Jess Bowen Hears Rage Against The Machine For The First Time

Drumeo

2 Apr 202413:18

Summary

TLDRIn this engaging video transcript, Jess Bowen, the drummer of The Somerset, candidly shares her initial apprehension about playing a song she's never heard before. Despite her nervousness, Jess dives into the challenge and provides an authentic, one-take performance of 'Bulls on Parade' by Rage Against the Machine. Her experience highlights the importance of adaptability and the unique interpretations that can arise from such spontaneous musical endeavors. Jess's journey from anxiety to accomplishment serves as an inspiring reminder of the power of embracing the unknown in creative expression.

Takeaways

🎵 Jess Bowen is the drummer for the band The Somerset and plays with various artists including Jax Lights and Alice Glass.
🥁 Jess expresses nervousness about playing a song they've never heard before, which is a challenge in the format of the video.
🎶 The video format involves drummers creating their own parts for songs they haven't heard, and then comparing their versions to the original.
👍 Jess enjoys the format and finds it inspiring, having seen videos of Chad Smith and Mega Death's performance of Mr. Brightside.
🤯 Jess is excited yet anxious about the challenge, doubting their ability to play a song on the spot but is encouraged by the host.
🎵 The song Jess is asked to play is 'Bulls on Parade' by Rage Against the Machine, which Jess has never heard before.
🥁 Jess plays the song by feeling the rhythm and accents, without knowing the structure or specific parts of the song.
🎶 Jess struggles with identifying the different sections of the song like verses and choruses but trusts their instincts to find the right beats.
👏 After the performance, Jess feels they did something unique and authentic, even if it wasn't perfect.
🎥 The video ends with Jess expressing gratitude for the experience, despite the initial fear and the unknown nature of the song.
🌟 The key message is about embracing challenges, being authentic in one's performance, and the uniqueness of individual interpretations of music.

Q & A

Who is the drummer interviewed in the script?
-Jess Bowen is the drummer interviewed in the script.
What band does Jess Bowen play for?
-Jess Bowen plays for a band called The Somerset.
In addition to The Somerset, with which artists does Jess Bowen collaborate?
-Jess Bowen collaborates with artists such as Jax, 303 Alice Glass, and other unnamed individuals.
What type of music styles scare Jess Bowen?
-Styles of music that involve breakdowns with double bass or super heavy metal music scare Jess Bowen.
What was Jess Bowen's initial reaction to the format of the session?
-Jess Bowen initially felt nervous and doubted her ability to play a song she had never heard before.
How did Jess Bowen feel after her performance?
-After her performance, Jess Bowen felt that it was fun and exciting, despite her initial nervousness.
Which song was played during the session and what is its significance?
-The song played during the session was 'Bulls on Parade' by Rage Against the Machine, which has over 77 million views on YouTube and features Brad Wilk on drums.
What was Jess Bowen's strategy while playing the song?
-Jess Bowen tried to follow the guitar accents and felt her way through the song, attempting to identify the different parts and dynamics.
How did the interviewee describe the process of playing a song they've never heard before?
-The interviewee described the process as challenging due to not knowing the song's structure and struggling to find the right moments to play or stay silent.
What was Jess Bowen's final verdict on her performance?
-Jess Bowen decided to stick with her first take, considering it the most honest and authentic version she could provide.
What was the overall message Jess Bowen wanted to convey to the viewers?
-Jess Bowen wanted to convey that despite her initial fear and not knowing the song, she had fun and gave an honest one-take performance.

Outlines

00:00

🥁 Jess Bowen's Initial Reaction and Approach

Jess Bowen, the drummer of The Somerset, expresses initial nervousness about playing a song he has never heard before. He admits he is not the type of drummer who can instantly play along to a song. Despite his apprehension, he is excited to be part of the challenge. Jess also mentions playing with other artists like Jax, 303 Alice Glass, and others, highlighting his enjoyment of playing the drums and his style of playing with freedom and energy. The conversation touches on the format of the challenge, which involves playing a song without prior knowledge and then comparing the drummer's version to the original. Jess is intrigued by the format and is eager to see how his version compares to the original song, despite his fears of tackling heavy and complex music styles.

05:01

🎶 First Impressions and the Challenge Process

In this paragraph, Jess Bowen shares his experience of participating in the challenge. After hearing the song 'Bulls on Parade' by Rage Against the Machine for the first time, he reflects on his one-take performance. Jess describes his approach to playing along with the song, focusing on feeling the rhythm and following the guitar accents. He acknowledges the difficulty of identifying song parts without prior knowledge but manages to create an authentic version. Jess's performance receives positive feedback, and he expresses satisfaction with his one-take, despite not having heard the song before. The conversation also includes a humorous exchange about Mike SLE's contribution to Jess's stress and the reveal of the song's original drummer, Brad Wilk.

10:02

🎵 Reflecting on the Performance and Song Structure

Jess Bowen discusses his thoughts after playing the song, acknowledging that he made the task more difficult for himself by overcomplicating the drum part. He reflects on the straightforward nature of the song and the challenge of knowing when to play through or drop out during unknown parts of the song. Jess compares his experience to that of another drummer, Nick Colin, who played a different song and realized he could have chosen not to play during certain sections. The conversation emphasizes the uniqueness of each drummer's interpretation and the value of capturing an honest take on the song. Jess concludes by expressing his enjoyment of the challenge, despite the initial fear and his lack of familiarity with the song, and thanks the audience for watching.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡drummer

A drummer is a musician who creates music using drums and other percussion instruments. In the context of the video, the drummer, Jess Bowen, is the main character who is known for playing with the band The Somerset and other artists. The video revolves around her experience of playing a song she has never heard before, showcasing her skills and adaptability as a drummer.

💡adaptability

Adaptability refers to the ability of an individual to adjust to new conditions or situations. In the video, Jess Bowen's adaptability is highlighted when she is challenged to play a song she has never heard before, demonstrating her capacity to quickly learn and perform in an unfamiliar context.

💡performance

A performance is an act of presenting a form of art, such as music, in front of an audience. In the video, Jess Bowen's performance is central to the narrative as she is asked to perform a song she has not previously encountered, and the video documents her reaction and the outcome of her performance.

💡authenticity

Authenticity refers to the quality of being genuine, true, or original. In the video, the concept of authenticity is emphasized when discussing the drummer's one-take performance, which is meant to capture an honest and unfiltered interpretation of the song.

💡challenge

A challenge is a difficult task or problem that tests someone's abilities or resources. In the video, the challenge is presented to Jess Bowen in the form of playing a song she has never heard, which tests her skills as a drummer and her ability to adapt quickly.

💡musical styles

Musical styles refer to the distinctive features and characteristics of a type of music, which can include elements such as rhythm, melody, and harmony. In the video, Jess Bowen mentions her preference for certain musical styles and her apprehension towards playing heavy or complex genres like metal, which involves double bass and breakdowns.

💡creativity

Creativity is the use of imagination or original ideas to create something new or to find new methods of doing or thinking about something. In the video, creativity is evident in Jess Bowen's approach to playing the song, as she improvises and comes up with her own drum part based on her first listen of the track.

💡nervousness

Nervousness is a feeling of anxiety or apprehension typically caused by anticipation of a stressful event or uncertainty about a situation. In the video, Jess Bowen admits to feeling nervous about the challenge of playing a song she has never heard before, which illustrates the pressure and expectations she faces during the performance.

💡practice

Practice refers to the act of repeatedly doing something to improve one's skill or proficiency in it. In the video, the concept of practice is contrasted with the spontaneous nature of the challenge, as Jess Bowen is asked to perform without the benefit of practice, highlighting the importance of instinct and natural talent.

💡Rage Against the Machine

Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band known for their revolutionary music and political activism. In the video, the band is relevant because their song 'Bulls on Parade' is the track that Jess Bowen has to play without having heard it before, which becomes a central point of the video.

💡YouTube view count

YouTube view count refers to the number of times a video has been viewed on the YouTube platform. In the video, the mention of the view count for 'Bulls on Parade' by Rage Against the Machine underscores the popularity and significance of the song, adding to the pressure Jess Bowen feels in performing it.

Highlights

Jess Bowen, the drummer of The Somerset, expresses nervousness about playing a song he has never heard before.

Jess Bowen plays drums for various artists including Jax Lights 303 and Alice Glass, enjoying the fun and energetic aspect of drumming.

Jess is excited about the challenge of creating a drum part for a song he has never heard, showcasing his adaptability as a musician.

The format of the session involves giving drummers a song they haven't heard, allowing them freedom to create their own part.

Jess expresses admiration for Chad Smith and Mega Death's drummer, indicating their performances inspired him.

Despite initial apprehension, Jess believes he will do great, reflecting a common response among drummers in similar situations.

The unique approach of removing the original drums allows for a fresh interpretation, emphasizing creativity and individual style.

Jess's first attempt at playing the song is described as fun and authentic, highlighting the value of honest musical expression.

After playing the song, Jess discusses the challenges of identifying different parts without prior knowledge of the song structure.

Jess's one-take performance is praised for its authenticity and ability to capture the essence of the song in an immediate and raw manner.

The song Jess played is revealed to be 'Bulls on Parade' by Rage Against the Machine, with Brad Wilk on drums.

Jess's surprise at not knowing the song, which has 77 million views on YouTube, shows the vast range of musical experiences.

Listening to the original version of 'Bulls on Parade' with drums, Jess appreciates the straightforwardness and power of the original drum part.

Jess acknowledges the complexity he added to his performance, recognizing that sometimes simplicity is more effective.

The conversation touches on the subjectivity of music interpretation, with different drummers bringing unique styles to the same song.

Jess's experience serves as a reminder that even professional musicians can face challenges and learn from them.

The session concludes with Jess expressing gratitude for the opportunity to participate and share his one-take performance with the audience.