Have you done the Papaya Dance? This is being hailed the latest international dance craze, “the new Macarena” after it was featured (and danced) on Good Morning America. Yes, I know, this post is a bit too late. Most of the Pinoy blogs about this topic have been posted two days ago, some even more. But what can I do? I just saw the Good Morning America feature yesterday. Anyway, please bear with me on this one.

The Papaya Dance was first introduced by local game show host Edu Manzano just about a year ago. He reportedly wanted something to catch the viewers’ fancy after taking over as host of “Game KNB?” (Are You Game?) from Kris Aquino (that loudmouthed former president’s daughter) and came up with this dance. Set to a 70s disco tune, it quickly gained popularity among the show’s loyal viewers. Being a child of the 70s (Oh no, did I just reveal my age?), I
immediately liked it. I likewise identified with the dance, as it was similar to the “groovy” moves I did in when I was in grade school! He he. Flashbacks of knit bell-bottoms, Jovan Musk Oil, Earth Wind & Fire, and that omnipresent disco mirror ball fill my head right now. Yikes!

For the uninitiated, here are several videos of this dance. First is the original long version (turned production number) done by Edu himself, then the one he did (forced to do?) with US ambassador Kristie Kenney, then the one featured in Good Morning America and finally, the hosts dancing themselves. Enjoy!

Oh, if you're wondering why it's called a papaya dance, I don't know either.

* * * * * * * *

I can also recall a “papaya song” from my past, though this was much later than the 70s. In fact, it was about ten years ago, when I had the misfortune of temporarily sharing my office with our company’s newly hired finance manager, Mr. P. His credentials were impressive. However, little did I know that his “singing skills” would leave a more permanent mark in my psyche.

The first few weeks were quite uneventful. I worked on my table while he stayed quietly in his corner, unmindful of my frequent rants on the phone or my pep talks with subordinates. Probably because of these, he decided to bring a pocket radio with earphones one day (no iPod yet at the time), and that’s when the trouble started. Though I couldn’t hear what he was listening to, I could see him from the corner of my eye as he swayed to its rhythm, sometimes even clicking his fingers to the beat of the music. Amusing, I thought.

But then he started to sing. Not whole songs but a few lines, probably just the refrain. It was funny and annoying at the same time. Besides not being able to hit a single note, his singing voice was quite unpleasant. I don’t know how to describe it but let’s just say that Simon Cowell would run out of insults with this one (William Hung sounded better)! He would sometimes stop when he noticed I was looking (my concerned stares must have done it) but still sing in spurts throughout the day. I had a hard time keeping a straight face in that office and would just go out to have a good laugh sometimes (I didn’t want to offend him). However, one incident finally made him stop and (probably) realize how bad and hilarious he sounded.

I was having a regular sit-down with two of my assistant managers when it happened. He was obviously singing to Earth, Wind and Fire’s classic “That’s the Way of the World”. But instead of singing “hearts of fire” repeatedly during the refrain, he was shouting “Oh Papaya, Oh Papaya” and it was out of tune as always! The three of us tried desperately not to react but we couldn’t do it. After a few seconds of hearing the “papaya song” we burst into uncontrollable laughter until we cried (I almost fell off my chair). Needless to say, Mr. P was red-faced in embarrassment. We apologized between giggles but it was no use, action speaks louder than words. He didn’t use his pocket radio since then.

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the Papaya Dance, …and a papaya song?

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