Singing Squares

January 14th, 2012
contra
There's a saxophone and a drummer with a full kit, and the caller is singing the calls. Some new contra syncretism? Or just a typical night in 1955?

The singing square, "Just Because," from live recordings over the years:

1952 Frank Fortune (studio)
1955 Frank Fortune
1973 Glenn Pease
2008 David Millstone (youtube)
2011 Tod Whittemore (youtube)
2011 Walter Lenk
(If you compare a dance program from 1955 or 1965 to one now, the biggest thing you notice is half the dances were singing squares, and the ones that weren't were mostly couple dances.)

Update 2012-01-22: I later transcribed the 'Just Because' recordings.

Update 2012-02-29: I tried my hand calling this yesterday and wrote about it after.

Referenced in:

Comment via: google plus, facebook, substack

Recent posts on blogs I like:

Ozy at LessOnline!

I will once again be a guest at LessOnline, alongside many other writers whom you no doubt like less than you like me: Scott Alexander, dynomight, Georgia Ray, David Friedman, Nicholas Decker, Jacob Falkovich, Kelsey Piper, Alicorn, Aella, etc.

via Thing of Things March 23, 2026

Daycares and the Brown School

As someone in Somerville I notice that there are quite high prices regarding childcare. The average family in Somerville pays $1,100 to $3,500 for daycare per month, and I want to make the costs more affordable. I have also noticed that housing is quite …

via Lily Wise's Blog Posts March 22, 2026

2025-26 New Year review

This is an annual post reviewing the last year and setting intentions for next year. I look over different life areas (work, health, parenting, effectiveness, etc) and analyze my life tracking data. Highlights include a minimal group house, the usefulness…

via Victoria Krakovna January 19, 2026

more     (via openring)