♫ Chantilly Lace ♫

Posted on by under Political commentary

Last week, I took you back into the 1950s and since I was having fun there, let’s go back again!

The year is 1958, the artist is Jiles Perry (JP) Richardson, otherwise known as the Big Bopper!  Richardson was a prominent DJ at KTRM in Beaumont, Texas who had a few hit records of his own. He also become a prolific songwriter, and his songs would later provide hits for Johnny Preston with Running Bear and George Jones with White Lightnin’.  Sadly, the Big Bopper died on Feb 3, 1959 in the plane crash that also killed Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens. This day was immortalized in Don McLean’s song American Pie as The day the music died.

In 1958, the Big Bopper recorded three music videos for his songs: Chantilly Lace, Big Bopper’s Wedding and Little Red Riding Hood (all three videos were recorded the same day). He also coined the term “rock video” in a printed interview in 1959. According to Bill Griggs, editor of the Rockin’ 50s music magazine, the Big Bopper was convinced that video was the wave of the future and, at the time of his death, he was preparing to start production on music videos for TV and a specially designed jukebox that would play videos.  Needless to say, he was ahead of his time!

Chantilly Lace
The Big Bopper

Hello, baby
Yeah, this is the Big Bopper speakin’
Ha ha ha ha ha
Oh, you sweet thing
Do I what? Will I what?
Oh baby, you know what I like

Chantilly lace and a pretty face
And a ponytail hangin’ down
A wiggle in her walk and a giggle in her talk
Make the world go ’round

Ain’t nothing in the world like a big-eyed girl
To make me act so funny, make me spend my money
Make me feel real loose like a long necked goose
Like a girl, oh baby, that’s a-what I like

What’s that, baby?
But, but, but, oh, honey
But, oh baby, you know what I like

Chantilly lace and a pretty face
And a ponytail hangin’ down
A wiggle in her walk and a giggle in her talk, Lord
Make the world go ’round, ’round, ’round

Ain’t nothing in the world like a big-eyed girl
To make me act so funny, make me spend my money
Make me feel real loose like a long necked goose
Like a girl, oh baby, that’s a-what I like

What’s that honey?
Pick you up at eight and don’t be late
But baby, I ain’t got no money, honey
Ha ha ha ha ha
Oh, alright, honey, you know what I like

Chantilly lace and a pretty face
Ponytail a-hangin’ down
A wiggle in her walk and a giggle in her talk, Lord
Make the world go ’round

Ain’t nothing in the world like a big-eyed girl
To make me act so funny, make me spend my money
Make me feel real loose like a long necked goose
Like a girl, oh baby, that’s a-what I like

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: J.p. Richardson
Chantilly Lace lyrics © Glad Music

13 thoughts on “♫ Chantilly Lace ♫”

  4. I remember the day that the music died. I was a senior in high school and to say we were stunned is an understatement. We loved all three and had a difficult time understanding how such a thing could happen. This was the first of many losses that had no explanation. (especially Martin, Bobby, and John)

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    • I was only 8, so I don’t have a vivid memory of it, other than hearing my parents speak of it. However, in the years following, I came to appreciate the music of all three and be saddened by the tragedy that is still, some 60 years later, unexplained. And so many others in the music world, plus as you mention, the Kennedys and Dr. Martin Luther King. Sigh. Well, you’ve heard the expression, ” ‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all”? Perhaps that applies here, too.

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