Comments on: Songs with hand claps

Question: Songs with hand claps

billysumday — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:02:32 -0800

What are some songs that prominently feature hand claps?

Preferably either good songs or recognizable songs.

By: ferociouskitty

ferociouskitty — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:04:38 -0800

Blister in the Sun by Violent Femmes

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:07:30 -0800

"Magic" by Pilot

"No Matter Where You Are" by Badfinger

By: Wolfdog

Wolfdog — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:07:50 -0800

Cathedral's Midnight Mountain uses them to great effect. (It's in the "good" category).

By: ThePinkSuperhero

ThePinkSuperhero — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:08:11 -0800

"You're So Damn Hot" by OK Go

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:08:23 -0800

"Saturday Night," Bay City Rollers

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:08:23 -0800

Cecilia by Simon and Garfunkel

By: ThePinkSuperhero

ThePinkSuperhero — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:08:38 -0800

Ok, not for the whole song.. but at least for the beginning and refrain.

By: smich

smich — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:08:43 -0800

"Somewhere in the Night" by Smog

By: Leon

Leon — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:09:02 -0800

The Clapping Song, Shirley Ellis. Think Tom Waits did a version, too?

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:09:07 -0800

"Rock The Casbah" The Clash

By: occhiblu

occhiblu — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:09:25 -0800

"Jack and Diane," John Cougar Mellencamp.

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:09:53 -0800

"We Will Rock You" Queen

By: Peter H

Peter H — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:10:08 -0800

"Let's Go!" by the CARS

By: Todd Lokken

Todd Lokken — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:10:17 -0800

"Head over Heels" by the Go-Go's.

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:10:21 -0800

Take the Money and Run by Steve Miller

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:10:26 -0800

"What I Like About You" The Romantics

By: smackfu

smackfu — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:11:15 -0800

Beck's "Clap Hands", which is good but only found on the Japanese version of Guero.

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:11:48 -0800

"Where It's At" Beck

By: occhiblu

occhiblu — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:11:57 -0800

"Hey Mickey," Toni Basil.

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:12:11 -0800

Most anything by J. Geils

By: horsewithnoname

horsewithnoname — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:12:15 -0800

The title track from Pat Metheny's First Circle.

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:12:42 -0800

"Centerfield" by John Fogerty

God, why do I know these?

By: Divine_Wino

Divine_Wino — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:12:46 -0800

No Fun by the Stooges.

By: TeamBilly

TeamBilly — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:13:05 -0800

Um. "Axel F" by Harold Faltermeyer. And that Nerd-Rap-Anthem thing from "Revenge Of The Nerds."

Oh, and "Centerfield" by John Fogarty. Or was that Creedence?

By: ktrey

ktrey — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:13:13 -0800

The Magnetic Fields' The Death of Ferdinand de Saussure has handclaps at the end of a verse that never cease to crack me up.

By: occhiblu

occhiblu — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:13:23 -0800

And my brother adds: "That stupid 'Friends' song."

By: Inkoate

Inkoate — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:13:32 -0800

"Lets Get it On" by Marvin Gaye has some claps toward the end.

By: forrest

forrest — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:14:23 -0800

Clap for the Wolfman by Guess Who
Deep in the Heart of Texas

By: Clay201

Clay201 — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:14:39 -0800

"Freeze Frame" by the J. Geils Band.

By: cortex

cortex — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:15:16 -0800

"Let X = X" by Laurie Anderson.

By: occhiblu

occhiblu — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:16:01 -0800

"Bingo" and "If you're happy and you know, clap your hands," of course.

By: cortex

cortex — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:16:04 -0800

Also, do 808 handclaps count? Or do you mean actual hands actually clapping?

By: cardboard

cardboard — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:16:55 -0800

And that children's standby, "Bingo".

By: lampoil

lampoil — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:17:02 -0800

"No Letting Go" Wayne Wonder?

By: viewofdelft

viewofdelft — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:17:33 -0800

Andre and Big Boi from Outkast love the handclaps. Their song "Rosa Parks" is recognizable, as is "Hey Yeah."

By: dpx.mfx

dpx.mfx — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:17:59 -0800

Baby I Got Your Money, Old Dirty Bastard

Best hand clapping song ever.

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:18:21 -0800

If you're happy and you know it...

By: prettyboyfloyd

prettyboyfloyd — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:18:25 -0800

"Soulful tune" by Taj Mahal.

By: Clay201

Clay201 — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:18:39 -0800

Oh, Tom Waits has one called "Clap Hands."

I'm noticing, though, as I search my memory, there are an awful lot of songs that have a clap-like rythm or sound but which may not actually contain any clapping.

By: kcm

kcm — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:18:47 -0800

Lang Lang - Live at Carnegie Hall, Track 1: "Applause"

I am aware I just burned all my AxMe karma, thanks.

By: hooray

hooray — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:19:00 -0800

Spoon has a lot of songs with handclaps.

By: Mach5

Mach5 — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:20:30 -0800

"We Suck Young Blood" Radiohead

By: samh23

samh23 — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:20:57 -0800

"Get By" by Talib Kweli

By: The Jesse Helms

The Jesse Helms — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:21:07 -0800

"Stars and Sons", Broken Social Scene

Lots of Beatles songs

By: The Jesse Helms

The Jesse Helms — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:21:43 -0800

Top Eight Uses of Handclaps in Pop Music

By: disillusioned

disillusioned — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:22:08 -0800

"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood," Santa Esmerelda. (The full length version is 16 minutes long and features much more hand clapping than the 7 minute Kill Bill version.)

By: The Carolingian

The Carolingian — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:23:08 -0800

"I Talk With My Hands" - The Rainmakers

By: ltdan

ltdan — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:23:37 -0800

"Rain Rain Rain" by the Rheostatics.

By: occhiblu

occhiblu — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:26:15 -0800

(I heart kcm.)

By: frogan

frogan — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:27:24 -0800

"Close to Me," by The Cure

By: itchie

itchie — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:27:35 -0800

There's a Ben Folds Five song that's on the tip of my tongue that has a lot of hand-claps. Anyone know any of their songs with it?

By: dmo

dmo — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:28:10 -0800

"Shake Appeal" by Iggy and the Stooges from Raw Power.

"Margaritas" by Love as Laughter.

By: mimi

mimi — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:30:33 -0800

"Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)" by the Monkees.

By: dmo

dmo — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:31:21 -0800

And "The Romance of the Telescope" by Orchestral Manoevres in the Dark. Great question by the way!

By: feathermeat

feathermeat — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:32:44 -0800

"Women's Realm" by Belle and Sebastian (=good)

By: dmo

dmo — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:33:04 -0800

"Iko Iko" by the Dixie Cups!

By: Espy Gillespie

Espy Gillespie — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:33:44 -0800

Most Ratatat songs use synth hand claps as part of the percussion throughout.

Also, I've always assumed that every song by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah features lots of clapping and people saying "Yeah" but that might not actually be true.

By: googly

googly — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:33:56 -0800

Bauhaus' version of "Telegram Sam"

By: bibliowench

bibliowench — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:35:00 -0800

"The Frug" - Rilo Kiley
Also, see this list from Tiny Mix Tapes.

By: Peter H

Peter H — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:36:20 -0800

Exile on Main Street has some good clapping

By: brownpau

brownpau — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:37:45 -0800

The Cheat is not Dead, by Strong Bad.

By: pmbuko

pmbuko — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:44:14 -0800

"Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da" by the Beatles.

By: billysumday

billysumday — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:49:00 -0800

Great songs. This is why askmetafilter is so great. Thanks everyone.

By: easternblot

easternblot — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:51:30 -0800

"Too little too late" by the Barenaked Ladies.

By: milquetoast

milquetoast — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:52:01 -0800

Decepticon (Le Tigre)
Boys on the Docks [Pub Version] (Dropkick Murphys)
Bella Ciao (Chumbawamba)
Sheena is a Punk Rocker (The Ramones) (Maybe not so prominent, but it's in there...)

By: cj

cj — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:52:07 -0800

There's a Ben Folds Five song that's on the tip of my tongue that has a lot of hand-claps. Anyone know any of their songs with it?

Are you thinking of "Annie Waits"?

By: MrMoonPie

MrMoonPie — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:53:43 -0800

"Carwash" -- Rose Royce.

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:54:19 -0800

Give Peace a Chance.

By: MrMoonPie

MrMoonPie — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:56:54 -0800

"Everybody to the Limit" -- Strong Bad.

By: pinky

pinky — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 13:00:05 -0800

"Close To Me" - The Cure

By: culberjo

culberjo — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 13:00:12 -0800

"Memorize The City" by The Organ

By: Wiggo

Wiggo — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 13:02:39 -0800

"Make it Clap" by Mr. Busta Rhymes...Can't believe no one mentioned this yet!

By: O9scar

O9scar — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 13:02:42 -0800

They're fake, but...
Private Eyes by Hall and Oates

and a classic:
Eight Days a Week, by The Beatles

By: AgentRocket

AgentRocket — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 13:16:06 -0800

"Clap Your Hands," by They Might Be Giants. From kids disc "No!"

By: doctor_negative

doctor_negative — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 13:22:01 -0800

"More Than a Feeling" -Boston

The hand claps are even mentioned in the liner notes on the back of the album (vinyl).

By: ob

ob — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 13:24:10 -0800

"Shake your rump to the funk" by the Bar-Kays. There's a very cool double clap in the verse...

By: hilker

hilker — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 13:25:03 -0800

“Clapping Music”—Steve Reich

By: sara is disenchanted

sara is disenchanted — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 13:26:10 -0800

Headfirst for Halos by My Chemical Romance.

By: rolypolyman

rolypolyman — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 13:27:12 -0800

Flamenco is by far the first thing that comes to mind. I know you were probably looking for a specific song, though.

By: greatgefilte

greatgefilte — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 13:38:02 -0800

Ra-Ra-Rasputin, by Boney M. I think.

By: sarahnade

sarahnade — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 13:38:42 -0800

itchie and cj-- I don't think "Annie Waits" is it, however the next song on Ben Folds' solo album, "Zak and Sara", does feature prominent hand claps.

By: kindall

kindall — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 13:49:23 -0800

"Annie Waits" does in fact have hand claps. Well, they're obviously from a drum machine, but they're there.

By: neilkod

neilkod — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:04:07 -0800

greased lightening?

By: armage

armage — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:04:18 -0800

"Too Long" by Daft Punk.

By: sourwookie

sourwookie — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:13:46 -0800

"Welcome to the Working Week" Elvis Costello

By: Rothko

Rothko — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:16:24 -0800

"Car Wash" - Rose Royce

Total classic

By: Rock Steady

Rock Steady — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:20:38 -0800

"Men In Black" by Will Smith (and whatever song it is that the sample is from -- "Forget-Me-Not", I think).

It is left as an exercise for the reader to locate the song on the goodness/recognizability axes.

By: peppermint22

peppermint22 — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:21:13 -0800

"kissing the lipless" - the shins

By: -harlequin-

-harlequin- — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:22:27 -0800

"The Weeping Song", by Nick Cave (or Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds).

By: acoutu

acoutu — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:27:46 -0800

I forget the name, but..."This is the way we clap our hands, clap our hands, clap our hands. This is the way we clap our hands so early in the morning."

By: furiousthought

furiousthought — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:28:13 -0800

"Connection" - Elastica

By: davey_darling

davey_darling — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:37:14 -0800

ferociouskitty - Blister in the SUn doesn't have any handclaps, maybe the brushed snare hits are throwing you off.

By: Saucy Intruder

Saucy Intruder — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:39:11 -0800

Check out Chick Corea's "Armando's Rhumba."

By: Jon Mitchell

Jon Mitchell — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:43:45 -0800

The start of "Kissing The Lipless", by The Shins. Also "Clap Yo' Hands" by DJ ScissorKicks has some sampled handclaps, not entirely surprisingly.

By: awesomebrad

awesomebrad — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:43:55 -0800

Hurry Up Let's Go by the Shout Out Louds

By: squidlarkin

squidlarkin — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:45:10 -0800

"Sing to the Singer" by Danielson Famile. There are only two possible responses upon first hearing this band: "What the hell is this shit?", or "What the hell is this shit and why does it fill me with such glee?".

By: raysmj

raysmj — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:50:16 -0800

Elvis's "Rubberneckin'."

By: Leon

Leon — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:58:14 -0800

Gorillaz - Dirty Harry

By: The Jesse Helms

The Jesse Helms — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 14:59:59 -0800

Lots here: songs with cool handclaps

By: the cuban

the cuban — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 15:02:03 -0800

handclapping song - the meters

By: apark

apark — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 15:02:34 -0800

Bamboleo by the Gipsy Kings (See Track #13 in the Greatest Hits album) There are some great clappin' goin' on in this song.

By: SashaPT

SashaPT — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 15:05:38 -0800

"Red Dragon Tattoo" by Fountains of Wayne.

By: dgeiser13

dgeiser13 — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 15:07:05 -0800

Catch my Disease by Ben Lee

By: hermitosis

hermitosis — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 15:13:16 -0800

"You Took the Words Right Outta My Mouth (It Must Have Been While You Were Kissing Me)" by Meat Loaf

By: carsonb

carsonb — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 15:13:57 -0800

oh fine - french kicks
the power is on - the go! team
both good songs.

By: dydecker

dydecker — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 15:20:38 -0800

808 handclaps are the best of all: see every single house song ever.

By: elquien

elquien — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 15:20:44 -0800

Four Leaf Clover by Badly Drawn Boy

By: carsonb

carsonb — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 15:25:06 -0800

receptacle for the respectable - super furry animals

By: ktrey

ktrey — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 15:33:01 -0800

Elastica's Connection seems to borrow its handclaps from Wire's I Am The Fly. The rest is Three Girl Rhumba.

By: maniactown

maniactown — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 15:36:07 -0800

The excellent band Clap!Clap! is all about the handclaps.

By: Kwantsar

Kwantsar — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 15:45:44 -0800

Honky's Ladder by Afghan Whigs

By: teleskiving

teleskiving — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 15:56:12 -0800

Stuck In The Middle With You. Catchy, recognizable, lots of clapping.

By: Danf

Danf — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 16:03:08 -0800

Take the Money and Run by Steve Miller

The worst fake drum machine handclaps ever. . .

By: pullayup

pullayup — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 16:17:29 -0800

Sucker's trial, by the Spinanes
Washington, DC by the Magnetic Fields

By: kc8nod

kc8nod — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 16:19:50 -0800

Harvest For The World by The Isley Brothers

By: cillit bang

cillit bang — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 16:23:57 -0800

"Come Out 2 Nite" Kenickie

By: GooseOnTheLoose

GooseOnTheLoose — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 16:40:56 -0800

As soon as I read the question I thought

Steely Dan - Bodhisattva,

but really it's just a very minor part.

By: armchairsocialist

armchairsocialist — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 17:03:21 -0800

"woodland national anthem," arcade fire

By: rkent

rkent — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 17:08:33 -0800

Miles Davis, "On the Corner", from On the Corner! I can't believe I'm the first one post that.

By: oaf

oaf — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 17:25:55 -0800

"Opera Singer" by Cake.

By: kooop

kooop — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 17:39:05 -0800

proposition 61 by the most serene republic.

By: hifimofo

hifimofo — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 17:45:11 -0800

Sussudio by Gnemesis.

By: weston

weston — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 17:48:25 -0800

Clapping Music by Steve Reich isn't very recognizable, but I like it.

Also, Mack Wilberg's choral arrangement of the folk tune Cindy has particularly rocking interlude with clapping in it. Again, not super popular, very good.

By: Miko

Miko — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 18:50:14 -0800

Jack and Diane, John Cougar (Mellencamp)

By: jetskiaccidents

jetskiaccidents — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 18:54:53 -0800

I started making a list once..I took out the ones I've seen listed already.

Q and not U - a line in the sand
Mirah etc - oh! september
Self - Pattycake
Sleater-Kinney - Turn it on
The Blow - some chocolates
The Blow - Hey boy
The Postal Service - Clark Gable
Hockey Night - Grim Break

By: milkrate

milkrate — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 18:55:16 -0800

"Forever Lost" by the Magic Numbers

By: deafweatherman

deafweatherman — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 19:09:04 -0800

maniactown beat me to it, but Clap!Clap! is a band that bases their entire repertoire around hand-clapping.

By: JDC8

JDC8 — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 20:05:51 -0800

"Like A Feather" by Nikka Costa

By: prettypretty

prettypretty — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 21:47:00 -0800

Unsquare Dance - Dave Brubeck

By: edlundart

edlundart — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 21:57:07 -0800

bjork - "it's in our hands" (and i think some of the 'vespertine' track)

and there is this fantastic song i've been really into lately called "it's getting old" by a group called goldspot. check it out.

By: tumult

tumult — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 22:25:12 -0800

Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar

By: artifarce

artifarce — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 22:42:45 -0800

Particle Man! also by They Might Be Giants.

By: scallion

scallion — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 00:36:19 -0800

"The Other Way" by Weezer

By: OneOliveShort

OneOliveShort — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 00:45:00 -0800

Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes
Or are those face slaps...

By: dhartung

dhartung — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 02:23:46 -0800

Also, I've always assumed that every song by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah features lots of clapping and people saying "Yeah" but that might not actually be true.

Most of the album is dreamy indie pop with Ounsworth's Yorke/Byrne voice. The opener, though, is "Clap Your Hands", and does indeed feature clapping. It's very nearly a cappella.

By: funambulist

funambulist — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 05:29:27 -0800

Eels - Hey Man (Now You're Really Living)

By: funambulist

funambulist — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 05:56:53 -0800

(you can see the hand clapping in the video live from Jools Holland 2005, last clip at bottom of page)

...and I just remembered another one, slightly more famous:

David Bowie - Space Oddity

By: blue_beetle

blue_beetle — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 06:36:35 -0800

Sinner Man - Nina Simone

By: suni

suni — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 07:17:05 -0800

i remember seeing this little bit about claps in music (on arte tracks, a laughable hipster tv mag)

By: docpops

docpops — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 13:39:12 -0800

Broken Up A Ding Dong by The Beta Band