SwingDJs

I was in a fast Balboa Competition once at Balboa Rendezvous a few years back. For the last song, the DJ played a tune called "Uselessly Fast". Does anyone know who it's by? I can't seem to find it.

Thanks,
Rob

Are you sure about the song title?

Haydn wrote:Are you sure about the song title?

Well, I'm fairly sure I remember what the DJ said because it made an impression on me, but I have no idea whether his music was annotated correctly. I have a vague recollection that he didn't know who it was by, so now that I think about it, I'll bet the title is suspect. So perhaps I can ask a more answerable question: what's the fastest song you know of?

hepcat72 wrote: So perhaps I can ask a more answerable question: what's the fastest song you know of?

I can't count that fast. I know there are a bunch of songs in the 300s, but I'm not sure if there are any swing songs over 400. Is there a video of the performance?

CafeSavoy wrote:Is there a video of the performance?

Probably, but I'm sure I didn't buy the DVD that year. I'm not even sure which year it was. I'm going to guess 2005. Oh wait, I just realized I know who the DJ was: Doug Elrath. I'm going to shoot him an email.

Rob

hepcat72 wrote:what's the fastest song you know of?

There are supposedly songs in the 1000's of BPMs... but they are completely irrelavent.

Keep in mind that dancing to a song thats 240bpm requires you to perform a complete Lindy or Balboa basic in 2 second flat. At 360bpm you need to do it in 1.5 seconds.

(Correct me if I'm wrong... my brain is currently fried from working other numbers.)

Beyond that you're stretching the realms of being humanly possible. I highly doubt for example a couple could complete a Lindy basic in a single second (480bpm)... or even the smaller movements of a Balboa basic.

How fast is the Fats Waller 1935 big band version of "I Got Rhythm"?

I think the fastest song that most dancers would be familiar with (though I've heard it played over a huge range, as low as ~220bpm) would be Bugle Call Rag (though Hellzapoppin would feature too ~325bpm). The fastest version I'm aware of is a Glenn Miller recording I have form 28th April 1940. It's somewhere around 345bpm.

The fastest song in my collection is "After You've Gone" by Gene Krupa, from "The Gene Krupa Story" - Disc 2. 363 bpm.

Eyeball wrote:How fast is the Fats Waller 1935 big band version of "I Got Rhythm"?

Not 100% sure about the year, but there's a very fast version I have which is about 280bpm. The fastest song I have is Swing That Music by Louis Armstrong.

The version I have by Waller has his big band in 1935 (pretty sure) and features a piano duel between Waller and his protegee, Hank Duncan. "Show 'em how to swing, Hankie!".

It so fast that when Waller goes to sing his chorus, he has to sing it in cut time b/c the tempo is too fast to get the lyrics out at the assigned tempo. It's been a while since I heard this one.

Eyeball wrote:The version I have by Waller has his big band in 1935 (pretty sure) and features a piano duel between Waller and his protegee, Hank Duncan. "Show 'em how to swing, Hankie!".

It so fast that when Waller goes to sing his chorus, he has to sing it in cut time b/c the tempo is too fast to get the lyrics out at the assigned tempo. It's been a while since I heard this one.

About 336.

I was there, and if you're referring to the fast feet competition, the song Doug used was Bugle Call Rag by Glenn Miller, the version which he used was off the "In the Mood with" Album. If I remember correctly, Kevin and Carla came to Albuquerque and they couldn't even get a few bars through it. We tapped it out and I believe the BPMs were around 360.

Mr Awesomer wrote:

Eyeball wrote:The version I have by Waller has his big band in 1935 (pretty sure) and features a piano duel between Waller and his protegee, Hank Duncan. "Show 'em how to swing, Hankie!".

It so fast that when Waller goes to sing his chorus, he has to sing it in cut time b/c the tempo is too fast to get the lyrics out at the assigned tempo. It's been a while since I heard this one.

About 336.

Brisk. Thx.

turin wrote: the song Doug used was Bugle Call Rag by Glenn Miller, the version which he used was off the "In the Mood with" Album.

Have you got a link to a sample of this?