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

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he Inspired

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he InspiredSong Writing

Before he was the champ, Ali released an album called I Am The Greatest!, but his musical influence is best heard in the songs he inspired.

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.

Devo

DevoSongwriter Interviews

Devo founders Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale take us into their world of subversive performance art. They may be right about the De-Evoloution thing.

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Evolution Of The Prince Symbol

Evolution Of The Prince SymbolSong Writing

The evolution of the symbol that was Prince's name from 1993-2000.