Rural Dictionary

doo wop

(also "do wop")

A form of popular music, primarily but not exclusively the domain of black performers, which achieved prominence in the 1950s. Its most prominent element is close, multipart vocal harmonies, sometimes rendered accapella. The term "doo wop" is typical of the the nonsense syllables often used as a chorus.

"The Great Pretender" by the Platters is probably the best known example of Doo Wop music.

by balbulican August 3, 2004

109👍 38👎

doo wop

To skip happily from one location to another.

Courtney was doo-wooping her happy ass to class.

by Megan October 24, 2004

29👍 53👎

Doo-Wop

Doo-Wop is a style of vocal music. It is a subcategory of vocal group harmony that contains certain musical qualities such as group harmony, a wide range of vocal parts, nonsense syllables, a simple beat, light instrumentation, and simple music and lyrics. It can also be sung acapella. In the beginning, the vocal groups were mainly black performers, then white groups came into prominence. Most music in this category started in the early 1950s, and into the early 1960s. The term Doo-Wop didn't exist in a dictionary until 1972. It was spelled doo wap in 1969, doo-wop in 1972, do-wop in 1972, doowhop in 1974, doowop in 1977, and doo-wop thereafter. In all actuality, the term was used in 1961 in the Chicago Defender. Referring to "Blue Moon", by the Marcels, an article by Chuck Davis told of "a real doo-wop, like those of many years ago, is making the scene but big in Chi-town...." It just took the dictionaries eight years to catch up.

One of the best examples of "Doo-Wop" is "Come Go With Me" by the Del Vikings from 1956

by Gary R. Del Carlo June 16, 2006

61👍 21👎