He was born in Spring Gulley, SC, USA, and raised in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended South Philadelphia High School with Frankie Avalon and Fabian. The wife of American Bandstand's host Dick Clark suggested the name "Chubby Checker" to Evans as a take-off on then-popular singer Fats Domino. In 1964, he married Catharina Lodders, a Dutch girl who had been Miss World in 1962.
His material during his 1960s heyday was recorded for Cameo-Parkway Records and along with the label's other material, became unavailable after the early 1970s because of the company's internal legal disputes. For decades, almost all compilations of Checker's hits consisted of re-recordings.
Birdland
Chubby Checker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[We like Birdland]
[We like Birdland]
[We like Birdland]
[We like Birdland]
Oh Yeah
[We like Birdland]
[We like Birdland]
Yeah come on baby and fly with me
Just as easy as a ABC
It's got the rythmn and the rock and roll
A little cha cha gonna move my soul
[We like Birdland]
[We like Birdland]
[We like Birdland]
[We like Birdland]
[We like Birdland]
Yeah come on baby and we're gonna swing
Come on and show me how you sake that thing
Look at Susie who lives next door
She can shake it but she shake it more
[We like Birdland]
[We like Birdland]
[We like Birdland]
[We like Birdland]
[We like Birdland]
Now fly whoo, fly whoo, fly
By jove I think she's got it
[Shup a doo wop a shup a doo way]
[Shup a doo wop a shup a doo way]
[Shup a doo wop a shup a doo way]
[Shup a doo wop a shup a doo way]
[Shup a doo wop a shup a doo way]
[Shup a doo wop a shup a doo way]
Come on baby
[Shup a doo wop a shup a doo way]
Birdland Susie
[Shup a doo wop a shup a doo way]
Do it sis
[Shup a doo wop a shup a doo way]
Easy baby
[Shup a doo wop a shup a doo way]
Momma Momma let's Birdland now
Sly, fly, ar right, I'm satisfied
Momma Momma Birdland now
I like Birdland
You like Birdland
He likes Birdland
She likes Birdland
We like Birdland
The song Birdland by Chubby Checker carries an exhilarating beat and a repetitively catchy chorus. The lyrics revolve around celebrating the music and dance culture of Birdland, a historic jazz club in New York City. The song emphasizes the vibrant rhythm and beat that exudes from the club, inviting the listener to join in and "fly" with the music. The line "Just as easy as ABC" emphasizes the simplicity of the dance moves, emphasizing that anyone can join in with the beat. The phrases "shake that thing" and "she can shake it but she shake it more" encourage the listeners to let loose, forget their worries, and dance to their heart's content. The lyrics employ a mix of exclamatory phrases such as "Oh Yeah" and "By Jove I think she's got it," which add to the celebratory tone of the song.
Overall, the song paints a picture of a lively dance club where music-lovers can let their hair down and dance without inhibitions. The enthusiasm and excitement that emerged from Birdland's jazz scene, as illustrated in the song, continues to inspire music lovers and dancers around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
We like Birdland
Chubby Checker and his group really enjoy Birdland as a musical performance venue
Oh Yeah
Emphasis on how much Chubby Checker and his group enjoy Birdland
Yeah come on baby and fly with me
Chubby Checker is inviting someone to join him in enjoying the music at Birdland
Just as easy as a ABC
It won't take much effort to appreciate the music at Birdland
It's got the rhythm and the rock and roll
Birdland has a great musical style and beat
A little cha cha gonna move my soul
The specific genre of cha cha is especially pleasing to Chubby Checker's group's spirits at Birdland
Yeah come on baby and we're gonna swing
Chubby Checker is encouraging someone to dance and have a good time to the swing music at Birdland
Come on and show me how you shake that thing
Checker wants others to join him in enjoying the music and dancing at Birdland
Look at Susie who lives next door
Reference to a neighbor who is a skilled dancer and enjoys Birdland as much as Chubby Checker does
She can shake it but she shake it more
Susie is an expert dancer who is especially remarkable when dancing to the music at Birdland
Now fly whoo, fly whoo, fly
Invitation to dance freely, without inhibition to the great music at Birdland
By jove I think she's got it
A reference to Susie mastering the use of her body movement on the dance floor
Come on baby
Chubby Checker is encouraging someone to join him on the dance floor to enjoy the music at Birdland
Birdland Susie
The type of music being played and the person who thoroughly knows how to dance to it
Do it sis
Encouraging expression and good vibes to the beat of the Birdland music
Easy baby
Relax and enjoy the music and atmosphere at Birdland
Momma Momma let's Birdland now
Excited invitation to go to Birdland right away
Sly, fly, ar right, I'm satisfied
Using rhyming words and lyrics to convey enjoyment of the music at Birdland
Momma Momma Birdland now
Continuation of the enthusiastic urging to go to Birdland immediately
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PATTI SMITH, RICHARD A SOHL, LEONARD J KAYE, IVAN KRAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind