Groovy
Encyclopedia
Groovy is a slang
colloquialism
popular during the 1960s
and 1970s
, springing out of African American
culture. It is roughly synonymous with words such as "cool
", "excellent", "fashionable", or "amazing", depending on context.
The word originated in the jazz
culture of the 1920s
, in which it referred to the groove of a piece of music and the response felt by its listeners
. It is a reference to the physical groove of a record
in which the pick-up needle runs. It first appeared in print in Really the Blues, the 1946 autobiography of the jazz saxophonist, Mezz Mezzrow
. The term in its original usage had largely vanished from everyday use by 1980.
Starting in the mid-1960s, variations of the word "Groovy" were used in the titles of several popular songs, including:
The term was also part of the title of a TV program called Groovy Show
, which ran from 1967–1970. There was also an American TV cartoon show called Groovie Goolies
, which ran from 1970–1972.
It later made its way into the titles of albums, such as Groovy Decay
, a 1982 album by Robyn Hitchcock, and Groovy, Laidback and Nasty, a 1990 album by Cabaret Voltaire. Examples of bands names include Groovy Aardvark
from Canada, the The Groovy Little Numbers
from Scotland, and Groovy Rednecks
from the USA.
Marvel Comics
produced a Silver Age comic book
entitled Groovy, subtitled "Cartoons, gags, jokes". Only three issues were produced, dated March 1967, May 1967 and July 1967.
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
colloquialism
Colloquialism
A colloquialism is a word or phrase that is common in everyday, unconstrained conversation rather than in formal speech, academic writing, or paralinguistics. Dictionaries often display colloquial words and phrases with the abbreviation colloq. as an identifier...
popular during the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
and 1970s
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
, springing out of African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
culture. It is roughly synonymous with words such as "cool
Cool (aesthetic)
Something regarded as cool is an admired aesthetic of attitude, behavior, comportment, appearance and style, influenced by and a product of the Zeitgeist. Because of the varied and changing connotations of cool, as well its subjective nature, the word has no single meaning. It has associations of...
", "excellent", "fashionable", or "amazing", depending on context.
The word originated in the jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
culture of the 1920s
1920s
File:1920s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: Third Tipperary Brigade Flying Column No. 2 under Sean Hogan during the Irish Civil War; Prohibition agents destroying barrels of alcohol in accordance to the 18th amendment, which made alcoholic beverages illegal throughout the entire decade; In...
, in which it referred to the groove of a piece of music and the response felt by its listeners
Groovology
Groovology is the study of the aspect of music that brings out a physical, participatory response in its listeners. The word itself is derived from 'groove', an informal term for a rhythmic pattern in pop or jazz music, especially one that is perceived to be enjoyable. It has been characterized...
. It is a reference to the physical groove of a record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
in which the pick-up needle runs. It first appeared in print in Really the Blues, the 1946 autobiography of the jazz saxophonist, Mezz Mezzrow
Mezz Mezzrow
Milton Mesirow, better known as Mezz Mezzrow was an American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist from Chicago, Illinois. Mezzrow is well known for organizing and financing historic recording sessions with Tommy Ladnier and Sidney Bechet. Mezzrow also recorded a number of times with Bechet and...
. The term in its original usage had largely vanished from everyday use by 1980.
Starting in the mid-1960s, variations of the word "Groovy" were used in the titles of several popular songs, including:
- "A Groovy Kind of LoveA Groovy Kind of Love"A Groovy Kind of Love" is a pop song written by Toni Wine and Carol Bayer for the Screen Gems music publishing company. It is heavily based on the Rondo movement of Sonatina in G major, op. 36 no. 5 by Muzio Clementi...
," a song written in 1964 by Toni WineToni WineToni Wine is an American pop music songwriter, who wrote songs for such artists as The Mindbenders , Tony Orlando and Dawn , Elvis Presley, and Checkmates Ltd. in the late 1960s and 1970s...
and Carole Bayer SagerCarole Bayer SagerCarole Bayer Sager is an American lyricist, songwriter, singer, and painter.-Introduction:Born in New York City, Sager graduated from New York University, where she majored in English, dramatic arts and speech...
, and first popularized a year later by The MindbendersThe MindbendersThe Mindbenders was a 1960s beat group from Manchester, England. They were part of the mid 1960s British Invasion with their chart-toppers "Game of Love" and "A Groovy Kind of Love".... - "We've Got a Groovey Thing Goin'", the flip side of the 1965 hit single "The Sounds of SilenceThe Sound of Silence"The Sound of Silence" is the song that propelled the 1960s folk music duo Simon & Garfunkel to popularity. It was written in February 1964 by Paul Simon in the aftermath of the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy. An initial version preferred by the band was remixed and sweetened, and has become...
" by Simon & Garfunkel - "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)"The 59th Street Bridge Song " is a song by folk music duo Simon and Garfunkel, appearing on their 1966 album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. "59th Street Bridge" is the colloquial name of the Queensboro Bridge in New York City...
", a 1966 song by Simon & Garfunkel - "Somebody Groovy," a song from the 1966 debut album If You Can Believe Your Eyes and EarsIf You Can Believe Your Eyes and EarsIf You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears is the 1966 debut album by The Mamas & the Papas . In 2003, the album was ranked number 127 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time....
by The Mamas & the PapasThe Mamas & the PapasThe Mamas & the Papas were a Canadian/American vocal group of the 1960s . The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971, releasing five albums and 11 Top 40 hit singles... - "Groovin'Groovin'"Groovin" is a single released in 1967 by The Young Rascals that became a number-one hit and one of the group's signature songs.Written by group members Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati and with a lead vocal from Cavaliere, it is indeed a slow, relaxed groove, based on Cavaliere's newfound...
,'" a 1967 song by the Young Rascals - "Groovy GrubwormGroovy Grubworm"Groovy Grubworm" is a single by American session musician Harlow Wilcox. Released in 1969, it was the only single from his album Groovy Grubworm and Other Golden Guitar Greats. The song peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also reached number 1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in...
, a 1969 song by Harlow Wilcox - "Groovy SituationGroovy SituationGroovy Situation was a 1970 hit single by Gene Chandler, issued on Mercury Records. It reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was a Top 10 Billboard R&B hit, peaking at #8. It was also an RIAA Certified Million-Seller, the Gold Record being awarded to Gene in November 1970...
", a 1970 hit song by Gene Chandler - "Groovy Movies," a song by The KinksThe KinksThe Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
released in 1973 on The Great Lost Kinks AlbumThe Great Lost Kinks AlbumThe Great Lost Kinks Album is a 1973 LP of unreleased material issued by Reprise Records after The Kinks had moved to RCA. The tracks were recorded between 1966 and 1970 and master tapes were shipped to the US Reprise Label in the early 1970s to fulfill contractual obligations with that label... - "Groovy TimesGroovy Times"Groovy Times" is a song by The Clash, featured on their The Cost of Living EP, and released as a promotional single in 1979 in Australia by Epic Records . It was originally recorded as "Groovy Times Are Here Again" during the recording sessions for Give 'Em Enough Rope, however this demo has never...
," a 1979 song by The Clash
The term was also part of the title of a TV program called Groovy Show
Groovy Show
The Groovy Show is a half-hour live dance program aired on weekday afternoons on KHJ-TV Channel 9, in the Los Angeles, California market from 1967 to 1970.-Overview:...
, which ran from 1967–1970. There was also an American TV cartoon show called Groovie Goolies
Groovie Goolies
Groovie Goolies is an American animated television show that had its original run on network television between 1970 and 1972. Produced by Filmation, Groovie Goolies was a spinoff of Sabrina the Teenage Witch...
, which ran from 1970–1972.
It later made its way into the titles of albums, such as Groovy Decay
Groovy Decay
Groovy Decay was the second solo album by Robyn Hitchcock, released in 1982. His backing band for the record featured Sara Lee of Gang of Four on bass and Anthony Thistlethwaite of the Waterboys on sax....
, a 1982 album by Robyn Hitchcock, and Groovy, Laidback and Nasty, a 1990 album by Cabaret Voltaire. Examples of bands names include Groovy Aardvark
Groovy Aardvark
Groovy Aardvark was a Canadian rock band noted for its longevity in the Quebec music scene. Their final concert was staged in August 2005.-Discography:*1994: Eater's Digest*1996: Vacuum*1998: Oryctérope*1999: Exit Stage Dive...
from Canada, the The Groovy Little Numbers
The Groovy Little Numbers
The Groovy Little Numbers were an indie pop band from Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland centred around former member of The Boy Hairdressers, and future BMX Bandits and Superstar member Joe McAlinden.-History:...
from Scotland, and Groovy Rednecks
Groovy Rednecks
The Groovy Rednecks are an alt-country band from Los Angeles, California, who refer to themselves as being a "country band for people who hate country" and a "Drinkin' Band"...
from the USA.
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
produced a Silver Age comic book
Silver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
entitled Groovy, subtitled "Cartoons, gags, jokes". Only three issues were produced, dated March 1967, May 1967 and July 1967.