Songs with syncopated clapping?
July 3, 2018 9:31 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for songs in pretty much any genre that include syncopating clapping or a similar sound.
It turn out that songs with clapping make me weirdly happy. Suggestions?
It turn out that songs with clapping make me weirdly happy. Suggestions?
Best answer: Probably not exactly what you're looking for, but Steve Reich has you covered.
posted by dforemsky at 9:42 AM on July 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by dforemsky at 9:42 AM on July 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
Handclap by Fitz and the Tantrums. Chacha Slide by DJ Casper.
posted by gryphonlover at 9:44 AM on July 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by gryphonlover at 9:44 AM on July 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Lots of syncopated clapping: Myke Ptyson by Starfucker
posted by umber vowel at 9:46 AM on July 3, 2018
posted by umber vowel at 9:46 AM on July 3, 2018
Best answer: Dave Brubeck - Unsquare Dance / Paul Steffen & The Apollos - The Devil's Soul Is Black
posted by hydrophonic at 9:47 AM on July 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by hydrophonic at 9:47 AM on July 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
Santa Esmerelda's version of Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood has a lot at the beginning
posted by dismas at 9:48 AM on July 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by dismas at 9:48 AM on July 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
When I'm Gone - Pitch Perfect
Girls (Who Run the World) - Pitch Perfect 2
Hold My Hand, Hold My Heart - The Chantrillenes (That Thing You Do!)
Motown/Phil Spector girl groups.
posted by ApathyGirl at 9:50 AM on July 3, 2018
Girls (Who Run the World) - Pitch Perfect 2
Hold My Hand, Hold My Heart - The Chantrillenes (That Thing You Do!)
Motown/Phil Spector girl groups.
posted by ApathyGirl at 9:50 AM on July 3, 2018
The Underdog - Spoon
posted by somanyamys at 10:05 AM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by somanyamys at 10:05 AM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: These are fantastic! Thank you. (And don't stop.) To further clarify-- I've got the Motown side of things pretty much covered. I'm especially interested in songs where the clapping is a bit of a surprise.
posted by jeszac at 10:06 AM on July 3, 2018
posted by jeszac at 10:06 AM on July 3, 2018
Best answer: The band Tilly and the Wall has a tapdancer and clapping - for example Bad Education.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:13 AM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:13 AM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Mos Def - Quiet Dog Bite Hard
posted by runincircles at 10:16 AM on July 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by runincircles at 10:16 AM on July 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
Lots of hand claps in Rilo Kiley's work, perhaps especially in "The Frug" and "Silver Lining"
posted by dizziest at 10:18 AM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by dizziest at 10:18 AM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
So much of Sloan’s music is v handclappy.
posted by Kitteh at 10:23 AM on July 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 10:23 AM on July 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Nina Simone, Sinnerman, Thomas Crown Affair, 1999 version.
posted by XtineHutch at 10:27 AM on July 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by XtineHutch at 10:27 AM on July 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
This is a little more of a stretch but it's tradition at Phish shows to clap at certain points during their song "Stash". First example is at 35 seconds or so, pops up a few other times as well.
I once saw Trey Anastasio (the guitar player and principle songwriter) perform with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center. You could see little smiles and chuckles from the orchestra when the crowd dutifully supplied the claps during Stash.
posted by stinkfoot at 10:28 AM on July 3, 2018
I once saw Trey Anastasio (the guitar player and principle songwriter) perform with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center. You could see little smiles and chuckles from the orchestra when the crowd dutifully supplied the claps during Stash.
posted by stinkfoot at 10:28 AM on July 3, 2018
Sylvan Esso - "PARAD(w/m)E" (Clapping throughout, syncopated clapping prominently in a few places, ex. 1:21)
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:29 AM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:29 AM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
"Rehab"
posted by praemunire at 10:34 AM on July 3, 2018
posted by praemunire at 10:34 AM on July 3, 2018
Plus although it's bog standard for the genre, so not surprising in that sense, the clapping in sufi qawwalis is v persuasive
posted by runincircles at 10:34 AM on July 3, 2018
posted by runincircles at 10:34 AM on July 3, 2018
S A T U R D A Y Night!
Bay City Rollers
posted by wittgenstein at 10:49 AM on July 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
Bay City Rollers
posted by wittgenstein at 10:49 AM on July 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
Wait for It from Hamilton has one of the best syncopated clapping rhythms around. I was personally pretty surprised the first time I heard it!
posted by lunasol at 11:04 AM on July 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by lunasol at 11:04 AM on July 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
!what a fun question
here's a couple tunes that came to mind:
X Ambassadors - The Devil You Know
(Black Cab Sessions) Lykke Li - I'm good I'm gone
SON HOUSE - Grinnin' In Your Face
posted by speakeasy at 11:07 AM on July 3, 2018
here's a couple tunes that came to mind:
X Ambassadors - The Devil You Know
(Black Cab Sessions) Lykke Li - I'm good I'm gone
SON HOUSE - Grinnin' In Your Face
posted by speakeasy at 11:07 AM on July 3, 2018
David Bowie - Love Is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix by James Murphy for the DFA)
posted by Etaoin Shrdlu at 11:13 AM on July 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Etaoin Shrdlu at 11:13 AM on July 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
This is not QUITE what you want but please watch this video, just trust me.
The studio version of this song, although I love it SO MUCH, does not have amazing flamenco handclap guys so watch that video also.
A fun exercise: clap along with First Circle. (It's in 22/8 time.) (Knowing this fact might not help you unless you are actually a drummer, it doesn't really help me.)
posted by clavicle at 11:14 AM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
The studio version of this song, although I love it SO MUCH, does not have amazing flamenco handclap guys so watch that video also.
A fun exercise: clap along with First Circle. (It's in 22/8 time.) (Knowing this fact might not help you unless you are actually a drummer, it doesn't really help me.)
posted by clavicle at 11:14 AM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
T Bird and the Breaks - The Clap Hands Song is a personal favourite.
posted by Happy Dave at 11:14 AM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Happy Dave at 11:14 AM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Pagode do Vavá by Paulinho da Viola (the clapped samba rhythm starts around one minute).
Asha Gedawo by Debo Band. The clapping is steady, but what's behind it makes it syncopated. The lead singer claps a little at the beginning, and then many players do on stage around 2:25.
Mcintosh County Shouters (Gullah-Geechee gospel with tresillo and habanera claps)
Samba de Coco Trupé de Arcoverde Brazilian samba de coco
Let X=X by Laurie Anderson
posted by umbú at 11:23 AM on July 3, 2018
Asha Gedawo by Debo Band. The clapping is steady, but what's behind it makes it syncopated. The lead singer claps a little at the beginning, and then many players do on stage around 2:25.
Mcintosh County Shouters (Gullah-Geechee gospel with tresillo and habanera claps)
Samba de Coco Trupé de Arcoverde Brazilian samba de coco
Let X=X by Laurie Anderson
posted by umbú at 11:23 AM on July 3, 2018
This is instrumental and shorter than most songs, but: Washed Out - "Clap Intro"
posted by AppleTurnover at 11:25 AM on July 3, 2018
posted by AppleTurnover at 11:25 AM on July 3, 2018
Water Fountain by tUnE-yArDs, plus bonus Song Exploder which breaks down the making of the song.
posted by damayanti at 12:00 PM on July 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by damayanti at 12:00 PM on July 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
The song Seneca by Tortoise has this, starting around 4:45.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 12:13 PM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 12:13 PM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Oláhos is a Hungarian dance. Non-Hungarians may spell it Olahos.
posted by theora55 at 12:37 PM on July 3, 2018
posted by theora55 at 12:37 PM on July 3, 2018
Jon Hassell - Malay uses Semelai water music
Not a lot of syncopated clapping, but a syncopated song about clapping: Shirley Ellis - The Clapping Song
posted by rhizome at 12:54 PM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Not a lot of syncopated clapping, but a syncopated song about clapping: Shirley Ellis - The Clapping Song
posted by rhizome at 12:54 PM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Alfonso by Levante.
I recommend this song with great alacrity!
posted by ipsative at 1:32 PM on July 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
I recommend this song with great alacrity!
posted by ipsative at 1:32 PM on July 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Rasputin by Boney M has some good hand-clapping (and let's face it, perhaps the greatest music video of all time)
posted by just_ducky at 1:43 PM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by just_ducky at 1:43 PM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Clapping - or "Palmas" is the base for so much flamenco. It can be highly syncopated.
Here a bulerias by guitarrista, Tomatito -with palmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BCoZiSbGtY
posted by Lucky Bobo at 1:59 PM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Here a bulerias by guitarrista, Tomatito -with palmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BCoZiSbGtY
posted by Lucky Bobo at 1:59 PM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Sufjan Stevens' The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders
posted by fancyoats at 2:22 PM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fancyoats at 2:22 PM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Le Tigre, Deceptacon
posted by Lawn Beaver at 2:45 PM on July 3, 2018
posted by Lawn Beaver at 2:45 PM on July 3, 2018
Hey Hee Hi Ho by Medeski Martin and Wood has some damn funky clapping in the breakdown.
posted by STFUDonnie at 3:20 PM on July 3, 2018
posted by STFUDonnie at 3:20 PM on July 3, 2018
I can't find a clip of it on YouTube, but Steve Reich's Selwa has some Tibetan clapping and singing that is extraordinary.
posted by effluvia at 3:54 PM on July 3, 2018
posted by effluvia at 3:54 PM on July 3, 2018
Steve Reich, Selwa, Tibetan singing and clapping. Unable to find a clip on YouTube, but it's great.
posted by effluvia at 3:56 PM on July 3, 2018
posted by effluvia at 3:56 PM on July 3, 2018
Bron-Y-Aur Stompby Led Zepplin forever.
posted by OlivesAndTurkishCoffee at 4:19 PM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by OlivesAndTurkishCoffee at 4:19 PM on July 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Hall and Oates Private Eyes
Steve Miller Band Take The Money and Run
posted by STFUDonnie at 5:01 PM on July 3, 2018
Steve Miller Band Take The Money and Run
posted by STFUDonnie at 5:01 PM on July 3, 2018
Sugah Daddy by D'Angelo (one of the patterns might be clapping, might be body percussion)
Brother John by The Wild Tchoupitoulas (with The Meters/Neville Bros)
Baka music from Cameroon
posted by umbú at 6:43 PM on July 3, 2018
Brother John by The Wild Tchoupitoulas (with The Meters/Neville Bros)
Baka music from Cameroon
posted by umbú at 6:43 PM on July 3, 2018
There's a little bit of clapping in Sly and the Family Stone's Dance to the Music. Soul Clappin takes the same rhythm and delivers as promised.
posted by hydrophonic at 7:10 PM on July 3, 2018
posted by hydrophonic at 7:10 PM on July 3, 2018
Bill Laswell's remix of Miles Davis Black Satin/What If/Agharta Prelude Dub (kicks in at 38 seconds, hand clapping kicks in at 58 seconds or so and keeps going) is a pretty good track.
posted by furtive at 8:21 PM on July 3, 2018
posted by furtive at 8:21 PM on July 3, 2018
The first thing that comes to mind to me is the Ghana Postal Worker's Song, even though it's more cancellation stamps than claps.
posted by that girl at 9:29 PM on July 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by that girl at 9:29 PM on July 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Jack and Diane, Mellencamp.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:40 AM on July 4, 2018
posted by Chrysostom at 12:40 AM on July 4, 2018
Two suggestions:
posted by cardboard at 7:00 AM on July 4, 2018
- anything by the Gipsy Kings which is full of Flamenco rhythms and clapping
- MeFi's own(er) Cortex's At the Open Mic
posted by cardboard at 7:00 AM on July 4, 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCyNjKLix9A
Sea Lion Woman for some reason linking isn't working for me.
posted by Splunge at 12:08 PM on July 4, 2018
Sea Lion Woman for some reason linking isn't working for me.
posted by Splunge at 12:08 PM on July 4, 2018
Karl Jenkins' The Song Of The Plains, from the Adiemus 2: Cantata Mundi album, has complex clapping almost throughout the 11 minute runtime. The clapping does fade in and out with other percussion, and is most prominent at the beginning and the end. (To me, this is the best Adiemus track outside of the original album).
posted by lhauser at 5:21 PM on July 4, 2018
posted by lhauser at 5:21 PM on July 4, 2018
I'm just going to keep posting these as I hear them:
Jorge Ben - Quanto Mais Te Vejo
Archie Bell & The Drells - Tighten Up
Ahmad Jamal - Nature Boy
posted by hydrophonic at 5:41 PM on July 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
Jorge Ben - Quanto Mais Te Vejo
Archie Bell & The Drells - Tighten Up
Ahmad Jamal - Nature Boy
posted by hydrophonic at 5:41 PM on July 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
Edu Lobo - Upa Neguinho
Edu Lobo - Ponteio and then maybe watch the live version
Arnaldo Antunes - Lavar As Mãos
posted by hydrophonic at 7:08 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
Edu Lobo - Ponteio and then maybe watch the live version
Arnaldo Antunes - Lavar As Mãos
posted by hydrophonic at 7:08 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
frex wayne wonder's no letting go or lumidee's never leave you.
posted by poffin boffin at 9:39 AM on July 3, 2018 [3 favorites]