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Coffee Break

Coffee Break: Hand Claps

by Jill Riley and Nilufer Arsala

June 10, 2025

The crowd claps to Them Coulee Boys at Grand Old Day on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at The Grand Stage Powered by The Current.
The crowd claps to Them Coulee Boys at Grand Old Day on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at The Grand Stage Powered by The Current. Juliet Farmer for MPR

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.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive.

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"

Coffee Break: Hand Claps