Do the Freddie!

If you don't know what the Freddie is, it is a pretty ridiculous dance that Freddie and the Dreamers concocted. Basically it involves the band members in a synchronized Frankenstein's monster type dance. You move your arms and legs up and down while standing in place and singing! How 1964!



The other day, I casually mentioned to some of the kids in my class that the only dance my dad could ever do was the Freddie. I don't even know why I was thinking about the Freddie or why it made any sense in the context of what was going on in the classroom. Immediately, the class was very interested and wanted to know what the Freddie is. So I showed them and I thought that would be it. But my class has become fascinated with it and keep asking me to do it for them. But I thought, "Why should I have all the fun?" So on Friday, I played thirty seconds of "I'm Telling You Now" (i-Tunes music store didn't have "Do the Freddie") and led 17 third graders in the Freddie. It was stupendous! But, I want more. I need footage from the 60's of the band in action but have no idea how to find it. I vaguely remember seeing the band do the Freddie on some British Invasion documentary with Stone Groove years ago, but I have no idea what the documentary is called.

If anyone knows where I can find some footage of Freddie and the Dreamers, please let me know. And Stone Groove, get your Freddie and the Dreamers ready for me the next time I come to visit. My class has to be able to dance the Freddie to the right song. And if anybody could find this amazing show I will forever be in your debt.

Sujan just let me know that the 1989 Shelley Long vehicle "Troop Beverly Hills" includes a scene where she teaches a bunch of girl scouts how to do the Freddie. I hope she is teaching them while playing Freddie's version rather than the Chubby Checker version. And what the hell is that about? Which came first? I assume they are completely different songs but I've never heard the Chubby Checker version. Was Chubby just putting out songs about every possible dance craze of the time? Stone Groove, I implore you for some answers! 17 third graders are desperate for more information!

A Stone Groove favorite