# Pop songs with a slow-shuffle beat. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 15, 2011, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095 "2011-07-15T03:22:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/21 "2011-07-16T16:06:02Z")
I wouldn’t be able to follow a shuffle beat if someone whacked me on the head with one…but when I think of shuffly music, I think of J. J. Cale. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/22 "2011-07-16T17:30:01Z")
“For You Blue” by the Beatles and “Truckin’” by the Grateful Dead. ---
**Author:** ![BDoors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BDoors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDoors)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/23 "2011-07-16T17:55:54Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > A shuffle is a one-and-a-two-and-a-one-and-a-two beat - SRV’s patented Texas Shuffle on Pride & Joy the most obvious example to my ear. And yes, it is typically swung - hard not to lay back a bit when you get into a shuffle groove 😉 - but swing is a separate concept. One thing I’m taking from this thread is that “shuffle” means different things to different people! To me, it means a triplet-feel beat, and is synonymous with “swing”. I would describe it not too differently from you - take a “one-and-uh two-and-uh” rhythm, where the “one”, “and”, and “uh” each occupy the same amount of time. Then replace all the “ands” with silence of the same duration, so you’re left with “one… uh two… uh three” etc. That’s a shuffle, and the notes on the "uh"s are swung notes. ---
**Author:** ![mariposalabrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@mariposalabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mariposalabrown)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/24 "2011-07-16T18:52:06Z")
Gillian Welch’s “Pass You By” is a favorite of mine. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/25 "2011-07-16T19:11:12Z")
[“From a Window (To a Screen)”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdmtWIo5xEk) – The dB’s An unjustly overlooked mid-tempo shuffle, complete with snare-brush strokes. [“The Passenger” (live)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4hPnZUMBwA) – Iggy Pop & The Stooges A classic faster shuffle song, proving shuffles don’t have to be slow or sedate. ---
**Author:** ![BDoors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BDoors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDoors)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/26 "2011-07-16T19:27:55Z")
> [@The\_Scrivener](#): > > [“From a Window (To a Screen)”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdmtWIo5xEk) – The dB’s > > An unjustly overlooked mid-tempo shuffle, complete with snare-brush strokes. > > [“The Passenger” (live)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4hPnZUMBwA) – Iggy Pop & The Stooges > > A classic faster shuffle song, proving shuffles don’t have to be slow or sedate. The Iggy song yes, but I’m not hearing any shuffle in the dBs’ song. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/27 "2011-07-16T20:27:53Z")
Excuse the hijack, but could a rhythmically knowledgeable person tell if there’s a label for the beat of Dire’s Straight’s [Walk of Life](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9_VOy7VipQ)? It kicks in a little past the 30 second mark. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/28 "2011-07-16T20:44:42Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Excuse the hijack, but could a rhythmically knowledgeable person tell if there’s a label for the beat of Dire’s Straight’s [Walk of Life](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9_VOy7VipQ)? It kicks in a little past the 30 second mark. That’s just a simple [backbeat](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_(music)#Backbeat). ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/29 "2011-07-16T21:51:14Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > That’s just a simple [backbeat](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_(music)#Backbeat). Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![bahia\_hombre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@bahia\_hombre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bahia_hombre)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/30 "2011-07-17T04:15:18Z")
“Band on the Run” ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/31 "2011-07-17T04:57:05Z")
? Not only is that song not a shuffle, it’s not slow either. Man, this OP has been wildly misinterpreted by many people. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/32 "2011-07-17T05:29:28Z")
These are classic pop shuffles, although I suspect the tempo is going to be a little too fast for what you’re looking for: [Everybody Wants to Rule the World](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST86JM1RPl0) by Tears for Fears [Rosanna](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq4ychrRkQA) by Toto [The Way You Make Me Feel](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzZ_urpj4As) by Michael Jackson ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/33 "2011-07-17T05:34:07Z")
Yeah that first one is a great song. A bit faster than what I meant, but a very good example of the shuffle beat. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/34 "2011-07-17T05:39:37Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Yeah that first one is a great song. A bit faster than what I meant, but a very good example of the shuffle beat. And, of course, one of the all-time famous shuffles, at least among musicians and drummers (although the “Rosanna” beat also qualifies) is the Bonham _cough_ Bernard Purdie _cough_ shuffle on Led Zeppelin’s [Fool in the Rain.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2015S3A-lg) ---
**Author:** ![loshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce73a5/32.png) [@loshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/loshan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/35 "2011-07-17T05:47:56Z")
Peggy Lee’s “Fever”? Don’t know how to discern and actual “shuffle”, but that has the same feel as the OP songs to me. And BTW…Talking Heads version of TMTTR…my all-time favorite. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/36 "2011-07-17T05:55:12Z")
> [@Sigmundex](#): > > I suppose, depending on how strict the interpretation is. I played sax in a jazz band for years, so I’m not unfamiliar. Maybe it’s just because when I replay that song in my head it’s got more a swingy beat to it. Whatever the case, I do like the song. Just listened to that song. The beat is pretty much in straight eighths, not a shuffle. There’s funky, syncopated bass stuff going on, but it’s not really shuffle-like to me. I would definitely classify “Fever” as a type of shuffle. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/37 "2011-07-17T06:03:36Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > And, of course, one of the all-time famous shuffles, at least among musicians and drummers (although the “Rosanna” beat also qualifies) is the Bonham _cough_ Bernard Purdie _cough_ shuffle on Led Zeppelin’s [Fool in the Rain.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2015S3A-lg) I think that song, one of my favorites by L.Z., is a little more complex than a traditional shuffle, which has a pretty repetitive bass and drum line. Maybe it’s technically a shuffle but to me it sounds like its own unique rhythm. That song, by the way, has one of the best prolonged solos completely in a major key, which is another topic for a thread I plan on starting. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/38 "2011-07-17T13:42:55Z")
Yes, the Purdie shuffle is far more advanced that a standard shuffle. Purdie is on YouTube walking you through. Good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/39 "2011-07-17T14:21:12Z")
Melissa Etheridge’s “I’m The Only One” is one that came to mind. It’s probably not really a pop song, but Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason” is a classic blues shuffle. The grammy it won was for “Rock Song”, though. (Do they not have a Blues category?) ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095/40 "2011-07-17T14:35:20Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > And, of course, one of the all-time famous shuffles, at least among musicians and drummers (although the “Rosanna” beat also qualifies) is the Bonham _cough_ Bernard Purdie _cough_ shuffle on Led Zeppelin’s [Fool in the Rain.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2015S3A-lg) Found [this interesting video](http://quietube.com/v.php/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwFdExvCxM4&feature=related) in which Jeff Porcaro describes where the Rosanna beat came from. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-songs-with-a-slow-shuffle-beat/589095.md?page=3)