Rah Rah Sis Boom Bah! Cheerleader/Marching Band Inspired Pop?
July 23, 2012 9:00 AM

Turns out I really like to exercise to cheerleader/chanting/marching type pop songs. Can anyone recommend songs with that same kind of chorus/chanting and beat that isn't actually marching band music? Examples inside.

Things that sound like what I'm looking for: Be True To Your School, Mickey, Give Me All Your Luvin'.
posted by The Whelk to Media & Arts (59 answers total) 57 users marked this as a favorite
This shit is bananas. Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl
posted by Rock Steady at 9:02 AM on July 23, 2012


Hollarback Girl, Gwen Stefani

Micky, Toni Basil.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:02 AM on July 23, 2012


4 Minutes, Glee cast version
posted by Sweetie Darling at 9:03 AM on July 23, 2012


Bay City Rollers: Saturday Night
Queen: We Will Rock You
posted by skye.dancer at 9:05 AM on July 23, 2012


Sleigh Bells -- "Crush"
Avril Lavigne -- "Girlfriend"
Girl Talk -- "Shut the Club Down"
posted by Smallpox at 9:05 AM on July 23, 2012


The Go! Team - "Panther Dash"
posted by John Cohen at 9:07 AM on July 23, 2012


Lil Mama - Lip Gloss
(and really most of her Voice of the Young People album)
posted by Rock Steady at 9:07 AM on July 23, 2012


Sham 69 - "If The Kids Are United"
posted by griphus at 9:09 AM on July 23, 2012


The Go! Team - Bust-Out Brigade might be too close to "just marching band music", but it's still great.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 9:12 AM on July 23, 2012




I love this style of music for exercise as well, and I find that a band that gives me the same feeling/energy pretty consistently is OK Go. This Too Shall Pass, Needing/Getting, Here It Goes Again, etc. It's not exactly a great answer to this specific question, but I thought I should mention it within the larger context.
posted by Rock Steady at 9:16 AM on July 23, 2012




You want the first Sleigh Bells album.
posted by Joey Bagels at 9:21 AM on July 23, 2012


Oh, yes! Sleigh Bells?

(You do not want the second Sleigh Bells album. Although the "Comeback Kid" single might do it for you.)
posted by griphus at 9:32 AM on July 23, 2012


Robert Preston, "Chicken Fat"
posted by chazlarson at 9:35 AM on July 23, 2012


Seconding OK Go (the video for This Too Shall Pass has an actual marching band in it)

It's not exactly marching band music, but in terms of energy, you might also like:

Arcade Fire - "Wake Up"
The Killers - "All These Things That I've Done", "Read My Mind"
posted by dry white toast at 9:41 AM on July 23, 2012


I have a workout mix sort of like this and The Go! Team's The Power is On is my "find me more songs like this" song.
posted by jessamyn at 9:43 AM on July 23, 2012


Outkast - Morris Brown
posted by acidic at 9:49 AM on July 23, 2012


Ting Tings That's Not My Name totally pushes the Mickey button implanted in my teenage brain.
posted by drlith at 9:55 AM on July 23, 2012


they're maybe a little silly, but The Donnas have this quality at times.
posted by daisystomper at 10:02 AM on July 23, 2012


These may be pushing the envelope a bit, but:

The Ramones, Blitzkrieg Bop ("Hey! Ho! Let's go!")
Shirley Ellis, The Clapping Song (more of a playground chant/instructions for a handclapping game, but still infectious.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:20 AM on July 23, 2012




Halcali- Girigiri Surf Rider
NERD- Everyone Nose
Wiseguys- Ooh la la
Kriss Kross- Jump
posted by jade east at 10:59 AM on July 23, 2012


Toy Soldiers - Eminem
posted by christiehawk at 11:06 AM on July 23, 2012


D.A.N.C.E. - Justice
posted by christiehawk at 11:12 AM on July 23, 2012


OOIOO - umo.
(Great video, too.)
posted by zoinks at 11:14 AM on July 23, 2012


"Be Agressive
B-E Agressive
B-e Agg-ressive!"


Faith No More
posted by iurodivii at 11:14 AM on July 23, 2012


Jock Jams Megamix
posted by christiehawk at 11:15 AM on July 23, 2012


Heck, OOIOO's uma works too.
posted by zoinks at 11:17 AM on July 23, 2012


A friend of mine liked running to military cadence songs.
posted by oomny at 11:22 AM on July 23, 2012


Black Kids - "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You"
Paramore - "That's What You Get"
The Dollyrots - "Because I'm Awesome"
posted by jbickers at 11:29 AM on July 23, 2012


Be Agressive
B-E Agressive
B-e Agg-ressive!


Well I definitely expected some Baby Cakes right there. Anyways.

Oh!

Gee
posted by Algebra at 11:38 AM on July 23, 2012


Much of fun.'s Some Nights album.

How do you feel about hip-hop? Fat Trel - Hyenas, David Banner - On Everything the Drumline soundtrack
posted by knile at 12:21 PM on July 23, 2012


Chumbawumba - Tubthumping
posted by plonkee at 12:27 PM on July 23, 2012


I hate myself for this, but... Madonna's "Give Me All Your Luvin'"
posted by plasticbugs at 12:32 PM on July 23, 2012


Apparently, I can't read entire posts. :/
posted by plasticbugs at 12:34 PM on July 23, 2012


I think "Some Girls" by Rachel Stevens fits the bill. I still hate myself. :)
posted by plasticbugs at 12:46 PM on July 23, 2012


From an old AskMe (and six years later still in my favorite song rotation): Cheerleaders vs. Drillteam. I like the studio version better than live, myself.
posted by frecklefaerie at 1:07 PM on July 23, 2012


Are You Ready? by Kate Miller-Heidke familiar to anyone from NY as one of the Lotto songs
posted by tyllwin at 1:13 PM on July 23, 2012


Sleater-Kinney: Little Babies
posted by mochapickle at 1:17 PM on July 23, 2012


the Drumline soundtrack

is actually not a great choice, despite what you might assume. The only marching band-like songs are the last two, and those are genuine marching band music, which the Asker specifically doesn't want.
posted by Rock Steady at 1:43 PM on July 23, 2012


Yeah okay, this is a probably too random, but this is what I came up with:

the Go Team - "Junior Kickstart"
Belle and Sebastian -" Step into my office, baby"
Akron/Family - "River"
The Generationals - "Ten-Twenty-Ten"
Jurassic 5 - "Break"
posted by piyushnz at 2:49 PM on July 23, 2012


More of a surfer vibe, but definitely a sports favourite: The Ventures - Let's Go
posted by hangashore at 3:47 PM on July 23, 2012


If you don't mind some J-Pop in your mix, Namie Amuro does this a lot:
Hide & Seek (lyrics), Top Secret (lyrics), "WoWa," etc.

Personally I find listening to songs in languages I don't speak helps me focus on the beat instead of the (sometimes inane) lyrics.
posted by nicebookrack at 5:03 PM on July 23, 2012


500 Miles by The Proclaimers
posted by LiverOdor at 6:21 PM on July 23, 2012


Do You Remember Rock & Roll Radio - The Ramones
Centerfield - John Fogerty
posted by SisterHavana at 11:02 PM on July 23, 2012




I have just the thing. Sabrina Chap just came out with a new album that is burlesque / circus / marching band inspired. She's on tour now, but she's actually based out of NYC if you want to catch her live when she gets back.
posted by garlic at 5:03 AM on July 24, 2012


Fatboy Slim, "Everybody Loves a Carnival"

A fair bit of M.I.A.'s Kala might work--I'm thinking "Bamboo Banga," "Bird Flu," "Boyz" and "World Town." Also, maybe "Teqkilla" from Maya.
posted by dlugoczaj at 6:59 AM on July 24, 2012


Tilly and the Wall Bad Education

Having a tap dancer instead of a drummer makes this song super foot stompy and hand clappy. Plus it is just all around awesome.
posted by troublewithwolves at 7:39 AM on July 24, 2012


The Death Set — Chew It Like a Gum Gun
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 8:39 AM on July 24, 2012


"Mickey" reminds me a bit of Gary Numan - Cars.

Also, Einstürzende Neubaten - Nnnaaammm. (Goes on for 11 minutes!)
posted by WalkingAround at 10:14 AM on July 24, 2012


I can't believe I forgot this one! 65 Love Affair - Paul Davis
Also:
Pumped Up Kicks - Foster the People
Brickfield Nights - The Boys
Do You Wanna Touch Me - Joan Jett (or the original by Gary Glitter)
posted by SisterHavana at 4:07 PM on July 24, 2012


I asked a similar question last year that might help: Bring on the pipes and drums!
posted by kidsleepy at 11:51 AM on July 26, 2012


Another one that may push the envelope a little -- Will Smith's Switch. A couple times when he did it live he rounded up some local high school marching band drum corps.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:50 PM on July 26, 2012


Smog - Bloodflow
posted by mike_bling at 7:58 AM on July 27, 2012


Will Smith's Switch

Puts me in mind of a song I'd wager was directly inspired by the "Our Team is Dynamite" cheerleader cheer:

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince -- Boom Shake The Room
posted by Rock Steady at 8:58 AM on July 27, 2012


Gold Digger by Kanye West and Jamie Foxx used a marching band at the 2006 Grammys
posted by achmorrison at 9:40 AM on July 27, 2012


Z-Trip - About Face: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW2WYZhbXig

Or just get Jock Jams Volume 1.
posted by talldean at 5:43 AM on July 28, 2012


« Older electrical issue in a 2000 GMC jimmy -- is it a...   |   Property's cheap, people need rentals - how can I... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.