Pedro Martins, JD Beck, Thundercat Isn’t It Strange (2023)
A man embarks on a Hawaiian vacation, and upon his plane's arrival, he disembarks to the sound of drums. Initially, he finds it quite enjoyable. He attends a Lūʻau and experiences the customary rhythmic drumming. During his lunch, the drums continue to serenade him, and even as he lounges at the beach, the drumming persists. His attempt to get some rest proves futile due to the incessant drumming. This percussive saga persists for four days, leaving the man sleep-deprived and desperate. Finally, exhausted from a sleepless week, he heads down to the hotel's front desk, pleading with the manager to put an end to the relentless drumming. The hotel manager responds with a smirk: "No, Sir, the drums mustn't cease. You don't want the drums to stop." Perplexed, the man asks: "Why not?" With a mischievous grin, the manager replies: "Because when the drums stop… the bass solo begins!"—Bass player jokes are a thing in the music world. Because, despite their crucial role, they often take a backseat to lead singers and guitarists. Actually, only a handful of bassists reach the spotlight, often doing so when they begin to sing. Examples include Paul McCartney, Kim Gordon and most recently Thundercat. As these artists embrace singing, their bass talent tends to be pushed into the background. In light of this, the bass jam in today’s song's second half is a reminder that Thundercat is, above all, an exceptional bassist, a distinction acknowledged by Rolling Stone Magazine, which ranks him among the top 50 bass players in music history.
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