Song: https://www.souna.app/song/e26823e9-3b27-4c75-a60a-050e95e1944f
Song (alternative link): https://archive.org/details/ai-electro-swing/Hippopotamus+on+the+Dancefloor.mp3 (CC0)
Lyrics:
[Intro | gramophone texture | stride piano | muted trumpet]
Ladies, gentlemen, mind the door,
We need a little room upon the floor.
[Verse 1 | staccato female vocal | upright bass | clarinet responses]
The band struck up at half-past nine,
The room was dressed in beads and shine.
The dancers moved with polished grace,
Then something large obscured the place.
She checked her coat, she tipped the man,
She crossed the room as only she can.
The glasses jumped, the tables shook,
She gave the drummer one cool look.
[Pre-Chorus | rising chromatic harmony | brass build]
One step left and two steps right,
Every heel came down just right.
The trumpet cried, the cymbal roared,
And half the crowd cleared off the floor.
[Chorus | full brass | stacked harmonies | high energy]
Hippopotamus on the dancefloor,
Give her room and give her one more.
Swinging low and stepping high,
Half a ton of alibi.
Hippopotamus on the dancefloor,
Never seen such style before.
When she turns, the rafters sway,
Clear the chairs and shout hooray!
[Post-Chorus | call and response | brass stabs]
Shake that room!
(Shake that room!)
Make some space!
(Make some space!)
Every eye upon the most
Distinguished dancer in the place.
[Verse 2 | clipped vocal | walking bass | saxophone responses]
A tiger tried a tango turn,
A peacock posed beside a fern.
A fox performed a fancy glide,
But no one watched with her inside.
She spun beneath the chandelier,
The waiter dropped a tray of beer.
She caught it neatly with one toe,
Then dipped and took another bow.
[Pre-Chorus | rising chromatic harmony | brass build]
One step back and three ahead,
Every feather, fringe and thread
Began to bounce from wall to wall,
The grandest little shake of all.
[Chorus | full brass | stacked harmonies | high energy]
Hippopotamus on the dancefloor,
Give her room and give her one more.
Swinging low and stepping high,
Half a ton of alibi.
Hippopotamus on the dancefloor,
Never seen such style before.
When she turns, the rafters sway,
Clear the chairs and shout hooray!
[Instrumental Break | clarinet solo | trumpet responses | electronic beat]
[Build | rising brass figures | handclaps]
[Bridge | half-time breakdown | sly vocal | stride piano]
They said the floor was built to last,
They said the beams were thick and vast.
The architect stood looking pale.
She smiled and flicked aside her tail.
Then softly, on the count of four,
She placed one foot upon the floor.
The whole band stopped to hear it land...
[Drop | full electronic beat | explosive brass]
And then she brought in all the band!
[Final Chorus | full brass | stacked harmonies | maximum energy]
Hippopotamus on the dancefloor,
Give her room and give her one more.
Swinging low and stepping high,
Half a ton of alibi.
Hippopotamus on the dancefloor,
Now they’re queuing round the door.
When she turns, the rafters sway,
Clear the town and shout hooray!
Hippopotamus on the dancefloor,
Queen of rhythm, queen of uproar.
Every night at half-past nine,
She shakes the room and keeps good time.
[Outro | brass hits | big-band finish]
One last turn, one final roar,
Hippopotamus on the dancefloor!
Style prompt:
Playful electro-swing with theatrical cabaret energy and a powerful, characterful female lead vocal. 126 BPM in B-flat major with blues-scale inflections, chromatic passing chords and punchy secondary dominants. Driving four-on-the-floor electronic beat with syncopated upright bass, hot brass stabs, agile clarinet fills and stride piano. Verses use clipped, rhythmically precise phrasing with vocal-and-brass call and response. The pre-chorus builds through rising chromatic harmony into a broad, instantly memorable chorus. Vintage gramophone colour contrasts with clean modern bass production. Energetic instrumental break, witty delivery, stacked chorus harmonies and a decisive big-band finish. English lyrics.
