The label's second most-successful all-female singing group after The Supremes, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas were known for a churchier, more southern-styled soul than the Supremes, as typified in Motown hits such as "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave", "Jimmy Mack", "I'm Ready For Love", "My Baby Loves Me", "Nowhere to Run", and, their signature song, "Dancing in the Street".
The group had its origins in Detroit, Michigan in 1957, and had initially gone by the name The Del-Phis. It originally was a quartet comprising childhood friends Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford, Annette Beard, and original lead singer Gloria Williams. Williams left after a failed single on the Checkmate label, leaving the quartet as a trio. They changed their name to The Vells signing a deal with Motown's Mel-o-dy label, and singing background for established Motown performers such as Mary Wells and Marvin Gaye before signing a new deal with Motown's Gordy label on September 21, 1962, after which the group changed its name to Martha and the Vandellas.
In 1964, the Vandellas' lineup changed with Betty Kelley replacing Sterling. In 1967, Kelley was fired and was replaced by Martha's younger sister, Sandra "Lois" Reeves. In 1969, Ashford was also fired and replaced by Sandra Tilley. The lineup of the Reeves sisters and Tilley continued after Martha's return from an institution after suffering a nervous breakdown. The group disbanded following a farewell concert, held at Detroit's Cobo Hall on December 21, 1972., however, Reeves still performs with sister Lois and another Reeves sister, Delphine.
Dancing In The Streets
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancing in the street
They're dancing in Chicago (dancing in the street)
Down in New Orleans (dancing in the street)
In New York City (dancing in the street)
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swinging, swaying, and records playing
Dancing in the street
Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy, grab a girl
Everywhere around the world
They'll be dancing (dancing in the street)
They're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
It's an invitation across the nation
A chance for folks to meet
There'll be laughing, singing, and music swinging
Dancing in the street
Philadelphia, PA (dancing in the street)
Baltimore and D.C. now (dancing in the street)
Can't forget the Motor City (dancing in the street)
All we need is music, sweet music (sweet music)
There'll be music everywhere (everywhere)
There'll be swinging, swaying, and records playing
Dancing in the street
Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on, every guy, grab a girl
Everywhere around the world
They're dancing
They're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Way down in L.A. (dancing in the street)
Every day, they're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Let's form a big, strong line (dancing in the street)
Get in time, we're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Across the ocean blue (dancing in the street)
Me and you, we're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
The song "Dancing in the Street" by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas has become a classic anthem celebrating the joy of music and dance. The lyrics are mostly an invitation to people everywhere to come and dance together in the streets, across the country and the world, regardless of their background or clothing. The verses reference different cities in the US, highlighting the universality of the experience of dancing and the power of music to bring people together. The chorus repeats the phrase "dancing in the street" multiple times, conveying a sense of euphoria and ecstasy.
The song was released in 1964 during the height of the Civil Rights Movement and it's believed that the lyrics had a subversive connotation, calling for people to reclaim public space and express themselves through dance, which could be seen as a form of protest against social norms and segregation. However, the song can also be interpreted as a simple celebration of life and music.
Overall, "Dancing in the Street" is a timeless song that has been covered by many artists and featured in numerous movies, commercials, and TV shows. Its catchy melody and upbeat rhythm have made it a favorite among fans of Motown and classic soul music.
Line by Line Meaning
Calling out around the world
Reaching out to everyone everywhere
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Are you prepared for a new rhythm?
Summer's here and the time is right
It's summertime and the moment is perfect
For dancing in the street
To dance outside with everyone
They're dancing in Chicago (dancing in the street)
People are dancing in Chicago's streets
Down in New Orleans (dancing in the street)
People are dancing in the streets of New Orleans
In New York City (dancing in the street)
People are dancing in the streets of New York City
All we need is music, sweet music
The only requirement is great music
There'll be music everywhere
Music will be all around
There'll be swinging, swaying, and records playing
There will be dance moves, melodies, and DJ tracks
Dancing in the street
Dancing with everyone outside
Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear
No dress code for the event
Just as long as you are there
You only need to show up
So come on, every guy, grab a girl
Men should invite females to dance
Everywhere around the world
This is happening globally
It's an invitation across the nation
An open-handed invitation to everyone
A chance for folks to meet
An opportunity for folks to meet
There'll be laughing, singing, and music swinging
People will laugh, sing, and enjoy music
Philadelphia, PA (dancing in the street)
People in Philadelphia are dancing in the streets
Baltimore and D.C. now (dancing in the street)
People in Baltimore and Washington D.C. are dancing in the streets
Can't forget the Motor City (dancing in the street)
Detroit, Motor City, residents are also dancing in the streets
They're dancing
People are dancing
Way down in L.A. (dancing in the street)
Los Angelinos are dancing in the streets
Every day, they're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
This happens every day; people dance in the streets
Let's form a big, strong line (dancing in the street)
Formation of a large group of people for stronger unity during dancing
Get in time, we're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Everyone is in sync while they dance together in the streets
Across the ocean blue (dancing in the street)
This happens across the ocean too
Me and you, we're dancing in the street (dancing in the street)
Me and you are also dancing together in the streets
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Marvin Gaye, William Stevenson, Ivy Hunter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ThatsJustMyBabyDaddy
They were literally singing for our civil rights. ❤️
@debcrockett366
I think they were singing about freedom in America & fun in the Summertime..NO POLITICS!
@danf321
There is someone to politically charge every subject.
@lexluger3490
Lol, it's literally what they were singing about. The song was a euphemism for civil rights rallies happening at the time. 😅 Almost 60 years later and most people are still clueless. America treated black Americans like shit for a very long time, face it, it did happened. Want to fix it? Then fix it. It's not political, it's factual.
@cressapellom4205
@@debcrockett366uh no. It was about civil rights. A simple Google search will tell you that.
@ericafair9983
Now, we can literally let that go because whispers we's free now. 😮
@DudemeisterNL
I absolute love that the timeline I live in has given us Motown!
@hansg6336
It's hard to exaggerate how much influence the Motown sound has had on American pop music. Great stuff to listen to a thousand years from now.
@nickwride2023
The Motown Sound will live for a long time.
@cleaningtim
I could not agree more!