<Dl> <Dd> Sam was knocked out by Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog" the first time he heard it . Performed with ripsaw gusto by the singer,...and modified by a delicate Latin - flavored "rhumba - boogie" beat, the record struck a communal chord somewhere between low comedy and bedrock truth . It totally tickled Sam on both levels . "I said, my God, it's so true . You ain't nothing but a hound dog . You ain't met your responsibilities . You didn't go to work like you (should)." And it gave him an immediate idea for a follow - up--from the man's point of view..."Bear Cat", "(i) n the time - honored tradition of answer songs, was a virtual carbon copy of "Hound Dog" with lyrics, chord progressions, and rhythmic structure all patterned directly on the original . </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> Sam was knocked out by Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog" the first time he heard it . Performed with ripsaw gusto by the singer,...and modified by a delicate Latin - flavored "rhumba - boogie" beat, the record struck a communal chord somewhere between low comedy and bedrock truth . It totally tickled Sam on both levels . "I said, my God, it's so true . You ain't nothing but a hound dog . You ain't met your responsibilities . You didn't go to work like you (should)." And it gave him an immediate idea for a follow - up--from the man's point of view..."Bear Cat", "(i) n the time - honored tradition of answer songs, was a virtual carbon copy of "Hound Dog" with lyrics, chord progressions, and rhythmic structure all patterned directly on the original . </Dd> <P> Looking for a suitable man to record this song, Phillips selected part - time local WDIA disk jockey Rufus Thomas, who adopted the nickname, "Rufus' Hound Dog' Thomas" for this recording . "With his gruff Louis Armstrong - influenced voice, quick wit, and eye - popping antics, he was the perfect candidate to reply to the harsh accusations Big Mama Thornton had thrown out in her song, this time leveling them at a' bossy woman"'. Despite his reluctance to record the song and his reservations about the band assembled by Phillips, Thomas "threw himself into the song with the same brash charm that he brought to all his performances, complete with yowls, growls, and fervent imprecations". The record's spare electric guitar work by Memphis bluesman Joe Hill Louis was greatly influenced by that of Pete Lewis on the original . According to James M. Salem: </P> <P> (I) nstead of barking and howling there is meowing and hissing in the background . In true answer form, the gender of the participants was reversed . This time the protagonist is male, directly challenging the worthless female of the original song--correcting her previous insults and re-directing them at her . "You know what you said about me woman?" says the man in open confrontation . "Well...You ain't nothin' but a bear cat, scratchin' at my door ." All the irony and sarcasm of the original is captured in the answer, even the sexuality: "You can purr, pretty kitty, but I ain't gonna rub you no more ." </P>

Where did the hot dog dance come from