My follow-up blog to my 3 blogs sharing playlists of songs featuring instruments in rock and pop music intrinsic to our bodies, hand clapping, finger snapping, and whistling, highlights an extension of one of these instruments, in the form of castanets held in hands, somewhat a variation of clapping, if you will, believe it or not featured in some prominent rock and pop songs.
Castanets, also known as clackers or palillos, are a percussion instrument that bring to mind Spanish, Moorish, and Ottoman ethnic music, but also appear in Italian, Mexican, Portuguese, Brazilian, and even Swiss songs. They consist of a pair of concave shells joined at one edge by a string. They are held in the hand to make clicks or rattling for rhythm. Typically made of wood, especially chestnut, or castaño in Spanish, thus the name castanet. They date back thousands of years to likely ancient Egypt and the Iberian peninsula.
Castanets are commonly used in Spanish folk music as well as dances such as the Fandango, Jota, as well as in Flamenco, especially the Siguiriyas and Sevillanas. They have been used in operas such as Bizet’s Carmen and Strauss’ Salome. Even Italian music has seen its influence, as evident in Kircher[s Tarantella Napoletana.
Who knew they would make their way into rock and pop, right under our noses. We’ve oft heard them but not acknowledged them, thus not given them credit where credit is due. One you start listening for them, you will hear them more and more. I never stopped to consider what was the opening clacking in The Diamond’s “Little Darlin’” or the clackety sound Supertramp’s “The Logical Song.” And recently, after having “completed” my playlist of castanet songs, I was listening to a different playlist, and when hearing Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” the sound of what appeared to me castanets jumped right out at me. And upon researching, yes – castanets. Who knew? And similar to my comments on banjo in rock songs, once you hear it, you can’t unhear it. And yes Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” David Bowie’s “Golden Years,” OneRepublic’s “Apologize,” even Led Zeppelin’s “Bron-Y-Aur Stomp” give us a little castanet.
Phil Spector perhaps popularized castanets the most, with the groups The Crystals and The Ronettes. And the Carpenters made the list 3 times, with The Crystals and Madonna mading the list twice as well.
And the song that started it all for me regarding castanets – The Diamond’s “Little Darlin’” – I so love this version, sounding just as good 60 YEARS LATER! Check out the castanets. And even an appearance by Maurice William of Zodiacs and “Stay” fame.
And here Supertramp demonstrating some castanet prowess in “The Logical Song”
While no castanets are demonstrated in these next 2 videos, they do contain castanets in the music, and the videos are such classic 80s of 2 simply amazing songstresses.
Madonna with “La Isla Bonita”
And Whitney with “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
I also included a few songs from my college years and time living in Spain, as when I think of castanets, I can’t help but think of Spain. Sevillanas and Seguiriyas often use castanets along with foot stomping to keep rhythm. An acquired musical taste, but I love it. Here is a good demonstration of the use of castanets:
So elegant
Here with flamenco dancing
And here to classical music
So beautiful. I just love Spain and its culture.
Now on to the playlist 😙🎶
I hope that this music and my blog truly serve as a “revival: a new presentation of something old,” a springboard to return to the music of your youth, or perhaps to find artists you want to discover anew. Rediscover the passion of music in your life.
Live in the moment.
Enjoy the moment.
Love the moment.
Listen to the MUSIC!