The Clapping Song

"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 ]}

The single sold over a million copies, and peaked at number eight in the United States ^[1] and number six in the UK. ^[2]

Background

The song was released shortly after Ellis had released "The Name Game". "The Clapping Song" incorporates lyrics from the song "Little Rubber Dolly", ^[3] a 1930s song recorded by the Light Crust Doughboys, and also features instructions for a clapping game.

Chart performance

Chart (1965)	Peak position
Canada RPM [4]	10
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	6
US Billboard Hot 100	8
US Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles [5]	16

The song and partial lyrics is mentioned in To The Last Ridge by W. H. Downing, a memoir of an Australian soldier in WW1 published in 1920, referring to an incident in 1916, thus implying that it pre-dates the 1930’s reference above. Page 11 of the 2002 reissue by Grub Street.

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. ^[6]
• The song returned to the charts when The Belle Stars covered the song in 1982, on their self-titled LP. ^[7] This version charted at number 11 in the UK, ^[2] and number 4 in Australia. It was the 33rd biggest selling single in Australia in 1983. ^[8]
• Pia Zadora's cover of the song entered the US top 40 in 1983, when it peaked at number 36 on the Hot 100. ^[9]
• 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

1. "Shirley Ellis The Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap) Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
2. "The Clapping Song Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
3. "Shirley Ellis's The Clapping Song". WhoSampled.com. Retrieved 23 May 2012. ("Little Rubber Dolly" available at YouTube)
4. "RPM Play Sheet - April 12, 1965" (PDF).
5. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 186.
6. Who Sampled - Ian Cussick > The Clapping Song
7. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
8. "Kent Music Report – National Top 100 Singles for 1983". Kent Music Report . Retrieved 22 January 2023– via Imgur.com.
9. "Pia Zadora The Clapping Song Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 8 February 2018.

External links

• The Clapping Song Lyrics