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>> Jackson: [ GROWLS ]
CAN EVERYBODY HEAR THAT IN THE
BACK?
[ CHEERING ]
OKAY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE.
♪ PEOPLE LIKE TO ROCK ♪
♪ SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO ROLL ♪
♪ BUT MOVIN' AND A-GROOVIN'
GONNA SATISFY MY SOUL ♪
♪ LET'S HAVE A PARTY ♪
[ CHEERING ]
IF I'M WRONG, SOMEONE CAN
CORRECT ME, BUT I THINK I WAS
THE FIRST GIRL TO DO ROCK 'N'
ROLL.
♪ *** TONKY JOE
IS KNOCKIN' AT THE DOOR ♪
♪ BRING HIM IN AND FILL HIM UP
AND SIT HIM ON THE FLOOR ♪
♪ LET'S HAVE A PARTY ♪
>> SHE WAS FIRST THE GRAND LADY
OF ROCKABILLY AND ROCK 'N' ROLL.
>> BUT WANDA WAS ABSOLUTELY THE
FIRST WOMAN TO DO IT.
>> GOD ALMIGHTY, SHE DATED
ELVIS PRESLEY, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, HOW COOL CAN YOU GET,
YOU KNOW?
>> Jackson: ♪ THE MEAT IS ON THE
STOVE ♪
LIKE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A
HURRICANE, AND I WAS JUST TRYING
TO HANG ON AND STAY WITH THE
GUYS, YOU KNOW, AND DO THIS TYPE
OF MUSIC.
>> AND SHE ACTUALLY BECAME THE
FIRST GAL TO EVER RECORD ROCK
'N' ROLL.
>> Jackson: ♪ WHEN I WANT HIM
MOST, HE'S NOT AROUND ♪
>> I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE GIRL
COULD SING LIKE THAT.
SHE WAS LIKE THE FEMALE
LITTLE RICHARD BACK THEN, YOU
KNOW?
>> AND THAT'S THE KIND OF STUFF
I PUT ON ON MY TOUR BUS WHEN I
WANT TO GET IN THE MOOD TO PLAY.
>> IT DOES TAKE EMBRACING A
CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
AGGRESSIVENESS THAT --
PARTICULARLY IN THE '50s.
IT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN
CONSIDERED LADYLIKE.
>> Jackson: [ GROWLING ]
>> GROWL!
>> YEAH, THE GROWL -- I THINK
ELVIS TOOK SOME OF THAT GROWL.
>> Jackson: THE GUYS SHOULDN'T
HAVE IT ALL WRAPPED UP
THEMSELVES.
[ CHUCKLES ]
LET THE GIRLS GET IN THE MIX
HERE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
♪ WE TOOK A LITTLE COUNTRY
MUSIC ♪
♪ PUT SOME POP IN AND DRESSED IT
UP IN SOUL ♪
♪ WE TOOK A LITTLE COUNTRY
MUSIC ♪
♪ PUT SOME POP IN AND DRESSED IT
UP IN SOUL ♪
THAT'S ALL WE DID!
♪ AND WE CALLED IT
"ROCKABILLY" ♪
♪ LONG BEFORE THEY CALLED IT
"ROCK 'N' ROLL" ♪
[ CHEERS ]
[ Gruffly ] ♪ HEY ♪
♪ ROCKABILLY FEVER ♪
♪ LOOKS LIKE IT'S COMING BACK
AGAIN ♪
[ CHEERING ]
[ Gruffly ] ♪ HEY ♪
♪ ROCKABILLY FEVER ♪
♪ LOOK OUT ♪
♪ IT MIGHT GET YOU, MY FRIEND ♪
>> WHAT'S ROCKABILLY?
>> ROCKABILLY IS...UH...
>> IT'S A PROTOTYPE OF PUNK AND
GARAGE MUSIC.
>> IT WAS A MIXTURE OF COUNTRY
MUSIC AND EARLY ROCK 'N' ROLL.
>> Jackson: WELL, WHERE DID THE
WORD COME FROM?
WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
WHERE DO OTHER WORDS COME FROM?
IT JUST CROPS UP.
>> WELL, ROCKABILLY MUSIC IS
SORT OF A FORERUNNER AND A
PARALLEL STREAM TO ROCK 'N'
ROLL, AND THE "-ABILLY" PART OF
IT REFERS TO "HILLBILLY."
>> ROCKABILLY CAN BE DIFF-- IT
CAN BE A SHUFFLE.
[ UP-TEMPO MELODY PLAYS ]
>> A MIXTURE OF RHYTHM AND BLUES
AND COUNTRY ON, LIKE, A FORM OF
STEROIDS.
>> SO, IT'S REALLY RHYTHM AND
BLUES AND GOSPEL UNDER
ROCKABILLY, GLUING "ROCK" AND
"BILLY" TOGETHER, I THINK.
>> WELL, IT'S WHAT HAPPENED WHEN
COUNTRY AND BLUES MET.
>> AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSED IT TO
EVOLVE, YOU KNOW, FROM...
[ MID-TEMPO BLUES MUSIC PLAYS ]
>> WE ALWAYS LOVED IT 'CAUSE IT
CAME WITH A BUILT-IN LIFESTYLE.
IT CAME WITH A BUILT-IN LOOK AND
A KIND OF BUILT-IN WAY TO LIVE,
ALMOST.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTO
THIS MUSIC LIKE THE WHOLE
LIFESTYLE.
THE OLD CARS, A CERTAIN WAY OF
DRESSING, CERTAIN -- LIKE, YOU
WANT TO HAVE A LEOPARD-SKIN
COUCH AND JUKEBOX IN YOUR HOUSE.
IT WAS LIKE A LIFESTYLE, YOU
KNOW, LIKE A STYLE.
[ ROCKABILLY MUSIC PLAYS ]
>> AND IT'S SUCH SMALL
RESOURCES, REALLY.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF VOLUME.
IT'S ALL COMING FROM THE VOICE
AND THE DYNAMISM OF THE ACTUAL
PERFORMER.
>> ♪ YES, I'M AN OLD POOR BOY ♪
♪ A LONG WAY FROM HOME ♪
>> LOOKING BACK ON IT NOW, YOU
REALIZE THAT THERE WAS A HUGE
AMOUNT OF POSSIBILITY IN THE
MUSIC THAT SUDDENLY EXPLODED.
[ SLOW COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYS ]
>> Jackson: MY DAD WAS A
PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN.
HE PLAYED IN A BAND.
HE PLAYED FIDDLE AND GUITAR AND
SANG AT DANCES IN LITTLE TOWNS
AROUND OKLAHOMA.
AND IT WAS AT ONE OF THOSE
DANCES HE MET MY MOTHER.
AND THEY COURTED FOR AWHILE AND
WERE MARRIED, AND AWHILE LATER
ON, I CAME ALONG.
THEY'D LISTEN TO THE
GRAND OLE OPRY ON SATURDAY
NIGHT, AND, ALSO, MOTHER AND
DADDY LOVED TO DANCE.
THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL DANCERS.
AND SO, EVERY WEEKEND, THERE
WOULD BE SOME BIG BANDS.
WELL, THEY WOULD GO DANCING WITH
THEIR FRIENDS.
AND IT SEEMS STRANGE NOW, BUT IN
THOSE DAYS, PEOPLE DIDN'T GET
BABYSITTERS.
YOU JUST TOOK YOUR KIDS WITH
YOU.
BUT THEY SAID THAT THEY NEVER
KNEW I WAS AROUND BECAUSE I'D
HEAD RIGHT TO THE BANDSTAND AND
STAND THERE ALL NIGHT, YOU KNOW,
LOOKING UP AT THE SINGERS.
AND I LOVED IT.
AND SO THEY COULD TELL FROM AN
EARLY AGE -- THEY WOULD ASK ME,
YOU KNOW, "WHAT ARE YOU GONNA BE
WHEN YOU GROW UP?"
AND I SAID, "I'M GONNA BE A GIRL
SINGER."
[ CHUCKLES ]
AND SO MY DAD PUT A GUITAR IN MY
HAND WHEN I WAS ABOUT 6, AND
EVENTUALLY, I COULD MAKE SOME
CHORDS.
AND THEN I WOULD PLAY GUITAR,
HE'D PLAY FIDDLE, AND WE'D SING
TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, ALMOST EVERY
NIGHT.
AND SO, THOSE ARE WONDERFUL
MEMORIES.
NOW, THIS IS MY ORIGINAL GUITAR,
THE FIRST REAL GUITAR I HAD.
THIS IS A MARTIN D-18.
AND I LOVED IT.
THIS IS WHAT I WANTED AT THE
TIME, BUT I KNEW THAT I COULDN'T
AFFORD A BRAND-NEW ONE.
SO MY DADDY AND I WENT SHOPPING
IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY AT THE
PAWN SHOPS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
AND BLESS HIS HEART, HE FOUND
THIS, AND IT WAS IN PERFECT
CONDITION.
IT WAS.
ONE OF THE FIRST SONGS -- LET'S
SEE -- THAT I LEARNED AND
PROBABLY SANG ON THIS GUITAR
WAS...
[ GUITAR CHORD PLAYS ]
♪ GOT THE BLUES LIKE MIDNIGHT ♪
♪ MOON SHINING BRIGHT AS DAY ♪
♪ LORD, LORD ♪
♪ I GOT THE BLUES LIKE
MIDNIGHT ♪
♪ MOON SHINING BRIGHT AS DAY ♪
♪ I WISH A TORNADO
WOULD COME AND BLOW MY BLUES
AWAY ♪
♪ YODELAY OH ♪
♪ OLEHY OH ♪
♪ OLEHY ♪
>> WPGT TIME...
>> WELL, PREFERABLY, THE
AFTERNOON WAS FILLED WITH LIVE
RADIO PERFORMANCES BY EITHER
LOCAL OR NATIONAL STARS.
AND WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, IT
WAS ALL COUNTRY AND WESTERN,
MAINLY PEOPLE LIKE EDDIE ARNOLD,
WHO WAS A HUGE STAR AT THAT
TIME.
SO, RADIO WAS, YOU KNOW, SO
IMPORTANT IN THOSE DAYS --
BECOME HOMOGENIZED NOW, BUT IN
THOSE DAYS, BETWEEN NOT ONLY
SHOWCASING THE RECORDS OF WHAT
WAS EMERGING TALENT AT THE TIME,
BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT THESE
GUYS LOCALLY THAT HAD SHOWS --
ANYBODY WHO WAS IN TOWN -- WOUND
UP IN THE SHOW BECAUSE THAT WAS
CONTENT.
>> YOU KNOW ABOUT IT.
[ COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYS ]
>> Jackson: WHEN I WAS IN JUNIOR
HIGH SCHOOL, THE RADIO STATION
THAT WAS MOST POPULAR HAD A
ONE-HOUR COUNTRY-MUSIC SHOW.
AND THE LAST 15 MINUTES OF IT,
HE WOULD LET LOCAL TALENT SING.
SO, YOU WOULD HAVE TO TRY OUT,
AND IF YOU WERE GOOD ENOUGH,
HE'D LET YOU SING THAT LAST 15
MINUTES.
>> SHE WAS TELLING ME ABOUT THIS
ONE TIME WHERE SHE WAS STOMPING
HER FOOT ON THE BASE OF THE MIKE
STAND, AND HER PARENTS WERE
SAYING, "YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO
ON THE RADIO, THERE'S THIS
REALLY FUNNY THUMPING SOUND, AND
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN ANYBODY
ELSE IS ON THEIR SHOW."
AND THEY FIGURED OUT -- SHE
DIDN'T REALIZE SHE WAS DOING IT,
BUT SHE WAS KEEPING TIME AND
BANGING HER FOOT AGAINST THAT.
>> ♪ I'VE GOT A HUMPTY DUMPTY.
HEART ♪
♪ YOU DROPPED IT AND BROKE IT
APART ♪
♪ ALL THE KING'S HORSES, ALL THE
KING'S MEN ♪
♪ COULD NEVER PUT IT TOGETHER
AGAIN ♪
♪ BUT WHEN I GAVE TO YOU MY
HEART... ♪
>> Jackson: I WAS INFLUENCED BY,
YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE STARS.
BUT HANK THOMPSON IS THE ONE
THAT JUST -- I REALLY LOVED HIS
WAY OF SINGING AND HIS BEAUTIFUL
SONGS, AND SO I WAS A VERY BIG
HANK THOMPSON FAN.
>> I'D HEARD ABOUT HER.
AND SO, SHE WAS ON THE RADIO
STATION, AND I TUNED IT IN AND
HEARD HER SINGING, AND I SAID,
"BOY, THIS GIRL IS PLENTY GOOD."
>> Jackson: AND, LO AND BEHOLD,
THEY TOLD ME ONE AFTERNOON --
THEY SAID, "WANDA, YOU'VE GOT A
CALL," AS SOON AS MY SHOW WAS
OVER.
I SAID, "WHO IS IT?"
AND THEY SAID, "OH, YOU KNOW,
I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S A MAN."
"A MAN? MUST BE DADDY."
>> I ASKED HER, WOULD SHE LIKE
TO COME UP AND SING A COUPLE OF
SONGS WITH MY BAND?
AND SHE SAYS, "WELL, I'LL HAVE
TO ASK MY MOTHER."
[ CHUCKLES ]
>> Jackson: HANK THOMPSON
CALLING ME -- IT'S STILL THE
MOMENT THAT WAS PROBABLY THE
MOST THRILLING THING OF MY LIFE.
>> WELL, THAT WOULD -- THAT
WOULD FIGURE, 'CAUSE HERE SHE
WAS, JUST A TEENAGE GIRL STILL
GOING TO HIGH SCHOOL AND PICKING
THE GUITAR, AND THEN SOMEBODY
LIKE ME, WHO WAS NATIONALLY
KNOWN AND HAD HIT RECORDS -- AND
SO I COULD SEE WHERE SHE WAS
HIGHLY FLATTERED.
>> Jackson: AND HE ASKED ME TO
COME DOWN AND SING THAT
COMING SATURDAY NIGHT WITH
THE BRAZOS VALLEY BOYS AT
THE TRIANON BALLROOM.
I THOUGHT, "MAN, I'VE HIT THE
TOP NOW."
[ LAUGHS ]
SO, I WAS READY TO GO ON THE
ROAD.
I DIDN'T GIVE COLLEGE OR
ANYTHING A SECOND THOUGHT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I WAS ON MY WAY, DOING WHAT I
WANTED TO DO.
[ SLOW COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYS ]
I THINK WHAT WAS SO NEAT IS THAT
MY DAD WAS BEING ABLE TO LIVE
HIS DREAM THROUGH ME.
MY DADDY WAS GONNA TRY TO BOOK
ME, AND HE DIDN'T KNOW ANY--
I MEAN, HE WAS A BARBER.
[ CHUCKLES ]
AND HE GOT A BILLBOARD, THOUGH,
AND WAS THUMBING THROUGH IT, AND
HE JUST SAW THE NAME "BOB NEAL,"
AND HE WAS IN MEMPHIS.
"THAT SOUNDS GOOD."
SO, HE CALLED HIM, TOLD HIM HE
WAS MY -- MY FATHER AND THAT
WE'D LIKE TO TOUR AND COULD HE
SET SOME DATES FOR ME.
AND BOB NEAL SAID, "AS A MATTER
OF FACT, THAT'LL BE GREAT."
HE SAID, "I'M BOOKING A YOUNG
MAN NAMED ELVIS PRESLEY, AND
HE'S REALLY STARTING TO CAUSE A
COMMOTION.
AND ON HIS SHOWS, I'D LIKE TO
FEATURE A GIRL ON THE BILL."
AND SO HE SAID, "LET'S TRY
THAT."
SO, IT WASN'T UNUSUAL AT ALL FOR
ME TO WORK A SHOW AND BE ON THE
BILL WITH JOHNNY CASH,
BUDDY HOLLY, CARL PERKINS,
JERRY LEE LEWIS -- ALL THESE
GREATS.
THEY WEREN'T SUPERSTARS THEN,
BUT THEY WERE MY BUDDIES, AND WE
HAD A LOT OF FUN ON THE TOURS,
AND IT WAS GREAT.
>> IT WAS ELVIS THAT ENCOURAGED
HER SO MUCH AND HAD CONFIDENCE
IN HER ABILITY TO DO ROCK 'N'
ROLL, HIS KIND OF MUSIC.
AND WANDA SAID, "I'M A COUNTRY
ARTIST," AND ELVIS SAID, "WELL,
I AM, TOO, BASICALLY.
BUT HERE'S WHAT WE DO
DIFFERENT," AND HE SHOWED HER.
[ ROCK 'N' ROLL MUSIC PLAYS ]
HE SHOWED HER YOU CAN TAKE
DIFFERENT KINDS OF MUSIC, AND HE
TOOK A LOT OF BLACK BLUES FROM
THE OLD DAYS AND PUT A ROCK 'N'
ROLL RHYTHM TO IT, AND IT
WORKED.
>> Jackson: I HAD ALREADY BEEN
RECORDING FOR AT LEAST A YEAR.
I'D HAD TWO COUNTRY SONGS IN THE
BILLBOARD TOP 50 OR SOMETHING.
MY FIRST RECORD GOT UP TO NUMBER
10 OR SOMETHING.
SO, YOU KNOW, FOR ABOUT THAT
LONG, I WAS A BIGGER STAR THAN
ELVIS.
[ LAUGHS ]
IT DIDN'T LAST LONG.
>> SO, AT THE TIME, WHAT WANDA
WAS DOING WAS REALLY, YOU KNOW,
RISKING HER CAREER, YOU KNOW?
SHE WAS GOING FROM COUNTRY INTO
ROCKABILLY.
YOU KNOW, SHE DIDN'T KNOW IF IT
WAS GONNA BE ACCEPTABLE.
YOU KNOW, PROBABLY TV SHOWS
DIDN'T WANT TO BOOK HER BECAUSE
THEY WERE CONCERNED.
>> COUNTRY MUSIC IS ALWAYS
SUNDAY MORNING.
>> IT'S MORE POLITE.
>> AND HARD-CORE ROCKABILLY IS
ALWAYS WILD SATURDAY NIGHT, YOU
KNOW?
>> SO, REALLY, IT WAS A
COMMITMENT THAT SHE HAD TO
HERSELF OF, "THIS IS THE KIND OF
MUSIC I WANT TO PLAY FOR
MYSELF," AND THEY WERE REALLY
CREATING THE FOUNDATION OF ROCK
'N' ROLL.
ARTISTS LIKE WANDA JACKSON LAID
THE ROOTS FOR, YOU KNOW,
CONTEMPORARY POP MUSIC.
>> Jackson: ♪ ROCK YOU, BABY,
ALL NIGHT LONG ♪
♪ TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS AND
WHISPER LOVE AND
ROCK YOUR BABY, AND DON'T BE
SLOW ♪
[ FINALE PLAYS ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
I HAD A CRUSH ON HIM, AND WE
DATED, AND HE GAVE ME HIS RING
AND ASKED ME TO BE HIS GIRL.
AND WE HAD A VERY SPECIAL
RELATIONSHIP.
IT'S A REAL DIAMOND.
NOT TOO BIG, BUT IT'S REAL.
[ CHUCKLES ]
>> YOU KNOW, WANDA ALWAYS TALKS
ABOUT HER RELATIONSHIP TO ELVIS.
EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT HER
RELATIONSHIP TO ELVIS.
AND SHE SPEAKS OF IT WITH KIND
OF A TWINKLE IN HER EYE, AND
SHE'S GOT THAT RING THAT, YOU
KNOW, SHE WEARS AROUND HER NECK
SOMETIMES AND KEEPS AT HOME.
AND I -- I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
INTRIGUED BY HOW SHE PRESENTS IT
BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T TAKE YOU
INTO, YOU KNOW, VISCERAL
DETAILS.
[ CHUCKLES ]
AND MOST PEOPLE WON'T ASK.
AND I THINK, IF THEY DO, SHE'LL
DANCE AROUND.
I THINK THAT SUITS HER PERSONA,
WHICH IS, ON ONE HAND, THAT
SENSUALITY, BUT ON THE OTHER
HAND, THE LADYLIKE.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS THE OLD
COUNTRY SONG -- "NO ONE KNOWS
WHAT GOES ON BEHIND CLOSED
DOORS" -- I THINK THERE'S
SOMETHING SWEET AND MYSTERIOUS
ABOUT HER RELATIONSHIP TO ELVIS,
AND SO IT SHALL REMAIN, FROM MY
POINT OF VIEW, AND THAT FITS WHO
SHE IS.
>> Jackson: HE TOOK ME TO HIS
HOME AND TOOK A WHOLE AFTERNOON.
WE PLAYED RECORDS, AND HE PICKED
UP THE GUITAR AND SAID, "YOU CAN
KIND OF DO IT LIKE THIS."
AND, YOU KNOW, HE TOOK THAT MUCH
TIME, AND HE JUST WOULDN'T TAKE
NO FOR AN ANSWER.
SO -- SO, IT TOOK ME A COUPLE OF
YEARS, BUT I FINALLY SAID,
"WELL, I'M GONNA TRY IT.
THIS IS FOR YOU, ELVIS."
AND SURE ENOUGH, I JUST FOUND A
HOME.
I MEAN, I REALLY FOUND MY NICHE.
♪ SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO ROCK ♪
♪ SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO ROLL ♪
♪ BUT MOVIN' AND A-GROOVING'S
GONNA SATISFY MY SOUL ♪
♪ LET'S HAVE A PARTY ♪
♪ OOH ♪
♪ LET'S HAVE A PARTY ♪
♪ LET'S SEND HIM TO THE STORE ♪
♪ LET'S BUY SOME MORE ♪
♪ LET'S HAVE A PARTY TONIGHT ♪
ROCK 'N' ROLL, WHEN IT HIT, HIT
SO BIG, AND IT JUST TURNED THE
MUSIC INDUSTRY UPSIDE DOWN.
AND HERE I WAS, RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF IT.
IT'S LIKE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF
A HURRICANE.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> IT WAS SO EDGY.
AND THERE WAS SOMETHING, WHEN IT
FIRST CAME OUT, THAT MADE
EVERYONE MOVE AND REBEL.
[ INSTRUMENTAL SOLO ]
>> IT MADE THE PARENTS HATE
THEIR CHILDREN, FOR A START, YOU
KNOW, WHICH IS ALWAYS QUIET
LEARNING, YOU KNOW?
"TURN THAT RUBBISH DOWN!"
YOU KNOW, IT ALWAYS -- THAT'S
ALWAYS WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR
FROM YOUR PARENTS.
OTHERWISE, THE MUSIC'S NO GOOD
IF THEY DON'T SAY THAT, YOU
KNOW?
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO!
[ ENGINES RUMBLING ]
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
>> I KNOW THE EVIL FEELING THAT
YOU FEEL WHEN YOU SING IT.
I KNOW THE -- THE LOST POSITION
THAT YOU GET INTO AND THE BEAT!
WELL, IF YOU TALK TO THE AVERAGE
TEENAGER OF TODAY AND YOU ASK
THEM WHAT IT IS ABOUT ROCK 'N'
ROLL MUSIC THAT THEY LIKE, THE
FIRST THING THEY'LL SAY IS, "THE
BEAT, THE BEAT, THE BEAT."
>> Jackson: ♪ I NEVER KISSED A
BEAR ♪
♪ I NEVER KISSED A GOOSE ♪
♪ BUT I CAN SHAKE A CHICKEN IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM ♪
♪ LET'S HAVE A PARTY ♪
♪ OOH ♪
>> IN 1956, "LET'S HAVE A PARTY"
MADE HER THE FIRST GAL TO EVER
RECORD ROCK 'N' ROLL.
>> I THINK SHE HAS HER OWN
STYLE, WHICH I THINK EVEN ELVIS
PROBABLY FED OFF OF A LITTLE
BIT, TOO.
>> WHEN THEY FINALLY ACCEPTED
ELVIS, THAT WAS HARD ENOUGH.
>> Jackson: AND LET ALONE
LITTLE RICHARD AND JERRY LEE,
THE REALLY WILD ONES.
>> SO, TO HAVE A WOMAN DO THAT
WAS UNACCEPTABLE.
>> Jackson: SO, YEAH, IT WAS
QUITE A SHOCK, I BELIEVE.
♪ THE BREAD'S A-GETTIN' HOT ♪
♪ EVERYBODY RUN ♪
♪ THEY GOT THE POSSUM IN THE
POT ♪
>> THERE'S REALLY AN ATTITUDE.
IT'S AN ATTITUDE ONSTAGE IN HOW
YOU PERFORM AND HOW YOU
COMMUNICATE WITH AN AUDIENCE.
>> Jackson: I'LL HAVE TO
ADMIT -- I KIND OF LIKED BEING A
SHOCK.
[ LAUGHS ]
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A MORE
ASSERTIVE PERSON.
I WANTED TO BE -- HAVE A LOT
MORE SELF-CONFIDENCE.
AND I JUST NEVER -- I NEVER DID
HAVE THAT.
BUT THEN WHEN I CAN STEP ON THE
STAGE, THE STAGE IS MY KINGDOM,
AND I RULED.
>> GIVE HER A REAL
"TOWN HALL PARTY" WELCOME --
WANDA JACKSON!
HOW ABOUT IT?
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
OH, YEAH!
>> THE "TOWN HALL PARTY" DVDs
HAVE BEEN OUT, AND, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S THE KIND OF STUFF I PUT
ON ON MY TOUR BUS WHEN I WANT TO
GET IN THE MOOD TO PLAY.
I'LL PUT ON AN EDITION OF
"TOWN HALL PARTY" BEFORE THE
SHOW.
IT GETS YOU READY TO PLAY, YOU
KNOW?
IT'S SO ROCKING.
IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW -- IT'S NOT
UNREASONABLE.
>> Jackson: ♪ WHOA OH OH OH ♪
♪ A HARD-HEADED WOMAN IS A
THORN IN THE SIDE OF A MAN ♪
EVERYONE ON THE EAST COAST ON
THIS TOUR -- EVERYONE'S SAYING,
"HAVE YOU WORKED AT THE
ASBURY LANE?"
"WELL, NO, I HAVEN'T."
"WELL, YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT."
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE HEARD.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> I OPENED THE NEWSPAPER, AND I
SAID, "OH, MY GOD."
I SAID, "WANDA JACKSON..."
>> WE'D BEEN TALKING ABOUT HER.
>> "...IS GOING TO BE IN
ASBURY PARK."
I SAID, "THIS IS LIKE -- IT'S A
CONFLUENCE OF..."
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU KNOW, THE -- THE STARS ARE
LINING UP.
AND EVEN SO, WE'RE SO LAZY.
THE KIDS, AND THE KIDS -- YOU
KNOW, WE STILL GOT -- THEY'RE
RELATIVELY YOUNG.
WE PUT THEM TO BED, THE WHOLE
THING.
BUT I SAYS, "PATTY," I SAYS --
>> YOU WERE VERY GOOD.
>> YEAH, I SAYS, "NO."
[ LAUGHS ]
I SAYS, "WE GOT TO GO."
>> AND IT'S ALWAYS SURPRISING
WHEN YOU MEET A STAR WHO'S
SOMEONE THAT YOU'VE REVERED AND
YOU'VE LOVED AND YOU THINK OF
THEM AS BEING LIKE THE PINNACLE
OF WHAT THEY DO.
AND THEN THEY SAY, "YOU KNOW,
I'VE GOT TO BE THERE BECAUSE
I'VE NEVER -- THIS IS MY
FAVORITE."
>> WELL, HE CUT THE LITTLE
ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE PAPER AND
PUT IT ABOVE THE PHONE AND GOES,
"WE'RE GOING OUT.
LOOK WHAT I FOUND.
SHE'S COMING TO TOWN."
WE WERE EXCITED.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> "THIS NIGHT."
[ LAUGHS ]
>> "GET OFF THE COUCH."
>> IT WAS EXCI-- IT WAS FUN, AND
OF COURSE...
>> SHE WAS SO LOVELY.
>> ...SHE'S A DOLL.
>> Jackson: LET'S JUST DO
ANOTHER SONG FOR
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN.
>> SURE.
>> Jackson: [ GROWLS ]
DO YOU KNOW THAT ONE, THOUGH,
BRUCE?
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
HE SAYS THAT IT'S JUST A LITTLE
BIT MORE THAN HE NEEDS, OKAY?
♪ PEOPLE LIKE TO ROCK ♪
♪ SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO ROLL ♪
♪ BUT MOVIN' AND A-GROOVIN'
GONNA SATISFY MY SOUL ♪
♪ LET'S HAVE A PARTY ♪
♪ WHOO ♪
>> AND WE WERE ECSTATIC THE
NIGHT SHE PLAYED IN ASBURY
BECAUSE SHE WAS STILL SO GREAT.
>> HER VOICE IS JUST GORGEOUS,
SO INTACT.
>> AND SHE ALSO DID SOME
IMPOSSIBLE -- IT'S ONE -- SHE
COVERED ELVIS SONGS.
>> Jackson: ♪ TONIGHT WE'RE
GONNA ROCK AWAY ALL OUR BLUES ♪
♪ I HEARD THE NEWS ♪
♪ THERE'S GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT ♪
>> THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
THAT'S SO HARD TO DO.
AND SHE REALLY DID MAKE THEM HER
OWN.
THERE'S AN AUTHENTICITY IN THE
VOICE THAT CONJURES UP A WORLD,
A PARTICULAR -- A VERY DISTINCT
AND PARTICULAR PLACE IN TIME.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE
DEVELOPED, AND IT'S SO
SPECIFICALLY AMERICAN.
[ FINALE PLAYS ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> THERE'S NO ONE THAT GOOD
ANYMORE.
LIKE, THESE PEOPLE, PEOPLE LIKE
WANDA JACKSON, GENE VINCENT,
JOHNNY CASH -- THEY'RE TRUE
CHARACTERS, TRUE AMERICAN
CHARACTERS.
THESE ARE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THESE -- WANDA JACKSON COULDN'T
BE FROM ENGLAND OR FROM CANADA
OR ANYWHERE ELSE.
NEITHER COULD JOHNNY CASH.
THESE ARE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
>> IN ENGLAND, WE DIDN'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT HER, SEE, 'CAUSE
YOU COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING OUT
ABOUT PEOPLE THEN.
I MEAN, FOR THE FIRST THREE
WEEKS OF HEARING HIM, I THOUGHT
LITTLE RICHARD WAS WHITE, 'CAUSE
I THOUGHT EVERYBODY WAS WHITE,
YOU KNOW?
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY,
THEY WEREN'T, BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW
THAT IN ENGLAND 'CAUSE WE DIDN'T
HAVE A LOT BLACK PEOPLE THERE
THEN, YOU KNOW?
SO, WE WERE DUMB, YOU KNOW?
SO, WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT BLACK
PEOPLE STARTED ROCK 'N' ROLL,
AND, OF COURSE, WE FOUND OUT
LATER.
WE GOT RID OF BILL HALEY, YOU
KNOW?
WE FOUND OUT THE GOOD STUFF, YOU
KNOW?
>> ♪ YOU AIN'T NOTHING BUT A
HOUND DOG ♪
♪ WENT SNOOPIN' 'ROUND THE
DOOR ♪
♪ YOU AIN'T NOTHING BUT A HOUND
DOG ♪
♪ BEEN SNOOPIN' 'ROUND MY DOOR ♪
♪ YOU CAN WAG YOUR TAIL ♪
♪ BUT I AIN'T GONNA FEED A-YOU
NO MORE ♪
>> TO ME, ALL THOSE WOMEN WERE
NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE
RULES OF FEMININITY, OF WHAT IS
AN ACCEPTABLE FEMININE PICTURE
THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.
AND CERTAINLY, LIKE
BIG MAMA THORNTON OR THE BLUES
SINGERS, WANDA, YOU KNOW, TOOK
IT TO WHERE IT WAS LIBERATING,
AND SHE WAS CELEBRATING ALL
THOSE THINGS THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE WERE REPRESSING.
>> THE RISE OF RHYTHM AND BLUES
AND RACE MUSIC AFTER
WORLD WAR II IS REALLY WHERE WE
GET OUR REAL ENERGY.
YOU FIND YOUNG BLACKS COMING
BACK FROM WORLD WAR II WITH MORE
LEISURE TIME, WITH GREATER
EXPECTATIONS.
YOU'VE GOT THE PRECEDENCE OF
VOCAL GROUPS LIKE THE INK SPOTS
AND THE MILLS BROTHERS ALL
RECORDING IN THE '30s AND '40s,
BEING VERY POPULAR, BUT LARGELY
HAVING A WHITE AUDIENCE WITH A
BLACK CROSSOVER ELEMENT.
SO, DURING THAT PERIOD, YOU'VE
GOT A LOT OF EXCITING MUSIC THAT
HAS A VERY SEDUCTIVE CONTENT,
THAT'S MUCH MORE INTERESTING AND
ALLURING THAN THINGS LIKE "HOW
MUCH IS THAT DOGGY IN THE
WINDOW?"
>> ♪ HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGY IN
THE WINDOW? ♪
>> ♪ ARF ARF ♪
>> ♪ THE ONE WITH THE WAGGLY
TAIL ♪
>> ♪ ARF ARF ♪
>> Jackson: AND THERE WEREN'T
ANY GIRLS SINGING, YOU KNOW, SO
I HAD TO SING ALL THESE GUYS'
SONGS.
SOMETIMES IT WOULD SOUND KIND OF
FUNNY, I GUESS, BUT THAT'S THE
WAY I DID IT.
♪ WELL, SAMSON TOLD DELILAH ♪
♪ A-LOUD AND CLEAR ♪
♪ "KEEP YOUR COTTON-PICKIN'
FINGERS OFF MY CURLY HAIR" ♪
♪ OH, YEAH ♪
♪ EVER SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN ♪
I NEVER DID TRY TO SOUND LIKE
ANYBODY.
I MEAN, MY DADDY WOULDN'T HAVE
ALLOWED IT.
HE'D SAY, "NO, YOU BE YOURSELF."
[ CHUCKLES ]
HE WAS A STICKLER ON THAT --
"YOU DO IT YOUR WAY AND DON'T
LET ANYBODY CHANGE IT."
♪ AND A HARD-HEADED WOMAN IS A
THORN IN THE SIDE OF A MAN ♪
[ FINALE PLAYS ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> WELL, WANDA JACKSON IS THE
SWEET GIRL WITH THE NASTY VOICE.
SHE'S GOT THAT GROWL IN THERE.
>> YEAH, THE GROWL -- I THINK
ELVIS TOOK SOME OF THAT GROWL,
'CAUSE EVEN IF YOU LISTEN TO THE
EARLIER ELVIS, THE SUN SESSIONS,
THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE GROWL AS,
YOU KNOW, AS THEY DID LIKE IN
'56, UP TO '58.
>> SHE KIND OF MADE IT SAFE FOR
PEOPLE LATER ON, LIKE
JANIS JOPLIN, TO COME AROUND.
THERE WAS NO WOMEN THAT I KNEW
OF AT THAT TIME WHO SANG THAT
AGGRESSIVELY.
>> Jackson: ♪ WELL, YOU GOT TO
ROCK YOUR BABY ALL NIGHT LONG ♪
♪ ROCK YOUR BABY ALL NIGHT
LONG ♪
♪ ROCK YOUR BABY ALL NIGHT
LONG ♪
♪ ROCK YOUR BABY ALL NIGHT
LONG ♪
♪ TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS AND
WHISPER LOVE AND
ROCK YOUR BABY AND DON'T BE
SLOW ♪
AND IT DIDN'T HURT MY THROAT.
I'VE DONE IT ALL THESE YEARS, 50
YEARS NOW OF RECORDING AND DOING
PERSONAL APPEARANCES, AND MY
VOICE IS STILL OKAY.
IT'S STRONG AND -- I'M TOLD.
♪ ROCK YOUR BABY ALL NIGHT
LONG ♪
>> YOU REALLY CAN'T COMPARE HER
VOICE TO ANYONE ELSE.
SINCE WANDA JACKSON MADE
RECORDS, NOW YOU CAN COMPARE --
"OH, SHE SINGS LIKE
WANDA JACKSON."
YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY MEAN.
>> I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT A
GIRL COULD SING LIKE THAT...
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
ESPECIALLY BACK THEN.
IT WAS, LIKE, NOT VERY COMMON
FOR A GIRL TO SING LIKE THAT IN
THOSE DAYS, YOU KNOW?
SHE WAS LIKE A LOT MORE MODERN
THAN WOMEN WERE BACK THEN,
'CAUSE SHE DIDN'T MIND LETTING
IT ALL GO, YOU KNOW, THE
VOCALS -- I MEAN, THEY'RE
UNBELIEVABLE VOCALS.
SHE WAS LIKE THE FEMALE
LITTLE RICHARD BACK THEN, YOU
KNOW?
>> Jackson: WELL, I WAS THE
FIRST GIRL IN COUNTRY MUSIC TO
WEAR SEXY CLOTHES.
[ LAUGHS ]
AT THAT POINT, I WAS WEARING
JUST WESTERN CLOTHES.
I HAD ON COWBOY BOOTS AND A
WESTERN SHIRT WITH THE PIPING,
YOU KNOW, AND ALL, AND I EVEN
HAD A HAT ON THE BACK OF MY
HEAD.
BUT I KNEW THAT I DIDN'T FEEL
GOOD IN THOSE.
BUT IT TOOK UNTIL I WAS ABOUT
16, PROBABLY, AND WEARING HIGH
HEELS, FOR ME TO GET THE IDEA,
"I DON'T HAVE TO DRESS LIKE
THIS.
I CAN WEAR HEELS AND A STRAIGHT
SKIRT," WHICH I ALWAYS LOOKED
BETTER IN BECAUSE I'M SHORT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
"AND I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ALL
THIS TRAPPINGS."
I DIDN'T LIKE IT.
SO, MOTHER HAD BEEN A
PROFESSIONAL SEAMSTRESS.
FROM THERE, WE JUST GOT MY OWN
STYLE, AND I HAD LOWER-CUT
DRESSES, SPAGHETTI STRAPS, THE
SILK FRINGES, RATHER THAN THAT
LEATHER FRINGE, LONG, SHINY
EARRINGS, AND I WAS -- I WAS A
BIG FAN OF MARILYN MONROE, YOU
KNOW, IN THAT DAY, AND I WANTED
TO LOOK GLAMOROUS OR SEXY, I
GUESS, AND THAT WAS OUR WAY OF
DOING IT.
AND AS IT'S TURNED OUT, THAT'S
CHANGED THE LOOK OF WOMEN IN
COUNTRY MUSIC.
SO I'M GLAD [BLOWS] I WAS ABLE
TO DO THAT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
>> I JUST LOVE LOOKING AT THE
ALBUM COVERS, TO BE HONEST WITH
YOU.
WE GREW UP IN NEW YORK, AND
THERE WERE NO GIRLS THAT LOOKED
LIKE THAT IN NEW YORK.
AND SHE WAS GORGEOUS.
AND THEN, OBVIOUSLY, YOU HEAR
HER SING, AND THEN IT'S ALL
OVER.
SHE'S ONE OF A KIND.
>> WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT IS
EMBODIED IN HER, THAT
EMPOWERMENT THAT WOMEN REALLY
WANT FOR THEMSELVES.
THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT
THERE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, "I'M
GONNA -- I'M GONNA DO IT WITH
ALL MY HEART AND SOUL, WITH NO
RESTRICTIONS, NO LIMITATIONS,"
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SHE DID.
SHE DID WHAT SHE LIKED.
SHE DID WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO
AND MADE NO APOLOGIES FOR IT.
>> WOMEN CERTAINLY ADMIRE HER
FOR WHAT SHE'S DONE BECAUSE, AT
THE TIME, SHE WAS DOING THINGS
THAT WEREN'T REALLY ACCEPTABLE.
AND SHE WASN'T WILLING TO
COMPROMISE.
SO, AGAIN, IT WAS A REAL
STATEMENT THAT SHE MADE,
MUSICALLY AND ARTISTICALLY.
SO, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
RESPECT THAT, ESPECIALLY WOMEN,
AND REALIZING HOW HARD IT WAS AT
THAT TIME, AS WELL.
>> I JUST WISH I HAD A DECENT
KITCHEN.
>> IT WAS A TIME WHEN A WOMAN,
EVEN OF AGE, WASN'T SUPPOSED TO
BE OUT THERE MUCH DOING THE KIND
OF STUFF SHE WAS DOING, AND
NEVER MIND SOMEBODY WHO WAS
UNDER 21.
>> FURTHERMORE...
♪ A KITCHEN PHONE AT HAND WHEN
FRIENDS CALL UP TO CHAT A BIT ♪
>> IT DOES TAKE EMBRACING A
CERTAIN AMOUNT OF AGGRESSIVENESS
THAT -- THAT -- PARTICULARLY IN
THE '50s.
IT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN
CONSIDERED LADYLIKE OR WHATEVER,
BUT IF YOU TRACE THAT DOWN TO,
SAY, CHRISSIE HYNDE OR -- YOU
CAN EASILY TRACE IT SORT OF DOWN
TO THE GREAT MODERN WOMEN.
>> ♪ WE WENT AROUND AND 'ROUND
AND 'ROUND AND 'ROUND AND 'ROUND
THE SHORE WAY ♪
♪ WE WAS A DUET, DUET, DUET ♪
>> I DON'T THINK YOU SEE AN
EMERGENCE OF AS MANY FEMALE
ARTISTS IN THIS -- IN THIS MUSIC
UNTIL YOU GET UP INTO THE '60s,
'70s, AND '80s.
>> 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6!
[ ROCK MUSIC PLAYS ]
>> WITHOUT THE WANDA JACKSONS OF
THE WORLD IN THE '50s, CERTAINLY
THE ROLE OF FEMALE SINGERS IN
ROCK 'N' ROLL WOULD BE
DIFFERENT.
THEY ALL OWE A PIECE OF THEIR
CAREERS TO HER.
>> I THINK SHE WAS SORT OF A
REAL FEMINIST BEFORE HER TIME --
AND NOT JUST THE WAY SHE
DRESSED, OF COURSE, BUT THE
CONTENT OF HER SONGS.
>> Jackson: THIS IS A REAL CRAZY
SONG.
DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE, YOU
KNOW, DOESN'T TELL MUCH OF A
STORY, OR DOESN'T HAVE...
[ CHUCKLES ]
DOESN'T HAVE MUCH OF A TUNE TO
IT OR NOTHING.
IT'S -- ANYBODY WHO'D WRITE A
SONG LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE
CRAZY.
I'M TELLING YOU.
ANYWAY, I WROTE THIS SONG, AND
IT GOES...
[ INTRODUCTION TO
"MEAN, MEAN MAN" PLAYS ]
♪ I LOVE A MEAN, MEAN MAN
WHO LIVES UPTOWN ♪
♪ WHEN I WANT HIM MOST, HE'S NOT
AROUND ♪
♪ HE'S A MEAN, MEAN MAN ♪
♪ WHOO, LORDY, HE'S A MEAN, MEAN
MAN ♪
WELL, I WROTE A LOT OF SONGS IN
THE BEGINNING BECAUSE THERE
WEREN'T ANY GIRL SONGS BEING
WRITTEN BY ANYONE ELSE, AND I
KIND OF LIKE GAVE THEM
PERMISSION TO JUMP IN THERE.
THE GUYS SHOULDN'T HAVE IT ALL
WRAPPED UP THEMSELVES.
[ CHUCKLES ]
♪ WHOO, LORDY, HE'S A MEAN, MEAN
MAN ♪
I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU.
♪ HE'S A MEAN, MEAN MAN, BUT I
LOVE HIM ALL I CAN ♪
HERE WE GO NOW! YEAH!
[ RHYTHMIC CLAPPING ]
>> WENDELL IS HER HUSBAND AND
MANAGER, AND HE SETS UP ALL HER
DATES, GETS EVERYTHING
TOGETHER -- THE TOURS AND ALL
THAT STUFF.
I KNOW HE GAVE UP A NICE CAREER
AND HIS PREVIOUS JOB TO MANAGE
WANDA.
>> Jackson: WENDELL HAD A
WONDERFUL CAREER GOING FOR HIM
IN COMPUTERS, AND HE WAS WITH
IBM.
BUT I GAVE HIM THE CHOICE OF
WHICH CAREER BECAUSE I KNEW IT
WOULD NEVER WORK -- BOTH OF US
TRYING TO DO SEPARATE THINGS.
HE SAID HE THOUGHT MY CAREER
LOOKED A LOT MORE INTERESTING.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> WANDA JACKSON!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ ROCKABILLY MUSIC PLAYS ]
>> OUR RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN
SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE WE DON'T
COMPETE.
I TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AND
EVERYTHING FOR HER, AND SHE DOES
THE SINGING.
SHE'S ONSTAGE. I'M OFF.
AND THERE'S NO COMPETITION.
MANY MARRIAGES DON'T LAST IN
SHOW BUSINESS OR COUNTRY MUSIC
OR WHATEVER BECAUSE THERE'S
COMPETITION.
>> YOU'LL DO FINE.
>> Jackson: HE WAS BEGGING MY
BEST FRIEND, ANOTHER COUNTRY
SINGER, A BEAUTIFUL GAL NAMED
NORMA JEAN.
SO, I WAS WORKING ALL THE TIME,
BUT I WOULD COME IN AND CALL
HER, SAY, "LET'S GO OUT.
LET'S GO HAVE DINNER OR
SOMETHING."
"WELL, I'VE GOT A DATE WITH
WENDELL."
I SAID, "WELL, HECK."
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER
GIRLFRIENDS.
ALL OF THEM WERE MARRIED AND
GONE, YOU KNOW?
I SAID, "WELL, ASK WENDELL IF I
COULD COME ALONG WITH YOU.
I MEAN, I'LL PAY MY WAY.
JUST ASK HIM IF I CAN GO."
[ LAUGHS ]
>> SHE SAID, "I WANT YOU TO
MEET MY BEST FRIEND."
AND I SAID, "OKAY, WE WILL."
SHE SAID, "SHE'S A SINGER, TOO.
SHE'S WANDA JACKSON."
AND I SAID, "OH? THAT'S GOOD."
I'D NEVER HEARD OF
WANDA JACKSON, EVEN THOUGH SHE
WAS A MAJOR ARTIST IN THE
COUNTRY FIELD.
>> Jackson: WENDELL WAS A PRETTY
POPULAR GUY ABOUT THAT TIME.
YOU KNOW, HE HAD A BLONDE ON ONE
ARM, A BRUNET ON THE OTHER,
SO...
>> I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH
WANDA.
SHE WAS A KNOCKOUT.
NORMA JEAN WAS, TOO, BUT -- I
DON'T KNOW.
WANDA WAS ABOUT THE PRETTIEST,
SEXIEST THING I'D EVER SEEN.
SHE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO
NASHVILLE AND BE ON
"THE PORTER WAGONER SHOW," WHICH
WAS A VERY GOOD DEAL FOR HER.
AND WHEN SHE LEFT, SHE SAID,
"WANDA, TAKE GOOD CARE OF
WENDELL.
HE'S KIND OF NEW IN THE AREA.
I DON'T THINK HE HAS VERY MANY
FRIENDS."
>> AND A WEEK AFTER SHE LEFT,
WANDA CALLED ME AND SAID...
>> Jackson: "WHY DON'T WE GO
BOWLING TONIGHT?"
"WELL, OKAY, WHY DON'T WE?"
[ LAUGHS ]
>> WE TALKED ABOUT NORMA JEAN
FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES, AND THEN
WE STARTED TALKING ON THE BUS.
AND WE STARTED DATING.
OF COURSE, I THINK I WAS ALREADY
IN LOVE WITH HER.
BUT WE WERE MARRIED EIGHT MONTHS
LATER.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> ALL RIGHT, GANG, ARE YOU
READY FOR THIS?
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WE ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF
ROCKABILLY ROYALTY TODAY.
[ SCATTERED APPLAUSE ]
THIS YOUNG LADY HAS PAVED THE
WAY FOR SO MANY FEMALE ARTISTS
TO COME AFTER HER.
SHE WAS SINGING SONGS BACK IN
THE '50s THAT GIRL SINGERS
WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO SING.
AND SHE'S HAD AN INCREDIBLE
CAREER, COMING OUT OF OKLAHOMA.
AND SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE
INTERNATIONAL ROCKABILLY HALL OF
FAME.
LET'S LET HER KNOW WHAT WE THINK
ABOUT THAT.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
MISS WANDA JACKSON, THE QUEEN OF
ROCKABILLY, WITH THE
LUSTER KINGS.
MAKE HER FEEL WELCOME --
WANDA JACKSON!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ ROCKABILLY MUSIC PLAYS ]
>> SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO
WHAT SHE DOES WITHOUT WENDELL.
>> HE TAKES CARE OF HER AND
TAKES CARE OF THE MERCHANDISE,
SO THAT GIVES HIM A LOT OF
THINGS TO DO AND TO WORK OUT.
SO, HE'S NOT KIND OF IN THE
SHADOWS.
HE'S KIND OF NEXT TO HER AND
HELPS HER ONSTAGE AND DOES ALL
SHE NEEDS.
>> WE THOUGHT YOU WERE JUST
AWESOME.
>> YEAH, YOU WERE GREAT!
>> LIKE THAT.
>> CAN I PUT YOU IN HERE?
PUT IT DOWN.
YOU TRYING TO EXPEDITE IT?
>> FOR HER, IT'S GREAT BECAUSE
SHE HAS COMPANY ON THE ROAD.
TRAVELING, ESPECIALLY FOR A
WOMAN, IS NOT THAT EASY BECAUSE
USUALLY IT'S A MAN'S BUSINESS
AND -- PACKING VANS AND ALL
THAT.
SO, IT'S NOT THAT EASY.
AND HAVING SOMEONE WITH YOU YOU
CAN RELY ON AND WHO TAKES CARE
OF YOU, ESPECIALLY FOR A WOMAN
IN THIS BUSINESS, IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
SO, I THINK HE'S DONE A GREAT
JOB.
>> Jackson: WHEN WE WERE FIRST
MARRIED, THERE WERE PROBLEMS.
EVERYONE'S GONNA HAVE THEIR
PROBLEMS.
OURS WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE SO
BECAUSE MY HUSBAND, NOT BEING IN
SHOW BUSINESS -- ALL THIS WAS
NEW TO HIM.
AND THE FACT THAT, ALL OF A
SUDDEN, HE'S HAVING TO SHARE HIS
WIFE WITH THE WORLD -- MY TIME,
MY ENERGY, AND IT'S JUST KIND OF
MAKING HIS HEAD SWIM.
"WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN INTO?"
YOU KNOW?
>> I WAS AN OLD COWBOY FROM WEST
TEXAS, AND I DIDN'T LIKE SHARING
MY WOMAN WITH ANYBODY.
AND I HAD TO SHARE HER WITH
MILLIONS OF FANS.
>> Jackson: SO, IT WAS CAUSING
SOME PROBLEMS, AND PEOPLE WOULD
ASK ME ABOUT MY DATING ELVIS AND
THINGS, AND HE DIDN'T LIKE THAT,
EITHER.
>> I SAID, "I DON'T WANT TO HEAR
ELVIS' NAME ANYMORE, PERIOD."
>> Jackson: AND I DON'T BLAME
HIM.
I UNDERSTOOD.
BUT I COULDN'T HELP IT THAT THE
PEOPLE ASKED ME.
WELL, THE REASON THAT WE STAYED
TOGETHER IS BECAUSE WE'RE IN
LOVE WITH EACH OTHER.
>> YOU HAVE TO REALIZE, NOW,
WE'VE BEEN MARRIED 44 YEARS.
AND WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER FOREVER,
I MEAN, SINCE WE'VE BEEN
MARRIED -- I MEAN TOGETHER.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT, LIKE, THE
AVERAGE COUPLE THAT GOES TO
WORK, OR ONE OF THEM DOES, OR
BOTH OF THEM, AND THEY COME HOME
LATE IN THE EVENING.
WE'RE TOGETHER.
>> Jackson: MY CHILDREN -- YES,
WE HAD TO LEAVE THEM.
HALF OF THEIR LIVES, WE WERE
GONE, AND THEY WERE BEING REARED
BY GOVERNESSES.
AND MY MOTHER AND WENDELL'S
MOTHER KEPT THEM ON THE
WEEKENDS.
>> THEY WERE GONE A LOT BECAUSE
BACK THEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE JUST
CONCERT DATES.
THEY HAD NIGHTCLUBS AND, YOU
KNOW, THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE GONE
LONGER, YOU KNOW, WEEKS AT A
TIME.
IT WAS JUST WHAT WE KNEW.
IT WAS NORMAL FOR US.
I MISSED THEM REALLY BAD WHEN
THEY WOULD LEAVE, AND I WOULD
ALWAYS GET A LITTLE TOY OR A
FIGURINE, AND I'D SNEAK IT IN
THEIR SUITCASE WHILE THEY WERE
PACKING SO A LITTLE BIT OF ME
COULD, YOU KNOW, GO WITH THEM.
>> GINA HATED THE LIFE AND THE
ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS.
AND SHE HATED TO SEE US LEAVE.
AND IT WAS HARD TO LEAVE HER.
>> WELL, WHEN EVERYONE FOUND OUT
MY MOTHER WAS WANDA JACKSON,
THEY WOULD -- YOU'D GET
PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT.
OUR TEACHERS WERE A LITTLE MORE
APT TO GIVE YOU BETTER GRADES.
[ LAUGHS ]
I DIDN'T REALLY USE THAT.
MY BROTHER -- NOW, HE WENT TO
KINDERGARTEN WITH A SIGNED ALBUM
UNDER HIS ARM.
>> IT WENT VERY FAR.
[ LAUGHS ]
SHE WAS REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF
THAT.
>> WELL, WHEN WE TRAVELED WITH
THEM, WE SAW HOW MOM WAS TREATED
PREFERENTIALLY BECAUSE SHE WAS A
CELEBRITY.
BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, THEY
WEREN'T HOME A LOT, AND I'M SURE
THAT THAT WAS AS *** THEM AS
IT WAS, YOU KNOW, FOR US.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT I WAS
PROBABLY 6 OR 7, AND I STARTED
REALIZING HOW POPULAR MOM WAS,
AND NOT REALIZING THE FULL
EFFECT OF IT AT THAT AGE, BUT I
DID REALIZE THAT SOMETHING WAS
DIFFERENT.
>> Jackson: BY 1971, I'D COME TO
A PLACE IN MY LIFE WHERE I WAS
REALIZING THAT I HAD EVERYTHING
THAT I'D EVER WANTED.
BUT WHY, THEN, WAS I KIND OF
MISERABLE, JUST UNHAPPY, KIND OF
SEARCHING FOR -- THERE'S --
"THERE SHOULD BE MORE.
I'M STILL MISSING SOMETHING.
WHAT IS IT?"
[ SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYS ]
>> ♪ LORD, I WANT TO BE A
CHRISTIAN ♪
♪ IN MY HEART ♪
>> WHEN WANDA AND I GOT MARRIED,
RELIGION WAS NOT IMPORTANT TO
US.
WE DIDN'T PURSUE -- WE DIDN'T
EVEN TALK ABOUT IT.
WE PUT IT WAY DOWN THERE ON OUR
LIST OF PRIORITIES.
>> ♪ A CHRISTIAN ♪
>> WE REALLY ENJOYED CHURCH,
GINA AND I DID, AND SO OF COURSE
WE WANTED TO GET OUR PARENTS
INVOLVED.
AND ANYTIME THEY WERE HOME, WE
WERE CONSTANTLY ASKING THEM IF
THEY WOULD COME TO CHURCH.
>> Jackson: THEY WERE THE ONES
THAT MADE US PROMISE TO COME TO
CHURCH, AND THEY JUST KEPT ON
OUR BACKS UNTIL WE FINALLY SAID,
"OKAY, ENOUGH.
LOOK, WE WILL."
[ BELLS CHIMING ]
>> ♪ LORD ♪
>> WE GOT THERE FOR CHURCH, AND
WE WENT AND SAT IN THE BACK OF
THIS LITTLE CHURCH OVER ON THE
SOUTHEAST PART OF OKLAHOMA CITY.
>> Jackson: I DIDN'T KNOW
ANYTHING WAS REALLY HAPPENING IN
MY HEART OR IN MY HEAD.
I WAS JUST SITTING THERE,
LISTENING, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO
BE -- SIT UP STRAIGHT AND DO ALL
THAT.
>> AND IT'S NOTHING BUT AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE IN THE
CROWD THAT WANT TO MAKE A
DECISION FOR GOD.
AND YOU STEP OUT.
ON THE INVITATION, THE CHOIR
SINGS, AND PEOPLE STAND, AND YOU
STEP OUT AND COME FORWARD.
>> Jackson: SO, EVERYONE STOOD
AND BEGAN SINGING "PASS ME NOT,
O, GENTLE SAVIOR."
♪ AS THE CHOIR SANG ♪
♪ PASS ME NOT, O, GENTLE
SAVIOR ♪
AND IT WAS JUST LIKE I HEARD
GOD'S VOICE -- NOT LITERALLY,
BUT IN MY HEART, IN MY SPIRIT.
AND HE SAID, "WANDA, WALK WITH
ME."
♪ WALK WITH ME ♪
>> SHE SAID, "HONEY, WOULD YOU
EXCUSE ME A MINUTE?
THERE'S SOMETHING I GOT TO DO."
>> Jackson: AND WITHOUT SAYING
ANYMORE, HE SAID, "ME TOO."
SO WE TOOK AHOLD OF EACH OTHER'S
HANDS, PROBABLY FOR A LITTLE
MORE COURAGE, BUT WE WALKED DOWN
THAT AISLE AND TOOK BROTHER PAUL
BY THE HAND AND SAID, "WE WANT
TO GET RIGHT WITH GOD."
>> IT'S AMAZING IN OUR LIVES HOW
GOD HAS SORT OF MOVED US AND
TOUCHED US ALWAYS TOGETHER.
IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL
HARMONY.
>> Jackson: WE WERE BORN AGAIN.
AND WHAT A WONDERFUL DIFFERENCE
GOD HAS MADE IN OUR LIVES.
♪ PRAISE GOD ♪
♪ I COULDN'T WALK ♪
♪ I HAD TO RUN TO MEET MY LORD ♪
I BEGAN WRITING GOSPEL SONGS.
I'D NEVER WRITTEN A GOSPEL SONG
IN MY LIFE.
AND I WANTED TO GET OUT MORE
GOSPEL MUSIC.
>> WELCOME TO...
>> MAYBE LOOKING BACK, YEAH, IT
WAS A MAJOR DECISION, BECAUSE WE
MADE A LOT OF MONEY BACK THEN.
>> ...THE STAR OF OUR SHOW,
WANDA JACKSON.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> WELL, YOU LOOK PRETTY TODAY
IN YOUR RED COWGIRL OUTFIT, AND
WE KNOW THAT JESUS DOES LOVE
COWGIRLS.
>> Jackson: ALL RIGHT.
>> WE DID A FAITH MINISTRY.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE LIVED ON
FRUGAL OFFERINGS THAT THE CHURCH
GAVE US FROM THE SERVICES.
NEVER MADE MUCH MONEY, BUT I
NEVER MISSED A MEAL, EITHER, AND
WE FOUND OUT THAT YOU CAN DO A
WHOLE LOT OF THINGS WITH A WHOLE
LOT LESS IF YOU TRY.
>> I THINK GOD JUST KIND OF LED
THEM INTO JUST A CHANGE, YOU
KNOW, AND THEY COULD BE USED
THERE, AS WELL.
I KNOW MOM GIVES HER TESTIMONY A
LOT OF TIMES ONSTAGE.
AND THAT'S REAL IMPORTANT TO
HER.
>> Jackson: ♪ OH, BUT
THEN JESUS CAME
LIKE A STRANGER IN THE NIGHT ♪
♪ I PRAISED THE LORD ♪
♪ I SAW THE LIGHT ♪
TWO, THREE, FOUR.
♪ I SAW THE LIGHT ♪
♪ I SAW THE LIGHT ♪
♪ NO MORE DARKNESS ♪
♪ NO MORE NIGHT ♪
♪ NOW I'M SO HAPPY ♪
♪ NO SORROW IN SIGHT ♪
♪ PRAISE THE LORD ♪
♪ I SAW THE LIGHT ♪
I'VE BEEN DOING GOSPEL FOR A
GOOD MANY YEARS.
BUT A MAN IN SCANDINAVIA CALLED,
HE HAD A RECORD COMPANY, AND HE
WAS A FAN OF MINE, AND INVITED
ME TO COME TO SWEDEN TO RECORD
AN ALBUM.
"I WANT IT TO BE BOTH THINGS
THAT YOU'RE KNOWN FOR IN OUR
COUNTRY, AND THAT'S COUNTRY
MUSIC AND ROCKABILLY."
>> THE QUEEN OF ROCKABILLY!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
THE FIRST LADY OF ROCK 'N' ROLL,
MISS WANDA JACKSON!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> Jackson: SO THAT JUST FELT --
SET ME RIGHT BACK INTO THE
ROCKABILLY.
AND I BEGAN FINDING ALL THESE
NEW GENERATION OF FANS.
IT JUST KNOCKED ME OUT.
I THOUGHT, "MY GOSH, I HAVEN'T
SANG THESE SONGS SINCE I
RECORDED THEM, YOU KNOW?"
>> VERY EARLY '95, I ASKED WANDA
IF SHE WOULD BE WILLING TO
RECORD A COUPLE SONGS WITH ME ON
MY "ROCKABILLY FILLY" RECORD
THAT I WAS IN PREPRODUCTION FOR.
SHE SAID, "DO PEOPLE REALLY
LISTEN TO THIS ANYMORE?"
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> Jackson: THAT'S A GOOD ALBUM.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE'LL SIGN THAT ONE FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Jackson: I REMEMBER THE DAY
WE TOOK THAT PICTURE.
I WAS ABOUT 18 YEARS OLD, AND,
BOY, THEY CINCHED ME ALL UP IN
THAT...
[ LAUGHTER ]
...THAT GARB.
THEY GOT MY 20-INCH WAIST DOWN
TO ABOUT 18.
AND I SAID, "OH, BOY, THIS IS
GREAT.
NOW I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE
DRESS."
AND THEY SAID, "THERE ISN'T ANY
DRESS."
[ LAUGHTER ]
SEE, NO WONDER I GOT THE
REPUTATION OF BEING THE BAD
GIRL.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THE COVER OF MY ALBUM WITH NO
DRESS ON.
AND ON THAT TOUR, I REMEMBER
EVERY NIGHT I WAS BEING ASKED TO
SING "MEAN MEAN MAN."
I WROTE THE SONG.
AND YET I COULDN'T REMEMBER IT.
SO BEFORE I LEFT THIS ONE TOWN,
AT THE HOTEL, AS WE WERE
LEAVING, HERE CAME ONE OF THE
FANS WHO SAID, "I WAS AT YOUR
SHOW LAST NIGHT.
HERE'S THE LYRICS TO
'MEAN MEAN MAN.'"
HE SAID, "YOU NEED TO START
DOING IT.
WE LOVE IT."
♪ I LOVE A MEAN, MEAN MAN
WHO LIVES UPTOWN ♪
♪ WHEN I WANT HIM MOST, HE'S NOT
AROUND ♪
♪ HE'S A MEAN, MEAN MAN ♪
WHOO!
♪ LORDY HE'S A MEAN, MEAN MAN ♪
♪ HE'S A MEAN, MEAN MAN ♪
♪ BUT I, I LOVE HIM ALL I CAN ♪
>> SHE JUST COULD NOT BELIEVE
HOW EVERYBODY WAS DRESSED UP AND
THE GUYS HAD THEIR GREASED-BACK
HAIR AND THE GIRLS, YOU KNOW,
WITH THEIR HIGH HEELS AND THEIR
SPAGHETTI STRAPS, AND THEY WERE
DRESSING LIKE WANDA JACKSON.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST CUTE.
I THINK THAT SHE MISSED SINGING
SECULAR MUSIC.
I THINK SHE MISSED SINGING THOSE
ROCK 'N' ROLL SONGS --
"FUJIYAMA MAMA," AND
"MEAN MEAN MAN," "HOT DOG!,"
"FUNNEL OF LOVE," YOU KNOW.
AND SHE WAS JUST SO NATURAL
COMING BACK INTO IT.
AND HER VOICE SOUNDS JUST AS
GOOD AS IT DID BACK THEN.
>> Jackson: ♪ HEY, IT'S SUCH A
CRAZY, CRAZY FEELING ♪
♪ I GET WEAK IN THE KNEES ♪
♪ MY POOR OLD HEAD IS
A-REELIN' ♪
♪ AS I GO DEEP INTO THE FUNNEL
OF LOVE ♪
>> ONE OF MY FAVORITES IS
"FUNNEL OF LOVE."
AS A MATTER OF FACT, ONE TIME,
WHEN WE WERE IN ALLENTOWN,
PENNSYLVANIA, SHE WAS SINGING
THAT SONG, AND MY WIFE AND I
HAPPENED TO BE SITTING ON THE
GROUND IN FRONT OF HER, AND SHE
HAD THIS LITTLE TRIANGLE THING.
I FORGET WHAT THEY CALL THEM.
AND SHE PULLED THAT OUT, AND SHE
HAD ME DO THAT DING-*** PART
WITH THE "FUNNEL OF LOVE" SONG,
AND, OF COURSE, WITH MY TONE AND
EVERYTHING, I JUST KEPT HITTING
THE THING.
I WAS SO SHOCKED JUST TO BE THAT
CLOSE TO WANDA JACKSON, I DIDN'T
KNOW HOW TO ACT.
>> THE FIRST TIME I SAW
WANDA JACKSON LIVE, ACTUALLY,
WAS IN LOS ANGELES, AND I WAS
AMAZED.
I THINK I WAS THE OLDEST PERSON
IN THE AUDIENCE.
THERE WAS A LOT OF KIDS, YOU
KNOW, 18, 20, 21, WHATEVER,
YOUNG KIDS WHO WERE HEAVILY INTO
HER MUSIC.
AND IT REALLY AMAZED ME HOW HER
AUDIENCE IS ALWAYS GROWING, AND
IT'S ALWAYS GETTING YOUNGER, AS
WELL AS THE OLDER CROWD WHO'VE
KNOWN HER STARTING RECORDINGS,
BUT SHE'S DEFINITELY REACHING A
WHOLE NEW AUDIENCE.
>> [ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
>> AUDIENCES ABROAD HAVE OFTEN
BEEN BETTER KEEPERS OF INTEREST
IN THE TRADITIONS THAN AMERICANS
THEMSELVES.
SOME PEOPLE SAY WE EAT OUR
HISTORY RAW.
YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF GRAB IT.
IT'S POPULAR CULTURE.
WE FORGET ABOUT IT.
WE THROW IT OUT.
WE'RE BECOMING A LITTLE MORE
REFLECTIVE AS A PEOPLE, I THINK,
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE JAPANESE, THE
GERMANS, THE BRITS, FRENCH -- I
MEAN, THEY LOVE THIS KIND OF
THING.
>> IN EUROPE, THERE'S ALL THESE
KIDS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
THEY ARE TATTOOED, THEY HAVE
GREASY HAIR, AND THEY WEAR '50s
CLOTHES, AND THEY THINK WANDA'S,
LIKE, A GODDESS.
YOU KNOW, THEY WORSHIP HER.
>> THERE WAS A NOSTALGIA AND
APPRECIATION FOR THESE ARTISTS
IN EUROPE, WHICH REALLY WASN'T
RECOGNIZED IN AMERICA.
RADIO TURNED OFF THESE ARTISTS,
WHERE IN EUROPE, THERE WAS MORE
SPECIALTY SHOWS THAT WOULD
SUPPORT THAT KIND OF MUSIC.
IT DEFINITELY HAD A LIVE
CIRCUIT, WHETHER IT BE THE
ROCKABILLY FESTIVALS OR BLUES
FESTIVALS, THAT WE'D DEFINITELY
NURTURE AND SUPPORT THAT KIND OF
ACT.
SO A LOT OF ACTS REALLY LOOKED
TOWARDS EUROPE AS A MEANS OF
SURVIVAL.
YOU KNOW, THEY'D GO OVER THERE,
AND THEY'D TOUR, AND THEY'D
SURVIVE.
THEY'D HAVE EUROPEAN LABELS PUT
OUT THEIR PRODUCT.
AND, REALLY, FOR WANDA JACKSON,
I THINK, YOU KNOW, TOURING
SCANDINAVIA HAS BEEN A MAJOR
MARKET FOR HER, ESPECIALLY ON
THE LIVE SCENE.
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN
ENGLISH?
>> UH, "SOLD OUT."
>> "SOLD OUT"?
>> YEAH.
>> Jackson: ♪ SOME PEOPLE LIKE
TO ROCK ♪
♪ SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO ROLL ♪
♪ MOVIN' AND GROOVIN'S GONNA
SATISFY MY SOUL ♪
♪ LET'S HAVE A PARTY ♪
WHOO!
♪ LET'S HAVE A PARTY ♪
>> WANDA AND WENDELL, HER
HUSBAND, I MEAN, IT'S THE
OLD-SCHOOL APPROACH.
IT'S WHAT THEY UNDERSTAND.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, GETTING TO AN
AUDIENCE.
IT'S BY BEING THERE, SELLING
YOUR PRODUCTS, SIGNING
AUTOGRAPHS.
IT'S REACHING OUT TO YOUR
AUDIENCE AND BUILDING THAT SORT
OF -- BUILDING THAT LOYALTY.
>> AND THE DARKER AND MORE
RUN-DOWN THE PLACE IS, THE
SWEETER THE PEOPLE ARE.
>> [ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
YEAH!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> THEY NEVER WENT AWAY.
THEY'RE STILL HUGE THERE.
EDDIE COCHRAN, GENE VINCENT,
WANDA JACKSON.
THEY'RE HOUSEHOLD NAMES THERE.
AND I THINK IT'S THE IMAGE OF
AMERICA THAT THE REST OF THE
WORLD WANTS TO HAVE -- VERY
INNOCENT, VERY COOL, VERY BIG,
LARGER THAN LIFE.
AND, UH...
IT'S POSITIVE.
IT'S A POSITIVE IMAGE.
THAT'S WHEN WE WENT TO ENGLAND
IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I WAS 18 YEARS OLD.
WE MOVED TO ENGLAND, AND THEY
ALREADY KNEW WHAT IT WAS, WHEN
WE LIVED IN NEW YORK CITY AND
WE HAD TO TELL THEM WHAT IT WAS.
>> Jackson: MY FIRST NUMBER-ONE
SONG WAS "FUJIYAMA MAMA."
BUT IT WASN'T IN AMERICA.
[ CHUCKLES ]
IT WAS IN JAPAN.
[ LAUGHS ]
AND THE PEOPLE STILL KNOW IT
TODAY WHEN I GO OVER.
THEY SING IT WITH ME, SO THEY
REALLY LOVE IT, I SUPPOSE.
BUT I DON'T THINK THEY
UNDERSTOOD THE LYRICS.
THAT'S POSSIBLE.
SEE WHAT YOU THINK.
>> ONE, TWO, THREE.
>> ♪ I'VE BEEN TO NAGASAKI ♪
♪ HIROSHIMA, TOO ♪
♪ SAME I DID TO THEM, BABY,
I CAN DO TO YOU ♪
♪ 'CAUSE I'M A FUJIYAMA MAMA ♪
♪ JUST ABOUT TO BLOW MY TOP ♪
♪ FUJIYAMA-YAMA ♪
♪ FUJIYAMA ♪
♪ AND WHEN I START 'EM UP, THERE
AIN'T NOBODY GONNA MAKE ME
STOP ♪
BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO
WORK JAPAN ALL THESE YEARS ON
THE STRENGTH OF "FUJIYAMA MAMA."
>> THAT'S A GREAT RECORD.
>> THAT'S THIS ONE HERE.
>> YEAH, BUT IT'S FUNNY THAT
THEY PUT OUT THE FIRST
ACE RECORDS, AND THEN
BEAR FAMILY CAME RIGHT AFTER
THAT.
>> YEAH, BUT IT WAS ALMOST ABOUT
THE SAME SONGS, BUT THE SONGS
ARE CLASSICS.
SO, AND, I THINK, IN EUROPE,
IT'S MORE OF A TRADITION TO KEEP
THE OLD THINGS ALIVE, LIKE OLD
BUILDINGS, OLD PLACES -- THEY'RE
ALL KEPT IN SHAPE.
AND IN AMERICA, I THINK IT'S --
EVERYTHING THAT IS OLDER THAN A
COUPLE OF YEARS -- IT'S TORN
DOWN.
YOU'RE GONNA BUILD A NEW HOUSE,
MAKE A PARKING LOT.
AND IT'S WITH THE MUSIC -- YOU
GO FOR THE NEWEST MUSIC AND THEN
FORGET ABOUT THE OLD STUFF.
>> BUT THE GREAT THING IS THAT,
WHEN -- STYLES WILL CHANGE IN
MUSIC, AND PEOPLE HAVE TO FIND A
NEW WAY, AND SOMETIMES, THEY
HAVE TO FIND A NEW AUDIENCE.
AND SOMETIMES, THAT NEW AUDIENCE
IS SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.
>> CAPITOL RECORDS CALLED US AND
SAID, "WE WOULD LIKE FOR WANDA
TO RECORD IN THE GERMAN
LANGUAGE."
>> Jackson: THEY SAID, "DON'T
WORRY ABOUT ANY OF THAT.
SHE'LL DO IT PHONETICALLY.
WE'LL GUIDE HER, AND WE'LL HAVE
SPECIAL SONGS WRITTEN FOR HER."
>> HARDEST THING SHE'S EVER DONE
IN HER LIFE.
HER FIRST RELEASE,
"SANTO DOMINGO," BECAME NUMBER
ONE IN FOUR DIFFERENT
GERMAN-SPEAKING COUNTRIES.
>> Jackson: ♪ UND AM ABEND... ♪
AND NOW, WHEN I SING IT, I JUST
GET CHILLS, BECAUSE THE WHOLE
AUDIENCE SINGS WITH ME.
AND THEY HOLD UP THEIR LIGHTERS
AND SWAY WITH ME AND SING.
♪ UND WEIDEN ORCHIDEEN ♪
♪ VON DEM MAERCHEN EINER NACHT ♪
♪ IN SANTO DOMINGO ♪
♪ UND WUNDERN, DIE DORT NOCH
GESCHEHEN ♪
>> AND SHE'S PLAYED ON THE
RADIO.
THE PEOPLE RECOGNIZE HER.
AND THE DIFFERENCE IN GERMANY IS
BECAUSE SHE HAD THOSE RECORDINGS
OF HITS IN THE GERMAN LANGUAGE
THAT MADE HER SPECIAL IN
GERMANY.
ONE TIME, I WENT TO AN OPEN-AIR
FESTIVAL IN GERMANY, AND SHE WAS
PLAYING THERE.
AND I WAS GOING THERE AND
LOOKING, AND I ENJOYED IT A LOT.
AND A FEW YEARS AFTER, I HAD A
FESTIVAL AND WANTED TO BOOK HER.
AND WE WORKED OUT THE DETAILS,
BROUGHT HER OVER, AND SHE LIKED
WHAT WE DID.
SO SINCE THEN, I DO A LOT OF HER
SHOWS IN GERMANY AND AUSTRIA AND
OTHER PLACES LIKE IT.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> HERE WE ARE.
>> HELLO.
>> HELLO.
>> HELLO.
>> COME IN.
>> [ SINGING INDISTINCTLY ]
>> MY NAME'S MIKE.
>> Jackson: MIKE -- I CAN SAY
THAT ONE, TOO.
THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD THINK IT'S VERY
TIRING TO GO ON TOUR AND TO HAVE
TO RELY ON THE BAND -- THE LEVEL
OF COMPETENCE, LEVEL OF ABILITY
TO PICK UP CUES LIKE THAT AND TO
BE INSTRUCTED AND, PARTICULARLY,
WHEN YOU'RE DOING IT IN ANOTHER
LANGUAGE.
>> ♪ WE'VE BEEN TOO LONELY
TOO LONG ♪
GIVE ME ACCENTS.
♪ NIGHT ♪
OKAY.
>> I STILL THINK THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THE
MUSICALITY OF AN ARTIST LIKE
WANDA IS TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO
ADAPT TO THESE BANDS.
AND I'VE WATCHED WANDA WORK WITH
THE BANDS AND SORT OF PULL THEM
TOGETHER, 'CAUSE ON ANY GIVEN
NIGHT, IT'S OBVIOUS -- SOME
BANDS ARE GONNA BE BETTER THAN
OTHERS.
>> Jackson: SEE, YOU'RE THE ONLY
ONE THAT SINGS WITH ME.
>> YEAH.
WE'LL DO SOMETHING, YEAH.
>> Jackson: I'M GONNA SING,
MIKE.
>> YEAH, YEAH.
[ DRUM SOLO PLAYS ]
>> Jackson: OH, I JUST NEED A
CHORD.
>> THE NUANCES IN THAT MUSIC ARE
ENDLESS, WHETHER IT'S WANDA'S
RECORDS OR HOWLIN' WOLF.
YOU'LL FIND THE SAME DEGREE OF
SUBTLETY THAT REALLY MAKES IT
FLY.
>> SOMETIMES, IT'S HARD TO
RECOGNIZE THE EARLY PIONEERS,
UNLESS THEY'RE OUT, STILL
SELLING LOTS OF RECORDS.
BUT A PIONEER OF HER TYPE IS A
REAL SPECIAL CATEGORY.
>> Jackson: HOW'S EVERYBODY?
HI. GO TO WORK.
>> THERE ARE VERY FEW OF THEM,
AND SHE WAS A CROSSOVER INTO
THAT WORLD.
THE FEW WOMEN WERE A BIT
MARGINALIZED, AND THEY DESERVE
TO BE RECOGNIZED, AND SHE, FIRST
AND FOREMOST.
>> LET'S ROCK, OKAY?
>> Jackson: LET'S SEE, DANNY.
WE'RE GONNA -- LET'S TAKE
"GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT" NEXT,
OKAY?
>> OKAY.
>> Jackson: JOHN, IF YOU'LL PLAY
US A LITTLE OF THIS.
[ "GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT" PLAYS ]
YES.
>> WANDA IS HERE TO DO AN ALBUM,
WHICH IS GOING TO BE A TRIBUTE
TO ELVIS PRESLEY, BECAUSE IF
ANYONE CAN DO A TRIBUTE
RIGHTFULLY TO ELVIS, IT'S WANDA.
>> Jackson: ♪ WELL, I HEARD THE
NEWS ♪
♪ THERE'S GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT ♪
♪ WELL, I HEARD THE NEWS ♪
♪ THERE'S GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT ♪
♪ I'M GONNA HOLD MY BABY
AS TIGHT AS I CAN ♪
♪ TONIGHT I'LL KNOW
WHO'S A MIGHTY, MIGHTY MAN ♪
♪ I HEARD THE NEWS ♪
♪ THERE'S GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT ♪
WHEN CLEOPATRA RECORDS INVITED
ME TO DO THIS, I THOUGHT, "WELL,
I DON'T HAVE TO SING IT LIKE
ELVIS, BECAUSE NOBODY CAN.
I'LL JUST SING IT LIKE
WANDA JACKSON."
>> SO FAR, IT'S BEEN PERFECT.
>> Jackson: [ LAUGHS ]
IT'S JUST REALLY FUN.
HIS SONGS -- THEY SOUND VERY
SIMPLE, BUT I WAS A LITTLE BIT
SHOCKED WHEN I STARTED LEARNING
THEM.
THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT TRICKY, AND
YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A LOT OF
BREATH.
AND SO IT WAS A REAL CHALLENGE
FOR ME, BUT I'VE HAD A GREAT
TIME.
[ FINALE PLAYS ]
[ MUSIC ENDS ]
>> WOW.
>> Jackson: RIGHT.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS SUPER.
>> OKAY, NOW...WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL SMILES FROM EVERYONE.
>> WELL, WE WERE SO SURPRISED.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEA,
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE ARTS,
CALLED ME.
THERE'S A PRESIDENTIAL AWARD,
AND THERE'S VERY, VERY -- WELL,
TO BE HONEST, THERE'S NOT ONE
COUNTRY-MUSIC GIRL SINGER IN IT,
AND THERE'S NOT ONE ROCK 'N'
ROLL SINGER IN IT, PERIOD.
WANDA'S THE FIRST IN BOTH
FIELDS.
>> Jackson: THEY CHOSE ME FOR MY
COUNTRY MUSIC, ROCK 'N' ROLL, OR
ROCKABILLY -- I'M NOT SURE HOW
THEY SAID IT -- AND GOSPEL.
>> AND, BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE
GREATEST THINGS THAT EVER
HAPPENED.
>> KNOWN AS "THE FIRST LADY OF
ROCKABILLY," FOR HER
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EXCELLENCE
OF EARLY COUNTRY, ROCK 'N' ROLL,
AND GOSPEL MUSIC, THE
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
HONORS WANDA JACKSON.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> I THINK WHAT'S WONDERFUL
ABOUT THIS AWARD IS THAT I THINK
SOMETHING LIKE A GRAMMY OR TO BE
IN THE ROCK 'N' ROLL HALL OF
FAME -- THESE ARE THINGS THAT
ARTISTS KNOW ABOUT, THEY'RE
EXPECTING, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR,
AND THIS ALMOST SEEMS TO DROP
OUT OF THE SKY A LITTLE BIT.
BUT IT'S SUCH AN HONOR.
I MEAN, IT'S THE HIGHEST HONOR
THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
BESTOWS UPON A TRADITIONAL
ARTIST IN THE UNITED STATES.
>> DON'T BE AFRAID TO WALK HERE.
I KNOW THERE'S A SOUND CHECK UP
THERE.
>> Jackson: WILL IT BE REAL
BRIGHT, LIKE THIS?
>> THE SPOTLIGHT WILL BE THIS
BRIGHT.
>> HERE'S SOMEONE WHO, AS A
YOUNG GIRL, DEFIED SO MANY
NOTIONS OF WHAT IT WAS THAT A
GIRL SINGER'S SUPPOSED TO SING
ABOUT OR HOW THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO
DRESS AND WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE
IN THEIR BAND.
AND HERE SHE IS NOW, YEARS AND
YEARS LATER, AND IN MANY WAYS,
SHE'S STILL DEFYING SO MANY OF
THESE CONVENTIONS, AS A WOMAN OF
HER AGE GOING AROUND IN THE
SEQUINED DRESS, LOOKING SEXY,
AND JUST TEARING IT UP LIKE
THAT.
>> Jackson: ♪ HAVE A PARTY
TONIGHT ♪
♪ I NEVER KISSED A BEAR ♪
♪ NEVER KISSED A GOOSE ♪
♪ BUT I CAN SHAKE A CHICKEN IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM ♪
♪ LET'S HAVE A PARTY ♪
>> WANDA'S WORKED ALL THESE
YEARS WITH SO LITTLE RECOGNITION
OF WHO SHE WAS AND WHAT SHE
REALLY DID FOR COUNTRY MUSIC, AS
WELL AS ROCK 'N' ROLL.
AND THIS YEAR, THINGS WERE
FALLING TOGETHER.
>> A ROYAL PLEASURE, I MIGHT
SAY.
WELL, THE NATIONAL HERITAGE
FELLOWSHIPS OF THE
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
HONOR PEOPLE IN FOLK,
TRADITIONAL, AND -- I WOULD
ADD -- VERNACULAR CULTURE.
AND THEY LOOK TO PROGENITORS,
PEOPLE LIKE WANDA JACKSON.
AND THERE AREN'T TOO MANY WOMEN
THAT WERE THERE AT THE
BEGINNING, BUT SHE IS ONE OF
THEM.
I'VE NOTICED THAT PEOPLE REFER
TO HER, ALSO, AS THE SWEET LADY
WITH THE NASTY VOICE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I WANT YOU TO MAKE HER
WELCOME -- THE SWEET LADY.
SHE'S THERE -- WANDA JACKSON.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> WELL, THAT WANDA'S IN A LOT
OF DIFFERENT KIND OF HALLS OF
FAME.
SHE'S IN THE OKLAHOMA COUNTRY
MUSIC HALL OF FAME, THE
OKLAHOMA HALL OF FAME.
SHE'S IN THE ROCKABILLY HALL OF
FAME.
SHE'S IN THE INTERNATIONAL
GOSPEL HALL OF FAME AND A COUPLE
MORE I PROBABLY CAN'T THINK OF
OFFHAND, BUT SHE'S NEVER BEEN
CONSIDERED BY THE MAJOR
HALLS OF FAME.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HEY,
WHILE I GOT YOUR UNDIVIDED
ATTENTION, WANDA JACKSON NEEDS
TO BE IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL
OF FAME, ALL RIGHT?
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
DO YOU ALL AGREE WITH THIS?
WAIT. I'M GONNA GET ON MY
SOAPBOX HERE.
ONCE AGAIN, WANDA JACKSON NEEDS
TO BE IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL
OF FAME.
>> THE ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC HALL
OF FAME SHOULD HAVE PUT HER IN
THERE A LONG TIME AGO, 'CAUSE
THERE WAS NEVER A ROCK 'N' ROLL
SINGER BEFORE WANDA.
NOT ONLY IS SHE ONE OF THE
PIONEERS -- SHE'S ALSO ONE OF
THE BETTER PIONEERS.
SHE WAS THE FEMALE ELVIS.
AND NOW, SHE WASN'T JUST A
SINGER -- SHE WAS THE FEMALE
SINGER.
>> I THINK THAT IT'S ABOUT TIME
THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME
GET TO IT AND RECOGNIZE HER,
BECAUSE SHE WAS THERE AT THE
BEGINNING OF IT.
>> SOMETIMES, PEOPLE ARE TOO RAW
FOR EVEN ROCK 'N' ROLL.
I THINK WANDA JACKSON MIGHT BE
THAT WAY.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GIVE
IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL
AROUND.
SHE'S STILL OUT THERE, WORKING.
>> ♪ I'M GONNA DATE
MY SWEET BABY DOLL ♪
♪ I'M GONNA DATE
MY SWEET BABY DOLL ♪
>> WHOO-HOO!
>> IF YOU CALL IT "THE ROCK AND
ROLL HALL OF FAME," YOU PUT ALL
THESE POP ARTISTS IN THERE THAT
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH ROCK 'N'
ROLL OR ANYTHING, JUST BECAUSE
OF -- THE RECORD COMPANIES PAY
THEM OR WHATEVER.
I DON'T KNOW.
AND THEN YOU HAVE REAL ROCK 'N'
ROLL, ROCKABILLY ARTISTS -- THEY
SHOULD BE IN THERE.
AND ESPECIALLY, AS LONG AS
THEY'RE ALL ALIVE, GIVE THEM THE
RECOGNITION NOW AND NOT 10 YEARS
AFTER THEY'RE GONE, BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT KEEPS THE MUSIC
ALIVE.
>> OR CHANGE THE NAME OF
"ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME" TO
"ROCK HALL OF FAME."
>> YES.
>> BUT IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A
CLUB LIKE THAT, YOU REALLY DO
HAVE TO HAVE WANDA IN IT.
IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SUCH A
THING AS A HALL OF FAME, THEN
YOU'VE GOT TO REALLY ACKNOWLEDGE
THE PEOPLE WHO DID IT FIRST AND
CONTINUED TO DO IT.
>> FROM VARIOUS ARTISTS, WE GET
A LOT OF LETTERS OF SUPPORT, AND
THAT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT IN THE
NOMINATION PROCESS.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE INDUCTEES WHO
NOT ONLY FEEL THAT SOMEONE
SHOULD BE INDUCTED, BUT, OFTEN,
THEY'LL EVEN WRITE IN AND SAY,
"IF IT WASN'T FOR SO-AND-SO, I
WOULD HAVE NEVER PICKED UP A
GUITAR.
I WOULD HAVE NEVER SUNG."
>> I KNOW THAT ELVIS COSTELLO
HAS WRITTEN A VERY COOL LETTER,
THREATENING THAT THEY WON'T GET
THIS GUITAR THAT THEY WANT FROM
HIM UNLESS IT GOES RIGHT UP NEXT
TO ONE OF WANDA JACKSON'S
GUITARS.
>> AS SUCH A THING DOES EXIST,
I BELIEVE WANDA SHOULD BE IN IT.
SO THIS IS WHAT I WROTE --
"TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
THIS IS TO PROPOSE THAT THE ROCK
AND ROLL HALL OF FAME FINALLY
NOMINATE WANDA JACKSON FOR
INDUCTION.
SHE WAS STANDING UP ON A STAGE
WITH A GUITAR IN HER HANDS,
MAKING A SOUND THAT WAS AS WILD
AND RAW AS ANY ROCKER, MAN OR
WOMAN, WHILE OTHER GIRLS WERE
STILL ASKING, "HOW MUCH IS THAT
DOGGY IN THE WINDOW?"
COME ON, YOU GUYS.
DO THE RIGHT THING.
INDUCT WANDA.
YOURS THROUGH MUSIC."
[ CHUCKLES ]
>> WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE
RELEASE OF WANDA'S BRAND-NEW CD.
A ST. LOUIS NEWSPAPER SAID THAT
WANDA JACKSON WAS THERE AT THE
CREATION OF ROCK 'N' ROLL.
THEN HE SAID, "AND FOR GALS WITH
GUITARS, WANDA JACKSON WAS THE
CREATION OF ROCK 'N' ROLL," AND
SHE WAS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
A BIG HAND FOR THE
FIRST LADY OF ROCK 'N' ROLL
AND THE QUEEN OF ROCKABILLY,
WANDA JACKSON!
>> Jackson: HA HA!
HI, Y'ALL.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
NICE TO BE IN HOLLYWOOD.
WHOA!
[ INTRODUCTION TO
"ROCKABILLY FEVER" PLAYS ]
♪ WELL, IT CAME ROLLIN' OUT OF
MEMPHIS ♪
♪ LIKE A HURRICANE OR A
TEXAS TORNADO ♪
>> WANDA JACKSON IS NOT A
RECYCLED ROCK 'N' ROLL SHOW.
I MEAN, SHE'S EXACTLY WHO SHE
IS.
IS SHE 18, 17, BACK IN THOSE
FILMS, THOSE WONDERFUL FILMS?
NO, OF COURSE SHE'S NOT.
BUT SHE IS VERY MUCH WHO SHE IS
NOW, UNAPOLOGETICALLY, STILL
ROCKING, AND A WHOLE LOT OF FUN
TO SEE.
AND THERE'S NOTHING RETRO ABOUT
IT -- IT'S CURRENT.
AND EVERYBODY KNOWS IT, AND
THAT'S WHY THERE'S SO MANY
DIFFERENT PEOPLE COME OUT TO SEE
HER.
>> WANDA JACKSON.
>> PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.
>> Jackson: HI, LEMMY.
HOW NICE TO MEET YOU.
>> YOU, TOO.
I EVEN BOUGHT YOUR FIRST RECORD
IN 1960.
>> Jackson: 1960 --
"RIGHT OR WRONG"?
>> "PARTY."
>> Jackson: "PARTY."
"PARTY." YEAH.
YOU ALL KNOW LEMMY?
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
OKAY, YEAH, HE'S WITH THE
GROUP...
>> MOTORHEAD.
>> Jackson: MOTOR-- WHAT?
>> MOTORHEAD.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> Jackson: MOTORHEAD.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ CHUCKLES ]
HE SAID, "SURELY, YOU'RE DOING
THIS SONG."
AND I SAID, "WELL, I HADN'T
PLANNED TO."
HE SAID, "YOU'VE GOT TO.
YOU'VE GOT TO."
HE'S NOT PAYING ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I THINK I HAVE
TO, BUT...
[ LAUGHTER ]
FOR SOME REASON, HE'S THAT KIND
OF GUY.
THE SONG I WROTE...
[ LAUGHS ]
FROM ABOUT 1956 OR '57 --
SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
DANNY?
[ INTRODUCTION TO
"MEAN MEAN MAN" PLAYS ]
♪ I LOVE MY MEAN, MEAN MAN
WHO LIVES UPTOWN ♪
♪ WHEN I WANT HIM MOST,
HE'S NOT AROUND ♪
♪ HE'S A MEAN, MEAN MAN ♪
♪ HE'S A MEAN, MEAN MAN ♪
>> I DON'T THINK PEOPLE SEE HER
AS AN OLD LADY OR ANYTHING LIKE
THAT.
I THINK THEY JUST SEE HER AS AN
AMAZING PERSON WITH GREAT ENERGY
AND A GREAT HISTORY AND SOMEONE
THAT CAN STILL GO OUT THERE AND
STILL PERFORM A LOT BETTER THAN
A LOT OF YOUNGER ACTS.
SO I DON'T THINK ANYONE
PERCEIVES HER AS JUST SOMEONE
WHO'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL, WHO'S NOW
JUST DOING THE CIRCUIT.
I THINK SHE'S VALID, SHE'S GOT
SOMETHING TO SAY STILL, AND
SHE'S A GREAT PERFORMER.
AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH
THAT.
>> Jackson: ♪ HE'S A MEAN, MEAN
MAN, BUT I LOVE HIM ALL I CAN ♪
MY DADDY USED TO SAY, "WANDA,
WHATEVER YOU DO, DO IT
DIFFERENT.
DON'T -- DON'T GET UP THERE AND
BE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE."
SO, TO ME, THAT GAVE ME
PERMISSION TO SHOCK PEOPLE IF I
WANTED TO.
♪ I'VE GONE TO NAGASAKI ♪
♪ HIROSHIMA, TOO ♪
♪ SAME I DID TO THEM, BABY,
I CAN DO TO YOU ♪
♪ 'CAUSE I'M A FUJIYAMA MAMA ♪
♪ JUST ABOUT TO BLOW MY TOP ♪
♪ FUJIYAMA-YAMA ♪
♪ FUJIYAMA ♪
>> I THINK THAT'S THE THING WITH
WANDA -- THE ONLY WAY SHE WAS
EVER GONNA DO IT WAS HER OWN
WAY, AND THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY.
>> I JUST -- I'LL ALWAYS BE A
FAN OF WANDA JACKSON.
>> WELL, LOOK AT THE TATTOO ON
MY ARM -- THAT'S WANDA JACKSON.
THAT'S THE QUEEN OF ROCKABILLY.
THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DYNAMITE
WANDA JACKSON FANS.
THEY JUST GO CRAZY OVER HER.
>> MS. JACKSON, I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SHOW.
IT WAS INCREDIBLE.
IT WAS REALLY A WHOLE LOT OF
FUN.
>> THE WAY SHE SINGS, EVEN IN
THIS PRESENT DAY -- SHE'S BEEN
COPIED BY SO MANY DIFFERENT
SINGERS WHO WANTED TO BE LIKE
WHERE WANDA JACKSON IS.
>> Jackson: ♪ OW! YEAH! ♪
>> THERE'S NOT MANY PEOPLE LEFT
FROM THAT TIME.
>> IT'S NOT JUST REVELING AND
REVERING HER FOR WHAT SHE WAS --
SHE STILL DELIVERS.
>> I HAVE ALWAYS MADE A POINT OF
SEEING AS MANY ARTISTS LIKE THAT
AS I POSSIBLY COULD, BECAUSE YOU
HAVE TO GO SEE THIS.
IT'S OUR CULTURAL HISTORY.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
>> WANDA JACKSON IS NOT A
RECYCLED ROCK 'N' ROLLER.
AND THERE'S RETRO ABOUT IT --
IT'S CURRENT.
I THINK HER DAY WILL COME IN THE
ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME.
>> Jackson: STAND BY.
>> I THINK IT'S JUST IN HER
BLOOD.
[ Laughing ] YOU COULDN'T GET
HER TO STAY HOME.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE THAT.
I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT SHE'D HAVE
BEEN RETIRED BY NOW.
>> Jackson: RETIREMENT -- YEAH,
THAT MAKES ME LAUGH.
[ LAUGHS ]
ONE JOURNALIST SAID, "AFTER
MEETING WANDA, I REALIZED THAT
SHE'S A NICE LADY WITH A NASTY
VOICE."
[ LAUGHS ]
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT SAYS IT,
BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE THE IMAGE
THE NEW GENERATION HAS OF ME.
SO, AT 68 YEARS OLD, I'M GONNA
TRY TO DO IT.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> THERE'S THE QUEEN,
WANDA JACKSON!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ INSTRUMENTAL SOLO ]
WANDA JACKSON, EVERYBODY.
[ SOLO CONTINUES ]
[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]
THANK YOU, WANDA!
>> THANK YOU!
[ FINALE PLAYS ]
[ MUSIC ENDS ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> AND WANDA'S GONNA BE...