Boot Scootin' Boogie

Album: Brand New Man (1991)
Charted: 50
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Before he teamed up with Kix Brooks to form Brooks & Dunn, Ronnie Dunn wrote this for the country music group Asleep At The Wheel, who released it on their 1990 album Keepin' Me Up Nights. Brooks & Dunn released it in 1991 on their debut album Brand New Man, helping them make a huge impact on the New Country scene of the early '90s.
  • This song is known for its signature line dance, which was very popular in country bars. The song is about a hard-working guy who likes to go to his favorite honky-tonk bar to unwind and dance, so the song was a natural fit.
  • The line dance originated when a choreographer named Bill Bader noticed the title "Boot Scootin' Boogie" on the Asleep At The Wheel album and thought it might make a good dance. He came up with the choreography and started teaching the line dance in Vancouver, where it was also known as the "Vancouver Boogie." The dance spread to the States, and this became a favorite as line dancing took off. Even bars that didn't specialize in country music began offering line dancing lessons, and this was one of the top dances.
  • This was used in the 2001 movie Kevin Of The North where it appears in a dance scene. Bill Bader is featured in that scene.
  • Brooks & Dunn released a dance mix of this song on their 1993 album Hard Workin' Man. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Martin - Detroit, MI
  • This was the fourth #1 country hit for Brooks & Dunn - all from their album Brand New Man. It was their first single to make a dent on the Hot 100.
  • Directed by Michael Merriman, the video for this song shows various folks doing the famous dance. The clip was a big hit on CMT.
  • "Boot Scootin' Boogie" was the fourth single released from Brooks & Dunn's Brand New Man album, and the duo didn't expect it to make much of an impact.

    "We were afraid of 'Boot Scoot,' and the label was, to release it. That's why they made it the fourth single on the first record," Ronnie Dunn admitted to Taste of Country Nights host Evan Paul. "They were afraid that it was too, I don't know - progressive is not the word - but just kinda pushing the limits, too much, isn't that crazy?" he explained.

    Kix Brooks credits the fans for pushing the song's release. "The fans made that happen, too. We were playing clubs actually, that was our first year of touring."

    "By the time we got to 'Boot Scoot,' I just remember going to clubs and people having posters and stuff, I know they were lighting up radio stations," he added. "Finally, they said, 'Hey, it's time to put this one out.'"

Comments: 4

  • Dave from Papua New GuineaCan't stop listening to this song
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaHave a friend who used to dance to this song. Still trying to find out the band members names.
  • Karen from Manchester, NhThe dance mix was released on B&D's second album, "Brand New Man"...and it's terrible. I'll take the original, thank you very much.
  • Briar from Hazard, KyExcellent song and a good example of what REAL COUNTRY is supposed to sound like.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Paul Williams

Paul WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

He's a singer and an actor, but as a songwriter Paul helped make Kermit a cultured frog, turned a bank commercial into a huge hit and made love both "exciting and new" and "soft as an easy chair."

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.