What "Getting Up In Someone's Face" Means (in African American Vernacular English)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post provides definitions for the phrases "getting up in your face" & "getting all up in [someone's] face". Examples of that body gesture are presented in this post from videos of stomp & shake battle cheers & from a compilation video of scenes from the movie Bring It On: In It To Win It.

The content of this post is presented for sociological and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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DEFINITIONS
[Additions & corrections of these definitions are welcome.]

“To get up in someone’ face" is an African American derived slang phrase that means to literally or figuratively disrespect and confront another person by putting your face very close to that peerson's face. A person can "get [up] in someone else's face" by leaning his body over towards a person. Or a person can actually move into his or her opponent's personal space until they are standing eye to eye.

A person who gets in another person's face may have different facial expressions. She or he may be smirking, or my have a closed mouth slightly smiling face as if to say that what she or he is doing is of little importance to her or him. People who get in someone's face can also have a mean, angry look which is similar to one of the looks people wear when they are "grittin on" someone, except that th African American derived term "grittin" usually is connected with staring for a long period of time with an ugly [dirty] look on one's face.

In addition to one's facial expression and how one hold his or her torso, a person who is silently, saying insulting or challenging comments ["instigating"], or yelling in another person's face may also make insulting or challenging finger gestures or hand gestures at that person ("give the person the finger", or do the "don't even go there" hand gesture that is the same as or very similar to the "talk to the hand" gesture.) "Putting your hand in someone's face" commonly ignites a physical confrontation.

The word "all" in the phrase "gettin all up in someone's face" acts as an intensifier. Although it's not necessarily the case, the word "all" means that the person puts his or her entire body in his or her opponent's face [personal space].

“Getting up in someone's grill” is a synonym from African American English for "Getting [all] [up] in someone's face". "Grill" means "face".

Note that "to get up in someone's face" is similar but not the same as the phrase "in your face". Here's a definition of that phrase from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in-your-face

"Definition of “in your face” - characterized by or expressive of bold and often defiant aggressiveness ; also: aggressively intrusive
-snip-
Also, the phrase "in your face" may refer to something that is very obvious. Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GVWIaESSWA for a vlog whose title reflects that usage, and whose commentater uses "in your face" to mean something "is so obvious that if it was a snake it would bite you."

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CHEERLEADING VIDEOS THAT SHOW THE LEAN FORWARD "GETTING UP IN SOMEONE'S FACE" BODY GESTURE

Example #1: WSSU CHEERLEADERS 2010-11 Basketball BATTLE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkpOiVssR0s

[embedding disabled by request]

cavettaj, Uploaded on Jun 11, 2011

RAMS BACK IN THE CIAA... taking names!
:::: finishing off Livingstone in a friendly battle::::
WSSU vs Livingstone 2010-11 [WSSU=Winston Salem State University]
-snip-
That cheer is entitled "You Get No Respect In Here". It is given as the third cheer in this video: WSSU CHEERLEADERS GETTIN' CRUNK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyRaRAge3PE
"Getting Crunk" means to get hyped [excited], to be hard (in the street sense of that word), to act "real", without any polite restraints] Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crunk for information about the word "crunk".

Also, click http://cocojams.com/content/stomp-and-shake-cheerleader-cheers for the words to that "You Get No Respect In Here" cheer.

Example #2: BEN L. SMITH AND EASTERN GUILFORD CHEER OFF



ORIGINALCHEERPHI, Uploaded on Feb 21, 2008

THE EAGLES LETTIN' THE WILDCASTS KNOW THEY AINT READY TO ROCK WITH THEM AT THE ULTIMATE CHEER & DANCE EXPERIENCE TRIAD HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADING COMPETITION 2007
-snip-
“Wildcasts” is probably a typo for “Wildcats”.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/rock-steady-childrens-cheer-examples.html for the words to that squad's second cheer "Rock Steady".

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Example #3: Brooke \ Bring it on 4 \ In it to win it [scenes that include "getting in someone's face"]



Badsa2406, Uploaded on Nov 7, 2011

...Video about the girl Brooke from a film Bring it on: In it to win it....
-snip-
This movie is #4 in the American Bring It On cheerleader movie series. The song is in Russian. Comments from this videeo's viewer comment thread identified that song in English as "Fashionable Girl” by Evgenya Randa.

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RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-grittin-on-someone-means.html

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Thanks to all those featured in these videos. Thanks to the producers of these videos & their publishers on YouTube.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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An Overview Of Foot Stomping & Foot Stomping Cheers

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a three part series that compares three different but closely related African American originated performance movement arts: historically Black fraternities & sororities steppin (stepping); foot stomping [cheers]; and stomp & shake cheerleading.

Part II provides an overview of foot stomping cheers and also provides information about the syncopated, choreographed performance movement of "foot stomping".

Part I provides an overview of historically Black (African American) Greek letted fraternities & sororities.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/an-overview-of-black-greek-letter.html for Part I of this series.

Part III of this series provides an overview of stomp & shake cheerleading.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/overview-of-stomp-shake-cheerleading.html for Part III.

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The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Another longer version of this post is found as an introduction to this page of my cocojams website: http://cocojams.com/content/foot-stomping-cheers-0.

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PART II
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WHAT ARE FOOT STOMPING CHEERS?
Foot stomping cheers are a category of children's cheerleading cheers that have a characteristic call & response structure. Unlike other children's playground rhymes & cheers, rhyming verses may only make up a small portion of a foot stomping cheer.

Since at least the beginning of the 21st century, foot stomping cheers have been adapted & integrated into the repertoire of mainstream children's cheerleading & team cheer activities. That integration means that in discussing those cheers it may be best to refer to "traditional foot stomping cheers" and "mainstream" foot stomping cheers. For instance, traditionally, foot stomping cheers were chanted by two or more girls who performed synchronized, choreographed foot stomp routines similar to historically Black Greek letter organizations' steppin. However, the performance of foot stomps need not be, and often appears not to be, a part of mainstream cheerleaders or team cheers' experiences of foot stomping cheers.

Traditionally, foot stomping cheers start with the group voice. The group may begin by chanting the name of the cheer, and then calls on a member of the group. Or the cheer may begin with the group calling that person & stating their demand. Usually, the soloist responds to the group in a surly manner, and initially refuses to comply with their demand. However, the soloist eventually complies and chants a soloist portion & performs a brief foot stomping routine/dance. At the conclusion of that portion, that rendition of the cheer ends.

However, in other examples of foot stomping cheers, the group chants the same words as the soloist did, and then the cheer ends- only to immediately start again from the beginning with a new soloist. In some foot stomping cheers the soloist's lines are exactly the same, with the exception of the soloist's name or some personal information such as her astrological sign, or her favorite color. In other foot stomping cheers, the soloist's lines can be different, but must fit into the same theme as the cheer, and must follow the same cheer's metronome style beat.

In contrast to that traditional model, in mainstream cheer performances, there's likely not to be any soloist foot stomping or dance performance, and the foot stomping cheer itself may end before every member of the group has a turn as soloist.

Here's an example of a foot stomping cheer that begins with the group call & is followed by the group demand:

GET DOWN
Group- Hey, Shayla
Shayla - What?
Group- Hey, Shayla.
Shayla - What
Group - Show me how you get down.
Shayla - No way.
Group- Show me how you get down.
Shayla - Okay.
[Shayla does a hip swinging dance while saying]
I saida D. O. WN.
And that's the way
And that's the way
And that's the way I get down.
[Group does dance with Shayla and says]
Group - She saida D. O. WN.
And that's the way
And that's the way
And that's the way she gets down.
-T.M.P, mid 1980s, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; collected by Azizi Powell

-snip-
This foot stomping cheer starts again from the beginning with the next soloist who says the same soloist lines but traditionally isn't supposed to repeat the same foot stomping/dance routine. This pattern continues until every member has had one turn as soloist.

In the version of same cheer that begins with the title of the chant, prior to the group calling the soloist by name, the entire group (including the first soloist) chants:
"I saida D. O. WN and that's the way we get down.
D. O. WN and that's the way we get down."

My term for this distinctive modified call & response structure is "group/consecutive soloists". Foot stomping cheers that don't start with the group speaking in unison are called "modified foot stomping cheers". A crucial characteristic of foot stomping cheers- the cheer immediately starts again with the next designated soloist. This pattern is supposed to continue without pause until every member of the group gets one turn as soloist for that particular cheer.

Traditionally, foot stomping cheers were chanted while girls performed a synchronized, choreographed foot stomping routine.
Children who performed foot stomping cheers as an informal leisure time activity were able to perform these cheers in the consecutive soloist format where every member of the group has an equal turn as the soloist. However, actual cheerleaders aren't able to do that, given the time constraints that they face during an actual game or during half-time.

One result of the limited time that cheerleaders have to perform during half-time is that modified forms of stomping cheers and perhaps even modified forms of stomping performances have been integrated into many pre-university cheerleader squads in African American communities as well as in non-African American communities. Read my comments about the changes that may be occuring to "stomps" in my comments after the video given below as Example #3.

Also, since at least the late 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, a number of foot stomping cheers have retained their distinctive structure but have been separated from their foot stomping movement activity. These cheers have become part of mainstream repertoires of children's softball cheers & other cheers for children's sports games.

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TWO TYPES OF FOOT STOMPING CHEERS
While there are a number of different categories of foot stomping cheers, "insult & bragging cheers" & "dance" foot stomping cheers are the ones that are most widely known. The most widely known foot stomping cheer, "Shabooya Roll Call" is an example of a insult/bragging cheer. A video clip of that cheer is found below.

It's important to remember that drama (role playing) is supposed to be an important part of chanting insult/bragging foot stomping cheers. The chant performance fails if the stomper/chanter doesn't act as if she is confident and unafraid of her (imaginary, unnamed) opponent.

Another widely found (although not very well recognized) category of foot stomping cheers is what I call "dance style" cheers. These cheers provide an opportunity for their performers to stomp and do particular dance movements. Many of these cheers can be immediately recognizable by what I call the "Hey (person's name)" line that is found early in that cheer. "Get Down" is an example of a dance style foot stomping cheer.

Unlike the prohibition that is attached to the performance of step routines & chants of historically Black Greek lettered organization, and the disapproval that is associated with performing a stomp & shake cheerleader squad's cheers or routines without permission, there's no prohibition or social disapproval attached to chanting any particular foot stomping cheer. Since the synchronized, choreographed movements in foot stomping are formulaic, there can be no prohibition against any other group performing those routines.

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WHAT IS FOOT STOMPING?
"Foot stomping" is an African American originated performance art in which two or more persons (usually girls) chant a distinctive type of cheer while doing a synchronized, choreographed, rehearsed routine. That routine emphasizes the creation of bass sounding foot stomps that alternate with (individual) hand claps. In many foot stomping cheer routines the foot stomps alternate with body pats (chest, thigh, or foot pats, meaning the soles of the shoe). Unlike hand games, there are no partners in foot stomping, and there is rarely if ever any physical touching of another person.

The main pattern for traditional foot stomp routines is stomp clap stomp stomp clap )stomp x stomp stomp x). Another common fiit stomping routine is stomp stomp clap stomp stomp (stomp stomp x stomp stomp x). While the words to foot stomping cheers is important, the most important thing in the performance of foot stomping cheers is keeping the beat. Foot stomping is performed in a metronome like manner throughout the entire cheer. Once the beat starts, it continues until the end of the cheer.

The idea of a metronome beat can best be demonstrated by the Pop group Queen's 1977 hit song "We Will Rock You":

Queen - We Will Rock You



d4v1s, Uploaded on Apr 13, 2006
-snip-
The "We will we will rock you" words of that song are used in a number of mainstream cheerleader cheers. Examples of those cheers can be found on Cocojams's Children's Cheerleader Cheers page http://cocojams.com/content/childrens-cheerleader-cheers. However, in this post, the focus is on that song's beat pattern.

Notice that the beat pattern for this song continues without change throughout the entire song. Since people are often seated when singing this song on school buses or in the stands at football games, they might use their two hands at the same time to pat both of their thighs (body pat body pat clap (pat pat x).

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FEATURED VIDEOS
Example #1: Shabooya Roll Call
Editor's note:
"Shabooya Roll Call" is undoubtedly the most widely known example of a foot stomping cheer. Although "Shabooya Roll Call" is included in Spike Lee's 1996 movie Get On The Bus, it is best known from the 2006 cheerleader movie series Bring It On: All Or Nothing.

Here's the video of the Bring It On-All Or Nothing cafeteria dance scene with the words to the Shabooya cheer superimposed on the video screen. (Warning! There is a curse word used prior to the cheer starting.)

bring it on roll call



Uploaded by LoVee2MusiC on Jul 16, 2009
-snip-
In my opinion, the movement performance for this foot stomping cheer was greatly exagerrated. However, this clip shows the similarity between the foot stomping movements & stepping, and the foot stomping movements and stomp & shake cheerleading.

Again, traditionally, it's the cheer pattern with its consecutive soloists & the group voice being heard first & the soloist responding to that group voice that makes a cheer a foot stomping cheer.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/right-rhyming-pattern-for-shabooya-roll.html for a pancocojams post on Shabooya Roll Call.

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Example #2: Dailey Tigers "Rock Steady"



daileytigers, Published on Nov 17, 2012

Cheerleaders
-snip-
This video is an example of a dance style foot stomping cheer. However, unlike the "standard" structure for foot stomping cheers, the cheer begins with a soloist's voice.

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Example #3: Stomp Cheer



kmt122181, Uploaded on Jul 14, 2008

Stomp Cheer
-anip-
The narrator says "You have to remember that the most difficult thing about this cheer is keeping the beat".

Here's the pattern these girls are using for this routine:
"stomp x stomp stomp x stomp stomp xx stomp stomp x"
**
"x" stands for "hand clap".

I'm curious if this pattern of stomps & handclaps is or was used by found in formal cheerleader squads, or in informal groups of African Americans. As shown in the video, this pattern works, but it seems different to me.

Overall, I consider this to be a pretty decent basic tutorial video for how to do "stomps". However, I continue to think that these stompers and a number of other stompers in videos I've watched of non-African Americans performing this type of cheers aren't raising their feet off the ground high enough. Consequently, their "stomps" don't produce a bass sound.

I've also noticed in a large number of videos of the "Shabooya Roll Call" cheer that many non-African Americans are substituting miming type actions or swaying back and forth instead of actual foot stomping routines. Those kinds of changes to the ways foot stomping cheers are performed were heralded in the first 2000 Bring It On cheerleader cheer movie when the majority Black & Latina cheerleading squad's routine was modified for the majority White cheerleading squad. In that movie, the performance of the foot stomping cheer "Introduce Yourself" was simplified and much of its foot stomping activity was removed, perhaps because it was difficult to do for those persons who weren't surrounded by that cultural rhythm & beat a much as many African Americans have been. Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWG4AX09mqQ for a video of the "Introduce Yourself" scene. Text examples of that cheer are found on my Cocojams Foot Stomping Cheers page. A link for that page is given in this post.

It should be expected that the integration of foot stomping into mainstream cheerleading is resulting in changes to that performance art. However, it seems to me that some critiquing should be done abou certain ways that "stomps" and "steps" are being performed by mainstream cheerleading squads, unless we wake up one morning and anything that can be called "stomps" and "steps" and accepted as being high quality when those routines actually fail to meet the standards of what high quality stepping and high quality foot stomping (as well as what high quality stomp & shake cheerleading) used to be.

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RELATED LINK
Click http://cocojams.com/content/foot-stomping-cheers-0 for more information and examples of foot stomping and foot stomping cheers.

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This concludes Part II of this series.

Thanks to the composer/s of these cheers and the performers of these featured foot stomping cheer routines. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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Four Corners & Funky Four Corners Dances & Fraternity Routines

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part series on the four corners & funky four corners music, dances, and fraternity routines. Part II features videos of those dances and fraternity routines.

Part I provides information about and four examples of "Four Corners" & "Funky Four Corners" records.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/04/four-corners-funky-four-corners.html for Part I of this series.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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GENERAL OVERVIEW
The "four corners" and "funky four corners" are late 1960s African American orginated individual dance & African American orginated line dances.*

"The funky four corners" is also the name of footwork, hopping (steppin) routines that are performed by the historically Black Greek lettered fraternity Omega Psi Phi, Inc.

In addition, "the four corners" also appears to be a dance movement that is performed by South Africans to at least one Gospel song.

*The "four corners" is also a name of a American country line
dance. Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr7W1nK49tk for one example of this dance.

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GENERAL OVERVIEW ERTHE MEANING OF "FOUR CORNERS" AND "FUNKY FOUR CORNERS"
"Four corners" records are instructional dance records which include the title "four corners", "funky four corners", or the word "corners" with some other number. "Instructional dance" records are those in which a singer gives instructions on how to do a particular dance. However, those dances can be done to other records.

The "funky four corner" Omega Psi Phi fraternity routine is usually done with call & response chanting and is always without any accompanying music.

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FEATURED VIDEOS - Line dances
Editor's Note: From listening to the Highlighter Band's record "The Funky 16 Corners" which is the first of the "corners records"*, it appears to me that a line dance was the first type of dance that was done to "corners records". However I'm not sure if that conclusion is correct.

*As per information provided in http://funky16corners.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/funky16corners-radio-v-71-getting-the-corners/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Funky_16_Corners.

Example #1: FOUR CORNERS



iwill77Uploaded on May 12, 2007

SHUFFLE DANCE FROM ENGAGMENT PARTY ON 5/11/07

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Example #2: Jam on it: 4 Corners



holyhoptv, Uploaded on Nov 18, 2010

Check it out! Vessel and J-Shafer teaching you how to do 4 Corners! Don't be ashamed wild out for Christ! Jam on it!!

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Example #3: fight the power dance Isley brothers-Four Corners


nikkicole1,Uploaded on Apr 29, 2011

my family once again line dancing

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FEATURED VIDEOS- Individual dance

Flash Mob - Part 3 - Funky Four Corners



cmliss2010, Uploaded on Nov 5, 2010

More and more flash mob rehearsals

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VIDEO EXAMPLE FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN GOSPEL CONCERT

Solly Mahlangu - Wa Hamba Nathi



eydelyworshi, Uploaded on Dec 19, 2011
-snip-
The lead singer, the background singers & the audience start performing the four corners" at 3:44 in this video.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/12/solly-mahlangu-wahamba-nathi-siyabonga.html for a pancocojams post about this song.

A similar but partial four corners marching movement is done in this South African Gospel performance from that same concert http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/04/joyous-celebration-2012-abazohamba.html starting at 6:27 of that video.

My sense is that those marching movements to Gospel songs are performed as indications that the marchers are serious in their religious beliefs & that they are part of God's army. I'd love to know if the "four corners" is also performed in the nation of South Africa for non-Gospel songs.

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FEATURED VIDEOS - Fraternity Routines
Note: These movement routines & chants should only be performed by those who are associated with this fraternity.

Example #1: Omega Psi Phi Beta Eta

.

Xay90, Uploaded on Aug 20, 2010

The Beta Eta Chapter of the University of Alabama sets it owt for the new students in the Ferguson Center. Starting the year off right, Beta Eta devises its master plan to set it OWT for the year.

Omega Psi Phi
The Beta Eta Chapter

X.Burgin
www.quethelights.com
-snip-
The funky four corners routine begins at 2:17 in this video.

Here's my transcription of this chant:
Lead group: Oh let
[Oh let]
Ah me see
[Ah see what]
Lead -Ah the funky four corners
[I say the funky four corners]
I said the the funky four corners
[See the funky four corners]
All: Hee yah Ahh ah Omega Psi Phi
Hee yah Ahh ah Que Psi Phi
Hee yah Ahh ah Omega Psi Phi
Hee Yah Ahh Que Psi Phi
Ah Q!
[barking]*

*Dog barks are the signature call of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from the video. Additions & corrections are welcome.

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Example #2: Funky Four corners



royr314 Uploaded on Aug 2, 2011
-snip-
Here's my transcription of this chant:
The group chants in unison:
Oh let
Oh let
Ah me see
Ah see what
Oh let
Oh let
Ah me see
Ah see what
The funky four corners, yeah
With its funky butt
It goes “Yah Hah Hiii Omega Psi Phi
Yah Hah Hiii Omega Psi Phi
Oh Yah Hah Hiii Omega Psi Phi
It goes “Yah Hah Hiii Omega Psi Phi
[barking]*

*Dog barks are the signature call of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from the video. Additions & corrections are welcome.

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Example #3: PLL 4th of July Parade - Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.



dmvques, Published on Sep 6, 2012

The Bruhz of Pi Lambda Lambda SET OWT Funky Four Corners during the Dale City 2012 4th of July Parade.
-snip-
The funky four corners routine is from 0.53 -1:14 in this video.

Here's my transcription of this chant:

Oh, let me see
[Ah see what]
The funky four corners
[yeah]
The funky
The funky four.
All: It goes
Ah yah Hiii Omega Psi Phi [4x]
Que!
[barking]*

*Dog barks are the signature call of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from the video. Additions & corrections are welcome.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to all those who are featured in this post. Thanks also to the producers of these videos and their YouTube publishers.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

"Sigma Gamma Rho Is The Way To Go" (video & text examples)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases one video & four text examples of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. songs/chants that include the rhyming line: "Sigma Gamma Rho is the way to go". Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. is a historically Black Greek lettered sorority which was founded in 1922.

This post also includes a bonus video and my transcription of another Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority song/chant whose title I'm unsure of but which I've given the tentative title "Just The Rhos, Baby". This song doesn't contain the featured line. I've added it just because I like the song's creativity.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, historical, folkloric, and aesthetic purposes.

I consider fraternity & sorority chants to be cultural artifacts which deserve to be collected, preserved, and studied. I also believe that fraternity & sorority songs and chants should only be recited and/or performed by those persons who are affiliated with the specific organization that is associated with that particular chant.

FEATURED VIDEO
Mississippi State: Sigma Gamma Rho Probate 2011 Part 1 of 2



Listamato,Uploaded on Mar 24, 2011

Mississippi State University
Sigma Gamma Rho Inc.'s 2011 Reveal!
Theta Phi Chapter
There is a Part 2!
-snip-
The song which contains the line "Sigma Gamma Rho Is The Way To Go" refrain is found at the beginning of the video to .034. The video doesn't show the beginning of this chant/song whose title might be "It's So Hard To Be A Sigma".

Here's my transcription of the portion of that song which was filmed (given here as Example #1)

Lead: Well I asked my mama
and my mama said
Group: Sigma Gamma Rho is the way to go.
Lead: Don’t want no white, no pink, or red.
Group-Sigma Gamma Rho
is the way to go.

It’s so hard to be a Sigma.
It’s so hard to be a SGRho.
It’s so hard to be a Sigma.
Sigma Gamma Rho
is the way to go.
-snip-
Part 2 of this video is found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxrybM4pU6w."

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ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES OF SONGS/CHANTS THAT INCLUDE THE LINE "SIGMA GAMMA RHO IS THE WAY TO GO"

Example #2
it was November 12
1922
Seven ladies founded
the gold and blue

They put their hearts and minds
to test
and founded a sorority
above the rest

just in case
you didn't know
Sigma Gamma Rho
is the way to go
EE-YIP
RHOyal-Silence, http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?s=ccb66641f027f73cbecde1972ac4957e&t=6876&page=2, 03-13-2001

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Example #3
SoRhors,

Here's an old, old, old school chant! (lol)

1-9-2-2
Let Sigma show you what she can do!
S-G-Rho
The only way to go!
SeriousSigma22 , http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?s=ccb66641f027f73cbecde1972ac4957e&t=6876&page=2, 02-15-2002

Example #4
Sigma, Sigma Gamma Rho
Ooh Yeah, that's the way to go.
Sigma, Sigma Gamma Rho
Ooh Yeah, that's the way to go.

Sigma Call.....
Sigma Call....

Now who do you love?
The blue and the gold.
The blue, the blue, the gold, the gold;
Sigma, Sigma Gamma Rho.
(repeat)
- http://www.angelfire.com/tn2/mubeta/index7.html Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc Chants [retrieved 1/16/2013]

BONUS SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC VIDEO AND SONG/CHANT TRANSCRIPTION

2011 Sigma Gamma Rho Probate Spring Part 1 of 4



brownleetube,Uploaded on Apr 5, 2011

SGRho Probate Lambda Rho Chapter University of Florida on 4/3/2011
-snip-
The song begins at 1:24 and contines until the end of the video.

Here's my transcription of the song which I've tentatively given the title "Just The Rhos, Baby"

Lead-Did you wanna to pledge Alpha Kappa Alpha?
Group- No.
Lead-Did you wanna to pledge Zeta Phi Beta?
Group- No.
Lead-Did you want to pledge Delta Sigma Theta?
Group- No. NoNoNoNo.
Just the Rhos baby.
RhoRhoRhoRhoRho.
The blue and gold, baby.

Knew that I was led**
Knew that I had surely died
Only to see the rhoyal blue light
And the golden Sigma sun shining bright
RhoRhoRhoRhoRho.
Just the Rhos baby.
RhoRhoRhoRhoRho
The blue and gold, baby.
[repeat last verse several times]

* I’m not sure if “led” is the word that the group is singing.

Additions & corrections to this transcription are welcome. Also, for the historical record, I'd like to add additional information about this song/chant such as what is its title, who (or which chapter) composed it, and when.

RELATED LINK
http://cocojams.com/content/fraternity-and-sorority-chants Cocojams Fraternity And Sorority Chants

ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the composer/s of these chant, to those persons featured in these videos, and to the uploaders of those videos.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority - "I Love My DST" (Text Examples & Videos)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases three video & text examples of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. chant "I Love My DST".

The content of this post is presented for cultural, historical, folkloric, and aesthetic purposes.

I consider fraternity & sorority chants to be cultural artifacts which deserve to be collected, preserved, and studied. I also believe that fraternity & sorority songs and chants should only be recited and/or performed by those persons who are affiliated with the specific organization that is associated with that particular chant.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHANT "I LOVE MY DST"
"I Love My DST" is a chant affirming the affection that members of the historically Black Greek lettered sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc have for that organization.

I'm not sure when this chant was first composed. The words to this chant appear to differ slightly but each version including the words "I love my DST" or "I Like My DST". Probates (new members of the sorority), or other sorors (sorority members) usually chant "I Love My DST" while performing a step routine during step shows. Step routines always include the sorors folding their hands to form a pyramid, the foremost symbol of that sorority.

FEATURED VIDEOS & TEXT EXAMPLES
(These examples are posted in chronological order by the date of their YouTube posting with the oldest videos posted first.)

Example #1: I love my DST!!!



-BaDST07, Uploaded on Feb 8, 2008

The Tau Eta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. represented their chapter very well during Brenau University's Winter Weekend Greek Sing. Sit back and relax while we tell you why we love DST!!!
-snip-
The chant "I Love My DST" begins at 3:06

Here's my transcription of this version of "I Love My DST":

First soror*: I like my "D"
In front of my "S".
Second soror: My "S" in front of my "T".
Third soror: In front.
First soror: In front.
It's the natural order of things.
It sounds SO good to me.
I love my DST.
Second soror: I like my "D" in front of my "S",
My "S" in front of my "T".
It sounds so good to me.
I love my "D".
Third & fourth soror: I like my "D" in front of my "S",
My "S" in front of my "T".
It looks so good to me.
I like I like I like my "S".
First soror:
I like my "S" in front of my "T"
No matter what you think,
It looks so good on me.
I like, I like, I like, I like my "T".

[clap routine]

Group: I like, I like, I like, I like.
I love, I love, I love, I love.
Gotta have, gotta have
my "D" in front of my "S",
My "S" in front of my "T".
It sounds so good to me.
I love my D.S.T.

*"First soror", "second soror" refers to the order of speakers.
Additions and corrections are welcome for the historical record.

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Example #2: I love my DST



Uploaded on Feb 28, 2009
T.E. Deltas representin' at the MLK Parade in Atlanta, GA
-snip-
Here's my transcription of that chant:

Lead -I love I love my D.S._ .T.*
Group-I love my "D" in front of my "S",
My "S" in front of my "T".
It sounds so good to me.
I love, I love, I love,
I love my D.S._ .T.*

*The periods after the letters indicate that a brief space was given before saying each letter, The dash after "S." is meant to indicate that there is a beat between saying "S." and "T".

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Example #3: Delta Sigma Theta Lambda Psi 2010 Probate I Love My DST.flv



LPproDUCKtions, Uploaded on May 17, 2010

Here's a partial transcription of this chant as performed by probates of that historically Black Greek lettered sorority.
Additions and corrections are very welcome for the historical record.

I love, I love, I love
I love my "D" in front of my "S".
It's the very best.
It puts me to the test.
I love, I love, I love
I love my "S" in front of my "T",
So get away from me. [?]
?????

I love my "S" in front of my "T".
It means the best to me. [?]
????
????
-snip-
The question marks after certain words indicate that I was unsure of the words chanted. Questions marks also indicate where I was unable to understand the words that were chanted because of the audience's enthusiatic response to that performance.

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/delta-sigma-theta-sorority-celebrates-100-years-of-black-sisterhood-in-dc/2013/01/11/0eb6cd90-5b5c-11e2-beee-6e38f5215402_story.html
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority celebrates 100 years of black sisterhood in D.C.

http://cocojams.com/content/fraternity-and-sorority-chants Cocojams Fraternity And Sorority Chants

ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the composer/s of these chant, to those persons featured in these videos, and to the uploaders of those videos.

Congratulations to DST for their 100 years of Sisterhood!

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

Similarities Between The Venda Python Dance & Black Sororities Probate Line Formations

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post presents videos that suggest similarities between the Venda (South African) female initiation dance known as the python dance and the very close contact processional formation used by some historically Black Greek lettered sororities' probate groups when those groups enter the performance area for their probate show.

Definition of probate in the context of sororities & fraternities: A probate show introduces new members of a sorority (or fraternity) to other members of their sorority (or fraternity), to other "Greeks", to family, friends, and to other onlookers. For historically Black sororities and fraternities, probate shows heavily involve the performance arts of stepping and singing/chanting.

This post is meant to point out the similarities in these vertical line formations, and not to assert that the Venda dance was the source for this type of probate processional formation. That said, I believe that it's quite possible that the South African Venda female initiation dance might have been the inspiration or one of the inspirations for this historically Black sorority vertical line formation.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and aesthetic purposes. The portion of this post-including the videos- that refers to the Venda python dance is re-published on my zumalayah blog at http://zumalayah.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-venda-python-dance-information.html.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE VENDA PYTHON DANCE & ITS SIMILARITY TO THE HISTORICALLY BLACK SORORITY PROBATE ENTRANCE FORMATION
I'm not sure if there is a standard name or any name for the commonly performed historically Black (African American) sorority probate (new members) entrance march which is the focus of this post. However, that very close contact vertical line formation is the same as or very similar to that which is described for the Venda people's "python dance" at Domba initiation rituals. Here are information about the purposes of that initiation ritual & description of the python dance itself:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venda_people
"The Domba is a pre-marital initiation, the last one in the life of a Venda girl or boy. The chief or sovereign will 'call' a domba and preparations are made by the families for their girls to be ready and to prepare what’s necessary to attend the ceremony (entry fees for the ruler, clothes and bangles).

Historically girls used to stay with the chief for the whole duration (3 months to 3 years) of the initiation; nowadays because of schooling, girls only spend weekends at the ruler’s kraal.

This rite of passage was attended by both girls and boys after each individual had previously attended other separated initiations dedicated to one’s gender; Vhusha and Tshikanda for girls and Murundu for boys (the circumcision done during this rite has been introduced by Vhalemba). Since the missionaries decided that mixing males and females in the same ceremony was immoral...

Various rituals are particular to the Venda and certain aspects are kept secret and not discussed with westerners, however, it is known that the python dance, conducted at the female coming of age ceremony (iconic to the Limpopo region) is usually where the chief chooses a wife...

Girls and boys dance fluidly, like a snake, to the beat of a drum, while forming a chain by holding the forearm of the person in front. Once a wife has been chosen a set of courtship and grooming rituals take place over a number of days.-snip-
-snip-
To clarify, female and males perform the python dance separately.

Additional comments about the python dance that are performed at the Domba is found below the video that is given as "Video #1" in this post.

Two of the YouTube videos of that dance (given here as Videos #1 & #2) show the female in the front of the line with one or both of her hands held out to suggest a snake's head. The faces of the females in the line are expressionless and their eyes are closed. Each woman behind the woman at the head of the line lays her head on the back of the woman in front of them. The impression I got from the dance that the woman were very tired and were slowly walking forward in their sleep. Occassionaly, the right arms and then the left arms of the entire group rhythmically undulate in a synchronized manner as the group slowly proceeds across the floor.

Judging from current YouTube videos of historically Black Greek lettered sororities the line formation described above but without the undulating arms appears to be commonly used as the entrance procession for most Black Greek lettered sorority probates. Although I'm not certain of this, judging from YouTube videos (admittedly a very unscientific sampling), the sorority that appears to use this locked arms less often than the other three historically Black Greek lettered sororities is Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The names of the other three historically Black Greek lettered sororities are given in the video section below.

I've not reviewed many videos of the five historically Black Greek lettered fraternities to determine if each of those organizations have a similar close contact formation for their probates or their other members. However, I came across this video of a similar formation by members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdgwjN11AyY". In this video the men stand very close together with locked arms and without moving away from their spot. The first man in line doesn't fold his hands in a triangle position, and the men after the first person in line don't lay their head on the person in front of them.

VIDEOS OF THE VENDA PYTHON DANCE (AT VENDA DOMBAS)
Video #1: Domba



bigbluemeanie, Uploaded on Nov 9, 2006

The famous Domba initiation dance of the Venda tribe of Southern Africa
-snip-
Here are two comments from this video's viewer comment thread:
filato22, 2010
you can say that again its more zululized than venda. proudly venda
-snip-
bigbluemeanie, 2012
..."Domba was the third and final phase in Venda girls' initiation, which should have been attended after a girl had been to vhusha and tshikanda. It took place every three to five years at the head-quarters of chiefs and certain senior headman, and lasted for about one year. Its importance to the Venda was marked by the use of the bass drum (ngoma), which was also used in tshikona, the Venda national dance. There were a number of special rites and shows associated with domba…

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Video #2: UMOJA - The Spirit of Togetherness Part 2



Mrbobodigital, Uploaded on Mar 23, 2011
-snip-
The Domba dance is from 2:17 to 3:50 of this video.

The description of this dance given as a subtitle in this video is "initiation dance for young women when they reach womenhood".

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Video #3: Domba La Africa



dombalaafrica, Uploaded on Feb 26, 2010

Traditional Dance Group based in Soweto. Founded by the Late Co-founder of the Soweto Gospel Choir and Musical Director David Mulovhedzi
-snip-
The Domba dance is performed in this video from .53 to 1:01 and the video ends with a still photograph of that dance.

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Video #4: venda dance



nkosiafrika, Uploaded on May 13, 2010

great va venda mothers proudly dance @a wddng in soweto south africa

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VIDEOS OF PROBATE ENTRANCES OF TRADITIONALLY BLACK GREEK LETTERED SORORITIES
(Videos of the four traditionally Black Greek lettered sororities are featured below in the order of their founding, with the oldest sorority presented first.)

Example #1: Towson's Alpha Kappa Alpha Probate 2012



TowerlightVideo, Published on May 9, 2012 [Towson University, Baltimore, Maryland]
-snip-
Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrLaf-pjaBs
AKA, Alpha chapter probate 2010 at Howard University part 1
(.36 – 2.50) for another way that AKA probates proceed into the performance area. The women hold the hands of the person in front of them and behind them (down by their waist) with their heads held down.

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Example #2: Delta Sigma Theta Lambda Psi 2010 Probate Part 1: Intro


emoang, Uploaded on Apr 11, 2010 [University of Florida]
-snip-
According to several commenters on viewer thread, sorors in front in white are doing what is called a "duck walk" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPN0kMnlseA

Also, click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX7yAMm5Rao&feature=endscreen (.23-.41) for another example of a Delta Sigma Theta, Inc probate formation that is similar to the South African Venda python dance.

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Example #3: Zeta Phi Beta Pi Epsilon Chapter Fall 2012 Probate UTK PART 1



wally2774, Published on Oct 21, 2012

Zeta Phi Beta Pi Epsilon Chapter Fall 2012 Probate UTK [University of Tennessee, Knoxville]
-snip-
Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vheMT1sQWEY for another example of this close contact vertical line procession from a Zeta Phi Beta chapter.

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Example #4: SSU SGRho Probate 2K10



shannonkhoward54, Uploaded on Dec 14, 2010
-snip-
Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CVBRLEeQpc for an example of a Sigma Gamma Rho vertical line procession in which the probates move in a style which is similar if not the same as a stroll (party walk). Besides the half mask that the probates wear, the only differences that I can see between this formation and a party walk is that the probates may be bent down lower then usual as they stroll, and the probates are holding the hand of the person in front & in back of them (arms distance). The first probate is led by another sorority member.

[Warning: The recorded music that the group is strolling to includes some mild profanity & the "n word".]

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EDITORIAL COMMENTS
Traditionally, Black Greek lettered fraternities also appear to have a formation in which they stand close to the person in front of them and sing or chant. However, in the videos I've seen the men lock arms but don't rest their head on the back of the person standing in front of them, nor do they hold hands with the person in front of & behind them. Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdgwjN11AyY "Zoom Zoom" (Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity) for an example of this type of close fraternity vertical line formation.

The very close line formation symbolizes the group's unity. The ability to act as one body that is demonstrated by the group's synchronized movements symbolizes the cohesiveness that was forged as a result of the individuals' experiences of becoming members of their group. Also, the group's moving forward with their eyes closed and/or with their heads resting on their sister's back and being led by one member represents the group's trust in each other, and especially their trust in that lead sister. Furthermore, the group moving forward inspite of their tiredness highlights the importance of the goal and the value of perserverance to reach that goal..

It's likely that the Venda python dance also has those meanings in addition to the cultural meanings which were given in the above quote about that dance.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to all the performers featured in these videos. Thanks also to the authors & commenters whose comments are featured in this post and thanks to the uploaders of the featured videos.

Also, thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More