Top Ten Songs Featuring the Bo Diddley Beat
The Bo Diddley Beat originated from an Afro Cuban rhythm and became the basis for many of Bo Diddley's songs, the most notable of which is the song "Bo Diddley". Soon after, the beat became more frequently used by other artists; this list is about songs by other artists besides Bo Diddley that use the beat. Feel free to add more examples.
The Bo Diddley beat was played on a cardboard box, giving the percussion a weird muted sound.
The song not only features the Diddley beat, but it also uses claves, a Latin percussion instrument. That's the distinctive click you hear throughout the song.
Apparently, the band was inspired to use the Bo Diddley beat after listening to the song "1969" by The Stooges.
The drum beat you hear in the intro is a straight Bo Diddley beat.
George Michael's producer suggested that he write a song inspired by Fifties rock and roll, which led him to use the Bo Diddley beat.
In concert, Bruce usually begins the song with a musical quote from the Bo Diddley songs "Bo Diddley" or "Mona" as if to show the audience where the rhythm originally came from.
The whole song doesn't just use the Bo Diddley beat, the melody even sounds like the song "Bo Diddley".
The Stones were big-time disciples of Bo Diddley. They covered the song "Mona" on their first album. This song is like that, but more fuzzy and psychedelic.
This song was released in 1958, three years after Diddley's first record. It's also been covered by Eric Clapton and George Thorogood, among others.
The opening track on the first Stooges album; the groove really pulled me in when I first heard it.