DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #67: Shoo Shoo Baby

A 15 year old Swedish girl made her first record in 1939: Hildur Alice Nilsson, better known as Alice Babs (born on 26.01.1924). One year later she had her breakthrough with singing in the movie Swing it, magistern (Swing it, Professor) as a jazz loving school girl.

Beside jazz, Alice Babs sang folklore and pop songs, and even a little of classic. She had a voice range of more than 3 octaves! In the 1950s Babs also became one of the most successful singers in Germany! In 1958 she was the first Swedish artist at the Eurovision Song Contest, placing 4th with the song Lilla stjärna (Little star).

At the beginning of the 1960s, Alice Babs was touring all over Europe with violinist Svend Asmussen and the guitarist Ulrik Neumann as the trio “Swe-Danes“. In 1963, a long and productive collaboration with Duke Ellington started.

By the late 1970s into the mid 1990s, Alice Babs occasionally performed on special occasions.

Shoo Shoo Baby is a groovy tune, with Alice Babs at the age of twenty. I like how she uses different rhythms in her voice, at certain points quite staccato.

The tempo of the song is also great for Lindy Hop beginners!

Title: Shoo Shoo Baby
Artist: Alice Babs with Thore Ehrlings Orchestra
Recorded: 1944
Album: Early Recordings 1939-1949
Tempo: 125 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop