Adele’s most recent (2021) hit has the drum kicked in (literally as it’s only the bass drum, with the exception that it’s actually from a drum machine) halfway starting with the second verse and played subtly by the song’s producer and co-writer Greg Kurstin. Nevertheless, it changes the rest of the game. I put on this song in my car, which has decent bass capabilities, and gladly embrace what is coming at me.

For more, I suggest “I Drink Wine” from the same record.

Only a band like Soundgarden, having an abundance of talent, could afford waiting the living-metronome of a man called Matt Cameron aside for quarter-way through a song. Only for him to then make a big entrance with the crash cymbal.

Pearl Jam nowadays is doing the same when it comes to their same year (1994) hit “Better Man” although it was recorded with their original drummer Dave Abbruzzese back then, however, the late start of instruments doesn’t put the spotlight specifically on the drums for me.

While at it, it’s relevant to mention that 4th of July is not really about America’s independence day but more about being f*cked up on ac*d somewhere in the vicinity of 4th of July, with Chris Cornell’s words.

I was hesitant if this one could be considered as a “late” entrance, or rather just the end of the intro. For a band that doesn’t have any of your good old usual song structures, though, it sounds like the start of the 1st chorus. In kind-of-a-hit song, for “a band that doesn’t have hit songs” with the words of Buzz Osborne. At the end, I’m just glad I could add something from a band that had 2 drummers for a decade. And a band that has Sabbath-like drumming: precisely aimed on the target, with every hit making perfect sense, for the slow, heavy grind I ever long for. Even the 15 seconds long solo drum outro is worth it.

I’d call this not only one of the most effective but also the most efficient uses of drums, played by Franz di Cioccio. The drums hint their presence in the first chorus where Lucio Battisti’s co-writer “Mogol” (Giulio Rapetti) dares death for the first time. As they get ready to push the boundries for a second time with a second chorus that is unconventionally different than the first, the drums accelerate again and gain a full pattern, after the moans of Battisti which are almost not singing but perfect acting. With lyrics that are strong enough to cause heartache, speaking about lack of “emozioni”.

Extras: “Avrai” by Claudio Baglioni and “Un amore grande” by Peppino Gagliardi are also examples of late drum entrances and great songs, as we are speaking of Italian pop.

A classic that everyone knows, therefore, needs no words. I love the tom hits as if he wants to break through a door with sound waves. You can feel it in the air.