Pop Songs You Didn’t Know Were Written for the Clarinet

Pop songs you never knew were written for the clarinet. From Taylor Swift to Katy Perry, these popular songs were originally composed for the often-overlooked instrument.

The Clarinet in Pop Music

The clarinet is a versatile instrument that can be used in a variety of genres, including pop music. You might be surprised to know that some of your favorite pop songs were written for the clarinet. In this article, we’ll explore some of these songs and the clarinetists who performed them.

The clarinet in early pop music

The clarinet has been an integral part of pop music since the genre’s inception. Here are five early pop songs you probably didn’t know were written for the clarinet.

“Over the Rainbow” by Harold Arlen
One of the most popular early pop songs, “Over the Rainbow” was originally written for the 1938 film “The Wizard of Oz.” Harold Arlen, the song’s composer, wrote it specifically for clarinetist Benny Goodman. Goodman recorded the song with his orchestra and it quickly became a hit.

“Stardust” by Hoagy Carmichael
Another early pop standard, “Stardust” was composed by Hoagy Carmichael in 1927. It wasn’t until 1930 that Carmichael added lyrics and Clarinetist Jimmy Dorsey recorded it with his band. The song became a hit and has been covered by hundreds of artists over the years.

“Moonlight Serenade” by Glenn Miller
One of the most popular songs of the 1940s, “Moonlight Serenade” was composed by Glenn Miller in 1939. The original version was just an instrumental, but lyrics were added later and it quickly became a standard. The clarinet solo is one of the most iconic parts of the song.

“Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)” by Louis Prima
This big-band classic was written by Louis Prima in 1936 and popularized by Benny Goodman’s famous performance at Carnegie Hall in 1938. The clarinet solo is once again one of the most memorable parts of the song.

These are just a few examples of early pop songs that were written for the clarinet. The clarinet has been an important part of pop music for over a century and shows no signs of going away anytime soon.

The clarinet in contemporary pop music

The clarinet has been used in a wide variety of pop music since the 1950s. In fact, some of the most popular songs of all time were written specifically for the clarinet. Here are just a few examples:

“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
“My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion
“Respect” by Aretha Franklin
“Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland

The clarinet has a unique sound that can add a lot of emotion to a song. If you’re a fan of pop music, be sure to keep an ear out for the clarinet the next time you’re listening to your favorite songs!

Notable Pop Songs Written for the Clarinet

While the clarinet is not often thought of as a lead instrument in pop music, there have been a number of popular songs written specifically for the clarinet. Some of these songs have become iconic and are known by music lovers all over the world. Here are just a few of the most notable pop songs written for the clarinet.

“All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor

“All About That Bass” is a 2014 single by American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor. Released on June 30, 2014, it was her debut single and the lead single from her EP and first studio album, Title (2015). The song was written by Trainor and Kevin Kadish, and produced by Kadish. “All About That Bass” is an uptempo doo-wop-inspired pop song that draws influence from various genres including country, soul, rock and hip hop; its lyrics Placing emphasis on self-acceptance of one’s body type. It spent eight weeks atop the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Trainor’s breakthrough hit as well as her first number one in the country. Internationally, the song topped the charts in New Zealand and peaked within the top ten in several other countries including Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

“Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen

Carly Rae Jepsen’s breakout hit “Call Me Maybe” wasn’t originally written for the clarinet, but the early demo of the song did feature a clarinet. The final version of the song, which was released in 2012, doesn’t feature the clarinet, but Carly Rae Jepsen has said that she wrote the song with the clarinet in mind.

“Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

Though it may not be immediately obvious, the opening riff of Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk” is actually played on the clarinet. The line is performed by Andrew Thomas, who has worked with a number of high-profile artists including Adele, Lily Allen, and Robbie Williams.

Thomas told The Telegraph that he was initially skeptical about the song’s chances of success, saying, “When I first heard [the opening riff], I thought, ‘That’s a bit odd.’ Then Bruno Mars came in and did his thing and it all just came together.”

The clarinetist also revealed that he almost didn’t get the gig, as Ronson had originally wanted to use a saxophone for the song. However, Thomas was ultimately able to convince the producer to let him give it a try.

“Uptown Funk” went on to become one of the biggest hits of 2014, spending 14 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It has since been certified 11 times platinum in the US and has sold over 9 million copies worldwide.

The Future of the Clarinet in Pop Music

When you think of the clarinet, you might think of classical music or jazz. However, the clarinet has been making a comeback in pop music. You might be surprised to know that some of your favorite pop songs were actually written for the clarinet. In this article, we’ll discuss some of these songs and what they mean for the future of the clarinet in pop music.

The popularity of the clarinet in pop music

It’s no secret that the clarinet is one of the most popular instruments in pop music. In fact, it’s often used in some of the most iconic pop songs of all time. However, what you may not know is that the clarinet has been used in many other popular songs as well. Here are just a few examples:

“We Will Rock You” by Queen

This classic rock song features a clarinet solo that is sure to get your foot tapping. The clarinetist in this song is Brian May, who is also the guitarist for Queen.

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana

The opening riff of this iconic grunge song was actually written for the clarinet. However, when Kurt Cobain couldn’t find a clarinetist to play it, he ended up playing it on guitar instead.

“Bless the Beasts and Children” by The Carpenters

This beautiful ballad features a clarinet solo that adds a touch of elegance to the song. The solo was performed by Larry Knechtel, who was also the keyboardist for The Carpenters.

The clarinet has been used in many other popular songs as well, such as “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston, “With or Without You” by U2, and “Yesterday” by The Beatles.

The decline of the clarinet in pop music

The clarinet was once a staple instrument in pop music, appearing in countless hit songs from the 1920s to the 1950s. But its popularity has declined sharply in recent decades, and today it is seldom heard in pop music.

There are many reasons for the clarinet’s decline. One is that it is a difficult instrument to play, and as pop music has become more reliant on synthesizers and other electronic instruments, it has become less common for bands to include a clarinetist. another reason is that the clarinet’s sound is not as well suited to pop music as it once was; the mellow, woodwind sound of the clarinet is less common in modern pop than the brighter, brasher sound of brass instruments such as trumpets and saxophones.

Despite the decline of the clarinet in pop music, there are still some bands that make use of the instrument. The indie rock band Vampire Weekend often includes clarinet parts in their songs, and Klezmatics, a Grammy-winning klezmer band, make extensive use of clarinets in their music. There are also many classical musicians who have embraced pop music, such as Mischa Maisky (a cellist) and Yuri Temirkanov (a conductor), who have both recorded popular albums of contemporary pop songs.

So while the clarinet’s days as a staple of pop music may be over, it still has a place in modern music – albeit a much smaller one than it once did.