Does the original Hairspray have songs?

Hairspray begins with another original title song. The bubbly 60’s-esque pop song by Rachel Sweet with backing vocals by Debbie Harry (who this time has an on screen role as well as providing music). The lyrics are about the latest craze – hairspray! It plays over the opening credits which shows a bunch of already groomed teenagers primping and preening in preparation for a TV show. They empty enough hairspray on their heads to burn a hole in the ozone layer. It sets the scene for the film which is based around a teen dance show called The Corny Collins Show.

The song Hairspray was released as a single through MCA Records with its own film clip.

Tubby teen Tracy Turnblad (Ricki Lake) and her best friend Penny Pingleton (Leslie Ann Powers) race home from school to watch the show, they run past Tracy’s mum Edna, who is at home ironing (Edna is played by Divine, who passed away shortly after the film was released).

They turn on the TV and dance along to MASHED POTATO TIME. Many of the songs in HAIRSPRAY are about novelty or fad dances that were popular in the early 60s, like THE BIRD, THE TWIST and THE ROACH.  Several of these songs reference each other, in WADDLE WADDLE, the Bracelets sing “there is more satisfaction, because there’s more hip action, than the Twist and Mashed Potato too”.

Tracy’s first appearance on the show occurs during IT’S MADISON TIME. It’s a very sweet scene, Tracy knows the Madison and Penny knows that she has what it takes to be on the show so urges her to join the dance. Tracy goes right to the front, in between Link (the object of her affection) and Amber (her racist, fat-phobic arch nemesis) and she shines. Her confidence and enjoyment is obvious, as is her talent as she catches the eye of several people.

'It's Madison Time' excerpt from Hairspray (1988)

The theme of the film is acceptance. The main story line is about Tracy’s dream of becoming part of The Corny Collins Show, which according to John Waters was “based on a real show in Baltimore called the Buddy Dean show, where the girls wore higher hair and the guys wore tighter pants and it was a little more exaggerated than anywhere else in the country” (Ross, 1998, page 3).  The subplot focuses on the racial divide between the privileged white teenagers who are on the show every day,  and the equally talented African American kids who are given one day a month.

My favourite song in the film is I’M BLUE (THE GONG-GONG SONG) by The Ikettes. It plays on The Corny Collins Show’s monthly Negro Day. In contrast to every other day, the room is dimly lit, there doesn’t appear to be cameras around or the usual competitiveness between the kids. They are just there to dance. I find this song difficult to describe, it is just damn cool. I couldn’t find a good clip of the scene to show you (you’ll have to watch the film!) so here is The Ikettes singing it live on American Bandstand in 1965.

The Ikettes sing 'I'm Blue'

FUN FACT! Hank Ballard originally performed The Twist on The Buddy Dean Show. From there it was recommended to Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. Clark decided it needed a different singer and that’s how Chubby Checker became famous for The Twist (Breihan 2018).

The original soundtrack from the 1988 film.

1988 Movie Cast Recording

Artist

Various Artists

Released

1988

Length

30:50

Label

MCA Records

List of songs

1. "Hairspray"
2. "The Madison Time"
3. "I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)"
4. "Mama Didn't Lie"
5. "Town Without Pity"
6. "The Roach"
7. "Foot Stompin'"
8. "Shake a Tail Feather"
9. "The Bug"
10. "You'll Lose a Good Thing"
11. "I Wish I Were a Princess"
12. "Nothing Takes the Place of You"

Are there two versions of Hairspray?

How many songs are there in Hairspray?

What was the first version of Hairspray?

Do the actors sing in Hairspray?