"BOOMPS-A-DAISY"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 66, 25 September 1939, Page 6

"BOOMPS-A-DAISY"

TOMMIES' NEW SONG

POPULAR LONDON DANCE

Tile Lambeth. Walk .started it all. Then, came "The Chestnut Tree,'' the "Palais and others. Now we have "Boomps-a-DaisyV" 1939 successor to "Tipperary,'' according to a London cable. "Boomps-iHDaisy'' is noisj-, and does not make too great demands on the intellect. The words of the song are intriguint> and not difficult merciy:— Hands—knees—and Boomps-a-Daisy ! I like a bustle that bends. Hands—knees —and Boomps-a-iDaisy ! What is a- Boomp between friends? Hands —knees—Oh! don't be lazy, Let's make the party a Wow. Now then hands—knees—and Boomps-a-Daisy Turn ycur partner and bow, Bow-Wow! "Boomps-a-Daisy"* came into being as the resujt of a joke. M. Pierre? and Miss Doris Lavelle f well-known English dancing instructors, did the basic movements of the dance in fun, to the music of the valeta, at a tango competition in February this year. Annette Mills was watching and saw the possibility of creating a new dancc introducing the waltz movement instead of the walk. She asked Pierre where he got the idea. He replied that he had seen the steps used by couplcs in many ballrooms during the winter season, and suggested that the steps might easily date back to the 'nineties.

The sequence oi' tho dance was polished up. Annette Mills wrote words and music to suit the steps and went off with her song to Lawrence Wright, the publisher.

The dance and song were fir&t tried out at a cocktail party during tlie dance teachers' festival at Blackpool in May. Eric Foster introduced the number for the first time, to the South of England at Brighton during the Whitsun week-end. Now it is appearing in London ballrooms. Holiday shows have introduced it into their programmes. Dancc bands have made records of it. Annette Mills and Eric Foster have paired up and arc kept busy* boomps-a- daisying day and night.

Like the Lambeth Walk, it is sweeping England and f reset to march ing lime, is sending its cheering messages over the soil of France as British Tommies swing along the highways, shoulder to shoulder with the poilus of France.