Call and response (music) facts for kids
Imagine a musical conversation! In music, call and response is when one musician or group plays or sings something (the call), and then another musician or group plays or sings an answer (the response). It's like people talking back and forth. This style is often energetic and fun. It uses a simple musical shape, similar to a verse and a chorus, and is found in many different cultures around the world.
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Call and Response in Popular Music
Call and response singing is very common in modern Western popular music. This is largely because of the influence of African music. You can hear this style in many kinds of music. These include rhythm and blues, jazz, soul, rock 'n' roll, and rock music.
One famous example is the song "Ooh Poo Pah Doo." Jessie Hill wrote and first recorded this song. Music reviewers have called it a "nonsensical yet rollicking call-and-response workout." It perfectly captures the lively energy of New Orleans' French Quarter. This song is so well-known that over 100 different musicians have recorded or performed it live.
Other popular songs that use call and response include "My Generation" by The Who. This song is from their album of the same name. Another great example is "Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin.
Call and Response in Folk Music
Call and response is also very common in folk and choral singing. It is especially important in African musical cultures. In Western countries, you can often hear it in African-American work songs. It is also found in military marches and Québecois folk songs. This musical style is also used in dance-songs from various European countries. These include France, especially the region of Brittany, and the Faroe Islands.
In Cuban music and other latin music genres like salsa, the call and response between the main singer and the chorus has a special name. It is called coro-pregón.
How Call and Response Works
In a call and response song, a singer might make a musical statement. Then, a musical chorus or another instrument answers together. The American blues musician Muddy Waters uses call and response in one of his most famous songs, "Mannish Boy." The whole song is almost entirely a leader-and-chorus call and response.
- CALL: Waters' vocal: "Now when I was a young boy"
- RESPONSE: (Harmonica / rhythm section riff)
- CALL: Waters': "At the age of 5"
- RESPONSE: (Harmonica / rhythm section riff)
Related pages
Images for kids
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Call: "Shave and a Haircut", Response: "Two bits".
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"My Generation" vocal melody with response.
See also
In Spanish: Llamada y respuesta (música) para niños
