Solid stuff! I had no idea that Hall and Oates were inspirations for Bille Jean, but it’s clear from that cut.
Classical is easy.
Motown is easy.
I guess when I hear the term “good beat”, I think of songs that have a distinctive, memorable rhythmic riff (though that rhythmic riff can be played on any instrument, not just drums). Like these:
The Knack - My Sharona
Queen - Another One Bites the Dust
For straight groove:
Robert Cray - Smoking Gun
Static-X grooves on Push It
AC/DC - Shoot to Thrill
Putting the two together quite nicely:
Pink - Get the Party Started
And if I may be so bold, a little original composition of mine called “Make It Stop!”
Can’t really come up with anything that has “no groove” — well-known stuff on YouTube is pretty much all “hits”, and an essential component of a “hit” is that it’s got a good groove.
Educational link there, HelloNinja. Makes me wonder how many of the standard patterns have actual names. If anybody has such a list, with audio examples, please post them.
I remember from my early days of trying to become a competent drummer that the rudiments have names and that there are dozens of them. But as for the different beats used in Rock and Jazz and Rap and Pop drumming, I guess I’ve just not seen them called by name.
It doesn’t matter what kind of music you like; if your butt isn’t moving to “Superstition,” you’re dead.
Good stuff, Mister Rik, and your original sounds good as well. Thanks!
And that’s a plain fact! Is there a better Stevie Wonder beat? What’s in second place of his stuff?
“Alright” Video actually starts around 1:15. That is one hell of a beat, and the video presentation physically sustains the beat throughout; it’s a hella impressive musical presentation all around, but what holds it all together is a rockin’ beat.
By Classical I was referring to the genre of music that includes symphonies, concertos, chamber music, sonatas and those pieces of music where an orchestra is the primary way of presenting the compositions to an audience. The orchestra will normally have strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion and occasional specialty intruments but (normally) without amplification.
I didn’t mean Classic Rock. Not that Classic Rock (or any genre) is off limits. Nothing is off limits if it has a good beat!
Some works that help to identify the area where I hope we can find some good and strong rhythmic examples would include:
Fingal’s Cave Overture
Night on Bald Mountain
William Tell Overture
Danse Macabre
Anitra’s Dance
1812 Overture
Polovtsian Dances (Polovetsian)
and the previously mentioned BOLERO-RAVEL
Dave Matthews Band-Stand Up (For It)
Starts at about 35 seconds in the video
Eric Clapton-I Shot The Sheriff
The Bob Marley version is great, but a Clapton solo makes all the difference.
And here’s a link for Superstitious. Couldn’t let you guys mention it without going to listen to it.
Finally, I can’t find a video for it, but Buddy Rich’s Space Shuttle definitely belongs as well.
It was here all along. I guess it was easy to miss?
Marimba Ponies- Comedian’s Gallop
La cumparsita - Marimba Ponies
In the Hall of the Mountain King (Peer Gynt)
Paul Abraham Dukas - The Sorcerer’s Apprentice 01
Surely these will trigger some thoughts on other “serious music” pieces with an even more pronounced beat?
Unless it’s somewhere on YouTube under another title or hidden away somewhere else, the best version I could find of the big band groove the Heats on is this one. The Basie clip is weak by comparison. These guys really blow!
Okay, this is just pure win.
Oops. :smack:
It isn’t like you can have too many links to it, though. 
Now that’s true.
Excellent find, Mister Rik. I’d submit that those guys have a groove going.
Reminds me of Turtle Island String Quartet
Speaking of grooves, what about Grooveyard?
Sly and the Family Stone, Thank You (Falettin Me Be Mice Elf Again)
Plastilina Mosh, Tiki Fiesta
Shinehead, Hello Y’all
Chalf Hassan, Tzawaj Mgalhalia
The Meters, Tippitoes
(By the way, I have to say I was confused at first, as well. The OP asked for beats, and over half the early responses were much more than beats (rhythm) – they were grooves (rhythm plus some basic melody, often but not always bass-oriented). So, my list is a mix, but mainly grooves.)