My parents loved big band music and Cab Calloway was my dad's second favorite band leader after Glen Miller. Minnie the Moocher was his favorite song and he played it constantly on our old 78 rpm record player. Not bad for a bunch of Wisconsin white people.
@Gabbie Rocks They did and they allowed we kids to develop our own taste too. Whoever got to the living room first got to choose the music. Also whoever was the driver chose the radio station.
Anyone else getting emotional watching this young brother's discovery, pride and fascination at great talent in his own musical heritage? I wish I could give this video several likes.
raydeon butt buttt buttttt you just DID give him a like its superb that alll young brothers of any skin type can RE RE discover our superb musicians of yesteryear and allow that rap = crap = hip hop to remain in the ground rite ohn brothers of all skin types:: now play:: we are company:::: pieces
I mean really. In our time back in the late 60s and 70s, everybody was putting out great music if you didn't it didn't last long. and they put music like this alongside Disco
@@jaredf6205 I get it and to each their own. But The Nicholas Brothers were so very talented as dancers. The sheer strength and agility shows their hard work paid off! Too bad they were so underrated for their talent.
@@nope24601 Jazz is a form of music created when the Ragtime music (otherwise known as the black music at that time) mixed with the many immigrants from the New Orleans in the 1910s. Fun fact: Jazz used to be spelled as Jass because they would have Jass written on the drum and when they perform they could stand in front of the J so it seems like the drums say "ASS".
From a time when dancing was what everybody did. My dad said that they danced in the high school lunchroom every day. He fought in World War 2, to date that. Doesn't it make you want to pick up your feet? My folks, ordinary people, could dance with such smooth style.
When you consider the unbelievable timing and precision these guys had, the stamina, dancing in perfect unison jumping from one type of surface to another, not to mention the degree of difficulty of the routine itself.....well, this is the most talented performance I have ever seen. My only regret is that these guys lived during a time of extreme prejudice. If they had been doing this today (assuming this style was popular) they'd be superstars.
As a 70 year old white guy these guys and all their cohorts were my heroes in 1969 I heard the Count Basie Orchestra live sent me on a 40 year career playing cabarets across the country never got famous but had a life you can't buy with money
Very impressive! That is so cool! I'm not sure, but I don't think very many people can do that. That really takes a lot of skill and team work. Not to mention LOTS and LOTS of practice.
Saw an interview with Fayard (sp?) Nicholas about this routine. He said they had been dancing to this song for a few years (it came out in 1939). So they just had to work out the logistics of the set and the rest came naturally.
Such a legend! Cab Calloway is a Jazz musician, but his style of singing is called “Scat”. Cab was certainly the most famous Scat singer and deservedly so. Listen to "Minnie The Moocher”. You’ll love it. (Btw- strong Bugs Bunny vibes :) )
He sang in a lot of styles, 'scat' was the style he preferred and got real popular with. But he sang ballads and blues, too. While he didn't write many he covered several 'I've got you under my skin' 'That old black magic' and 'I'll be home for christmas' were fan favorites for him to sing, he often did so at the middle and end of the performances to let everyone rest a bit from his high energy.
The Nicholas Brothers are dance legends. They were honored at the Kennedy Center Honors which was attended by the sitting President Bush senior and the First Lady and every major celebrity of the day. There are alot of old movies like this with brothers and sisters doing things THEY have tried to copy. Fred Astaire literally bowed to these men and called them masters after a friendly tap dance challenge which he quickly conceded to them. He stated that he regrets deeply that they won’t get the credit they deserve in his film, due to racism. You young people need to check out this stuff. Unbelievable and part of your history!
Well stated Michael. In addition, these performers did not recognition or money they truly deserved. In addition, they were the precursors to Jackie Wilson, James Brown and Michael Jackson.
If a studio were to produce a bio of the Nicholas Brothers, the Jumpin' Jive routine would have to be CGI, simply because no one has been able to reproduce it since.
Except this song was considered vulgar and lower class at the time because it was performed by Black people. Let's not do the bullshit fetishization of past eras because you like the clothes.
@@czest-d7f doesn't change the fact that it was better--it just means we need to recognize and appreciate it for the spirit, energy and talent on display. We just need to learn from the mistakes of the past, instead of defining things by old hatreds.
This is from “The Big Band” era with bands like Glen Miller, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman etc. They played everything from blues, jazz and ballads. Wonderful music 🎶🎶😎
I'm willing to bet an entire paycheck that he's never heard of the Blues Brothers, nor seen the movie. I love reaction videos, but sometimes I wonder how a person has never heard or seen some of this stuff in their entire lives.
I had already seen the Blues Brothers a few times when mom & I watched it together (mom was born in 1931). We were quite a bit into the movie when she suddenly realized "Oh my gosh, that's Cab Calloway!" The realization was before he transformed into his trademark white long-tail tux on stage while stalling for the Blues Brothers to show up. Mom's maiden name was Calloway and she took a lot of crap for it as a child (her being white and racism pretty much out in the open back in the 30s and 40s). LOVE Minnie the Moocher, BTW.
Com'on my brother and sister!!! WE MUST NOT FORGET ABOUT OUR PAST!!! This is JAZZ.... My brother big Band music or SWING music... Mr. Cab Calloway and the Nicholas Brothers were the BEST and most GIFTED human beings in the 20th century. Please, do your homework on these guys and other talented people during their time. The musicians,singers, dancers and actors were all amazing during the harsh, segregation and jim crow era. They are true American Hero's!!! My son is a Jazz lover and plays all wind instrument. He is a second generation medical student and its sad that most of his college friends and medical student don't listen to Jazz music. But, that doesn't stop him from educating them... We have to do a better job as parents to educate our young children about our rich history in America..... GOD BLESS YOU and STAY SAFE!!! ps, Mr. Paul Robeson was another great one in the 20th century... Knowledge is Everything.... Peace
I’m 44 now but I fell in love with big band, early blues jazz back when I was in high school. Alberta Hunter, Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey. Excellent music.
My first band director turned me on to jazz. I continue to get lost in the sounds, nearly 50 years later ... Five years after desegregation, he found himself teaching beginning band to 6th graders. He toured in the 50s and 60s from Chicago to New Orleans with whichever band could feed him. He was a brilliant musician, and an incredible man. To say jazz is color-blind diminishes this power the music has to bring us together. It is, in so many ways, the best of what we can be.
The Nichols Brothers, who performed together all their lives starting as children, were the greatest American dancers of this genre. Fred Astaire lauded them saying they were the best he'd ever seen. YT has more videos of their work. I love them for the immense joy they always show wile dancing, they make the most complex steps look like easy magic.
It's a shame that all the talented black dancers and artists were just seen as side numbers to the white guys. I love Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, but they hid soooooooo much talent from the world.
@@skarbuskreska You're right. It wasn't just Fred or Gene; the whole of the Hollywood studio system and the deeply ingrained racism of American commerce and society hide these shining lights from all our eyes.
@@thefirm4606 Good thing we have at least the internet now, so their talents cannot be hidden by some studio bosses racist agenda. I've gotten into some French Hip Hop twin brothers the last years. One of them occasionally does the jump into split thing, and people in the comments go crazy over it. And that's my time to ask, do you know the Nicholas Brothers? Funny enough each twins second name is Nicolas.
It makes me remember discovering this stuff in my grandparents collection. For the name of this music genre, it's either Boogie Woogie or Swing depending on the race of the indended audience. Whitey listed to Swing, the brothers listed to Boogie Woogie. It's all really the transition from Jazz to Big Band, or what happens when poor Jazz musicians get some money behind them.
It's a huge part of American history I study Cab Calloway in music school, he influenced as many white musicians as he did Black, he was a true, Titan in the History of our country's music.
cab calloway was one of the best showman and entertainers who ever lived the man could out perform guys less than half his age even when he was in his 80s. the nicholas brothers were perhaps the best dance duo in old hollywood. Fred Astaire called this number the best dance sequence ever filmed. the incredible part is this was filmed with no rehearsals and in one take
@@ellenmarch3095 Everything above is true except the last line, where I think Mr. Weber is slightly misinformed. They obviously had to rehearse the number, and it was not filmed in its entirety in one take. BUT: the famous ‘splits down the stairs’ sequence was NOT rehearsed beforehand, and indeed they did it only once, and it was filmed in ONE take.
@@ronwells2986 Yeah, that's exactly the part I was "nope" on. Not denying they're great; great"est" is subjective and not something I would begrudge someone. But the no rehearsal for all parts thing, (not said but logically implied), nope, nope, nope. Thanks for clarifying which parts were and weren't; I feel better now... 😂❤.
@@ronwells2986 Fayard Nicholas said in an interview that this was not rehearsed and done in one take: ruclips.net/video/dwYK8DEHl9U/видео.html. He may have been exaggerating, but that is what he claimed.
Watch the interview again. The only part Fayard specifically claims was not rehearsed and was shot in one take is the “stair” sequence. This is still an amazing feat.
There ARE real performers like this (maybe not as good as the Nicholas Bros) today, but they don't get the attention and they don't get matched up with Cab Calloway. If you look for it, there are astonishing dance teams and parkour artists that echo what the Nicholas Brothers did.
This is Swing music and Cab is “scatting” when he is singing non-words. This is a very famous bit of cinematography. Check out Cab’s routine in The Blues Brothers sometime. He entertains the audience when they get restless waiting for Jake and Elwood.
Cab was also in Janet Jackson's music video "Alright." But he came in at the end. The whole video seemed to be a tribute to the type of music Cab did. Her music was different but the style was Cab's.
I'm not sure I would go so far as to say Motown was the grandfather of Hip-hop. The people at Motown were talented. Maybe Disco was the grandfather of Hip-hop.
This was a scene from the 1943 movie "Stormy Weather", starring Lena Horne and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (one of the best tap dancers of all time!) The Nicholas Brothers always said they never choreographed anything they did--it was always ad lib!
Charles Springer Plus, doing things that are choreographed are considerably harder than making it up on the spot. When I played in a band there was stuff I’d come up with on the drums when we jammed that was incredibly difficult for me to replicate again.
I'm a 45 year old white woman....grew up listening to Cab Calloway. I had an older dad (he was born in the early 1930s) and he worked for Public Radio and Television and my mom was a music teacher, so we had old school jazz, swing, and classical in my house.
The genre you're hearing is usually referred to by one of two names: either "swing" or "big band." Along with Count Basie and Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway was probably one of the most popular black bandleaders of the 1930s and 1940s.
There were *lots* of great Black bandleaders. Fletcher Henderson and Billy Eckstein were two others. Incidentally, when Steve Allen starred in the biopic about Benny Goodman, Fletcher Henderson was played by Sammy Davis *Senior*
This was the music of my parents' generation. They loved Cab Calloway, Tommy Dorsey, and Glenn Miller, and Big Band swing. The people of that generation lived. I mean they lived life to the fullest.
I like big band music. Though it is even before my time. I am 67. My grandmother was a music teacher and she enjoyed playing this type music when I was growing up. All types of music was played by her too.
This is the best dance sequence ever filmed in many people’s opinion. If not for the fact they were black men in white Hollywood the Nicholas Brothers would have been considered the best dancers ever and would have gotten more of the kind of movies they deserved. Fred Astaire, and Gene Kelly both acknowledged how great they were. There’s a dance routine that Kelly did with them on film should you care to check that out.
Being raise by my Grandparents, I was exposed to a lot of stuff from this era and before, and seeing the awe, wonder, and feel of magic on this man's face brought a little of that back to me.
Yesssss..... Universal reaction to phenomenal talent!!!.. I've seen this so many times but each time I'm in awe! Can you imagine being right there when that went down?!
They must have had steel lungs! Maybe the scenes were filmed in segments? How can you tap and squat and run up and down without breathing? WOW! Two of a kind!
Do some reading on the Harlem Renaissance. Writers like Langston Hughes and W.E.B DuBois, musicians like Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington led an intellectual and cultural movement that exploded on the scene in Harlem, NY and defined African-American ethnicity.
Read the Autobiography of Malcolm X and hear him describe Harlem after he got out of prison and started his ministry with Nation of Islam in the fifties. This was only a few years earlier. Just like you can descibe the late 1960 and 1970s as a turning point for Black entertainment with the develpment of Blaxpolitation films with Blacks playing all kind of roles and directing. But you can also see the great decay of the inner cities in major cities during that time as well.
This was the big band era. My parents were young adults and living in Virginia in the late '30s. They loved to dance, this was their music. They saw Cab Calloway twice in concert. What a privilege. Look for his rendition of "Minnie the Moocher". Dad would sing it to me as a lullabye.
The first time I heard this music, my grandmother introduced it to me when I was 15. I have been in love with it ever since. She used to tell me how my grandaddy and her used to win dance competitions in the 20's and 30's.
I absolutely ;love this sequence, I don't have an idea of how many times I've seen it, never get tired of it. And one thing I especially love about your video is that you are in the corner and the scene we're watching is large and we can see it so easily see it!
30's and 40's were one of the best times for music. That era had everything - extremely talented singers and dancers, wonderful bands and one thing that modern music severly lacks - a class.
This is a really old video....1943! That was four years before I was born, so this was during my 96-yr. old mother's youth. Her being a tap dancer made the Nicholas Brothers some of her favorite tap dancers. This genre was called jazz/swing. It was great to see you enjoying that as even I did when I was a young girl and my mother used to watch all these old black and white movies with dancing and big bands.
I remember reading an article years ago where Hollywood wanted to make a movie about the Nicholas Brothers, but they couldn't find 2 dancers good enough. I would agree. Susan
Too late now, but there were two Brothers who might have been able do just that. Can't recall their names, but one of them was in a few movies, and the other one either quit, faded out or did some Broadway shows on his own. Can you help me? Can't recall their name. He also did a Tribute to Sammy Davis Jr., who had passed on. AH! its just came to me! They were of Hines, Hines & Dad. Dad dropped out and it was the two Hines Brothers, but ;Gregory became the star, and sadly, has passed on. The Hines Brothers as the Nicholas Brothers? Would have loved to see that movie! Any input?
@@GJoeJ010841 Gregory Hines was the only one I can think of who could've come close to that performance. But I don't think that even he could've matched it--especially not the repeated jumps into splits, which takes an unearthly level of strength and athleticism. The Nicholas brothers must've been made out of spring steel.
@@UncleDansVintageVinyl Yes. I saw Hines once talking about that. He and his brother planned on being the next Nicholas Brothers act, but he said one day they both realized they were never going to match the Nicholas Brothers and decide to move on to other things.
Cab Calloway and his Orchestra replaced Duke Ellington as the house band in New York’s Cotton Club in the 1930s. The Nicholas Brothers dance act headlined the club from when they were pre-teen. You’re seeing here the best kind of live performers from that era. Real pros.
@@danic9304 he makes a cameo appearance with Janet Jackson in her Alright video at around 6:45 mark near the end.. ruclips.net/video/t8UidwWPin4/видео.html
You know this routine had to take a lot of practice but even still, there is no one else who could have pulled it off BUT the Nicholas Brothers. Their natural affinity for dance was mind-blowing. If Fred Astaire said THIS was the best dance routine ever filmed... THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO SAY.
This was my mom and dad's music, they danced like this into their 70's, my mom in her poodle skirt, and my dad in his zoot suit, check out the black swing music recordings from the 1940's
Love Cab Calloway, although he was more of my mother's era. And the Nicholas Brothers...it's hard to even TALK after witnessing what they did! It literally leaves you speechless! You definitely can't find THIS level of talent today. It's so GREAT, though, that you, as a young man, of a completely different generation, are opening yourself to this older music, and are finding that you like it, as well. GREAT reaction!
This is my favorite song and dance routine in movie history. Its brilliant. The Nicholas Brothers were mesmerizing and Cab Calloway, obviously a legend. What's even more amazing, this was filmed in one take.
Some of the female singers did scat, also. Ella Fitzgerald, of course, because she could do anything. The concept was somewhat like rap, a display of verbal ability, but you were also supposed to be imitating the sound of instruments at certain points. Sarah Vaughn, a bunch of others. You will hear scat singers on jazz channels or older music channels.
Those Betty Boop cartoons in which Cab Calloway was involved were by the Fleischer Studios, who also did Popeye cartoons. Popeye was another scat man. ruclips.net/video/QoiQw-4C9QI/видео.html
As an old timer I recall this to be generally called Jive, which was derived from the days of big band jazz. Jazz bands, the 'big bands' in live performances at clubs, on the radio were the hot deal for many audiences then.
I needed to see this reaction, because I knew he would love it. I love showing people the Nicholas Brothers, but I can't get back that feeling of the first time I saw them dance. Incredible.
Tap dancing is a highly underrated form. When done right (like here), it can leave you with your jaw on the floor. And just think, this kind of thing was _common_ back in the 30's and 40's.
The Nicholas Brothers were anything but common in their skill and art form! 😅 I’d argue that a lot of street dancing today is jaw dropping too; it’s a shame (probably a sin) that the deep, deep roots of African American music and dance that reach back to and through that which is shown here aren’t better known.
It wasn't! They were called flash dancers, they just fed off one another and did it. They performed it once and just did it. They were unbelievable! mymodernmet.com/cab-calloway-jumpin-jive-nicholas-brothers/
@Gian Ferrari He's not kidding. It's one of the most legendary "one take, follow me" performances in history. Those brothers could read and feed off each other to perfection.
@@septictopix4797 If you look closely they're not *exactly* perfect but as brothers they probably knew each other's skills and steps well enough to be close enough to do something like this in one shot.
This is Jazz/Swing.....Cab Colloway is a legend in Jazz❤ My mom introduced me to early Jazz when I was a kid and now I am in my 30s but 1940s and 50s Jazz is on constant rotation on my playlist. What Rap/Hip Hop is for the black community today Jazz was that back in the day. Jazz is a huge part of black culture and I am always grateful for my mom introducing me to it. I feel so proud of my black heritage when I put on my Jazz records lol❤💯
Jazz should be central to black heritage as it formed the basis of much of what we call modern music. From ragtime through the swing era to modern jazz and rock & roll, black musicians and singers, such as Duke Ellington, Count Basey, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday are still much admired and played today. It also crossed the racial boundary, drawing in white audiences and heavily influencing big band leaders like Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman. With dance programmes achieving high ratings on TV, swing dance is showing a resurgence in popularity.
Yes we are amazing as a people! Harold Nicholas was also married to Dorothy Dandridge. I would love to see your reaction to the Lindy Hop dancers as well. Thanks for this video. 🙏🏽❤️🖤
4:47 During an interview, one of the brothers talked about how this was actually the hardest part of the dance sequence. They worked the hardest on the BOTH of them landing on the tables at the EXACT same time. They worked on making it sound like one person jumping. They were known for that timing..
Sigh, just went to a Japanese Steak House, and the Cletus sitting across from me was wearing a fucking t shirt with the sleeves cut off, and a ball cap. Don't know how his woman could stand to be seen out to dinner with a yokel like that. It's not the damn McDonald's... I've seen people dressed like they were going to a yard sale at graduations and funerals...
Exactly.This was the 40s, WWII etc. So I get the association to Bugs Bunny or any other cartoon from that era.One Tom and Jerry episode that comes to mind is the one where Tom makes a Zoot suit out of drapes. Cool
You have no idea how much I am enjoying you "youngsters" discovering the wonderful music and performers of the past. I am an old man now and have witnessed a tremendous evolution of music in my lifetime. If you are willing to expand your horizons, you will find a lot of joy. It was really cool to see how you enjoyed this old video! The swing era and the big band era were great times for music. Enjoy!
If you have watched the Five Heartbeats remember the man that trained them with their choreography that's the shorter Nicholas Brothers dancing in this video.
Love this. Cab Calloway was such an entertainer. This is big band/swing music. Its awesome. It gets you moving. You should react to couples swing dancing...bet no one nowadays could do it. Fred Astaire was once quoted as saying this was the best dance routine ever recorded on film. He felt his talent could never even hold a candle to theirs, and he was the most famous dancer in history. The Nicholas Brothers deserve a lot more recognition than they get. And most of all....no slutty stage performance to hide the fact that some entertainers have no talent.
It's that feeling you get when you realize your grandparents and great grandparents were cooler than you are!
And it's hard to accept! LOL
My parents loved big band music and Cab Calloway was my dad's second favorite band leader after Glen Miller. Minnie the Moocher was his favorite song and he played it constantly on our old 78 rpm record player. Not bad for a bunch of Wisconsin white people.
@Gabbie Rocks They did and they allowed we kids to develop our own taste too. Whoever got to the living room first got to choose the music. Also whoever was the driver chose the radio station.
druid YEPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
Cooler and more hip than you are or ever will be. Cab was the BEST!! Rock n roll from the '40's
Anyone else getting emotional watching this young brother's discovery, pride and fascination at great talent in his own musical heritage? I wish I could give this video several likes.
Exactly! Seeing him light up watching this was so incredible!
You don’t have to be black to love this or to be happy for him. His reaction is fabulous. It’s great that he has discovered this exceptional talent.
raydeon butt buttt buttttt you just DID give him a like its superb that alll young brothers of any skin type can RE RE discover our superb musicians of yesteryear and allow that rap = crap = hip hop to remain in the ground rite ohn brothers of all skin types:: now play:: we are company:::: pieces
Don't you envy him
I mean really. In our time back in the late 60s and 70s, everybody was putting out great music if you didn't it didn't last long. and they put music like this alongside Disco
This is Jive music, a part of Big Band, and Swing.
It's Jazz 😎. Simple as that
It's a jazz swing during the prohibition era
Big Band Jazz and Jive music fantastic
@@kokosoko8371 nope this was made around 13 years after prohibition ended
Yeah! Some some sort of jive
This Nicholas Brothers performance is considered one of the greatest dance performance in history of big or small screen...
It’s one of the finest things I’ve ever seen in my life.
Fred Astaire said it was the greatest ever put to film.
by notable dancers including Fred Astaire and Gregory Haines
The great Fred Astaire called this the greatest dance routine ever put on film
The tap dancers don't seem that interesting to me, I would much rather hear Cab sing and dance more.
@@jaredf6205 yeah, tap dancers have faded. Not populur any more, which is a shame
And from what I understand, it was all done in JUST ONE take!
high compliment
@@jaredf6205 I get it and to each their own. But The Nicholas Brothers were so very talented as dancers. The sheer strength and agility shows their hard work paid off! Too bad they were so underrated for their talent.
This, my friend, is big band Jazz. A packet of emotion and energy.
Roots in the Caribbean, Central America, and New Orleans. Related to Swing and the Blues.
@@nope24601 But in the end, it's an American Music with roots of many of its first immigrants.
@@CancerArpegius Oh, definitely American. Not sure about the first immigrants. That’s an interesting question, though!
@@nope24601 Jazz is a form of music created when the Ragtime music (otherwise known as the black music at that time) mixed with the many immigrants from the New Orleans in the 1910s. Fun fact: Jazz used to be spelled as Jass because they would have Jass written on the drum and when they perform they could stand in front of the J so it seems like the drums say "ASS".
From a time when dancing was what everybody did. My dad said that they danced in the high school lunchroom every day. He fought in World War 2, to date that.
Doesn't it make you want to pick up your feet? My folks, ordinary people, could dance with such smooth style.
Fred Astaire said this was the greatest tap dance number ever recorded!
And everyone agreed with Fred Astaire. To this day, it is still hailed as the greatest tap routine ever.
They did this with no rehearsal !
"Greatest performance of all time" - not just tap. And I agree. No one can touch this routine or these brothers.
@@Peace-lr7mt He did sometimes rehearse with them Gregory Hines believed that nobody could do this today
@@marielacey7928 ...and in ONE TAKE.
When you consider the unbelievable timing and precision these guys had, the stamina, dancing in perfect unison jumping from one type of surface to another, not to mention the degree of difficulty of the routine itself.....well, this is the most talented performance I have ever seen. My only regret is that these guys lived during a time of extreme prejudice. If they had been doing this today (assuming this style was popular) they'd be superstars.
As a 70 year old white guy these guys and all their cohorts were my heroes in 1969 I heard the Count Basie Orchestra live sent me on a 40 year career playing cabarets across the country never got famous but had a life you can't buy with money
Cab Calloway was in The Blues Brothers and performed his classic “Minnie the Moocher.”
And an OUTSTANDING performance it was too!
Do this. Blues Brothers Version
that was amazing
Cab Calloway and the Nicholas Brothers also appeared in Janet Jackson's All Right video.
Check out the Berry Brothers also very Talented Dancers!
The Nicholas Brothers did this in ONE TAKE with no rehearsal. They were truly amazing.
Very impressive! That is so cool! I'm not sure, but I don't think very many people can do that. That really takes a lot of skill and team work. Not to mention LOTS and LOTS of practice.
Still blows my mind everytime I watch this to see them dance!!
One take yes, but I'm sure there was a lot of rehearsal beforehand
Saw an interview with Fayard (sp?) Nicholas about this routine. He said they had been dancing to this song for a few years (it came out in 1939). So they just had to work out the logistics of the set and the rest came naturally.
Cab calloway was a walkin talkin myth.
The Nicholas Brothers are the G.O.A.T.
Such a legend! Cab Calloway is a Jazz musician, but his style of singing is called “Scat”. Cab was certainly the most famous Scat singer and deservedly so. Listen to "Minnie The Moocher”. You’ll love it. (Btw- strong Bugs Bunny vibes :) )
oh man, Minnie The Moocher I love that song. Didn't Cab Calloway publish a book called the Hepster Dictionary? Just checked yeah he did.
I second the Minnie the Moocher suggestion.
I was first introduced to Cab Calloway in the Blues Brothers movie. Some great music in that movie.
He sang in a lot of styles, 'scat' was the style he preferred and got real popular with. But he sang ballads and blues, too. While he didn't write many he covered several 'I've got you under my skin' 'That old black magic' and 'I'll be home for christmas' were fan favorites for him to sing, he often did so at the middle and end of the performances to let everyone rest a bit from his high energy.
Jazz. Scat. Swing.
The Nicholas Brothers are dance legends. They were honored at the Kennedy Center Honors which was attended by the sitting President Bush senior and the First Lady and every major celebrity of the day. There are alot of old movies like this with brothers and sisters doing things THEY have tried to copy. Fred Astaire literally bowed to these men and called them masters after a friendly tap dance challenge which he quickly conceded to them. He stated that he regrets deeply that they won’t get the credit they deserve in his film, due to racism. You young people need to check out this stuff. Unbelievable and part of your history!
Yes.
Well stated Michael. In addition, these performers did not recognition or money they truly deserved. In addition, they were the precursors to Jackie Wilson, James Brown and Michael Jackson.
Astaire and Gene Kelly were great masters. But clearly the Nicholas Brothers have them beat. They are simply the best dancers - period !
6:47 The moment you realise that your grandparents were way cooler than you are.
WAAAY cooler.
That moment when you realize gramps could break dance. lol
@Gerry C B.S..No one refers to "Cool" with Opium Drugs from the Chinese..The Term is Notorious with Black Men..Stop Attempting to Rewrite History.
I suppose the modern equivalent is "dope". ^_^
It's hard to believe that this is from the 1930's, maybe the early 40's (if I remember correctly), the brothers were amazing.
If a studio were to produce a bio of the Nicholas Brothers, the Jumpin' Jive routine would have to be CGI, simply because no one has been able to reproduce it since.
Absolutely. They were the best ever.
Agreed
I think I broke a leg just watching. Ouch! Those two were amazing!
Exactly - imagine being a stunt double & watching this routine... like, you can't pay me enough to... LOL
Swing jazz is the genre! Cab Calloway was the coolest.
Violet Rose 😹
Swing dancing and the big bands were popular again in the 1990's, it's about time for it to come around again
@Violet Rose Lindy Hop was only one type of dancing to Big Bands. Lindy is a type of Swing dance.
Violet Rose - It’s Swing. The Lindy Hop is only one of many swing dances that people danced to this Big Band Swing Music.
Paul Downer Damn!! Music is timeless. This is the 1920s, 1930s and I’d listen to it today
“Maybe this is their only good song and I shouldn’t waste my time...”
Bruh. You couldn’t be more wrong.
This was the epitome of cool.
And this is Big Band music. Some of the best ish you will ever have the pleasure of hearing.
Yep
Like Cab said: "Make you s dig your jive on the mellow side...Makes you 9 feet tall when you're 4 foot 5"
@@julianblind4624 ...actually its Scat Jazz. Learn some history.
He sang scat with his big band. So it was both !
This is when entertainment had style, class and elegance.
And TALENT!! :-)
Black entertainers were treated very badly.
@@melissagerber7231 The definition of what being a "survivor" means.
Except this song was considered vulgar and lower class at the time because it was performed by Black people. Let's not do the bullshit fetishization of past eras because you like the clothes.
@@czest-d7f doesn't change the fact that it was better--it just means we need to recognize and appreciate it for the spirit, energy and talent on display. We just need to learn from the mistakes of the past, instead of defining things by old hatreds.
This is from “The Big Band” era with bands like Glen Miller, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman etc. They played everything from blues, jazz and ballads. Wonderful music 🎶🎶😎
this :) and Ricky Ricardo :) lol
Cab calloway was one of the greats. Try Minnie the moocher. And done forget he was one of the stars on the blues brothers!!
I'm willing to bet an entire paycheck that he's never heard of the Blues Brothers, nor seen the movie. I love reaction videos, but sometimes I wonder how a person has never heard or seen some of this stuff in their entire lives.
Too common, try Reefer man
Yeah, you need to see the Blues Brothers. Skip the 2nd one, but the 1st is a must see.
I had already seen the Blues Brothers a few times when mom & I watched it together (mom was born in 1931). We were quite a bit into the movie when she suddenly realized "Oh my gosh, that's Cab Calloway!" The realization was before he transformed into his trademark white long-tail tux on stage while stalling for the Blues Brothers to show up. Mom's maiden name was Calloway and she took a lot of crap for it as a child (her being white and racism pretty much out in the open back in the 30s and 40s).
LOVE Minnie the Moocher, BTW.
I loved him on the Blues Brother’s!!
Com'on my brother and sister!!! WE MUST NOT FORGET ABOUT OUR PAST!!! This is JAZZ.... My brother big Band music or SWING music... Mr. Cab Calloway and the Nicholas Brothers were the BEST and most GIFTED human beings in the 20th century. Please, do your homework on these guys and other talented people during their time. The musicians,singers, dancers and actors were all amazing during the harsh, segregation and jim crow era. They are true American Hero's!!! My son is a Jazz lover and plays all wind instrument. He is a second generation medical student and its sad that most of his college friends and medical student don't listen to Jazz music. But, that doesn't stop him from educating them... We have to do a better job as parents to educate our young children about our rich history in America..... GOD BLESS YOU and STAY SAFE!!! ps, Mr. Paul Robeson was another great one in the 20th century... Knowledge is Everything.... Peace
I’m 44 now but I fell in love with big band, early blues jazz back when I was in high school. Alberta Hunter, Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey. Excellent music.
@DAVID FILER Okay!!
@DAVID FILER Hey David, that guy on the alto sax ripped it! Nice.... A great set!!!
@DAVID FILER Yessir!! I just passed it on to my son.. Good stuff! Thanks for the heads up!!!
My first band director turned me on to jazz. I continue to get lost in the sounds, nearly 50 years later ...
Five years after desegregation, he found himself teaching beginning band to 6th graders. He toured in the 50s and 60s from Chicago to New Orleans with whichever band could feed him. He was a brilliant musician, and an incredible man.
To say jazz is color-blind diminishes this power the music has to bring us together. It is, in so many ways, the best of what we can be.
The Nichols Brothers, who performed together all their lives starting as children, were the greatest American dancers of this genre. Fred Astaire lauded them saying they were the best he'd ever seen. YT has more videos of their work. I love them for the immense joy they always show wile dancing, they make the most complex steps look like easy magic.
It's a shame that all the talented black dancers and artists were just seen as side numbers to the white guys. I love Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, but they hid soooooooo much talent from the world.
@@skarbuskreska You're right. It wasn't just Fred or Gene; the whole of the Hollywood studio system and the deeply ingrained racism of American commerce and society hide these shining lights from all our eyes.
@@skarbuskreska absolutely, when they danced with Kelly, they made him look weak! Astaire copied whole dance routines from Bo. It’s heartbreaking
@@thefirm4606 Good thing we have at least the internet now, so their talents cannot be hidden by some studio bosses racist agenda. I've gotten into some French Hip Hop twin brothers the last years. One of them occasionally does the jump into split thing, and people in the comments go crazy over it. And that's my time to ask, do you know the Nicholas Brothers? Funny enough each twins second name is Nicolas.
@@thefirm4606 Who is Bo? Bojangles?
I was lucky to be Cab's backstage security at a concert in Ohio about 30 years ago. It was an honor.
History.
WOW!!!! Congratulations man! That’s cool!
From an old white guy, I enjoy watching you discover the great old music. Enjoy your journey.
So do I, I love when younger people discover all of the stuff from many years ago and can appreciate just how good it was.
It makes me remember discovering this stuff in my grandparents collection. For the name of this music genre, it's either Boogie Woogie or Swing depending on the race of the indended audience. Whitey listed to Swing, the brothers listed to Boogie Woogie. It's all really the transition from Jazz to Big Band, or what happens when poor Jazz musicians get some money behind them.
Probably the greatest tapping dancing scene ever.
Probably??????
The Majic Man Well, I haven’t seen them all. I will say it’s the greatest I’ve ever seen.
None other than Fred Astaire said it was the greatest dance sequence on film.
padfolio Can’t argue with Fred.
The greatest ever seen!!! Hands down...
I'm surprised you haven't heard of this genre at all before, it's one of the most significant parts of black american music history!
Ikr. A shame isnt it
That’s Jazz dude!! That’s BIG BAND JAZZ!!
@@ertfgghhhh shows how a lot of Black Americans have lost their roots
@@bapyongukgukguk2352 truedat
It's a huge part of American history I study Cab Calloway in music school, he influenced as many white musicians as he did Black, he was a true, Titan in the History of our country's music.
The greatest dance sequence ever filmed! Hands down!! Now that is what I call a jaw dropping reaction!
Cab Calloway was still singing 'till his mid 80s - and his voice & style hadn't change a lil' bit! A phenomenal artist!
❤️
What Cab in the 1st Blues Brothers movie. He must have been in his late seventies, early eighties at that point
Wasn’t it Cab Calloway singing Mini The Moocher in that movie? It would be brilliant to see a reaction to that
@@parksideturks21 also did a Janet Jackson video that was in part paying tribute to him and that era!
cab calloway was one of the best showman and entertainers who ever lived the man could out perform guys less than half his age even when he was in his 80s. the nicholas brothers were perhaps the best dance duo in old hollywood. Fred Astaire called this number the best dance sequence ever filmed. the incredible part is this was filmed with no rehearsals and in one take
I don't believe you. Forgive me, I'm not trying to start random fights on the interwebs, but omg I don't see how that could possibly be true. 😳😳😳
@@ellenmarch3095 Everything above is true except the last line, where I think Mr. Weber is slightly misinformed. They obviously had to rehearse the number, and it was not filmed in its entirety in one take. BUT: the famous ‘splits down the stairs’ sequence was NOT rehearsed beforehand, and indeed they did it only once, and it was filmed in ONE take.
@@ronwells2986 Yeah, that's exactly the part I was "nope" on. Not denying they're great; great"est" is subjective and not something I would begrudge someone. But the no rehearsal for all parts thing, (not said but logically implied), nope, nope, nope. Thanks for clarifying which parts were and weren't; I feel better now... 😂❤.
@@ronwells2986 Fayard Nicholas said in an interview that this was not rehearsed and done in one take: ruclips.net/video/dwYK8DEHl9U/видео.html. He may have been exaggerating, but that is what he claimed.
Watch the interview again. The only part Fayard specifically claims was not rehearsed and was shot in one take is the “stair” sequence. This is still an amazing feat.
Great to see this young man open himself up to a prior generations entertainers and being in awe of how great they were.
I really enjoyed, him enjoying👍🏽
I truly hope people understand just how much skill and pure talent this takes! On par with the greatest of dancers, and I'm both jealous and proud!✊🏿
It's sad that he is so shocked to see real performers. Shows what is missing today and that it is largely forgotten.
It's sad that young people don't realise the gift Black artists gave to the world not just rap, but blues, jazz, rock etc.
There ARE real performers like this (maybe not as good as the Nicholas Bros) today, but they don't get the attention and they don't get matched up with Cab Calloway. If you look for it, there are astonishing dance teams and parkour artists that echo what the Nicholas Brothers did.
This is Swing music and Cab is “scatting” when he is singing non-words. This is a very famous bit of cinematography.
Check out Cab’s routine in The Blues Brothers sometime. He entertains the audience when they get restless waiting for Jake and Elwood.
Cab was also in Janet Jackson's music video "Alright." But he came in at the end. The whole video seemed to be a tribute to the type of music Cab did. Her music was different but the style was Cab's.
It's called "scat back jive,or jazz" the father of motown,and grandfather of hip hop/rap.
often shortened to "jive."
I'm not sure I would go so far as to say Motown was the grandfather of Hip-hop. The people at Motown were talented. Maybe Disco was the grandfather of Hip-hop.
@@mikemorgan5394 HepCat way, Dude👍👌😁
So glad to see the younger generations waking up to all the great music, movies , comedy ....... It's a great big world out there
This was a scene from the 1943 movie "Stormy Weather", starring Lena Horne and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (one of the best tap dancers of all time!) The Nicholas Brothers always said they never choreographed anything they did--it was always ad lib!
Corker x Mr Bojangles was a legend, who influenced generations of dancers including Gregory Hines.
That's why the Nicholas brothers were two of the all time best dancers of their day.
That whole movie is a treat.
They obviously choreographed this. That cameras were setup for every detail and the set was built for the routine.
Charles Springer Plus, doing things that are choreographed are considerably harder than making it up on the spot. When I played in a band there was stuff I’d come up with on the drums when we jammed that was incredibly difficult for me to replicate again.
"Swing" is another term used to describe this genre of music. Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller are from that era.
Both guys are in my Fallout playlist. XD
In the Mood and I got a gal from Kalamazoo.
AWESOME SONGS!!!
Him: "Look at them go"
Me: "Yeh just wait until the stairs part"
Right. They were just amazing and stupendous!
Exactly! Me: 'They haven't even gotten to the stairs yet!'
"You haven't seen nothing yet"
EXACTLY what I thought!
The Nicholas Brothers
I'm a 45 year old white woman....grew up listening to Cab Calloway. I had an older dad (he was born in the early 1930s) and he worked for Public Radio and Television and my mom was a music teacher, so we had old school jazz, swing, and classical in my house.
Wanna have your mind blown? This is almost 80 years old.
stop reminding me how old this it makes me so depressed MANAJIDSKDKSFJKSJFK
The genre you're hearing is usually referred to by one of two names: either "swing" or "big band." Along with Count Basie and Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway was probably one of the most popular black bandleaders of the 1930s and 1940s.
You forgot Fats Waller
@@jamesbaggett7223 So I did. Good catch.
There were *lots* of great Black bandleaders. Fletcher Henderson and Billy Eckstein were two others. Incidentally, when Steve Allen starred in the biopic about Benny Goodman, Fletcher Henderson was played by Sammy Davis *Senior*
And what sounded weird was "scat", which when done properly is pure magic, and Cab Calloway was the greatest Magician there ever was.
Also Chick Webb, in th 1930s he lead the house band at the NY night club The Savoy, were swing originated.
This is the artist who started his own genre called Jive. It came out of the big band and swing genres.
This was the music of my parents' generation. They loved Cab Calloway, Tommy Dorsey, and Glenn Miller, and Big Band swing. The people of that generation lived. I mean they lived life to the fullest.
I like big band music. Though it is even before my time. I am 67. My grandmother was a music teacher and she enjoyed playing this type music when I was growing up. All types of music was played by her too.
My parents met at a USO dance like so many others then & danced all their lives!
What a beautiful time
The scene is from the film “Stormy Weather”. The dance sequence by the Nicholas Brothers is considered the greatest dance sequence captured on film.
that's right! that dance sequence even inspired Fred Astair. He gave them props as noting that they were the best dancers he's ever encountered.
I was wondering if this was from "Stormy Weather".
It's called "Scat." It's kinda the granddy of rap.
Scat is the style of singing at the beginning. The music as a hole is called Jive.
Cab had bars for days!
It's three genres in one, Cabs speciality, scat, jive and swing 😊
It’s a sub genre of Jazz.
This is the best dance sequence ever filmed in many people’s opinion. If not for the fact they were black men in white Hollywood the Nicholas Brothers would have been considered the best dancers ever and would have gotten more of the kind of movies they deserved. Fred Astaire, and Gene Kelly both acknowledged how great they were. There’s a dance routine that Kelly did with them on film should you care to check that out.
Being raise by my Grandparents, I was exposed to a lot of stuff from this era and before, and seeing the awe, wonder, and feel of magic on this man's face brought a little of that back to me.
Me too, I so appreciated the music from that place and time. 🎶🎶💕
Yesssss..... Universal reaction to phenomenal talent!!!.. I've seen this so many times but each time I'm in awe! Can you imagine being right there when that went down?!
Look for him on "The Blues Brothers," with his classic, "Minnie the Moocher."
i was just gona say till i saw your comment, nice
You forgot "St James Infirmary Blues" and "Reefer Man"
Definitely one of the best songs and choreography in The Blues Brothers.
Minnie the Moocher is my favorite.
Named an american bulldog pup after minnie the moocher. She lived up to her name!
It's "Big Band Jazz", or "Swing Jazz" with "Scat" vocals.
I thought it was called Big Band Era
The vocals in the video is called “Scatting” and Cab Calloway is known for that
I love that style
Yep used to watch my mom n dad dance to this ! SURPRISED THE HELL OUTTA ME THE FIRST TIME I SAW THEM DANCING TO IT 😳🤯😱😂👍
This is the popular music of my parents' generation. There's an excellent documentary on RUclips about the Nicholas brothers.
Back when talent was talent and music was music. And the artists knew how to dress!
In my opinion this is one of the best dance performances ever. utterly fantastic.
I remember the first time I saw the Nicholas Brothers as a child. I couldn't keep my jaw closed. Amazing stuff.
I wish I could "love" this post instead of just "liking" it!
7:40: Notice how the Nicholas Brothers go from a split to standing up _without_ touching the floor to get back to their feet!
They must have had steel lungs! Maybe the scenes were filmed in segments? How can you tap and squat and run up and down without breathing? WOW! Two of a kind!
@@GJoeJ010841 this was filmed in one take, with multiple cameras. They were that good.
Do some reading on the Harlem Renaissance. Writers like Langston Hughes and W.E.B DuBois, musicians like Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington led an intellectual and cultural movement that exploded on the scene in Harlem, NY and defined African-American ethnicity.
Read the Autobiography of Malcolm X and hear him describe Harlem after he got out of prison and started his ministry with Nation of Islam in the fifties. This was only a few years earlier. Just like you can descibe the late 1960 and 1970s as a turning point for Black entertainment with the develpment of Blaxpolitation films with Blacks playing all kind of roles and directing. But you can also see the great decay of the inner cities in major cities during that time as well.
Don't forget James P. Johnson, Thomas "Fats" Waller, Willie "The Lion" Smith, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and many others.
@@SheridanJazz Great musicians!! Yessir, we can't forget them...
@Evelyn Collins Agreed..100%
This was the big band era. My parents were young adults and living in Virginia in the late '30s. They loved to dance, this was their music. They saw Cab Calloway twice in concert. What a privilege. Look for his rendition of "Minnie the Moocher". Dad would sing it to me as a lullabye.
The first time I heard this music, my grandmother introduced it to me when I was 15. I have been in love with it ever since. She used to tell me how my grandaddy and her used to win dance competitions in the 20's and 30's.
Cool ❤️
Is this one of the many times we realize that our grandparents were WAY cooler 😎then we are!
Doing the splits and getting up repeatedly with no hands!? Impossible-except they did it! Genius physicality.
Can you imagine how cool it would be to see that live in that club setting wow
I absolutely ;love this sequence, I don't have an idea of how many times I've seen it, never get tired of it. And one thing I especially love about your video is that you are in the corner and the scene we're watching is large and we can see it so easily see it!
30's and 40's were one of the best times for music. That era had everything - extremely talented singers and dancers, wonderful bands and one thing that modern music severly lacks - a class.
This is a really old video....1943! That was four years before I was born, so this was during my 96-yr. old mother's youth. Her being a tap dancer made the Nicholas Brothers some of her favorite tap dancers. This genre was called jazz/swing. It was great to see you enjoying that as even I did when I was a young girl and my mother used to watch all these old black and white movies with dancing and big bands.
I remember reading an article years ago where Hollywood wanted to make a movie about the Nicholas Brothers, but they couldn't find 2 dancers good enough. I would agree.
Susan
Too late now, but there were two Brothers who might have been able do just that. Can't recall their names, but one of them was in a few movies, and the other one either quit, faded out or did some Broadway shows on his own. Can you help me? Can't recall their name. He also did a Tribute to Sammy Davis Jr., who had passed on. AH! its just came to me! They were of Hines, Hines & Dad. Dad dropped out and it was the two Hines Brothers, but ;Gregory became the star, and sadly, has passed on. The Hines Brothers as the Nicholas Brothers? Would have loved to see that movie! Any input?
@@GJoeJ010841 Gregory Hines was the only one I can think of who could've come close to that performance. But I don't think that even he could've matched it--especially not the repeated jumps into splits, which takes an unearthly level of strength and athleticism. The Nicholas brothers must've been made out of spring steel.
@@UncleDansVintageVinyl Yes. I saw Hines once talking about that. He and his brother planned on being the next Nicholas Brothers act, but he said one day they both realized they were never going to match the Nicholas Brothers and decide to move on to other things.
Love seeing a youngster discover the GOAT Nicholas Brothers. :)
Unbelievable talent....loved your expression all the way through 😲
Cab Calloway and his Orchestra replaced Duke Ellington as the house band in New York’s Cotton Club in the 1930s. The Nicholas Brothers dance act headlined the club from when they were pre-teen. You’re seeing here the best kind of live performers from that era. Real pros.
He also did a great song called "Minnie the Moocher." Not to mention the movie with Eddie Murphy "The Cotton Club."
Heard about Minnie the Moocher from my Grandmother.
Minnie the Moocher he does a good showing in the original Blues Brothers movie
@@Sportsref13 Thats where I first heard that song - wonderful.
@@danic9304 he makes a cameo appearance with Janet Jackson in her Alright video at around 6:45 mark near the end.. ruclips.net/video/t8UidwWPin4/видео.html
You know this routine had to take a lot of practice but even still, there is no one else who could have pulled it off BUT the Nicholas Brothers. Their natural affinity for dance was mind-blowing. If Fred Astaire said THIS was the best dance routine ever filmed... THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO SAY.
This was my mom and dad's music, they danced like this into their 70's, my mom in her poodle skirt, and my dad in his zoot suit, check out the black swing music recordings from the 1940's
There's more class and talent in the video being reviewed than in all of modern day Hollywood
Love Cab Calloway, although he was more of my mother's era. And the Nicholas Brothers...it's hard to even TALK after witnessing what they did! It literally leaves you speechless! You definitely can't find THIS level of talent today. It's so GREAT, though, that you, as a young man, of a completely different generation, are opening yourself to this older music, and are finding that you like it, as well. GREAT reaction!
This is my favorite song and dance routine in movie history. Its brilliant. The Nicholas Brothers were mesmerizing and Cab Calloway, obviously a legend. What's even more amazing, this was filmed in one take.
It’s called ‘scat’. When Cab just blasts out those rapid-fire syllables. Mel Tormé is another scat man.
Don't forget Scatman Caruthers.
Mel Torme, the Velvet Fog.
Some of the female singers did scat, also. Ella Fitzgerald, of course, because she could do anything. The concept was somewhat like rap, a display of verbal ability, but you were also supposed to be imitating the sound of instruments at certain points. Sarah Vaughn, a bunch of others. You will hear scat singers on jazz channels or older music channels.
mel torme was a crooner I think?
Those Betty Boop cartoons in which Cab Calloway was involved were by the Fleischer Studios, who also did Popeye cartoons. Popeye was another scat man. ruclips.net/video/QoiQw-4C9QI/видео.html
As an old timer I recall this to be generally called Jive, which was derived from the days of big band jazz. Jazz bands, the 'big bands' in live performances at clubs, on the radio were the hot deal for many audiences then.
And the music had incredible drive: utterly propulsive. Also, the level of musicianship was completely top-notch. All those cats could play.
I’m old and this was before my time and this is one of the best performances I have ever seen.
Cab Calloway the king of scat! Loved him the blues brothers. Minnie the moocher😁
I needed to see this reaction, because I knew he would love it. I love showing people the Nicholas Brothers, but I can't get back that feeling of the first time I saw them dance. Incredible.
It's worth noting that the Nicholas Brothers' performance was unrehearsed and filmed in a single take.
Remember, whenever any music was put on film at that time it was all done at the time. There was no filming and redoing the sound later to fit in.
Tap dancing is a highly underrated form. When done right (like here), it can leave you with your jaw on the floor. And just think, this kind of thing was _common_ back in the 30's and 40's.
The Nicholas Brothers were anything but common in their skill and art form! 😅 I’d argue that a lot of street dancing today is jaw dropping too; it’s a shame (probably a sin) that the deep, deep roots of African American music and dance that reach back to and through that which is shown here aren’t better known.
And earlier...
Cab is a Black Icon, pioneering black entertainment on stage, music, and cinema. RIP Cab
My favorite thing about this scene was it was not choreographed or rehearsed. They just did it. In one take. So good!
It wasn't! They were called flash dancers, they just fed off one another and did it. They performed it once and just did it. They were unbelievable! mymodernmet.com/cab-calloway-jumpin-jive-nicholas-brothers/
@Gian Ferrari He's not kidding. It's one of the most legendary "one take, follow me" performances in history.
Those brothers could read and feed off each other to perfection.
Sorry but it's impossible for two or more people to precisely synchronize dance moves without rehearsal or choreography.
@@septictopix4797 If you look closely they're not *exactly* perfect but as brothers they probably knew each other's skills and steps well enough to be close enough to do something like this in one shot.
@Gian Ferrari nope. They talked it over with Cab and the director, and did it in one take.
This is Jazz/Swing.....Cab Colloway is a legend in Jazz❤ My mom introduced me to early Jazz when I was a kid and now I am in my 30s but 1940s and 50s Jazz is on constant rotation on my playlist. What Rap/Hip Hop is for the black community today Jazz was that back in the day. Jazz is a huge part of black culture and I am always grateful for my mom introducing me to it. I feel so proud of my black heritage when I put on my Jazz records lol❤💯
Awesome!!
Jazz should be central to black heritage as it formed the basis of much of what we call modern music. From ragtime through the swing era to modern jazz and rock & roll, black musicians and singers, such as Duke Ellington, Count Basey, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday are still much admired and played today. It also crossed the racial boundary, drawing in white audiences and heavily influencing big band leaders like Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman. With dance programmes achieving high ratings on TV, swing dance is showing a resurgence in popularity.
Yes we are amazing as a people! Harold Nicholas was also married to Dorothy Dandridge. I would love to see your reaction to the Lindy Hop dancers as well. Thanks for this video. 🙏🏽❤️🖤
I think there are some videos on YT of real Lindy Hop dancers. Talk about athletes!
4:47
During an interview, one of the brothers talked about how this was actually the hardest part of the dance sequence.
They worked the hardest on the BOTH of them landing on the tables at the EXACT same time.
They worked on making it sound like one person jumping.
They were known for that timing..
That was back when people used to dress up and go out for dinner and a nightclub show. The Big Band era.
Sigh, just went to a Japanese Steak House, and the Cletus sitting across from me was wearing a fucking t shirt with the sleeves cut off, and a ball cap. Don't know how his woman could stand to be seen out to dinner with a yokel like that. It's not the damn McDonald's... I've seen people dressed like they were going to a yard sale at graduations and funerals...
Now it’s fuck the dinner and into the toilet for a big line of Charlie
Most of the good old cartoons were made during this same era, so the music reminds us of cartoons. Me too! It was super good!
Exactly.This was the 40s, WWII etc. So I get the association to Bugs Bunny or any other cartoon from that era.One Tom and Jerry episode that comes to mind is the one where Tom makes a Zoot suit out of drapes. Cool
After that cartoons used his music in then.
Carl Stalling composed the music for the old Warner Brothers cartoons and he was absolutely influenced by this music
The whole scene is pure magic! Energy, grace, a joyous celebration of life, exquisite musicianship, sublime!
You have no idea how much I am enjoying you "youngsters" discovering the wonderful music and performers of the past. I am an old man now and have witnessed a tremendous evolution of music in my lifetime. If you are willing to expand your horizons, you will find a lot of joy. It was really cool to see how you enjoyed this old video! The swing era and the big band era were great times for music. Enjoy!
Cab Calloway was so damn cool! And the Nicholas brothers were amazing.
This NEVER gets old for me. I could watch the Nicholas Bros. all day...amazing dancers.
Genre? "The Swing Era", 1935-45. One of the greatest periods in history.
“Minnie the Moocher.” Cab Calloway check it out
Jazz back when it was still young peoples music.
I grew up with this stuff. Swing was the overall type of music with scat and jazz mixed in for the most unique performances you will ever enjoy.
The singing is scatting and big band sounding music! Killer! Cab Calloway was amazing. Big fan!
NICOLAS BROTHERS BEST TAP DANCERS EVER!!
"Minnie The Moocher". Original AND Blues Brothers
That was a great song that he did.
Yes!
If you have watched the Five Heartbeats remember the man that trained them with their choreography that's the shorter Nicholas Brothers dancing in this video.
His name was Harold Nicholas. The otrher brother's name is Fayard Nicholas. He was the older of the two.
"WTF did I just watch" is the only proper reaction to seeing this dance sequence for the first time. Or the 20th time.
Everytime this pops in my recommended, I also watch it again.
Mine is ouch cause all those splits down the slide? Nope!
Yea, the Nichols Brothers were probably some of the best tappers to date. And yes, I am including Astaire, Hines, Kelly, and Glover.
Love this. Cab Calloway was such an entertainer. This is big band/swing music. Its awesome. It gets you moving. You should react to couples swing dancing...bet no one nowadays could do it. Fred Astaire was once quoted as saying this was the best dance routine ever recorded on film. He felt his talent could never even hold a candle to theirs, and he was the most famous dancer in history. The Nicholas Brothers deserve a lot more recognition than they get. And most of all....no slutty stage performance to hide the fact that some entertainers have no talent.