The above biography taken from: Wikipedia - Rufus Thomas
The Crown Prince of Dance; an early rock & roll DJ, Memphis soul icon and creator of the Funky Chicken.
Artist Biography (below) by Richie Unterberger
Few of rock & roll's founding figures are as likable as Rufus Thomas. From the 1940s onward, he has personified Memphis music; his small but witty cameo role in Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train, a film which satirizes and enshrines the city's role in popular culture, was entirely appropriate. As a recording artist, he wasn't a major innovator, but he could always be depended upon for some good, silly, and/or outrageous fun with his soul dance tunes. He was one of the few rock or soul stars to reach his commercial and artistic peak in middle age, and was a crucial mentor to many important Memphis blues, rock, and soul musicians.
Thomas was already a professional entertainer in the mid-'30s, when he was a comedian with the Rabbit Foot Minstrels. He recorded music as early as 1941, but really made his mark on the Memphis music scene as a deejay on WDIA, one of the few black-owned stations of the era. He also ran talent shows on Memphis' famous Beale Street that helped showcase the emerging skills of such influential figures as B.B. King, Bobby Bland, Junior Parker, Ike Turner, and Roscoe Gordon.
Thomas had his first success as a recording artist in 1953 with "Bear Cat," a funny answer record to Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog." It made number three on the R&B charts, giving Sun Records its first national hit, though some of the sweetness went out of the triumph after Sun owner Sam Phillips lost a lawsuit for plagiarizing the original Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller tune. Thomas, strangely, would make only one other record for Sun, and recorded only sporadically throughout the rest of the 1950s.
Thomas and his daughter Carla would become the first stars for the Stax label, for whom they recorded a duet in 1959, "'Cause I Love You" (when the company was still known as Satellite). In the '60s, Carla would become one of Stax's biggest stars. On his own, Rufus wasn't as successful as his daughter, but issued a steady stream of decent dance/novelty singles.
These were not deep or emotional statements, or meant to be. Vaguely prefiguring elements of funk, the accent was on the stripped-down groove and Rufus' good-time vocals, which didn't take himself or anything seriously. The biggest by far was "Walking the Dog," which made the Top Ten in 1963, and was covered by the Rolling Stones on their first album.
Thomas hit his commercial peak in the early '70s, when "Do the Funky Chicken," "(Do The) Push and Pull," and "The Breakdown" all made the R&B Top Five. As the song titles themselves make clear, funk was now driving his sound rather than blues or soul. Thomas drew upon his vaudeville background to put them over on-stage with fancy footwork that displayed remarkable agility for a man well into his 50s. The collapse of the Stax label in the mid-'70s meant the end of his career, basically, as it did for many other artists with the company. In 2001, Rufus Thomas was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. Later that year, on December 15, he died at St. Francis hospital in Memphis, TN.
The above biography taken from: All Music Biography - Rufus Thomas by Richie Unterberger
Who's That Chick
Rufus Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who's that chick
Who's that chick
Who's that chick
Who's that chick
Who's that, who's that, who's that, who's that
Who's that chick that's coming down the street
I don't know who she is but don't she look mighty sweet
She got long black hair, she wears some beautiful clothes
She got long black hair, she wears some beautiful clothes
She is strictly streamilned from her head down to her toes
She wears a number five shoe, she got thin lips
Great big legs and oh what hips
Who's that chick that's coming down the street
I don't know who she is but don't she look mighty sweet
How about her she's fine
She wears a number five shoe, she got thin lips
Great big legs and oh what hips
Who's that chick that's coming down the street
I don't know who she is don't she look mighty sweet
The lyrics of Rufus Thomas's song "Who's That Chick?" revolve around the singer's curiosity and admiration for a mysterious woman who catches their attention. The repetitive nature of the chorus emphasizes this fascination, as the singer repeatedly asks, "Who's that chick?"
The first verse describes the woman's physical appearance - long black hair and beautiful clothes. The mention of her being "strictly streamlined" suggests that she possesses a graceful and attractive figure from head to toe. This imagery adds to the allure and fascination the singer feels towards her.
The second verse further highlights the woman's physical attributes, mentioning her shoe size, thin lips, great legs, and appealing hips. These descriptions indicate that she possesses certain physical qualities that the singer finds attractive.
Overall, the song captures the singer's curiosity and admiration for a woman who catches their eye. The repetition of the chorus and the detailed descriptions of her physical features add to the intrigue and fascination surrounding her.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's that chick
Who is that woman
Who's that, who's that, who's that, who's that
Repeatedly asking about the identity of the woman
Who's that chick that's coming down the street
Who is that woman walking towards us
I don't know who she is but don't she look mighty sweet
Although I don't know her, she appears very attractive
She got long black hair, she wears some beautiful clothes
Her hair is lengthy and black, and she dresses in gorgeous attire
She is strictly streamilned from her head down to her toes
She has a sleek and well-proportioned body from head to toe
She wears a number five shoe, she got thin lips
Her shoe size is five, and she has thin lips
Great big legs and oh what hips
Her legs are large and her hips are striking
How about her she's fine
Take a look at her, she is extremely attractive
I don't know who she is don't she look mighty sweet
Even though I am unaware of her identity, she appears very appealing
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: David Pierre Guetta, Frederic Riesterer, Giorgio Tuinfort, Kinda Vivianne Hamid, Madonna L Ciccone, Patrick Raymond Leonard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind