“BOOMPS=A=DAISY”

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20911, 16 September 1939, Page 15 (Supplement)

“BOOMPS=A=DAISY”

TOMMIES’ NEW SONG SUCCESSOR TO “TIPPERARY” The Lambeth Walk started it all. Then came "The Chestnut Tree,” the “Palais Glide,” and others. Now we have “Boomps-a-Daisy,” 1939 successor to “Tipperary,” according to a London cable. “Boomps-a-Daisy” is infectious, noisy, and does not make too great demands on the intellect. The words ol' the song are intriguing and not difficult, merely:— Hands—knees —and Boomps-a-Daisy--1 like a bustle that bends. Hands—knees—and Boomps-a-Daisy! What-is a Boonrp between friends? Hands—knees—lO'h ! don't be lazy, Let's make the parly a Wow. Now then hands—knees—and Boomps-a-Daisy. Turn to your partner and bow, Bow-wow! Started as a Joke “Boomps-a-Daisy” came into being as the result of a joke. M. Pierre and Miss Doris Lavelle, 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 dance 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 couples in many ballrooms during the winter season, and suggested that the steps might easily date back to the ’nineties. The sequence of the 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. Sweeping England and Franca The dance and song were first tried out at a cocktail party during the 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. Like the Lambeth Walk, it is sweeping England and, reset to marching time, is sending its cheering message over the soil of France as British Tommies swing along the highways, shoulder to shoulder with the poilus of France.