Billy Gordon, Billy Hoggs, Joe Billingslea and Billy Rollins founded a singing group called The Blenders in their native Detroit, Michigan in 1959. The group soon added Leroy Fair (in place of Billy Rollins), bass singer Hubert Johnson, and guitarist Huey Davis, and auditioned for Berry Gordy's Motown Records. Gordy turned the act down, prompting Johnson to call his cousin, R&B star and Gordy associate Jackie Wilson. Wilson in turn got The Contours a second audition with Gordy, at which they sang the same songs they had at the first audition, the same way, and were signed to the company.
The group's first singles, "Whole Lotta Woman" and "The Stretch", were unsuccessful, and the group was in danger of being let go. Also at this time, Leroy Fair was replaced with Sylvester Potts. In early 1962, Gordy had the Contours record "Do You Love Me", a composition originally meant for The Temptations. The resulting record, with its shouted lead vocals from Billy Gordon, became a number-two hit 1962.
In 1964, Billy Hoggs, Joe Billingslea, Hubert Johnson, and Sylvester Potts all quit the group. Berry Gordy hired Council Gay, Jerry Green and Alvin English to back Billy Gordon, making the Contours a quartet. Within a year, Sylvester Potts returned to the group (replacing Alvin English), but Billy Gordon departed at about the same time. Gordon was replaced by Joe Stubbs, brother of Four Tops lead singer Levi Stubbs. Stubbs soon quit the act and was replaced by Dennis Edwards.
During the mid-1960s, The Contours recorded several records which received R&B radio play (notably "First I Look At The Purse" and "Just a Little Misunderstanding"), but were considered secondary to Motown's major male vocal groups: The Temptations, the Four Tops, and The Miracles. The group's contract with Motown expired in 1967, and the Contours disbanded. Lead singer Dennis Edwards was recruited to replace the departed David Ruffin as lead singer of The Temptations. Edwards later became a solo hitsmaker as well.
After the group's demise, Joe Billingslea has reformed the Contours several times. Billingslea first resurrected the group in 1971, with himself, Council Gay, Arthur Hinson, Martin Upshire and C. Autry Hatcher as its members. By 1987, the lineup included Billingslea, Hinson, Darell Nunlee, Charles Davis, and Motown-era Contour Sylvester Potts. The same year, "Do You Love Me" was prominently featured in the film Dirty Dancing, which led to a revival of both the recording and the Contours touring career.
The Contours were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. The group is today a quartet led by Joe Billingslea, with fellow members Al Chisholm, Charles Davis, and Gary Grier. Former member Hubert Johnson committed suicide on July 11, 1981, and Huey Davis died February 23, 2000. Sylvester Potts died in January 2017.
Can You Jerk Like Me
The Contours Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Oh, yeah) hey
Can you do the Jerk
Come on, let's work
Move your shoulders up and down
Your feet don't leave the ground
Friends, there's nothing to it
If you're young or old
All it takes is soul
And I just wanna know
Can you Jerk like me
Come on, children, hey
(Can you Jerk like me)
Come on, children now
(Can you Jerk like me)
Hey, baby, I just wanna know
Can you Jerk like me, hey, baby
Get right back in the groove
Like I said, your feet don't move
Get a hump down in your back
Take off all the slack
Come on, let's work
Snap your fingers
Make your backbone jerk
Now you got that feeling
Cause the music got you reeling
And I just wanna know
Can you Jerk like me
Come on, children
(Can you Jerk like me)
Hey, baby (can you Jerk like me)
I just wanna know
Can you Jerk like me, hey, baby
Ow, it's all right
I just wanna know
(Can you Jerk like me)
Hey, baby
Now you roll back in the groove
Like I said, your feet don't move
Come on (oh, yeah) let's work
Snap those fingers
Make your backbone jerk
Now you got that feeling
Cause the music's got you reeling
I just wanna know
(Can you Jerk like me)
Hey, baby
(Can you Jerk like me)
Come on, children
(Can you Jerk like me)
Hey, baby
(Can you Jerk like me)
Come on, children now
The lyrics to The Contours' song Can You Jerk Like Me describe the dance called "the Jerk" and invite listeners to join in. The song emphasizes that anyone can do the dance and that it only requires soul, not specific skills or age. The Jerk involves moving your shoulders up and down and making your backbone jerk while snapping your fingers. The lyrics encourage listeners to let loose and feel the music, with the repetitive chorus asking "Can you Jerk like me?" to invite participation.
The song's upbeat and energetic rhythm reflects the dance it describes, and the lyrics' simplicity and repetition create an easy-to-remember tune that listeners can sing along to. The song's catchy chorus and fun, danceable beat made it a popular hit in the 1960s and a classic dance tune that still holds up today.
Overall, The Contours' Can You Jerk Like Me is a fun and lighthearted song that encourages listeners to let go and join in the dance. Its catchy tune and straightforward message make it a classic dance tune that's sure to get people moving.
Line by Line Meaning
(Oh, yeah) come on, children
Hey everyone, let's get started and have some fun together
Can you do the Jerk
Can you perform the dance called the Jerk?
Come on, let's work
Let's move our bodies and dance together
Move your shoulders up and down
Perform this particular dance move with your upper body
Your feet don't leave the ground
This dance move does not involve any footwork
Anyone can do it
This dance is easy enough for anyone to learn
Friends, there's nothing to it
Don't worry, it's not difficult
If you're young or old
This dance is suitable for people of all ages
All it takes is soul
The key element for performing this dance is simply having soul and rhythm
And I just wanna know
I'm curious to see if you can do this dance
Get right back in the groove
Let's get back to dancing and feeling the music
Like I said, your feet don't move
This dance is performed without moving your feet
Get a hump down in your back
Arch your back a little bit for this dance move
Take off all the slack
Loosen up and let yourself go while you dance
Snap your fingers
Make a snapping sound by quickly bringing your fingers together
Make your backbone jerk
Perform a particular dance move with your back to the rhythm of the music
Now you got that feeling
You should be feeling the groove of the music now
Cause the music got you reeling
The music has captivated you and is making you want to dance
Ow, it's all right
Expressing that everything is going well and having a good time dancing
Now you roll back in the groove
Let's get back to dancing and feeling the rhythm of the music once again
Hey, baby
A friendly address to someone while they are dancing
Come on, children now
Let's keep dancing all together now
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IVY JO HUNTER, WILLIAM STEVENSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind