The group began singing as part of the longstanding Columbia University a cappella group "Kingsmen", but the ensemble changed their name due to the popularity of the Pacific Northwest rock band of the same name (see: "The Kingsmen"). Conceived by George Leonard, then a graduate student in Humanities, Sha Na Na began performing in 1969, at the height of the hippie counterculture. The guys achieved national fame after playing at the Woodstock Festival, where they preceded Jimi Hendrix. In fact, the ever friendly and genial Hendrix stuck out his neck for the group, insisting the band be allowed to take the stage even after festival’s promoters wanted to cut them from the bill at the last minute, and Sha Na Na members have since credited him for 'saving' them from obscurity almost single-handed.
Their ninety-second appearance in the popular Woodstock concert film brought the group national attention, and they were a part of the 50s nostalgia craze of the era. Similar artists both in the Americas and in the U.K. appeared (examples being Alvin Stardust and Gary Glitter). The Broadway musical 'Grease' and the TV show 'Happy Days' both also displayed the same ethos as Sha Na Na.
The degree to which their act was truly nostalgic, as opposed to the degree to which it was "invented nostalgia" for joking purposes has been called into question. Still, the group appeared in the movie 'Grease' (based off of the musical of the same name) as "Johnny Casino & The Gamblers", gaining them even more attention. Sha Na Na was also successful with the hit syndicated television show of the same name that the guys did from 1977 to 1982. The program featured guests with much 70s fame such as soul and funk star James Brown and the popular punk band Ramones; musicians from rock & roll's golden era such as Little Richard and Chubby Checker also appeared.
The original band line-up featured twelve performers: Alan Cooper (bass vocals), Rob Leonard (vocals), Frederick 'Denny' Greene (vocals), Henry Gross (guitar), John 'Jocko' Marcellino (drums), Joe Witkin (piano), Scott Powell aka Captain Outrageous aka Tony Santini (vocals), Donald 'Donny' York (vocals), Elliot Cahn aka 'Gino', (rhythm guitar), Rich Joffe (vocals), Dave Garrett (vocals) and Bruce 'Bruno' Clarke. The act has often involved three "up front" dancers/singers in gold lamé and the other nine in "greaser attire", such as rolled up t-shirt sleeves, leather jackets, tank tops, et cetera. During their long-running career, the ensemble has gone through multiple line-up changes. Most recently, co-founder John 'Jocko' Marcellino has served as the group's central frontman. Their latest release is 2013's 'Sha Na Na Greaser High School Hop', with them still touring even decades upon decades after their foundation.
Also that year, Sha Na Na was notably a part of the "Grease Sing-A-Long" event, which is held annually at the Hollywood Bowl. During the 35th anniversary of the beloved movie, they performed several of their tracks from the work's famous soundtrack. "This has become a family event," Marcellino remarked, "They all come dressed up greased with their Pink Lady outfits on, their T-Birds leather jackets, and it’s fabulous that a fourth generation is learning these songs and loving these songs."
Examples of former members:
Vinnie Taylor (1949 - 1974) (real name Chris Donald), who replaced Henry Gross as the lead guitarist in 1970, died from a heroin overdose on April 17, 1974, after a concert at University Hall at the University of Virginia.[citation needed] He was found in a Holiday Inn hotel room in Charlottesville, Virginia.[citation needed]
Former Sha Na Na bass player, from their television show lineup, Dave "Chico" Ryan, died in 1998.
Former Sha Na Na guitarist, from their television show lineup, Danny "Dirty Dan" McBride, died in 2009.
Founding member of the band Robert Leonard is a professor of linguistics at Hofstra University, and had an appearance as a qualified expert in linguistics for the murder case of Charlene Hummert in the episode "A Tight Leash" of the TV medical detectives series Forensic Files in 2004.[citation needed]
The group's first guitarist, Henry Gross, went on to become a solo performer, and had a hit single with "Shannon" in 1976. Another founding member, Alan Cooper, the lead singer in the group's performance of "At the Hop" in the Woodstock film, also went on to an academic career. He taught religious studies for ten years at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, was a professor of Bible studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, and now serves as the Elaine Ravich Professor of Jewish Studies and provost at the Jewish Theological Seminary.[citation needed]
Long time member Jon "Bowzer" Bauman replaced Alan Cooper and became a recognizable member of the group as he taunted audiences while he flexed his muscles, burped and spat in the direction of the bass player. For two years in 1983 and 1984 he served as the host of the game show Hollywood Squares between the retirement of longtime host Peter Marshall and the last host John Davidson. Today, Bowzer continues to tour under his own banner.
Elliot Cahn, the group's original rhythm guitar player and musical arranger, later became the first manager of Green Day. "Screaming" Scott Simon replaced Joe Witkin, the original keyboard player (and singer of Teenager in Love on their first album). Today, Witkin is an emergency room physician living with his family in San Diego, California and playing with a band called "The Corvettes"[3] doing an oldies revue. Witkin's son, Brian Witkin, went on to become the founder of Pacific Records.
Joe Witkin left the band in 1970 to finish medical school, and subsequently moved to San Diego in 1975 to do his internship and residency at the University of California in San Diego. He worked at Scripps Hospital East County from 1978 to 2000 as an ER physician, and currently holds the same position at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa.
Scott Powell today is a specialist in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine.[4] He performed on the TV show under the stage name "Santini" (which he changed from his previous alias, "Captain Outrageous"). Powell left the band in 1980 and returned to Columbia to take pre-medical courses.[citation needed] He is a member of the medical staff of U.S. national soccer teams, and is the team physician for the Federation Women’s National Team and an associate clinical professor at USC.[citation needed] While Powell was with Sha Na Na, he sang the bulk of the Elvis revival songs.
Frederick "Denny" Greene left the group to pursue studies in law.[citation needed] After graduating from Yale Law School, he became the vice president of production and features at Columbia Pictures.[citation needed] He is currently a professor at the University of Dayton. Greene was known for his skilled dancing, and sang the lead in "Tears on My Pillow", "Duke of Earl" and others.
Bruce "Bruno" Clarke is now a professor of English at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.
Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie
Sha Na Na Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She was as nervous as she could be
She was afraid to come out of the locker
She was afraid that somebody would see
Two, three, four, tell the people what she wore
It was an itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini
An itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini
So in the locker she wanted to stay
Two, three, four, stick around, we'll tell you more
She was afraid to come out in the open (ba-da-dup)
And so a blanket around her, she wore (ba-da-dup)
She was afraid to come out in the open (ba-da-dup)
And so she sat bundled up on the shore
Two, three, four, tell the people what she wore
It was an itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini
That she wore for the first time today
An itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini
So in the blanket she wanted to stay
Two, three, four, stick around, we'll tell you more
Now she's afraid to come out of the water (ba-da-dup)
And I wonder what she's gonna do (ba-da-dup)
Yes, she's afraid to come out of the water (ba-da-dup)
And now the poor little girl's turning blue
Two, three, four, tell the people what she wore
It was an itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini
That she wore for the first time today
An itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini
So in the water she wanted to stay
From the locker to the blanket
From the blanket to the shore
From the shore to the water
Guess there isn't anymore
The lyrics to Sha Na Na's "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" tell the story of a young woman who is hesitant to show off her new swimsuit. The first verse sets up her nervousness and reluctance to be seen, conveying her insecurity through repetition and the use of the phrase "afraid to come out." The second verse introduces the bikini as an "itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot" item of clothing, adding an element of playfulness and humor. However, despite the lighthearted tone, the song ultimately reinforces the societal pressure on women to be attractive and presentable.
The repetition of the chorus, "so in the locker/blanket/water she wanted to stay," shows how the young woman is unable to fully enjoy her time at the beach because of her self-consciousness. The line "now the poor little girl's turning blue" suggests that her fear and anxiety have progressed to the point of physical discomfort.
Overall, "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" is a catchy and fun song that captures the spirit of summer, but also serves as a commentary on the pressures and anxieties faced by women in society.
Line by Line Meaning
She was afraid to come out of the locker
The girl was scared to be seen by others outside of the locker room
She was as nervous as she could be
She was extremely anxious and uneasy
She was afraid that somebody would see
She feared being watched or noticed by others
Two, three, four, tell the people what she wore
The singer is counting off to introduce the lyrics about the girl's swimsuit
It was an itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini
The girl wore a very small and brightly colored bikini with polka dots
That she wore for the first time today
This was the first time she wore the swimsuit
So in the locker she wanted to stay
She wished to remain inside the locker to avoid being seen in the swimsuit
Now she's afraid to come out of the water (ba-da-dup)
The girl is now unwilling to leave the water due to being embarrassed or self conscious
And I wonder what she's gonna do (ba-da-dup)
The singer is curious about how the girl will handle her situation
Yes, she's afraid to come out of the water (ba-da-dup)
The girl is really hesitant to leave the water
And now the poor little girl's turning blue
She has been in the water too long and is now cold and shivering
From the locker to the blanket
The girl moved from being inside the locker to wearing a blanket on the beach
From the blanket to the shore
She then moved from the blanket to standing on the shore
From the shore to the water
Lastly, she went into the water
Guess there isn't anymore
The song is now finished and there is no more story to tell
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, EMILY MUSIC CORP, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lee Julien Pockriss, Paul J. Vance
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind