Soundtrack: Breakin'2: Electric Boogaloo
Composer/Artist(s): Ollie & Jerry, Firefox, Mike Rags
Year: 1984
Genre(s): 80's Dance



DOWNLOAD -- Breakdance 2: Electric Boogaloo
download note: file compressed .rar -- if necessary, mac users can use this program to uncompress it.

The ultimate classic! I know it reaches many of our top 10's here on the 'ledger. If you haven't seen it. Go get it today. With it's simplistic plot, incredible music and positive messages, Breakin'2 is an 80's classic that will have you moving along.




This soundtrack features Ollie & Jerry back behind the board (they also scored Breakin'), but this time with a wider variety of musicians and capabilities. I also stumbled across some hilarious Breakin'2 trivia over at The 80's Movie Rewind -- and thought I would further research some it with references. I found all these videos quite amazing...

BREAK DANCE HISTORY
The history of the "Breakin'" movies and breakdancing goes back to about 1974. A very young Michael Jackson appeared on television doing a dance he invented called "The Robot" to the Jackson 5 hit "Dancing Machine".



In the summer of 1977, another powerful influence came along, Shields and Yarnell, who were two very talented mimes. They were first seen performing in San Francisco's Union Square, and went on to make a number of guest appearances on television, culminating in their own summer show in 1977.



They did their own version of The Robot, moving only one part of their body at a time, and gliding across the floor like they were on wheels. Many people who were watching the show saw not only Mime, but Dance. Life was given to the new Robot dance style, and more and more people started doing it. In 1977, four young Mimes saw Shields and Yarnell perform on television.



They were very impressed with what they saw. They read as many books about Mime out of the New York library as they could, and videotaped all of their shows. They formed the first Electric Boogie dance group called The Harlem Pop Lockers. They were originally discovered on their way home from a movie in Greenwich village. They weren't performing at that time, just messing around, but they were an immediate success, and went on to perform on television, dance clubs, and even did a video for German MTV. By the time the Harlem Pop Lockers were formed the Electric Boogie had added the "Float" move.

The Back Float or "Moonwalk" was first made famous by James Brown, then Jeffrey Daniels of Shalimar in the early 80's, and most memorably by Michael Jackson. In truth, it was Jeffrey Daniels dancing on the television show "Soul Train" that was most responsible for it's success. He was such a good dancer that when he did it, everyone wanted to do it.



Other influences have been prevelant in the growth of the Electric Boogie and the big Californian influence was Boogaloo Sam and Poppin Pete (who appreared in the first Breakin' Movie). In 1977, the Solomon brothers came to Long Beach from Fresno and danced at the Noah's Ark club and Hutch Youth Club downtown. Soon, they had started the west coast poppin sensation. INCREDIBLE...



The late 70's and early 80's also saw big advancements in the fields of electronics and computers, and as a result, the dance style being very futuristic, lent itself perfectly to the times. By the end of 1984, thanks in part to the "Breakin'" films, Breakdancing suddenly became a dance craze and spread to every major city. Now it can be seen in films, music videos and commercials.

BREAKIN'2 TRIVIA:
- Sabrina García, Turbo's love interest, only appeared in this movie and "Body Rock" in 1984. Siskel & Ebert hated this movie.



- Ozone and Turbo (Adolfo Quinones and Michael Chambers) appeared in another video, Chaka Khan's "I Feel For You" (1984). I think this video might show the true affection between the two dancers.



- The young children dancers (flourescent shirts) in and around the hospital and miracles scenes. Some of the teens are from 2 of the West Coast largest dance groups. The children were from "The Rockin Wizards" The others were from the Inland Empires "Breakmasters" managed by Linda Gay - ex-Chip & Dales manager. They were some of the REAL best dancers in Southern California. Too bad the movie had them their for extras not like "Beat Street" where the real breakers were brought in.. to keep it real.. At that time there were two of the East Coast big time dancers from the group "the incredible body mechanics" they were "Tiny" & "Flash" they were better than your average west coast breakers, at that time new york breakers had a great edge.

- The ceiling dancing idea and set was reprised by Lionel Richie in his hit single and album entitled "Dancing on the Ceiling". Coming in 1986, 3 years after the incredible success of his "Can't Slow Down" album.



- Lionel and the Breakin' dancers had become firm friends with Turbo and Ozone (Adolfo 'Shabba-Doo' Quinones and Michael 'Boogaloo Shrimp' Chambers) appearing as featured dancers in his "All Night Long" music video.


BREAKIN' 2 LOCATIONS-- maybe for my next L.A. visit?

- Under this bridge is the "dance-off" fight scene between dance gangs. To get under the bridge use lorena street. According to LA Almanac The 390 ft structure was built in 1928 and is "One of the most graceful of the open spandrel arch bridges designed in 1920’s."


- The park used for the scene where Turbo meets Lucia is Hollenbeck Park in Boyle Heights, also on 4th street of the 5 freeway in Los Angeles. It looks like a beautiful park historically.


- The Miracles building exists!!! It is located on Euclid St and Calle Pedro Infante St, in Bolyle Heights. It is now called La Casa del Mexicano Theater -- and from what little info I have found, there are hispanic dance and drama groups from East LA that perform there sporadically. Seems like this would be the ultimate Breakin' 2 Location to visit.


As for those that are wondering about Miracles in the movie itself, observe...


-AND lastly.... Michael 'Boogaloo Shrimp' Chambers is alive and well he has a MYSPACE and just became my friend. ;)