner) - Returnof4eva [Download MP3]
GoodFellaMediaDotCom, Uploaded on Mar 28, 2011
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FEATURED RECORD THAT INCLUDES THE PHRASE "SUCA SUCA"
Zap Mama Iko-Iko
annathebest94, Uploaded on Aug 10, 2008
-snip-
The title of Zap Mama's version of this song is also given as "Suca Mama".
"Iko Iko" is a Mardi Gras Indian song. There are countless theories about the meanings of that title and other words & phrases in that song. Click http://cocojams.com/content/text-analysis-iko-iko for a page about that song which is found on my cocojams cultural website.
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ADDENDUM
In researching this post, I learned about the Cuban music and dance form called "sucu sucu". Could "sucu sucu" (also) be a source for the African American colloquial expression "ah sookie sookie now"?
Click http://www.cubanow.net/articles/what-was-sucu-sucu-cuban-music for an article about "sucu sucu".
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the recording artists who are featured on this post. Thanks to those whose comments I quoted in this post, and thanks to the YouTube publishers of these sound files.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
What "Ah Sookie Sookie Now" Means
Posted on 7:33 AM by Unknown
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