K-Chuck Radio: Ten Examples of the “Bo Diddley Beat”

I’m just going to say this for the record.  If Hubert Elias McDaniel could have found a way to copyright the rhythm of his hit “Bo Diddley,” he could have made a large fortune.  Because that boom, boom boom, a-boom boom – or, if you can read music, this –

has been part of rock and roll music for years and years and years and years.

In fact, let’s show you how Bo Diddley performed “Bo Diddley” on the Ed Sullivan Show.  This way, you can get an idea of what the rhythm sounds like.

So since I already played one song with the “Bo Diddley Beat,” how about ten other songs that contain that “Bo Diddley” beat. And if you hear it in these songs, surely you’ll hear it in a ton of other recordings that I didn’t include here.

THE ROLLING STONES – NOT FADE AWAY

Yes, I know Buddy Holly had the original version. That doesn’t mean that I don’t love this version any less.

THE MIRACLES – MICKEY’S MONKEY

That’s right, Motown meets the Bo Diddley Beat. Get down with Smokey Robinson and the Miracles!

THE STRANGELOVES – I WANT CANDY

I don’t know what’s crazier – the fact that “The Strangeloves” advertised themselves as three Australian brothers – or the fact that they were really three New York City songwriters whose credits included “My Boyfriend’s Back.”

GEORGE MICHAEL – FAITH

I guess this is where George Michael channels his inner Eddie Cochran – or maybe his inner Gene Vincent.

U2 – DESIRE

It looks like U2 were able to find a way to integrate the Bo Diddley Beat into a hit of their own.

DEE CLARK – HEY LITTLE GIRL

This was one of Dee Clark’s biggest hits, he also had the classic ballad “Raindrops.” Sounds like Dee Clark was having more fun with this song, if you ask me.

THE DIXIE CUPS – IKO IKO

The Dixie Cups had this hit a few months after their original monster hit “Chapel of Love,” and later the song was covered by the 80’s group The Belle Stars.

SHA NA NA – BORN TO HAND JIVE

From the film Grease. This is the great dance scene with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, with the classic retro group Sha Na Na doing the vocals.

BOW WOW WOW – I WANT CANDY

Okay, okay, I know I’ve already played the Strangeloves version… but come on, how many of you didn’t even know there was a Strangeloves version and all you knew was this hit from Bow Wow Wow?

G’RACE – MANHATTAN

This Euro-dance group had a big European hit with the Bo Diddley beat. The song lyrics sound like they were translated through three other languages before they got to English, and the lead singer has those classic 80’s pop-wave dance moves going for her, sure enough.

Now I could have added a few more tracks – “She’s The One” by Bruce Springsteen, “Panic in Detroit” by David Bowie, “Whisper To A Scream (Birds Fly)” by Icicle Works, “(Marie’s The Name) His Latest Flame” by Elvis Presley, and maybe even The Smiths’ “How Soon Is Now,” and I’m sure you guys can come up with a few more to add to this list.