The Subtle Genius of Mick Fleetwood
How a Gentle Touch Makes "Dreams" Better
We tend to hear guitar solos, soaring choruses, and over-the-top drumrolls.
But sometimes the gentle, subtle touch can add so much to a song.
Mick Fleetwood took that approach to “Dreams” in 1976. The beautifully written Stevie Nicks song was no doubt going to be a gem, but Mick’s drums help to truly make it a classic.
The song begins with a quick drumroll, which is unusual, before instantly settling into a hypnotic beat that perfectly matches the ethereal vibe of the song. As Stevie sings “and the heartbeat drives you mad…”, Mick subtly changes the sound of the beat slightly to mimic a human heartbeat for just a few bars, before returning to the same groove.
The drumroll that opened the song brings us into the chorus but with an extra beat before the cymbals crash, creating delayed gratification and adding urgency to the chorus when it arrives. Right after Stevie sings “Thunder only happens when it’s raining…”, Mick adds a longer drum fill that feels like a mid-song thunderstorm rolling in. And then… back to that hypnotizing rhythm.
This gentle approach continues for the entire song, taking an already great piece of music and layering in so much texture and emotional resonance. He varies things up from time to time, and over the course of the song manages to play the entire kit with nuanced touches. But he always comes back to that hypnotic rhythm.
At no point do you really stop and think of “Dreams” as being a “drum song”. This isn’t “Baba O’Riley” or “In The Air Tonight” where the drums define the song. “Dreams” is a dish at a 5-star restaurant and the drums are the spices that never override the meal, but are almost impossible to identify.
Every team can learn from Mick Fleetwood.
What tiny touch can you add that will make the overall product infinitely better?
What can you bring that only other experts in what you do will ever know you added?
The little things, strategically added and layered together, can make things extra special.
If Mick Fleetwood set out to make sure the drums on “Dreams” stood out and got noticed, he could have easily ruined a beautiful song.
Fortunately, he simply added his special spice to a gourmet meal that Stevie Nicks was preparing. He knew what he could add that would make this dish unforgettable.
Steve Jones tackles the most important issues facing organizations today - management, culture, leadership, branding, marketing, and talent - using rock history. His electrifying keynotes are loaded with engaging information, powerful takeaways, and amazing music.
With over 35 years in music and media, Steve taps into backstage stories and personal experiences to show what great organizations can learn from legendary rock stars. Author of two popular business books, Brand Like a Rock Star and Start You Up, Steve is also the SVP/Brands & Content at Stingray, the world’s 3rd largest distributor of music behind only Spotify and Apple.
You can book Steve to speak through Goodman Speaker Management.