And the beat goes on…

Saturday evening my husband and I had some friends over. It was a small and intimate affair—with many laughs all around. It was also special because we toasted someone from my life—from all of our lives—on the sad occasion of her death. Before we began our meal, we all lifted our glasses in a toast to Beth Levine. It didn’t matter that I was the only one at the table who knew who Ms. Levine was...and how she influenced our culture so long ago. Each person obligingly repeated her name and clinked glasses, no doubt curious to see where this was going.

After the toast, my guests looked at me expectantly, with the same look of confusion that I imagine is clouding your vision now. I told them that Beth Levine had played a big part in my youth—helping to capture many memories of me dancing around and laughing—every moment caught on film by my father, to haunt me all the days of my life. As I waited to see if anyone caught on, I saw my husband smile. He knew where this was going. Next, I explained that Ms. Levine was 91 upon her death, and that she was widely considered the First Lady of shoe design. I also related that Ms. Levine was widely attributed for bringing boots back as a fashion statement for women in the 1960s...and in some circles these boots were even seen as a symbol of female empowerment. A few more smiles ensued. Finally, as our background music clicked over—on cue—to the French version of “These Boots are Made for Walkin’,” all of my guests smiled and then laughed. Another toast was in order.

Yes, Beth Levine designed the white stiletto boots—made for walkin’—that Nancy Sinatra immortalized while singing and forcefully walkin’ her way up the charts to number one...and into a part of Americana that will remain in my heart forever. The year was 1965 and big girls and little girls everywhere just had to have a pair of white or red go-go boots, including tiny little me. I don’t know if this song had anything to do with my ideology as a woman years later, but I like to think that I was influenced by those strong, in your face lyrics and the style in which they were sung—especially for back in that day.

Of course, this song is arguably campy and at odds with the sex kitten images that marched along with its catchy beat. Never-the-less, this song, more than any other, reminds me of me. Well, that and “Let me entertain you,” as sung by Natalie Wood in the movie “Gypsy.” What can I say? Even as a kid I liked to entertain and make people smile. Obviously, the true meanings of both songs were lost on me until over a decade later. Rest assured, I haven’t given a performance in years...until recently.

When I sent a pair of pink go-go boots to my little niece last year for her birthday, I didn’t really think of the “boot” song per se, but I did think of the fun I had with my white go-go boots as a child. One evening this summer, when I visited my brother and his family, my little niece came running outside wearing her pink boots and said dance with me Auntie Teri. So we danced. I sang “These boots…,” and then she joined in just in time for our grand finale. She had never heard this song before, but she was a fast learner considering she was only three. Once again, the camera was rolling—capturing every moment of our impromptu performance.

Although I was absent of boots...and wearing a pair of high-heeled wedges, together my niece and I walked into some old Americana with a new pink twist. I know my niece will always carry this memory with her, as I have carried my childhood memory. It was a special time and it reminded me of those carefree moments that only children experience...simply because they’re not too inhibited to experience them.

For her birthday this year, which is just two weeks before mine, I’ll be sending my little dance partner the original Nancy Sinatra version, as well as my now-favored French version, of this iconic song. Yes, girls do want to have fun...and why not? Perhaps my niece will read the lyrics to this song some day and understand their meaning. Or maybe not. Maybe she’ll just have fun and dance as the beat goes on. Either way is fine with me. I only hope that she confiscates the video of our performance together before she graduates from high school and her big brother plays it for all her friends to see. History—or her-story—has a funny way of repeating itself. Funny strange, not funny Ha-Ha.

Are you ready boots? Start walkin’!

Dedicated to the Angel of the Dawn…thanks for reminding me that I wasn’t the only little girl who aspired to be a go-go dancer back in the day. And thanks for the memories—old and new. Sheb Wooley, and the “Purple People Eater,” also comes to mind. Glad these thoughts made it into my recycle bin…not everything should go out with the trash.

© 2006 Teresa G. Franta