Can drums convey emotion?
Posted by: JamieL_v2 on 30 September 2009
Can drums convey emotion?
You can not use key, melody, only tempo and percussive effects.
I do think that the drums contribute to the feel of the band, and the songs, but I have only ever found one piece of music where the drums trigger a purely emotional response, rather one of detail of cleverness.
I play drums, and do not regard them as a musical instrument, but a purely percussive instrument. That said I do agree with Phil Collins that 'An average band with a good drummer will sound better than a good band with a poor drummer.'
The one piece of drumming that does trigger an emotional response, and well as one of awe, is by Pat Mastelotto at end of 'Level Five' (after Adrian Belew's solo), by King Crimson from the album 'The Power to Believe'. He is using triggers/electronic effects, but the playing is purely percussive, and I find it quite unnerving, indeed frightening.
As a contrast to this, I am just listening to one of my favourite pieces of drumming, Bill Bruford's interplay with Chris Squire at the start of 'Heart of the Sunrise', by Yes, from Fragile. The drumming and bass playing is fantastic, but it only gains emotion for me when Rick Wakeman brings in the strings (mellotron).
This is of course a very subjective question, as one piece of music can convey great emotion to some listens and leave others dead.
Are there any pieces of drumming that anyone here find emotional?
Posted on: 04 October 2009 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
The man is a plonker at times.
You're confusing him with Macca
- here he is plonking away with a great drummer sitting next to him. I stand by my comment that Ringo is the best drummer/singer I've ever heard.
Fantastic post Fred - thanks.
Other great drummers (IMHO) include Philip John (Jon) Hiseman, Carl Frederick Kendall Palmer, David James Mattacks and Aynsley Thomas Dunbar, but none of them did much singing as far as I can recall.
Here is a track with Carl on drums.
Only drummer, other than Ringo, I can think of who sang for the band was Dave Clark, but I'm sure there were others.
Posted on: 04 October 2009 by Stephen Tate
One of the greatest drumming/drummer solo i ever heard once, was Stevie Wonder!
This guy is truely amazing.
Posted on: 04 October 2009 by The Strat (Fender)
Answer to the opening post - absolutely yes. A couple of examples - listen to the culmination of Beethoven VII - as the trumpets unleash that roaring triple fortissimo what the kettle drums
do is just as fundamental to the emotion that is being unveiled. Or on the Who's Quadrophenia when it goes from Dr Jimmy into the Rock - there is an almost earth shattering role from Keith Moon - if that doesn't articulate emotion then nothing does.
Other drummers who sing - Don Henley.
Fender (Strat)
Posted on: 04 October 2009 by JamieL_v2
I must add that I am a huge fan of Ringo Starr, such great feel, and no showing off.
Fred I do know what you mean about melody is jazz solos, Art Blakey in 'Well You Needen't' on Monks' Music does exactly what you say.
Part of the title of this thread was to get discussion going, but part was to see when drums to inspire emotion as well as awe.
Also, another drummer who sings, Stewart Copland, very occationally lead vocals, lots of backing vocals. Same too for Roger Taylor in Queen (I'm In Love With My Car, etc.)
Posted on: 04 October 2009 by Guido Fawkes
Robert Wyatt was, of course, a singing drummer in his Soft Machine days. John Marshall, another Softs drummer, who didn't sing AFAIK, but was a mighty fine drummer.
I do think the best drummers convey emotion - Hiseman and Palmer play with great emotion and no little technical ability.
Bill Bruford is another fine example.
Posted on: 04 October 2009 by fred simon
One of the best drummers, one of the best singers, and one of the best singing drummers: Levon Helm
All best,
Fred
Posted on: 04 October 2009 by John M
Other singing drummers you may not have thought of - perhaps for a very good reason...but a few real gems too -
Buddy Miles (Them Changes!!!!!)
Dennis Wilson
Don Brewer, Grand Funk Railroad
Speedy Keene - Thunderclap Newman
Karen Carpenter
Mickey Dolenz
Peter Criss (Beth!!!!!)
Jimmy Marinos - The Romantics (What I Like About You)
Gil Moore - Triumph
Respect! Its damn hard to do!
Posted on: 05 October 2009 by Analogue
quote:
Originally posted by ROTF:
Robert Wyatt was, of course, a singing drummer in his Soft Machine days. John Marshall, another Softs drummer, who didn't sing AFAIK, but was a mighty fine drummer.
I do think the best drummers convey emotion - Hiseman and Palmer play with great emotion and no little technical ability.
Bill Bruford is another fine example.
I second that, cousin John is a very good drummer.
Chris N
Posted on: 05 October 2009 by John M
quote:
Originally posted by munch:
quote:
Originally posted by John M:
Other singing drummers you may not have thought of - perhaps for a very good reason...but a few real gems too -
Buddy Miles (Them Changes!!!!!)
Dennis Wilson
Don Brewer, Grand Funk Railroad
Speedy Keene - Thunderclap Newman
Karen Carpenter
Mickey Dolenz
Peter Criss (Beth!!!!!)
Jimmy Marinos - The Romantics (What I Like About You)
Gil Moore - Triumph
Respect! Its damn hard to do!
Don H from the Eagles makes it look easy.
Stu
Makes my neck hurt. Either that or I whack the mic on the cross stick. Henley was mentioned before - and he does make it look easy - but he does not try much else besides keeping the beat.
Posted on: 05 October 2009 by fred simon
quote:
Originally posted by John M:
Other singing drummers ...
Karen Carpenter
A really good drummer, and one of the greatest singers.
Posted on: 05 October 2009 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by John M:
Speedy Keene - Thunderclap Newman
Excellent call - the late John David Percy Keen a far better drummer/singer/songwriter than his brother, Roy, is/was (hopefully) a footballer manager.
Posted on: 05 October 2009 by --duncan--
quote:
Originally posted by munch:
The classic drum intro to In the air tonight by PC will always carry loads of emotion.
It provokes a gag reflex in me, does that counts as emotion?
fred, great Ringo post!
The (untuned) percussion in Mahler 6th symphony forth movement is horrifying.
duncan
Posted on: 05 October 2009 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by djc:
quote:
Originally posted by munch:
The classic drum intro to In the air tonight by PC will always carry loads of emotion.
It provokes a gag reflex in me, does that counts as emotion?
duncan
Has that effect on me too - surely the worst record in the history of recording (and that includes the appalling
My Way which previously held the crown) - give me Ringo any day.
Posted on: 05 October 2009 by shocked
Aynsley Dunbar drumming on Lou Reed's "Berlin;" the last two songs on the first side: "How do you think it feels" and "Oh, Jim" convey emotion and tension at the highest levels, especially the drum opening on "Oh, Jim."
It never fails to kill me...
Posted on: 06 October 2009 by BigH47
No one's mentioned Tottenham's finest!
Posted on: 06 October 2009 by larry h
Soupy Sales ?
Here is a very good drummer expressing emotion..
linkPosted on: 06 October 2009 by John M
quote:
Originally posted by munch:
quote:
Originally posted by shocked:
Aynsley Dunbar drumming on Lou Reed's "Berlin;" the last two songs on the first side: "How do you think it feels" and "Oh, Jim" convey emotion and tension at the highest levels, especially the drum opening on "Oh, Jim."
It never fails to kill me...
You can only be killed once
Anything by this man does it for me.
I am with you on that Stuart. I even used to own a clear set of Fibes when I was younger because I just wanted to be HIM! The drumming on Spectrum is as musical as any guitar, keys or bass. Also I was listening to Close to the Edge last night and Bruford's drumming on that definitely has an emotive melody line. Not just emphasis and percussion.
Posted on: 06 October 2009 by Guido Fawkes
Jim Gordon deserves a mention
Posted on: 06 October 2009 by larry h
Posted on: 07 October 2009 by BigH47
quote:
Jim Gordon deserves a mention
ROTF
Did not know anything about this tragic man. I thought when you posted he would be HMHB's drummer.
Posted on: 07 October 2009 by Guido Fawkes
I first heard JG on Zappa's records and he was the Derek and the Dominoes drummer, but now he's in a prison for murdering his mother, which happened while he was under the influence. He was very talented, now he is very sad.
In happier times he played on thisPosted on: 07 October 2009 by Guido Fawkes
Paul Wright used to play drums for HMHB, you may remember him from indie band Attempted Moustache, he was later replaced by Carl Alty and then by Carl Henry, but HMHB are not really renowned for their drummers.
Posted on: 08 October 2009 by Giules Felgate
When I read the topic header I mmediately thought of this quote from Gary Mulholland's Fear of Music - The 261 Greatest Albums since Punk and Disco, describing Japan's Tin Drum album:
"I know saying your life is incomplete until you've experienced Steve Jansen's drum break on 'Visions of China' seems really sad and anal, but...Your life is incomplete until you've experienced Steve Jansen's drum break on 'Visions of China'."
And its true, if you want to hear "emotional" drums, give it a listen...
regards,
Giles
Posted on: 09 October 2009 by Jet Johnson
....Another vote for Billy Cobham here but let's not forget the newer maestros of whom Keith Carlock (known best for his work with Steely Dan) is a prime example ...stunning technique yet able to "swing" properly ....live he absolutely nails the most demanding material that Becker and Fagen can throw at him!
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Posted on: 17 October 2009 by JamieL_v2
Did anyone hear Dan Magnusson with Seasick Steve on Jools Holland last night? WOW!
I could hear a lot of kind of old blues influences John Bonham had (In My Time of Dying).
I was blow away by his playing.
