Wednesday April 20, 2022 “”The Time Warp Dance” The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Get out your water pistols and toilet paper, toast up some bread, find some old newsapers and get ready to re-visit Dr. Frank-N-Furter, the ‘Sweet Transvestite from Transsexual Transylvania’ and his wacky Rocky Horror friends abiding at the Oakwood Castle which had been used in so many 60s Hammer Studio horror films.  In fact many of the props used in the Rocky Horror movie had also been included in previous Hammer movies.

The initial release of The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s did not generate ebullient reviews, with Newsweek calling the film "tasteless, plotless and pointless", the San Francisco Chronicle found the film "lacking both charm and dramatic impact", and Roger Ebert, who usually enjoyed off-beat movies giving it only two and one half stars.  In the meantime the film has been running continuously for nearly fifty years.

The movie featured Tim Curry in the star-making role of the good doctor, Meat Loaf as Eddie, the Ex Delivery Boy, Barry Bostwick as Brad Majors, the Hero, Susan Sarandon as Janet Weiss, the Heroine  (Dammit Janet!) and Riff Raff the Hunchbacked Handyman played by Richard O’Brien who also co-wrote the musical.

If you haven’t experienced a midnight showing of Rocky Horror, I recommend it as a completely memorable experience for so many reasons both good and bad.  It’s only fun live though, as the movie by itself can indeed be "lacking both charm and dramatic impact" without all the audience participation…you should wear old clothes though.

An interesting aside, the week before the 2020 election, the rock duo Tenacious D posted a politically motivated version of "Time Warp" with Jack Black changing the lyric to "it's just a jump to the left, and not a step to the right," encouraging viewers to vote democratic…apparently music moves voters.

Stay safe and well…and here’s a dance we can all do because the song is instructional and it’s pretty simple…you just jump to the left and then step to the right…well I’ll let Riff Raff and the Rocky Horror crew explain it.

It's astounding

Time is fleeting

Madness, takes its toll

But listen closely

 Not for very much longer

I've got to, keep control

I remember don' the time warp

Drinking those moments when

 The blackness would hit me,

And the void would be calling

Let's do the time warp again

Let's do the time warp again

 It's just a jump to the left

And then a step to the right

With your hands on your hips

You bring your knees in tight

 But it's the pelvic thrust,

That really drives you insane

Let's do the time warp again

Let's do the time warp again

 It's so dreamy

Oh fantasy free me

So you can't see me

No, not at all

 In another dimension

With voyeristic intention

Well secluded, I see all

With a bit of a mind flip

 You're into the time slip

And nothing, can ever be the same

You're spaced out on sensation

Like you're under sedation

 Let's do the time warp again

Let's do the time warp again

Well I was walking down the street

Just a having a think

 When a snake of a guy gave me an evil wink

He shook-a me up, he took me by surprise

He had a pick up truck and the devil's eyes

He stared at me and I felt a change

 Time meant nothing, never would again

Let's do the time warp again

Let's do the time warp again

It's just a jump to the left

 And then a step to the right

With your hands on your hips

You bring your knees in tight

But it's the pelvic thrust,

 That really drives you insane

Let's do the time warp again

Let's do the time warp again