{{Short description|1965 song by Shirley Ellis}} {{More citations needed|date=May 2011}} "'''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<ref>{{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}}</ref> and number six in the UK.<ref name="UKcharts">{{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}}</ref>
==Background== The song was released shortly after Ellis had released "The Name Game". "The Clapping Song" incorporates lyrics from the song "Little Rubber Dolly",<ref>{{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)</ref> 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<br>position |- | Canada ''RPM''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5654.pdf| title=RPM Play Sheet - April 12, 1965}}</ref> |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<ref>{{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}}</ref> |align="center"|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==<!-- chronological sort --> * 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.<ref>Who Sampled - [https://www.whosampled.com/Ian-Cussick/The-Clapping-Song/ Ian Cussick > The Clapping Song]</ref> * The song returned to the charts when The Belle Stars covered the song in 1982, on their self-titled LP.<ref>{{cite web|title=www.allmusic.com|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-belle-stars-mw0000854672|website=allmusic.com|accessdate=July 10, 2022}}</ref> This version charted at number 11 in the UK,<ref name="UKcharts" /> and number 4 in Australia. It was the 33rd biggest selling single in Australia in 1983.<ref name="aus83">{{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}}</ref> * Pia Zadora's cover of the song entered the US top 40 in 1983, when it peaked at number 36 on the Hot 100.<ref>{{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}}</ref> * Aaron Carter did a cover version of "The Clapping Song" in 2000, on his second album ''Aaron's Party (Come Get It)''.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}} * Icona Pop released a modified cover of this song in 2015 titled "Clap Snap" on their EP Emergency.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}} * Queen drummer Roger Taylor covered the song on his 2021 album ''Outsider''. He released it as a single on 16 September 2021.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}
==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'', ''Maestro'', ''Die My Love'' and ''How to Make a Killing''.
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]
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clapping Song, The}} Category:1965 songs Category:1965 singles Category:1982 singles Category:1983 singles Category:The Belle Stars songs Category:Pia Zadora songs Category:Songs written by Lincoln Chase Category:Gary Glitter songs Category:Ian Cussick songs Category:American novelty songs