The Clapping Song
{{Short description|1965 song by Shirley Ellis}}
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"The Clapping Song" is an American song, written by Lincoln Chase, originally arranged by Charles Calello and recorded by Shirley Ellis in 1965.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}
The single sold over a million copies, and peaked at number eight in the United States{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/shirley-ellis/chart-history/hsi/|title=Shirley Ellis The Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap) Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=8 February 2018}} and number six in the UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/the-clapping-song/|title=The Clapping Song Full Official Chart History|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=8 February 2018}}
Background
The song was released shortly after Ellis had released "The Name Game". "The Clapping Song" incorporates lyrics from the song "Little Rubber Dolly", {{cite web|url=http://www.whosampled.com/sample/view/132924/Shirley%20Ellis-The%20Clapping%20Song_Light%20Crust%20Doughboys-Little%20Rubber%20Dolly/|title=Shirley Ellis's The Clapping Song|publisher=WhoSampled.com|accessdate=23 May 2012}} ("Little Rubber Dolly" available at YouTube) a 1930s song recorded by the Light Crust Doughboys, and also features instructions for a clapping game.
=Chart performance=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1965) !Peak |
| Canada RPM{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5654.pdf| title=RPM Play Sheet - April 12, 1965}}
|align="center"|10 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)
|align="center"|6 |
| align="left"|US Billboard Hot 100
|align="center"|8 |
| align="left"|US Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=186}}
|align="center"|16 |
==Cover versions==
- Gary Glitter did a cover version of "The Clapping Song" in 1972, on his debut album Glitter.
- Ian Cussick recorded his version which was released as a single in 1981.Who Sampled - [https://www.whosampled.com/Ian-Cussick/The-Clapping-Song/ Ian Cussick > The Clapping Song]
- The song returned to the charts when The Belle Stars covered the song in 1982, on their self-titled LP.{{cite web|title=www.allmusic.com|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-belle-stars-mw0000854672|website=allmusic.com|accessdate=July 10, 2022}} This version charted at number 11 in the UK, and number 4 in Australia. It was the 33rd biggest selling single in Australia in 1983.{{cite web |url=https://i.imgur.com/860ttad.jpg |title=Kent Music Report – National Top 100 Singles for 1983 |publisher=Kent Music Report |via=Imgur.com |access-date=January 22, 2023}}
- Pia Zadora's cover of the song entered the US top 40 in 1983, when it peaked at number 36 on the Hot 100.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/pia-zadora/chart-history/hsi/|title=Pia Zadora The Clapping Song Chart History|publisher=Billboard|access-date=8 February 2018}}
- Aaron Carter did a cover version of "The Clapping Song" in 2000, on his second album Aaron's Party (Come Get It).
- Icona Pop released a modified cover of this song in 2015 titled "Clap Snap" on their EP Emergency.
- Queen drummer Roger Taylor covered the song on his 2021 album Outsider. He released it as a single on 16 September 2021.
In media
"The Clapping Song" has been featured in the soundtracks of the movies Scratch, Because of Winn-Dixie, Private Life, Stuber, Poms, All Together Now, Ghostbusters: Afterlife. and Maestro.
In Flatliners, the song is sung by children on the playground.
On television, it was featured in Round Six of the 2009 season of Dancing With the Stars.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/28211090/The+Clapping+Song+%28Clap+Pat+Clap+Slap%29 The Clapping Song Lyrics]
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Category:The Belle Stars songs