(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty

Album

Part 3

Label

TK Records

Genre

Disco

Media Type

45s

Duration

3:06

Composer(s)

Harry Casey, Richard Finch

Entered Chart

Jul 10, 1976

Peak Date

Sep 11, 1976

Released

October 1976

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

T.K. 1019

B-Side

Boogie Shoes

This was the third of five US #1 hits for KC & The Sunshine Band. All their hits were written by their bass player/producer Rick Finch and their lead singer/keyboard player Harry Wayne Casey (KC). Finch told Songfacts this song was directly inspired by dance moves they witnessed in clubs. He explained: "The Bump was big back then, and then every once in a while you'd see someone break loose and shake their booty like Jell-O. We figured, okay, how do you write about this? You know, say it like it is. We also were collecting phrases, trying to find a buzz word and write about it, or a catch phrase, and try and expound on that. Just trying to keep it fun." Finch goes on to explain this method of tailoring songs to disco culture: "As we started performing, we'd pay attention to what the people were doing, either body moves or body language, and try to transfer that back into the next production. As soon as we got back off the road we'd go right into the studio with that freshly captured energy, start recording, and not try to think too much." Harry Casey played a clavinet on this song up an octave, a sound that is often misheard as a guitar. Television shows and films to use this song include: Pitch Perfect 2 (2015) Zookeeper (2011) Jolene (2008) The Scent of the Night (1998) Carlito's Way (1993) Six Feet Under (Pilot - 2001) The Simpsons ("The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular!" - 1995) Everybody Loves Raymond ("High School" - 1997) Frank Zappa parodied this song on his 1979 album Sheik Yerbouti, featuring cover art of Zappa in Arabian garb. As the lyrics to "Shake Your Booty" were suggestive, the content of Sheik Yerbouti was well beyond suggestive - just considering the lyrics to Zappa's "Jewish Princess" alone! Deftones frontman Chino Moreno told NME that the first song he remembers grabbing his attention was "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty." He recalls being 3 or 4 years old and rocking out to the tune while riding in his father's truck.

Everybody, get on the floor, let's dance
Don't fight the feeling, give yourself a chance

Shake shake shake, shake shake shake
Shake your booty, shake your booty
Oh, shake shake shake, shake shake shake
Shake your booty, shake your booty

Oh, you can, you can do it very well
You're the best in the world, I can tell

Oh, shake shake shake, shake shake shake
Shake your booty, shake your booty
Oh, shake shake shake, shake shake shake
Shake your booty, shake your booty, oh yeah

Shake shake, shake shake
Oh, shake shake, shake shake

Oh, shake shake shake, shake shake shake
Shake your booty, shake your booty
Oh, shake shake shake, shake shake shake
Shake your booty, shake your booty

Oh, shake shake, shake shake
Shake your booty, oh, don't fight the feeling
Shake shake, shake shake
Shake your booty, oh, give yourself a chance
Shake shake, shake shake
Shake your booty
You can do it, do it
Shake shake, shake shake
Shake your booty, come on, come on now
Shake shake, shake shake
Shake your booty, ooh
Shake shake, shake shake
Shake your booty, ooh
Right down there, sister
Shake shake, (c'mon) shake shake
Come on your booty
Oh, do your duty
Shake shake, (c'mon) shake shake