What was an 'ickie'?

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Haydn
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What was an 'ickie'?

#1 Post by Haydn » Fri Jun 26, 2009 1:09 am

Bolero At The Savoy by Anita O'Day/Gene Krupa talks about 'ickies', and compares them unfavourably with jitterbugs -

"There's a new dance called the New Bolero,
At the Savoy;
It's a killer with a new kind o' joy,
It's takin' the town!
Night after night,
While the ickies wonder what it's about,
All the jitterbugs are beating it out,
And swingin' on down."


What was an 'ickie'?

lipi
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Re: What was an 'ickie'?

#2 Post by lipi » Fri Jun 26, 2009 10:08 am

Haydn wrote: What was an 'ickie'?
the closest modern american term is probably "square". someone not into the swing scene, a boring person, an annoying person, etc.

in calloway's "hepster's dictionary" it's defined as "one who is not hip, a stupid person, can't collar the jive."

penguin
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#3 Post by penguin » Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:41 am

So it's like a "Muggle" then, right?

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Cyrano de Maniac
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#4 Post by Cyrano de Maniac » Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:51 am

Lest someone be tempted to bring 'ickie' back into currency, I ran across an article on Wikipedia yesterday that indicates 'iky' is (was?) an ethnic slur against Jews. It might be best to avoid using the word 'ickie' in reference to people, just in case.

Brent

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anton
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#5 Post by anton » Wed Jul 01, 2009 9:38 am

"All the ickaroos, corny jiggaboos, they go <clap> <clap> <clap> <clap>" (claps on 1-3-5-7)

Bob Chester - Clap Your Hands on the Afterbeat [1940]

Haydn
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#6 Post by Haydn » Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:00 am

anton wrote:"All the ickaroos, corny jiggaboos, they go <clap> <clap> <clap> <clap>" (claps on 1-3-5-7)

Bob Chester - Clap Your Hands on the Afterbeat [1940]
"But the guys who know how the jive should go they go <clap> <clap> <clap> <clap>" (claps on 2-4-6-8 ) :P

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CountBasi
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#7 Post by CountBasi » Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:29 pm

..and..

" don't you be that ickaroo/ Get hep, come on then, and follow through,'"

from The Jumping Jive (Hep Hep) - Cab Calloway
It don't matter if your clock is broke - it's the right time somewhere : Slim Gaillard

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