songs with regular pauses

March 18, 2023 8:20 AM

I've got a hand-cranked machine that I will crank about 5-10 times, then crank in reverse one time, which is slower than going forward; and then repeat. Sometimes I'll sing a song in time with the machine, and put a dramatic pause in for each reverse. Can you think of any songs (or instrumental pieces) that already have a structure like this?
posted by moonmilk to Media & Arts (9 answers total)

Somerset Wassail came to mind immediately for some reason -- the refrain is slower than the verses and might meet your requirements...if you're interested in playing old Christmas songs?
posted by AbelMelveny at 9:02 AM on March 18, 2023

The Maypole Song from The Wicker Man?
posted by dudekiller at 12:25 PM on March 18, 2023

You can look into weaving songs, rowing songs, etc. Many forms of song were developed for getting people to work together to a set of movements, including pauses and such. YouTube example.
posted by Iteki at 2:08 PM on March 18, 2023 [3 favorites]

Also, differently, Kelis - Caught out there and probably a lot of like All Saints, TLC, etc.
posted by Iteki at 2:15 PM on March 18, 2023

Pop Goes the Weasel
John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt
posted by rhizome at 3:17 PM on March 18, 2023

Tom Lehrer's Oedipus Rex has a dramatic pause at the end of each verse.
posted by rollick at 4:09 PM on March 18, 2023

BINGO would be fantastic because you can just stick the pauses in wherever you like, and they'll almost never be wrong.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 11:27 AM on March 19, 2023

Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions - I'll try 'em out!
posted by moonmilk at 7:13 AM on March 20, 2023

“Needle in the Camel’s Eye” by Brian Eno has this.
posted by ergomatic at 8:21 AM on March 28, 2023