Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” is a 1960 hit song that became a worldwide dance craze. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart twice, in 1960 and 1962.  The song is a cover of Hank Ballard & The Midnighters’ 1958 R&B song of the same name.

Checker’s version is characterized by its faster tempo and Bo Diddley beat. The song’s popularity was boosted by Checker’s energetic performance of the dance on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. “The Twist” is considered one of the most influential dance songs of all time. It helped to popularize a new style of social dancing that was simpler and more free-flowing than traditional dances.