A riotous burst of carefree joy wrapped in glam rock swagger and festive mischief
When Slade released Okey Cokey as part of their 1985 holiday-themed album Crackers, the band was already long established as one of the great architects of British glam rock. By that time, the group had weathered changing musical eras, shifting lineups, and evolving tastes, yet they remained unmistakably themselves. Though Okey Cokey never sought chart dominance the way earlier anthems did, its presence on the album reflects Slade’s gift for turning even the simplest tune into something loud, unruly, and brimming with charisma. For fans, this track is less a chart pursuit and more an invitation to indulge in the band’s trademark chaotic joy.
Listening to Okey Cokey in the context of Crackers feels almost like stumbling into a pub moments before the entire room erupts into communal singing. The song itself is famously simple in structure, rooted in a traditional dance instruction pattern meant to be shouted and acted out, but Slade injects it with their unmistakable electric attitude. The guitars crunch, the percussion stomps, and Noddy Holder’s unmistakable voice turns a children’s rhyme into a rallying cry. It becomes not merely a song, but a shared behavior, a ritual that dissolves restraint and invites ridiculous joy.
Underneath the noise and humor is something that reveals the soul of Slade’s endurance. Many bands could play fast, sing loud, and throw glitter under bright lights. Slade’s real power was their ability to transform communal nostalgia into amplified, rebellious celebration. Okey Cokey fits comfortably into that tradition because it captures something the band always understood: music is not only for listening. It is for participation. For shouting. For laughing. For unity.
There is also a certain emotional undertone that surfaces when this track plays later in life. What once sounded purely silly now carries the warmth of memory, reminding listeners of childhood games, family gatherings, school halls decorated with tinsel, and the uncomplicated rhythm of earlier days. Slade’s energy reframes those memories through a rock and roll lens, creating a bridge between innocence and exuberant adulthood. It is playful without being disposable and irreverent without being cynical.
In the full legacy of the band, Okey Cokey is a reminder that Slade never abandoned the essence that made them beloved. Even in the mid-80s, as trends moved toward synths, polish, and glossy production, Slade remained committed to joy, noise, and communal chaos. The song stands as a small but sincere piece of their identity: rowdy, unpretentious, and built for the collective experience rather than quiet contemplation.
For those who know the band well, Okey Cokey is not just a track on Crackers. It is a moment where the band winks back at the world, lifts a glass, stomps the floor, and says exactly what they always have: music is meant to be lived, loudly and together.