Thinking About Drum Solos

"In The Air Tonight" is an awesome song by Phil Collins from way back in 1981. It was the first song that he released during his solo career, and it quite possibly his best and most well-known song. Eminem sung about it in his song "Stan". Stewie Griffin sung it on "The Family Guy". And even Mike Tyson sung it in "The Hangover". Like I said...it is an awesome song.

On to the point of this posting. I work with 10-12 other people and am currently on the mid-watch rotation, working 6PM to 6AM. During these mid-watch rotations, we like to have a little fun and run a more relaxed watch floor. Usually, someone will bring in their iPod and play DJ for the night. On this particular night, there was a block of 1980s music. Phil Collins just happened to be in that block of music.

Shortly before Phil Collins came on, I had to go think on the thinking chair. Halfway through my thinking process, I was abruptly interrupted by a co-worker. He proceeded to utter the phrase that every man dreads hearing: "Dude, you'll never believe what you just missed."

You see, while I was gone, "In The Air Tonight" began playing through the speakers. At the time of the song, there were 7 people sitting in the office, most of which were singing along quietly to themselves. I was not one of these 7 people. If I had been, there would be no quiet singing.

Like I said, this is an awesome song. But, something happens at the 3:41 mark. Something amazing. Something magical. There is a drum solo that is quite short (maybe 3-4 seconds) and not all that impressive in and of itself. But, the build-up before the solo, and the timing of the solo, make this a drum solo unlike any other. It is a drum solo that causes the likes of drummers Neal Peart (of the band "Rush") or Rick Allen (the one-armed drummer from the band "Def Leppard") to stand up and salute. Or weep. Or weep while saluting.

I mentioned before that most of the 7 people on the watch floor were quietly singing the song to themselves. All that changed 3 minutes and 41 seconds into the song. At this precise moment, as if by some telepathic and unplanned act of God, everyone looked up from their work and performed a drum solo so perfect, so in-unison, that it could not be reproduced, even if it were pre-planned and rehearsed. And, not only did everyone perform this drum solo to the highest standards of Phil Collins, everyone made the sound effects to go along with their awesome solos. Do-do, do-do, do-do, do-do, do, do. Just like that. Like I said, it was perfect.

And...I wasn't there.

I had to hear about it second-hand, while I was sitting in my thinking chair...thinking.