Coffee Break: Hand Claps
by Jill Riley and Nilufer Arsala
June 10, 2025

Tuesday marks nine years since Los Angeles indie-pop band Fitz and The Tantrums released their third studio album. The self-titled record gave us the total earworm, “HandClap.”
The track was a standout hit for the band, but clapping has frequently been used in songs throughout the years, and across multiple genres. Today, let’s put together a whole playlist filled with the sounds of people clapping.
So for today’s 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs that feature clapping would you like to hear?
Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.
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Songs Played
Fitz and the Tantrums - "Hand Clap"
The Meters - "Handclapping Song"
The Cars - "My Best Friend's Girl"
Michael Kiwanuka - "Black Man in a White World"
JD McPherson - "Head Over Heels"
The Wonders - "That Thing You Do!"
Zapp - "More Bounce to the Ounce"
The Romantics - "What I Like About You"
