Pink Shoe Laces Explained

Pink Shoe Laces
Type:single
Artist:Dodie Stevens
Album:Pink Shoe Laces
B-Side:Coming of Age
Released:February 1959
Genre:Pop
Label:Crystalette

"Pink Shoe Laces" (or "Pink Shoelaces") is a song composed by Mickie Grant that was recorded by Dodie Stevens, accompanied by Bobby Hammack and his Orchestra, and released as a single in 1959 on Crystalette Records, a record label distributed by Dot Records. Although the verses are delivered with a musical quality, they are not sung in the style of the chorus. Some commentators have observed that the verses are spoken rather than sung.[1]

Recording

Dodie Stevens was born on February 17, 1946. The song was recorded when the singer was, according to different sources, 11[2] or 12 years old.

Content

The song is about a fellow named Dooley, with whom the singer is in love, who has a rather unconventional lifestyle and a decidedly off-the-beaten-pathway fashion sense; his favorite articles of dress being "tan shoes with pink shoelaces, a polka-dot vest, and a big Panama with a purple hatband."

He takes the young lady "deep sea fishing in a submarine", to "drive-in movies in a limousine" and owns a "whirly-birdy and a 12 foot yacht."

When he feels that war is afoot, he enlists in the armed forces, but gets put into the brig for "raising such a storm" when they "tried to put him in a uniform", preferring to wear his unconventional signature garb.

One day, he feels poorly and decides to write out his will, stating: "Just before the angels come to carry me, I want it down in writin' how to bury me", requesting to be buried in his preferred attire. The voice heard speaking the line was Randy Van Horne, the founder of the Randy Van Horne Singers who sang the themes from The Flintstones, The Jetsons and many others.

Chart performance

The single reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1959.[3] [4] "Pink Shoe Laces" also reached number 5 on the Hot R&B Sides chart.[5] It sold more than a million copies. It also reached number 3 in Canada.[6]

Track listing

Side A. "Pink Shoe Laces"

Side B. "Coming of Age"[7]

Cover versions

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Laurie Stras. She's So Fine: Reflections on Whiteness, Femininity, Adolescence and Class in 1960s Music. 2017. Routledge. 9781409400516. 40.
  2. Book: Joseph Murrells. The Book of Golden Discs. 1978. Barrie and Jenkins. 978-0-214-20480-7. 108.
  3. Web site: Dodie Stevens — Biography. AllMusic. 2015-04-18.
  4. Book: Jay Warner. On this Day in Music History. 2004. Hal Leonard Corporation. 978-0-634-06693-1. 48–.
  5. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn

    . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 551.

  6. Web site: CHUM Hit Parade - April 6, 1959 (CHUM liked to have fun with chart info near April Fools day.
  7. Book: Martin Popoff. Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records 1948–1991. 2010-08-05. Krause Publications. 978-1-4402-1621-3. 1126–.
  8. https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/06/05/whats-behind-the-stealthily-counterculture-pink-shoelaces-tiktok-dance-trend-going-viral What’s behind the (stealthily counterculture) 'Pink Shoelaces' TikTok dance trend going viral?
  9. Book: Galvan . Hugo . Rock Impop: El rock mexicano en la radio top 40 . 2013.