The Chant in Popular Music

An episode of the Rotations podcast, hosted by Madison Moffat, titled "The Chant in Popular Music" was published on January 12, 2025.

January 12, 2025 · Rotations

Summary

This week's episode is presented by guest host Madison Moffat of Queering The Air.One aspect of popular music that has consistently grabbed Madison's attention since infanthood is ‘the chant’. In adjudicating which songs qualified for a show that focussed on chanting in popular music, it was difficult at times to decide whether a song featured a ‘chant’ or just one of those repetitive choruses that are so common in modern rock and pop.Madison feels the distinction (or, at least, the one that feels important for her) is of the vocals having reached or exceeded an arbitrary threshold of percussiveness. Old Alabama / BB & Group / Negro Prison Songs From The Mississippi State Penitentiary [1958]Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved, Pt. 1 / James Brown; Original Release: 1970 / The 50th Anniversary Collection [2003] 48 Crash / Suzi Quatro / Suzi Quatro [1973]So Tough / The Slits / Cut [1979]Chant (Live) / Public Image Limited / Paris au Printemps [1980]Kings of the Wild Frontier / Adam and the Ants/ Kings of the Wild Frontier [1980]Double Dutch / Malcolm McLaren / Duck Rock [1983]We Got Trouble / Age of Chance / One Thousand Years of Trouble [1987]Pirahna / I Spit On Your Gravy / Fruit Loop City [1987]The Game / Tackhead / The Game EP [1987O Fortuna / Apotheosis / O Fortuna EP [1991]Cassius 1999 / Cassius / 1999 [1999]Volksarmee / PATENBRIGADE: WOLFF / Ударник [2014]Monday / Clamm / Care [2022]

Episode Description