[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bo_diddley_8813.gif]]
Basically, "bump... bump... bump... BA-dump."

A rhythm used in blues and rock and roll music, [[TropeMaker made famous]] by Music/BoDiddley, the artist for whom it is named. He derived it from earlier rhythmic traditions, in particular the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tresillo_(rhythm) tresillo rhythm]] used in Caribbean folk songs and Cuban Rumba dance music (in reflection of this influence, a lot of the songs you'll hear with this beat use maracas, and a lot of tom-toms), and the similar rhythmic device they sometimes employed known as a "clave". Songs using the Bo Diddley Beat are notable in that they usually have no chord changes, or nearly none, instead creating musical tension by modulation of the rhythm.

Ironically, while Bo Diddley used the beat in a number of his songs ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewwe89dtEyE "Bo Diddley,"]] "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17W7496230Y Hey Bo Diddley]]", and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVRtQUTd7Gk "Mona,"]] mainly) it's not especially prevalent in his original version of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAGoqMZRLB4 "Who Do You Love?,"]] the song [[TropeCodifier most associated with it]], since cover versions of the song invariably ''do'' use the beat; George Thorogood even name-drops it in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06qN66vEZVE&feature=related his version,]] heard on all the "Sam Adams" beer commercials.

!!Here's some other songs that use it, in original or modified form:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Advertising]]
* Used in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTuGYFSykvg this]] commercial for Vick's [=DayQuil=] (the second half).
* And in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MteVYMwqIg this]] ad for the "Bud Light Hotel in Indianapolis", whatever the goddamn hell that is.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kJY9TF4GXc A commercial for Schick Hydro Silk.]]
* [[http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7TGX/canada-dry-jacks-ginger-farm This]] commercial for Canada Dry ginger ale.
* [=AutoZone=] incorporates it into their jingle in [[http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7ch2/autozone-hot-tub ads like this.]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1biejbPFcUI This]] commercial for Wayfair.com.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Anime]]
* [[http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xuhuo9_naruto-sd-rock-lee-no-seishun-full-power-ninden-opening-2-love-song-by-okamoto-s-tv-size_music "Love Song"]] by Okamoto's is the second opening for ''Manga/RockLeesSpringtimeOfYouth.''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* The title theme from ''Series/TheMusketeers'' begins with a very aggressive use of this, to make clear that this isn't your father's ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'' adaptation.
* Used in the ''Series/BetweenTheLions'' song "Ten Small Words".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* Alluded to in Creator/TerryPratchett's ''Literature/SoulMusic'', in which a new kind of music arrives in Ankh-Morpork.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swPzNFxsghc "The Story of Bo Diddley,"]] by Music/TheAnimals telling [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the story of Bo Diddley himself]] and how the beat went all over the music scene.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxB8bP4haTM "Not Fade Away,"]] by Music/BuddyHolly and CoveredUp by Music/{{The Rolling Stones|Band}} and Music/TheGratefulDead
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xXEtO3bEe0 "Astronomy"]] by Music/BlueOysterCult (listen from 2:12 on, reprised at 4:17)
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_MkL2GGvFE "I Want Candy,"]] by the Strangeloves and CoveredUp by Music/BowWowWow.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvoJ7qUh3y8 "Fool For Love,"]] by Lord Huron at around 1:17
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlAdt0dbmIM "She's The One"]] from ''Music/BornToRun'' by Music/BruceSpringsteen (It comes in grandly around 2:11, but you can hear it in the maracas before that. Be patient, it is, [[{{Pun}} after all]], [[MarathonBoss a Bruce Springsteen concert]]).
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27rKrR424cA "Mr. Brownstone"]] from ''Music/AppetiteForDestruction'' by Music/GunsNRoses.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEeeGMpM_Nk "Willie and the Hand Jive"]] by Johnny Otis.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkZyXl4-6nI "Live It Up"]] by Music/TedNugent.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33WhIZLeu-Y "Margarita"]] by Music/TheTravelingWilburys.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ISHYtccEs0 "Faith"]] by Music/GeorgeMichael, starting around 0:33.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBbZKZWfk4I "Desire"]] from ''Music/RattleAndHum'' by Music/{{U2}}
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpV2CnJUa0E "Get Me to the World on Time"]] by The Electric Prunes, at various points, mainly towards the end.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHd8Uo9j0oM "Party at the Leper Colony"]] from ''Music/PoodleHat'' by Music/WeirdAlYankovic
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdJktUVlA4I "Opening Band"]] by Paul and Storm
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUYgiUqOVaQ "Golden Thing"]] by Throwing Muses
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU1stt0okdM "Rudie Can't Fail"]] from ''Music/LondonCalling'' by Music/TheClash
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CkF60_n8RY "Car Jamming"]] from ''Combat Rock'', also by The Clash
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0mRfECsHrc "1969"]] from ''[[Music/TheStoogesAlbum The Stooges]]'' by Music/TheStooges
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=071xj_Y0vy0 "Hare Krishna"]] by Music/HuskerDu (a faster version than most).
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXxmIcsmpnQ "Panic In Detroit"]] from ''Music/AladdinSane'' by Music/DavidBowie
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd2clb5T8JA "Golden Years"]] from ''Music/StationToStation'' by David Bowie (rhythm guitar and handclaps; the other instruments keep a four-on-the-floor beat)
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nNF9aQ_BhE "The Heart's Filthy Lesson"]] from ''Music/{{Outside}}'' by David Bowie has the bass ''almost'' do it, which, along with the drums, creates the illusion of it.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjY_uSSncQw "Love Is A Battlefield"]] by Music/PatBenatar
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bf3S6VpCZE "Baby Don't You Do It"]] by Music/MarvinGaye, CoveredUp by Music/TheBand
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9zMo-BPADU "Bad Blood"]] by Music/NeilSedaka
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl9bvuAV-Ao "Magic Bus"]] by Music/TheWho
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhQh0O2dZI8 "Deathwish"]] from ''Music/ReggattaDeBlanc'' by Music/ThePolice during the verses presents a variation: the Bo Diddley Beat is actually held perfectly by Sting's bass, while Stewart Copeland introduces a slight delay in the rhythm, playing the last kick of every measure a quarter note after Sting hits the BA-dump.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-4vMQOOiUY "New York Groove"]] by Hello, CoveredUp by [[Music/{{KISS}} Ace Frehley]]
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svpeH3fC6Ik "Hey Little Girl"]] by Dee Clark
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gW6WcwNirk "Call Me"]] by Go West has a fairly modified version, but it comes through a little bit on the chorus.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD5MRBzY1uM "If It's Lovin' That You Want"]] by Music/{{Rihanna}}
* "Mission Accomplished (Because You Gotta Have Faith)" by Todd Snider
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZZFqrvBflo "Super Taranta,"]] by Music/GogolBordello, around 20 seconds in.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7-EEGiABBU "Aqualung"]] from ''[[Music/AqualungJethroTullAlbum Aqualung]]'' by Music/JethroTull (off and on starting around 2:25)
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5XmXtykTgo "Pilgrim"]] by Arch Enemy, during the choruses.
* "Bo Diddley Is Jesus" by Music/TheJesusAndMaryChain.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHPQHxDo1qE "Mantra Slider"]] by The Soundtrack Of Our Lives.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOaQAMC17GQ "No One to Run With"]] by The Allman Brothers.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyBQKaaDWTs "Phat Planet"]] by Leftfield uses a simplified but recognizable version.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PIi1LWkfDE "How Soon Is Now?"]] by Music/TheSmiths represents a variation: the Bo Diddley Beat is played by Johnny Marr's tremolo-heavy EpicRiff against Mike Joyce's steady four-on-the-floor beat.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoeEqEPc_QI "The Glenorchy Bunyip"]] by Augie March uses a variation at the start.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4gOnqvGuB4 "I Couldn't Give It to You"]] by Hunters and Collectors
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0DztRhIeM0 "Baby's Going Underground"]] by Helium
* "Freedom", by Tyrone Wells
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPuqA94-qCo "Faster"]] by Matt Nathanson
* "Dice Man" by Music/{{The Fall|Band}}
* "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu74Ws3qN7s Sweet Dreams"]] by Music/ToriAmos from ''Music/TalesOfALibrarian''.
* "Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life)" by Music/PamTillis
* "Big Guitar" by Blackhawk
* [[http://www.broadjam.com/artists/songs.php?artistID=94463&mediaID=595790 The Combustible Trio]] gives us a Jazzier version on tracks like "Afro-Saxon."
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjCanG6Jmpo "Song for Chesh"]] by Music/FatboySlim (starting at 20 seconds in).
* The second verse of "This Time" by Music/SawyerBrown.
* "We Don't Need No Colour Code" by Steve Taylor
* "[[{{Pun}} Hole Hearted]]" from the [[NonindicativeName remarkably bland]] group [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-h4A7bF8wQ Extreme]] provides a periodic example, with the beat being used as a turnaround at the end of various phrases.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0obFM380J20 "A Mind With A Heart Of It's Own"]] by Music/TomPetty, off of ''Full Moon Fever".
* "She Has Funny Cars" by Music/JeffersonAirplane from ''Music/SurrealisticPillow'' uses it.
* "Move On Up" by Music/PrimalScream from ''Music/{{Screamadelica}}'' uses it.
* "Nightgown of the Sullen Moon" and "Hypnotist of Ladies" by Music/TheyMightBeGiants.
* "Break Even" by Music/GuidedByVoices from ''The Grand Hour'' EP.
* "Don't Go Home with Your Hard On" by Music/LeonardCohen from ''Death of a Ladies Man''.
* "I'm Sorry I Love You" by Music/TheMagneticFields from ''69 Love Songs''.
* "England's Finest" by Music/PopWillEatItself.
* "Anti-Pope" by Music/{{The Damned|Band}}. The claves and the bass play it during the percussion-heavy instrumental section.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csqyPCSXYQg "Blank Frank"]] by Music/BrianEno.
* The bass plays it in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_UYPu5RFXI "Iko Iko"]] by Dr. John.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGKmHf7jBhE "Dr. Looney's Remedy"]] by Music/ParachuteExpress.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt2a3WliLA4 "The Storm Won't Come"]] by Music/RichardThompson.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m9u4rp4afQ "Human Child"]] by Music/{{Belly|Band}}
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xZu2ws27_Q "Ruby Dear"]] by Music/TalkingHeads
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQmDUEv939A "Black Horse and a Cherry Tree"]] by Music/KTTunstall. The guitar plays it during all the verse instrumental breaks.
* The refrain (or the closest thing a dubstep song has to one) to "Right In" by Music/{{Skrillex}} consists of three thumping notes followed by someone singing "Right in!", on this beat.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LenzJ6IPJzQ "Three Orange Kisses from Kazan"]] by Music/TheThe.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx7WgybE0tU "Gotta Have You"]] by Eddie Rabbitt.
* [[https://youtu.be/_lAfQwmjdGU?si=Q2DL15zvn0wqB2UM "Invisible Things"]] by Lauv
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]
* "Born to Hand Jive" from ''Film/{{Grease}}'' (an obvious derivative of "Willie and the Hand Jive").
* In ''Theatre/WestSideStory'', the "clave" rhythm can be heard at the very beginning of "America" (Tempo di [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seis Seis]]).
* As does ''Theatre/InTheHeights'', for the opening and eponymous song.
* ''Theatre/PorgyAndBess'' has a similar rhythm going on in "Good Mornin', Sistuh!"
* "Ladies' Choice" from ''Theatre/{{Hairspray}}.''
* "Mean Green Mother From Outer Space" from ''Theatre/LittleShopOfHorrors'' uses it at the end of each verse during the semi-rap section. ("Don't talk to me about old King Kong...")
* "Me And My Town" from ''Theatre/AnyoneCanWhistle'' isn't really based on this rhythm, but slips into it for a cadence or two during the mambo-time call-and-response patter.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'''s rendition of the underground theme (e.g. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPJcOybiCKM the music in Hazy Maze Cave]]), played on the claves.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIWyZSbNYik Astro Man's stage music]] in ''VideoGame/MegaMan8''.
* The ''VideoGame/RhythmHeaven Megamix'' stage "Kitties!" is centered around this beat: The game supplies the first three notes, and the player character has to clap on the last two.
* In ''VideoGame/SnowboardKids 2'', the music that plays in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hEAwbXSZ80 Starlight Highway]] is an EDM piece that runs on this beat. It freely changes between the standard beat, the beat shifted forward by an eighth note, and the beat played backwards and then shifted forward by an eighth note.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbKBpGTn_6Y "It's time to shop!",]] the shop theme from ''VideoGame/DokaponKingdom''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* The theme song for ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'' has this beat.
* As does the theme for ''WesternAnimation/{{Bluey}}'', particularly noticeable in the second segment (after ''"Mum!"'').
* The theme song to the otherwise risible ''WesternAnimation/QuackPack''.
* Also the theme song to ''WesternAnimation/YoYogi''.
[[/folder]]
----