Hi UT!

Yes, I did imagine that.

(internal monologue for the incomparable Miss Simone.... one, two --starts tapping foot--, three, four) *song begins*

This still puts the hi-hat between 4 and 1, doesn't it?


And as I continue to listen to the song, her verses begin in a reliable pattern. *I* imagine that pattern to begin on the 1. Does that make sense to you too?

Yes, and I can't remember any other particular pop song that does this, puts heavy emphasis on the AND of the 4. There must be one though

I like that very much.

Stewart Copeland's backwards (ascending) tom fill, coming out of the chorus of Wrapped Around Your Finger, ends on an open hi-hat on the & of 4, which closes on the 1, where *nothing* happens-- because he's pushing that Reggae feel where *nothing* happens on the 1.

Close but no cigar: in Steve Miller's Swingtown there is always an open hi-hat on the & of 4, with the only snare hit in the measure on 4.

I would venture to say the *most common* place for an open hi-hat is on the & of 4, but it's usually a grace note for a bass drum.

There's got to be more examples where & of 4 is followed by *nothing* ...

Yeah this is an infuriating question, innit? There must be more songs that do this!

Yeah we grew up on open hi-hat on & of 4! I still remember the first song where I realised there was this interesting percussive sound that clamps off: "Who Loves You", the Four Seasons. For a long time I was like "what is that sound", until I finally saw someone play one on TV. Oh that's what does that!

1...2...3...AND:devil:

Miss Nina positively rocked.

Loved that clip, V. Thanks.

pretty cool how we are conditioned, and then come across something that defies one little assumption, and we get taken aback... and if you can't figure it out, it can make you twitch.
this one gets firmly lodged in my heid every time because it doesn't gratify with an octave drop where it should. except sometimes it does.


I never even considered whether the drums had anything to do wit it.... but now that you guys are talking about it, I'm wondering if they are wonky too. All I know is that if I try to tap my foot to it, I look like I've got something in my shoe.

bonus: