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"Welcome to the 60's" is performed by Tracy Turnblad, Edna Turnblad, and The Dynamites. It occurs towards the end of Act I of Hairspray.

The song occurs right after Tracy and Edna receive a call from Mr. Pinky asking Tracy to become the spokeswoman for Mr. Pinky's Hefty Hideaways. Tracy wants her mother to come with her to the shop as her agent, but Edna is reluctant because she hasn't left the house in over ten years.

The song has the same basic format in all versions with the song starting at the Turnblads and continuing through the streets of Baltimore to Mr. Pinky's Hefty Hideaways. There is then a spoken exchange between Edna and Mr. Pinky. The girls are given makeovers while The Dynamites sing. Then Edna and Tracy are revealed and the song kicks up again as they dance their way through Baltimore.

Hairspray (1988)[]

Like most other songs in the musical, this one takes its title directly from a spoken line in the original 1988 film. The line occurs just as Tracy manages to drag her mother out of the house, just like in the musical.

Hairspray (musical)[]

"Welcome to the 60's" is the tenth song in Act I. It happens after "Velma's Revenge", but before "Run and Tell That". The musical came up with an iconic way to introduce The Dynamites by having them step out of their own poster .

Lead In[]

Welcome_to_the_60s_-_Hairspray_(John_Pinette)

Welcome to the 60s - Hairspray (John Pinette)

John Pinette as Edna and Michelle Dowdy as Tracy

This is the set-up for the song in the musical.

(phone rings)
(TRACY TURNBLAD)
Hello? Yes, this is Tracy Turnblad. Hello, Mr. Pinky.

(EDNA TURNBLAD - whispering)
Mr. Pinky? THE Mr. Pinky? As in "Mr. Pinky's Hefty Hideaway - Quality Clothes for Quantity Gals?" That Mr. Pinky?

(TRACY)
You want to hire me as your exclusive spokesgirl and fashion effigy?

(TRACY - whispering to EDNA)
What's an effigy?

(TRACY - speaking on phone)
That's very flattering, but I'm afraid all business must go through my agent... it would be our pleasure. We'll be right over, Mr. Pinky. Goodbye!

(EDNA)
Agent? I don't know any agents. How 'bout a nice bail bondsman?

(TRACY)
Mother, put that thing down. I'm taking my new agent to Hefty Hideaway and then out on the town.

(EDNA)
Who? Me? Tracy Turnblad, fame has gone to your head and left you wacky. You need a top-shelf professional. Who handled the Gabor Sisters? Well, who didn't?

(TRACY)
Mother, there's a great big world out there I know nothing about. When things get rough, a girl needs her mother.

(EDNA)
Hun, I'll be right beside you, if that's what you want. And together we'll claw your way to the top.
...but can't we do it over the phone? I haven't been out of this apartment since Mamie Eisenhower rolled her hose and bobbed her bangs.

Interlude[]

The interlude occurs after Edna and Tracy arrive at Hefty Hideaway.


(MR. PINKY)
Free jelly doughnuts while they last. Eat 'em up, girls. I've got ten tons of taffeta inside.

(TRACY)
Hello, Mr. Pinky. I'm Tracy.

(MR. PINKY)
There's my shining star! Television doesn't do you justice.

(EDNA)
Oh, Mr. Pinky. You certainly picked a lovely girl to put the plus in your plus sizes.

(MR. PINKY)
Now, Tracy. This can't be your agent. She must be your gorgeous big sister.

(EDNA - squealing with delight)
Why, Mr. Pinky, you're twisting my head. I'm not her gorgeous big sister, I'm...

(MR. PINKY)
...54 Double D?

(EDNA)
Triple E!

(MR. PINKY)
I've hit the motherlode! Step inside and let's make a deal.

Hairspray (2007)[]

"Welcome to the 60's" is performed after "The New Girl in Town" and before "Run and Tell That."

The biggest lyrical changes occur during the interlude. Early in the song, however, a line about going to the wiener stand is replaced with "I haven't left this house since 1951!" The line change is set up by Tracy asking her mom to have some fun, rather than asking her to take her hand.

In the movie, The Dynamites do not step out of their poster. Instead, the billboards and posters of them all over town come to live and start singing.

After Edna and Tracy are made over and the song ends, they run into Velma and Amber in a cafe. Velma passive-aggressively insults Edna, causing her to take a hit to her fragile self-esteem that she does not recover from until after "Big, Blonde, and Beautiful."

Set Up[]

Unlike in the musical, Edna answers the phone when Mr. Pink calls. Both the call and the conversation afterwards is longer, with Edna showing off her business savvy as well as discussing her insecurities about her weight.

Welcome_To_The_60's_-_Hairspray_(2007)

Welcome To The 60's - Hairspray (2007)


(EDNA TURNBLAD)
Hello?

(MR. PINKY)
Is this the Turnblad residence?

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
Yes?

(MR. PINKY)
Mr. Pinky speaking.

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
Mr. Pinky? From the dress shop?

(MR. PINKY)
Uh-huh. I'd like Tracy for our spokesgirl.

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
You'd like Tracy to do what?

(MR. PINKY)
Be our spokesgirl.

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
Be a spokesgirl?

(MR. PINKY)
I think she'd be perfect. I'd like to meet her and discuss the details as soon as possible.

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
Um, ok. Well we'll have to send someone down immediately.

(MR. PINKY)
Can I get your cab?

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
Oh. Ok. Goodbye, Mr. Pinky.

(MR. PINKY)
Bye-bye.

(TRACY TURNBLAD)
THE Mr. Pinky?

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
From Mr. Pinky's Hefty Hideaway!

(TRACY TURNBLAD)
A spokesgirl? Oh, tell me I get a free caftan.

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
Tracy, I think perks like caftans have to be negotiated. Maybe we should get you an agent.

(TRACY TURNBLAD)
Okay. You be my agent.

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
What? Tracy Turnblad! Has fame gone to you head and made you wacky?

(TRACY TURNBLAD)
Well, why not? Who's going to look out for me better than my mom.

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
Me? an agent? Do you see me hobnobbin' and drinkin' rum and cokes with all those hoity pollois?

(TRACY TURNBLAD)
And out-negotiating them

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
Oh, you're crazy. Oh Tracy, I haven't left this house in years.

(TRACY TURNBLAD)
Then isn't is time you did?

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
Oh, no, Tracy. We'll have your father meet with him. I don't want to be seen like this.

(TRACY TURNBLAD)
Why not?

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
I'll do it after my next diet. That's when I'll do it. You see, the neighbors haven't seen me since I was a size ten. Don't make me do it, Tracy.

(TRACY TURNBLAD)

Ma, it's changing out there. You'll like it.

Interlude[]

The interlude in Hairspray (2007) differs significantly from the musical. It is longer, and allows Edna to shine more. In this version, Edna shows off her business savvy, being a small business owner herself, allowing her to negotiate a better contract for Tracy. It also has her requesting a bustier, as opposed to Mr. Pinky offering one to distract her and sweeten the deal.


(MR. PINKY)
There's my shining star! Fantastic to meet you. I'm Mr. Pinky.

(TRACY TURNBLAD)
It's so nice to meet you.

(MR. PINKY)
Haha. Tracy, is this your older sister?

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
Oh, my.

(MR. PINKY)
Perhaps she'd like some complimentary couture.

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
Couture?

(MR. PINKY)
Now, if you'll just sign here.

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
Flattery will not distract Miss Turnblad's agent from reading the fine print.

(MR. PINKY)
Her agent?

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
Tracy, eat your doughnuts. Let's talk. All right, let's see here. All right now. Mmm. Uh-uh. Uh-uh. No! I want a non-exclusive contract. Extensions by mutual option. And I want you to absorb my 15% commission.

(MR. PINKY)
Not a dime over 10!

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
Throw in a bustier?

(MR. PINKY)
Fifty-four double-D?

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
Triple-E

(MR. PINKY)
I hit the motherlode!

Hairspray Live![]

In the NBC live special, Ricki Lake and Marissa Jaret Winokur, Tracy actresses from Hairspray (1988) and the Original Broadway Production respectively, attend to Tracy while she is in the dressing room.

Lyrics[]

(TRACY TURNBLAD)
Hey Mama hey mama look around
everybody's grooving to a brand new sound.
Hey Mama hey mama follow me
I know something's in you that you wanna set free.

So let go go go of the past now.
Say hello the love in your heart. 
Yes I know that the world's spinning fast now
You've gotta get yourself a brand new start

(THE DYNAMITES)
Hey Mama welcome to the sixties!
Oh-o-o-o-o oh
Go mama! Go, go, go!

Welcome to the sixties!
Oh-o-o-o-o oh
Hey, mama! Yeah, yeah, yeah!
Yeah, yeah, yeah...

(TRACY TURNBLAD & EDNA TURNBLAD)
Hey mama, hey mama take my hand!
First let's make a stop at the wiener stand
Hey, mama, hey mama, take a chance!
Oh, Tracy, it's been years since someone's asked me to dance.

(TRACY TURNBLAD & THE DYNAMITES)
So let go, go, go of the past now
Say "hello" to the light in your eyes

(TRACY TURNBLAD)
Yes I know that the world's spinning fast now
But you gotta run the race to win the prize

(TRACY TURNBLAD & THE DYNAMITES)
Hey Mama welcome to the sixties!
Oh-o-o-o-o oh
Go mama! Go, go, go!
Welcome to the sixties!

Hey Mama welcome to the sixties!
Oh-o-o-o-o oh

Oh Mama welcome to the sixties!
Oh-o-o-o-o oh

Go mama! Go, go, go!

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Welcome to the rhythm of a brand new day
Take your old-fashioned fears
and just throw them away
You should add some color
and a fresh new 'do
'Cause it's time for a star
Who looks just like you!

(INTERLUDE)

(THE DYNAMITES)
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
Oooh-ooh-ooh

(EDNA TURNBLAD)
Hey, Tracy, hey, baby, look at me
Aren't I the cutest chickie that you ever did see
Hey, Tracy, hey, baby, look at us
Where is there a team that's half as fabulous

I let go-go-go of the past now
Say hello to this red carpet ride
Yes I know that the world's spinning fast now
Tell Lollobrigida to step aside
Your mama's welcoming the sixties!

Oh-o-o-o-o
Oh-o-o-o-o

(THE DYNAMITES)
Go, mama, go, go, go!
Welcome to the sixties!
Open the door to the girl who has more
She's a star, Tracy, go, go, go!
Hey mama, welcome to the sixties!

(TRACY TURNBLAD & EDNA TURNBLAD)
Your mama's hip
Your mama's in
Hip. In. Mama.
You're mama's looking at herself and wondering
"Where you been?"
"Where YOU been?"
Your mama's lit
Lit
Your mama's aglow
Hey mama

Time to show what she's holding back
Your mama's gotta let go, go, go

(THE DYNAMITES)
Welcome to the "six"
To the "O"
To the apostrophe "S"
Hey, yeah, baby, yeah

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