Hoochie coochie
Encyclopedia
The Hoochie coochie was a sexually provocative belly dance
that originated at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876. It became wildly popular during and after the Chicago World's Fair
in 1893. Described by the New York Journal in 1893 as "Neither dancing of the head nor the feet," it was a belly dance performed by women of (or presented as having) an Eastern European gypsy heritage, often as part of travelling 'side shows'. Gooch, Goochie or Gootchie was apparently already a Southern US term for a woman's private parts, and hoochie coochie has been suggested as referring directly to sex
.
Since the dance was performed by women, a ‘goochie man’ either watched them or ran the show. Alternatively, from the directly sexual meaning of goochie goochie, he was successful with women. This inspired the classic blues song "Hoochie Coochie Man
", written by Willie Dixon
for Muddy Waters
, and covered by numerous musicians since. The dance was still popular at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition: the World's Fair
of 1904, but had all but disappeared by the Second World War; the song was therefore harking back to an earlier 'golden' era.
Belly dance
Belly dance or Bellydance is a "Western"-coined name for a traditional "Middle Eastern" dance, especially raqs sharqi . It is sometimes also called Middle Eastern dance or Arabic dance in the West, or by the Greco-Turkish term çiftetelli...
that originated at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876. It became wildly popular during and after the Chicago World's Fair
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
in 1893. Described by the New York Journal in 1893 as "Neither dancing of the head nor the feet," it was a belly dance performed by women of (or presented as having) an Eastern European gypsy heritage, often as part of travelling 'side shows'. Gooch, Goochie or Gootchie was apparently already a Southern US term for a woman's private parts, and hoochie coochie has been suggested as referring directly to sex
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
.
Since the dance was performed by women, a ‘goochie man’ either watched them or ran the show. Alternatively, from the directly sexual meaning of goochie goochie, he was successful with women. This inspired the classic blues song "Hoochie Coochie Man
Hoochie Coochie Man
"Hoochie Coochie Man" is a blues standard written by Willie Dixon and first performed by Muddy Waters in 1954 . The song was a major hit upon its release, reaching #8 on Billboard magazine's Black Singles chart...
", written by Willie Dixon
Willie Dixon
William James "Willie" Dixon was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. A Grammy Award winner who was proficient on both the Upright bass and the guitar, as well as his own singing voice, Dixon is arguably best known as one of the most prolific songwriters...
for Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
, and covered by numerous musicians since. The dance was still popular at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition: the World's Fair
Louisiana Purchase Exposition
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the Saint Louis World's Fair, was an international exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States in 1904.- Background :...
of 1904, but had all but disappeared by the Second World War; the song was therefore harking back to an earlier 'golden' era.