Marie Phillips

When I was eleven and twelve, I was obsessed with the Blues Brothers. I spent my birthday money when I turned twelve on a tape of the Blues Brothers soundtrack and a video of the Princess Bride. What can I tell you, I had incredibly good taste. My friend Rebecca and I used to put the Blues Brothers tape on and dance on the top bunk of her bunk beds wearing sunglasses. Although not in the dark with half a tank of gas, and Belsize Park was considerably further than 106 miles from Chicago. I would still like to do this, only Rebecca is now an architect with two kids and lives in Edinburgh, and no longer has bunk beds. Also, I am too tall to dance on the top bunk. She probably is too.

In this great scene, the Blues Brothers, who are on a mission from God, have come to Ray’s Music Exchange to buy instruments for the band. Ray Charles is kind enough to play this song to demonstrate to them that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the keyboard they are trying to get a discount on. Outside, the crowds of people who are sensible enough to spend their time hanging around outside Ray’s Music Exchange in case Ray takes it upon himself to demonstrate a keyboard, throw themselves into a dance routine that they have clearly been practising for this very eventuality.

If you like dancing, and have some bunk beds to hand, this is a nice easy dance to learn and join in, because it has instructions in the lyrics of the music itself. It has been well thought-through.

I would also like to voice my special appreciation for the children who are dancing on the cars. They are all in their forties now.

Twist it. Shake it shake it shake it shake it baby.