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.