[Rhythm Play] A roundup of popular cup songs
Have you heard of “Cups,” which is hugely popular around the world, especially among younger generations?
It’s a game that originated from Anna Kendrick’s song “Cups.” The rules are very simple: you move a cup and clap your hands in time with the music.
For some reason, though, it’s oddly satisfying and addictive.
With a bit of practice, you’ll pick it up quickly.
Why not try playing along to your favorite songs, using the cup song list in this article as a reference?
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[Rhythm Play] Compilation of Popular Cup Songs (21–30)
Honnō-ji IncidentEgusupurōjon
The dance unit Explosions, featuring Machaaaki and Obara Yoshio—who are also members of Yoshimotozaka46—has a dance track called “Honnō-ji Incident.” The song is about the historical event everyone learns in school, the Honnō-ji Incident, and it was released on YouTube as part of the popular “Dancing Lessons Series.” Doing cups with this track would be fun, but the lyrics are so funny that there’s a high chance you’ll burst out laughing and mess up.
Still, if you keep your cool and make it to the end, that’s pretty cool, right?
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star is one of the nursery rhymes loved by children and is often sung as a lullaby.
The lyrics have lots of repetition, which makes it easy for kids to learn and sing—great, right? If your child is interested in cups but is still a bit young, why not try playing along with this song? Because the melody repeats, one rhythm pattern is all you need! Plus, the tempo is very slow, so they’re less likely to get flustered and make mistakes.
Once they get used to the cup moves with this song, try playing along to their favorite tunes next.
PolyrhythmPerfume
This is a Perfume song written by Yasutaka Nakata and used as the campaign song for “Recycle Mark is the ECO Mark.” Although it’s a love song, the lyrics about treasured people and feelings really resonate even when friends listen together.
When playing with cups, you could deliberately use a repeating rhythm pattern, or—taking a cue from the title—have two people tap out different rhythms, which is also fun.
You might include moves that only two people can do, like striking the cups together to make sounds.
Perfect for couples or close friends.
Do You Want to Build a Snowman?Kristen Anne Bell
Here is a cup song cover of an insert song from the movie Frozen.
It’s a high-quality performance that includes lines of dialogue and a short skit presented like a picture-story show.
Playing music with cups is wonderful, and enjoying music without being bound by form is truly lovely.
This song is the one where the protagonist, Anna, invites Elsa to “build a snowman.” The English lyrics are simple, so if you’d like to try a cup song while singing, definitely give it a go.
Under the Big Chestnut Tree
This song, “Under the Big Chestnut Tree,” is a children’s song often sung in autumn.
It’s popular with kids because they can enjoy hand games with it.
For cups beginners or younger children, why not start by playing with this short, easy-to-remember melody? Create one rhythm pattern over two measures and simply repeat it to play easily.
Even with a single rhythm pattern, you can raise the difficulty by speeding up the tempo or increasing the number of repetitions for the same motion, so siblings of different ages and parents and children can enjoy it together.