If you’re looking for a fun blast from the past, with some amazing dance moves to boot, look no further than this video of Michael ‘Boogaloo Shrimp’ Chambers’ thrilling performance as Turbo in the hit musical Breakin’! It may have been a divisive film to some, but to many it was a box office hit that contained some of the most important dance scenes in modern cinema at the time, with Turbo’s scene, in particular, becoming a fan favorite.
“Breakin'” was a unique film in its own right, with a heavy focus on breakdancing and developing a musical film around the dance style itself. It was heavily inspired by a documentary, “Breakin’ ‘n’ Enterin’,” and many of the artists featured in the documentary agreed to take part in the movie, including rapper Ice-T. Turbo’s dance scene, with its matching electronic stomp, was an expert demonstration of intricate dancing and total control, both of which are very impressive.
The song used throughout this routine is “Tour De France (Francois Kevorkian Mix)” by the German electronic band Kraftwerk. It perfectly matches the robotic, yet fluid, movements of Turbo in the dance scene, and also helps Michael ‘Boogaloo Shrimp’ Chambers fully immerse himself into the role of Turbo. It also fully fits the emerging dance styles and musical preferences of the period, making it an incredibly enjoyable watch overall!
Kraftwerk has earned themselves the title of being one of the ultimate pioneers in electronic music, who helped shift the genre and entire industry into what it is today. They were not only one of the most popular acts within the genre, but they helped to popularize it and enhance it further throughout their long career. Despite only one member – Ralf Hütter – being from the original lineup, the band has continuously evolved and brought electronic joy to the masses.
Despite the negative reviews from critics, Breakin’ brought in an impressive 38.7 million dollars at the box office and warranted a sequel. Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo was released in the same year, and features some of the same actors from the first movie. However, the sequel did not perform quite as well at the box office, bringing in under half of its predecessor’s profit: 15.1 million dollars.