Agreed. A musician's need to demonstrate their talent tends to lead to them trying way to hard. Everyone knows the best meals are cooked with the simplest ingredients.
@@AbsurdCatsHe doesn't understand what talent is. She has been recognized multiple times by an academy of her peers, and by their standards has been rightfully awarded.
The contrast between Jack's strong ego and Meg's 0% ego made their live performances very enjoyable. I've seen one interview in which she starts talking, and I realized how smart she is. Although most often she wouldn't want to speak.
Eh, I think that her "less is more" approach is due to the simple fact that she is unable to perform "more". What she plays is literally the extent of her ability.
@@ShouldHaveBeen I hear ya! I'm just not a fan of the current trends of glorifying under skilled players just because of elements that are completely unrelated to music and drum playing. Bread and water are "enough" to survive, yet it makes for extremely bland and boring dining experience. Just like the white stripes makes for a similar listening experience. There is a whole world of drumming out there, filled with lots and lots of creative and excellent players.
Exactly. There is a unique quality with all musicians who became legends. You only need to hear a couple of notes and you immediately recognize Malcolm Young. It is the same with Meg White and with Jack White.
Jack teached her to play drums. It's all his drums. So its mostly Jacks talent. You can here it in Th Dead Weather songs )) But she is preaty good in this simplisity
"wow look at her play the tambourine, she's so simple, its genius!!" this is laughable, she is riding the coattails of Jack's talent and people think she's an amazing drummer. cmon!
Another thing which made Meg White special was in live performance: Jack would often suddenly switch from one song to another, departing from the set list, sometimes mid song. Meg was never fazed and picked up the groove instantly.
@@cripdykeExactly. Doesn’t understand the genius, can’t comprehend that when you employ the “less is more” philosophy correctly and in a timely fashion, you create history. I have always loved Meg’s drumming, and I am not a drummer, I just hyperfocus on the beat to every song I hear. Within 3 seconds, I know whether I will like a song based on its drumbeat. I’m autistic with a side order of adhd. The way Meg plays reminds me of how I do things like write poetry or paint in oils. She is in the zone. Nobody can get in there except for her.
Meg's drumming is so absolutely perfect for every song she plays on. She doesn't throw in a bunch of busy filler but plays absolutely the exact amount the song calls for. Her drumming is the frame that the song is built on. The silences are as important as the notes and she is master class at placing them. And as you point out, the notes she does play have so many interesting choices that just work in their song.
Meg is my hero. I was 9 when I first heard "Fell in Love with a girl" and that song and mainly its drumming line made me feel alive. I was taken aback learning that it was a girl who was playing cuz it was the first time I ever saw a girl doing it and I knew I could do it too. Meg definitely made me fall in love with drumming.
I think it's a good thing when musicians like her are in the mix. It shows that music is for everyone. You don't have to be a technical monster to make good music. I guarantee a bunch of kids picked up sticks because of her.
She IS technical, but in her own way. If your drumming cannot be replicated by drummers who are supposedly better than you, then I think you're pretty technical.
there is no way you could recognize her if she played with a different band... well maybe you could, you would say wow this drummer is so armature, it must be meg white.
Thank you for featuring a more simple drummer like her and showing that drumming isnt only about competition and craftsmanship but about music and expression. Very inspiring 🤠.
I first saw The White Stripes before they broke open. I had no idea who they were. What I did know is that I was mesmerized. The entire set was a level of energy that translated perfectly to the audience. I was too young to know exactly what made them so magical, but those deep groves pulsed into my soul. When they blew up (like a month or two later) I got to hear everyone shit on Megs playing. It was so frustrating because I could not convey how uniquely impactful her drumming was live. I've seen thousands of bands play live, worked as a sound tech for over a decade, rubbed elbows with some of the biggest names in the industry, and yet nothing has ever compared to the impact that Jack and Meg left on me as a 14-year-old. If I ever had a doubt about what makes Meg the perfect drummer for Jack, it was seeing the Raconteurs live. That monumental energy I'd come to expect from Jack was no longer there. There was clearly something missing, even tho it was a full band.
I also saw them before they blew up (I'm older than you, went with a roommate who knew all the cool bands of the time), and I was just FLOORED by how BIG they sounded. I couldn't get over that it was two people on stage. They were amazing. Instant fan. I'm not a musician so I couldn't defend her to any degree when people shit on her skills (and for youngsters out there - it happened all the time and was pretty nasty), but it felt like huge misogyny - pretty girl can't really play the drums (especially if she's not playing like one is 'supposed' to). As a huge fan of jazz, I totally appreciate the White Stripes approach to music.
I was at that show! Jack played with two sets of strings strung on his guitar AT THE SAME TIME! Essentially turning his 6 strong to a 12. Quite possibly the greatest live performance of all time!!!!!!!
She takes cues from the vocals in ways that somehow remind me of Broadway songs. Just absolutely glued to the vocal melody in ways that push the emphasis there, so good
I played a White Stripes song with my band as a drummer. We were kinda reluctant but we needed an extra song for our setlist and didnt have time to learn anything harder. What I found was that any attemt to do more than what Meg did just killed the mood of the song. I added 1 extra fill and more kick hits, but I just couldn't see a logical reason to give it a different part than Meg wrote for it
Jack White's guitar playing is so distinctive and recognizable because of how individually he attacks each note, creating a sense of staccato even when the notes actually slide together. Meg's drumming mirrors that directly, which is why I never understood all the crap she got for it. The music wouldn't be anywhere near as impactful if she was doing Keith Moon fills all over the place. She does *exactly* what her job as a drummer is and that's what makes it powerful playing. No ego, just auditory excellence.
I don't drum. I can't play any instrument. But I know good rock when I hear it. And The White Stripes rocked hard. I"m so confused why anyone ever criticized her drumming....like seriously? Without Meg there would be NO WHITE STRIPES ! Imagine Meg being sick one day and so Jack hires the world's "best" drummer to replace her at a concert or studio session....would it have worked? Nope. No way. The magic is the two of them together. You can't quantify it, or understand it, or replicate it. It just is. And it was good. Thank you Meg, for picking up those sticks and banging along like no one else could have. You are a true artist. For every person who gave you a hard time on your drum playing, there are a zillion others who just loved it.
So glad Meg is being highlighted, she is the main reason I started playing the drums and I learned by watching vids of her and Jack. She was unapologetically herself and exactly what the band needed, I hope she knows how many people she has inspired and how many people think she’s badass ❤
I’ve always loved Meg’s playing. I’ve defended her complex simplicity dozens of times over the years. You know their music instantly from those beats. It still pulls you in, decades later, whether you want it to or not. It’s like the difference between Da Vinci and Pollock. Both are extremely celebrated artists with vastly different style and skill. You don’t need to be a traditionally trained master to be brilliant at your craft. Recognition is everything and nobody can deny that Meg has created a sound that most people can recognize within a couple of beats.
Meg's playing is proof of what Prince once said, "It's the space between the notes.... that's the good part". This dive into Meg's playing, especially the use of rims and other parts of the kit are essential to finding new ways to compliment a piece of music. Thanks for this! And, I'm gonna go play some White Stripes now!
Simplicity is one of the hardest things to achieve because most players minds try to over analyse things and their egos get in the way and they generally don’t have the absolute discipline for it. Meg was incredible because of what and how she played. The reason there’s a feature about her on Drumeo is because not many other drummers can play or think like she did. Absolute hand in glove playing with Jack’s guitar and vocal.
"Most players' minds try to over analyze things and their egos get in the way and they generally don’t have the absolute discipline for it." Has nothing to do with ego, bud. YOU may not like what they're playing because you prefer simpler drumming, but you're attributing things to drummers based on your own tastes. If you like simple, go for it. Simplicity is NOT hard to achieve. A drummer like Meg White got famous playing basic beats most people could play in a garage band. What you call discipline I call tolerance for boredom.
@@StumptownDrummer you clearly did not understand, that's exactly what many musicians tend to do: overplay and overanalize and sometimes less is more rule really serves a composition better. I play drums myself and it used to happen to me too when I felt tempted to add some more fills, more complexed patterns and later had to stop to realize it would cause much more damage than do any better to a song. If all musicians played only complex stuff, music would be boring af.
I saw TWS on their last tour when I was 17. They had played a marathon show at MSG the night before and due that as well as a weird energy with the crowd, Jack kinda had an off night but Meg really fucking held it down. I could not believe how loud two musicians could be in a big room and being there in person made me realize that Meg’s primal ferocity was the driver behind that energy (which is all the more impressive in hindsight knowing that she was battling with anxiety issues at the time). I get really emotional when I think back to how Meg’s artistic instincts are so unique and overlooked. I really hope she is doing well these days and that she knows she is loved by so many people.
I really think part of what made Meg so powerful was that she's the whole rhythm section, taking over the space the bass guitar would fill for a lot of songs. Rather than busy it up to fill that space, she chose the bass player route, where what you DON'T play is as important as what you DO.
Sometimes us drummers need to look past “chops” and just appreciate a rockin’ song. The White Stripes (specifically Meg) are case and point. Every track on every album is incredibly listenable. I do not skip songs when I’m listening. I cannot say that about many band’s entire discography, no matter how good the band may be.
@@RockandrollNegro Nice catch on the eggcorn. However, like many other eggcorns, the incorrect wording still make sense in the context in which it was used. Pedantic points scored to you nonetheless.
Chops are overrated. Composing is where it’s at. I’d rather someone write a cool song instead of showing off how fast they can do sweeps in some exotic scale.
Nothing in The White Stripes sounds regular or normal. Guitars, vocals, drums, production... all in the same place, very connected and unlike anything else out there. They are unique!
@@OhanaFilms The problem is not everyone can hear those differences. I'm sure there are differences to be heard but as not a drummer and not specifically a White Stripes fan it sounds the same. Which is particularly meaningful when it comes to a band with a song as ubiquitous as seven nation army. 99% of people who hear the white stripes aren't specifically white stripes fans.
She's an easy target - I'm glad to hear he praises sung. The Stripes are all about the great art that comes from strict parameters, limitations or constraints, self-imposed or otherwise. Artists tend to thrive in such conditions, and suffer with total freedom.
Honestly trying to make songs so catchy and sounding simple is hard. Most techincal players get caught up in thinking that you have to show off and use technical prowess to get attention.
have you heard of a movement called OuLiPo, an artistic movement where deliberate constraints play a central part in how they go about doing their work.
i think she is also super brave.... i get so nervous before a gig and i only play to 8 people (with 6 being from the other bands and 2 their partners) i heard Meg had great anxiety before gigs too, which is understandable in her situation.... plus, the added pressure of over judgey people criticizing her drumming... ugh... so brave i think about her before every gig
I havent listened to the White Stripes in forever. I’m gonna have to change that. Meg’s drumming really helped make them sound so much bigger than the sum of their parts. I love the feeling of them fighting their way through a song to get to the end. It worked so well. What a great drummer.
I've been a drummer for 56 years. I've been into all of the usual great drummers you could list. Meg White in the context of this band is nothing less than perfect. Plus she is so cute.
I didn’t need this video to make me respect Meg, but I’m glad it’s here. There’s so much to say about not just the drumming but the dynamic that most of us would kill to have someone like her on our team. But also, I mean, it helps to back up a crazy ass genius like Jack.
Jack has said in interviews that she was playing what he asked her to play, and is far more skilled than people think. Nothing wrong with playing for the song. Gets you a lot of gigs.
She never touched a drum kit before Jack seated her behind one. What's he going to say? "Yeah, I know she's rubbish, but she's my wife and she really enjoys herself"?
She's always gotten way more crap than she deserves. I used to play drums for the longest time, and her kind of drumming always appealed to me. During an era where more and more drumming was just straight up pinned to the grid, her internal rhythm and "rushing" kicks just felt damn good. The way she slaps crashes around is also nice, often hitting on the 'uh' or 'e', gives a really sloshy sloppy feeling. I like her stuff a lot. She hits what she intends to hit when she intends to hit it and her beats are rad. Not sure I could ask for more.
@@playlistmaker90125 you got a real hardon for her dontcha, buddy? Let me guess... you're in either an "extreme" metal band or a rote af hardcore act that sounds like clanking pans. Cry more about it! I'm enjoying your comments. 😁
@@djwalkerfemaledj no, because she’s objectively bad. It’s actually the other way around. If she was a dude not one goddamn person would defend her. All this praise is just modern feminism and nothing else…
Meg is an extremely solid drummer. She keeps tempo like a metronome and has unbelievable control. She really has a great understanding of syncopation and timing.
@@CookieCurls but it works in a band where Jack was playing with a sludgy style on guitar as well. She didn't keep time in the academic sense, but she kept time with Jack
Ball and Biscuits is brilliant . Thank you for this tribute to Meg White . Thank you for playing on the drums snd showing the sheet music . Incredible talent . Loved this .
In a world full of drummers ( and guitarists) that all sound the same, Meg White is a lesson in not imitating over edited, gridded, soulless music of the Spotify music era.
I’m not a drummer, but I did a lot of choir and theater growing up, and the hardest stuff to do was the subtle and simple stuff. Holding one note for a whole song and still staying present in the moment is really hard and requires a lot of focus and commitment. When you’re acting in a scene, some of the hardest scenes are the ones with the subtle nuance conversations and expressions. There’s a need for everyone to be big, flashy, and loud all the time in what you do, so it’s really impressive to see someone keep it simple and commit to it.
She's maybe the most untechnical drummer ever, but she's a f... BRILLANT musican. Her feel for space is UNBELIAVABLE. She's the one who brings the Garage and Hipiness into the sound. Even Brandon, that can play everything (f.e. I was amazed of his rendition of the newest Linking Park) can't get close to the sound of her. Pure personality play style. Brilliant analysis Brandon, as always! Big ups!
I think the debate between “genius” and “beginner” is a little ridiculous. I think, if anything, Meg White proves something a lot of people don’t want to admit - someone without much technical skill can still make amazing music.
@@baalaagaa lots of people think Jack White is a "bad guitarist" because his style isn't technical and the riffs are simple and raw. They're missing the point, and it's the exact same thing with Meg - what they do ~works~ and creates ~cool music~ and that's the important thing
She was the designated driver is how I look at Meg. She drove the song kept it on the road and allowed Jack to be Jack. And as much energy as Jack had its her relentless driving beat that gives a song like Seven Nation Army it's pulse.
I played SNA in a small town cover band and the thing I found hardest to master was that light open hi hat chick on the quarter notes. Her energy and control of it was what makes her great, not technicality.
@rubevaughn you nailed it. Watch their performance of Goin' Back to Memphis in the Conan O'Brien's show. Jack freaks out and Meg keeps on driving. There are those people who tell us, that any drummer could play like her. The truth is, that she can play what she wants to play, and it sounds great. Most drummers want to play what they cannot play, and it sounds lame.
Older drummer here, I only recently listened to their stuff, Andi must say I love her playing, she only does what's necessary and holds back from tons of fills and rolls which becomes boring, but what she plays is often genius. I'm also learning to hold back and instead come up with interesting stuff,and its liberating and fun.
As a guy who played drums for 20 years and who follows drummers like Weckl, Coleman, Donati, Sucherman, Borlai, Smith, etc. I find her to be amazingly musical. In my 60 years I've never once seen anyone pay for a concert that was just a drummer drumming. Turns out it really is about the music. When is the last time you saw Virgil Donati play even a single song with a simple 4/4 beat all the way through? Weckl? Coleman? You just don't see it. She is what all of us should aspire to. She's living her dream, playing great music and doing it her way. I love her.
Her grooves are so perfect for Jack’s guitar playing. I wouldn’t want to hear more technical drum parts on those songs. It would take away from the attitude and mood of them. Drummers have to have good feel first and foremost.
@@playlistmaker90125 You have a bead on the truth of this mediocre player...good to read your comments. I am a skilled drummer who would retire if I developed arthritis or any disability which would shrink my ability to the pedestrian level of meg white.
People usually interpret music by comparison, and that just doesn't work with The White Stripes. I consider them as more of an art experiment than as a traditional band. Comparing musicianship by the numbers just isn't fair with Meg, because their performance is just magic. It's the perfect bridge between old time blues and the garage rock of the 90's. The perfect blend of marketable and expressionistic, experimental music. I miss The White Stripes.
The White Stripes really were quite a weird band for a band that became so big. I miss them so much and as much as I love Jack White's other projects the Stripes still reign supreme in my eyes (Dead Weather come close though)
@maestrovonhuge9397 hell yeah, they never seem to get much recognition, but that might be because they never really tour. I would love to see them live
@@JayPhonomancer I remember first hearing them, getting the vinyl, playing it endlessly, enjoying, then when are they touring and being like 'you can't do this to people'.
I love Meg's drumming, I love that raw heavy sound, and the crash from the symbols sounds awesome. Her drum style is what makes The White Stripes sound so good.
The energy and charge Meg puts into playing the drums is unique! His ability to adapt in synergy to jack rhythm changes is unparalleled. Meg is a great drummer 🥁 and I love her ! ❤️
We miss you Meg! You were the perfect drummer for The White Stripes in the same way that Ringo was the perfect drummer for The Beatles. And you inspired a lot of us, so the naysayers can howl all they want. Much love to you
@@joe.nail1 don't know anything about her and that's exactly what I thought this person was trying to convey. Seems like they were trying to make her sound more deep and alluring than she really is😂
I was tremendously lucky to watch them live while touring Elephant. It still is one of my favourite live experiences to this day. It still feels incredible to me how such a minimalistic formation could sound so damn full. That day I was blown away by this approach.
@user-lk6wt7qz5v If she had idea or not doesn't matter. Her gut feeling created great music nonetheless. Artistry > technique. Something a lot of modern drummers lack.
@user-lk6wt7qz5v I'm not a pro musician, just an amateur guitar player and heavy rock listener. But I am a pro designer and graphic artist. When I was young and naive about the world, I was deep into pixel art illustration and thought technique was everything, thinking the purposeful placement of every pixel was what mattered the most. But with time I learned I was very wrong. The mastery of technique without artistic cleverness is meaningless. It's just boring self-masturbation that only some nerdy peers of your profession might find interesting. It's soulless work. Most of my work of that time, despite having good technique, is forgettable. What really impacts the world is artistry, and technique is just a tool. Even a complete layman can have great artistic skills and be more important to humanity, than a robotic professional with a perfect technique will ever be. In fact a lot of praised artists among the top of the world have really poor technique, and can only do things their way. And that's part of what makes them unique and praised.
@user-lk6wt7qz5v typical response of someone who is pissed off that someone who they consider inferior to them is more successful/famous than them. She's the embodiment of punk/garage-rock drumming to me. She's rock'n'roll as fuck.
Meg White is an exceptional drummer! She is pure power, claw. His synergy with Jack in the adaptation to the change of rhythm is unique! Play the drums exactly as it should be for this genre of music. No one else transmits the same emotions to me as she does. Thank you Meg for what you have given us, and for the emotions you have made me feel! ❤️ 🥁
Thanks for the video. Her drumming gives me chills. I hold her in high regard with Danny Carey, Matt Cameron, Jesse Sprinkle, and other crazy-ass drummers. She has a real artistry to her drumming that helped change the way I personally write drums. She's rad! She's not playing prog-crazy, but her grooves, besides being so recognisable, are super integral to how the song sounds. She's a rad drummer and no one else would have come up with her recognisable, important-to-the-song beats. Meg, you changed things! Thanks!
Meg White is a compression lover's dream of a drummer. Her open playing style is perfect for a huge but dry in studio drum sound. It's like extreme Ringo!
Jack's playing is pretty messy at times too, but that's what makes them so great. Rawness is something that is misiing from most music these days, esp when everything is quantised to death. You can tell that even in the studio it's all eye contact and hanging on for dear life. The fact that it could all fall apart an any minute but doesn't makes it a big glorious mess
The first big concert I went was The White Stripes' show, in Brazil. They were already one of my favorite bands, but after that day..... I don't remember lots of things, 'cause I was a small person in the crowd... But I remember how I felt.... Impacted, my rib cage was vibrating with Meg White strength on drums.... They are my favorite band ever, and Meg inspired me in many aspects of my life.... I love her for all the legacy she generated for the girls at this world 😊
I love Meg Whites playing! The first song I learnt on drums was Seven Nation Army, as it turns out. And yes, her ' less is more' approach, and not having to constantly fill space really works. Her persona behind the kit even looks different, which is a good thing. It's a shame some people detract from her contributions to the White Stripes... I for one am a fan!
The drumming community deserves accurate and unbiased evaluations of drummers, allowing aspiring musicians to make informed decisions and pursue genuine excellence.
@@playlistmaker90125 you have spent time "stating facts" on so many of the comments here. You could just state your opinion and then move on but it is starting to feel like this is personal for you. Did Meg White run over your dog? Did she fuck your gf? Show us on a doll where she hurt you.
Just like in writing or cooking, complexity and density can be beautiful. It can also be used to correct/hide mistakes and blend together notes/ideas/flavors to the point where many are unable to pick out the nuances that make the skill interesting. Many masters of their crafts use the idea of simplification to let the individual notes shine. Whether you enjoy Meg's music or not, there is no doubt that she is a master of her craft. There is nothing to hide behind. In the circle of learning, the master and the beginner use basic building blocks, in basic structures. It takes knowledge of the craft to see why one makes history and the other is forgotten.
Thank you! I wouldn't have kept on playing guitar if not for Jack White, and I wouldn't have started playing drums if not for Meg White. The White Stripes were such an important band for a great amount of reasons, but mostly to me because they showed how little (people, chords, notes, ...) you needed to make something that was absolutely killer. And I know bands like Nirvana and others had a similar approach in the 80s/early 90s, but it's all about the generation you're part of I suppose, and I was at the right age to be blown away by Jack & Meg who helped people like me with 0 musical education feeling like, actually, music might not be a thing just for a certain elite. The White Stripes didn't need crazy drum solos or complicated drum parts, that's the whole point of the band - you might dislike the band, but they knew what they were doing, and they did it more than right. So thanks again Drumeo for doing this video - it means a lot to me, and somehow I hope, if she needs it, that it means a lot to Meg too.
Oh excellent, I love Meg White’s drumming! Like Moe Tucker’s work, the drumming transcends its usual role of backboning to have an equal, organic conversation with the lead part. Even to the untrained ear, Moe and Meg sound like no one else - a feat for any artist.
Thank you for this - was getting about sick of hearing people diss Meg's skills and her undeniable contribution to what made that band "The White Stripes". It's so good to see someone singing her praises as she deserves more praise IMO. No she doesn't do what other drummers do - AND? She kicks ass!
This analysis of Meg White is years over due. One of my favorite drummer. Her work in "Red Rain" is perfectly arranged where you want her drive but she teases it only at the end for a bar or two. So in the pocket.
@@JayPhonomancer she’s not a heavy drummer…Lars Ulrich is a heavy drummer. John Bonham is a heavy drummer. Mike Portnoy is a heavy drummer. Dave Lombardo is a heavy drummer…Meg White is not…
@playlistmaker90125 Bonham is possibly my favourite drummer ever. Generally, I am not a huge metal fan, so while I do love Metallica, I am generally not a huge fan of metal drumming. I don't particularly care for blast beats and all that shit. Danny Carey is amazingly talented, but I find a lot of Tool songs too ponderous to be enjoyable. I love Dale Crover and Greg Saunier, people who play small drumkits like that. You don't have to be metal to be heavy. I always thought of The Stripes as a minimalist garage-rock Led Zeppelin. Meg's rough and raw style is perfect for the Stripes and if you can't hear the heaviness in songs like The Big 3 Killed My Baby, Red Rain, Ball And Biscuit, Why Can't You be Nicer to Me, or Icky Thump then I don't know what to tell you. Its not metal, but its raw thunderous rock and roll
Honestly, her playing may be incredibly simple but that just makes The White Stripes’ music as great as it is because her style has a certain power that may not have been there if she was a bit more technical
Yeah, there is some kind of raw energy that comes with this simplicity. Just like with AC/DC, many people claim anybody could play those simple songs. And yet, it's not that easy to find people that really nail those songs.
I loved this. There is not White Stripes without the 2 people, and I have ALWAYS loved her work I think she is a genius minimalist! I never understood why people were harsh towards her, she had it going on so much! If Jack liked it obviously it was great! Thank you, Meg, for your brilliant work and thank you Drumeo for highlighting and explaining this musicology!
Meg is a phenomenal talent, this was wonderfully done, and it was a pleasure seeing her being celebrated for her contributions, rather than being torn down for not conforming to what was popular at the time.
Meg White is one of my favorite drummers. Laser beam focus on serving the song that could only result from a deep and profound understanding of the music and what the Stripes were trying to do artistically.
Seven nation army is the first song I ever jammed to with my buddies, what a simple but powerful track, 13 year old me was so satisfied being able to play the whole thing, big props to Meg and Jack for this classic!
I have just bought a cheap drum kit and had 2 lessons and watching Meg play is inspiring. Not to follow the 'mill' but to play what I feel within the music. Sometimes there is just too much drumming and not enough percussion! I would love to be able to chat with her and meet the woman that feels those rhythms. She and Jack really feel music and vibe so hard you can see it. I only hope that I can find that for myself. And super thanks Drumeo for feeling, hearing and seeing her music!!! Love your channel.
She enhances the guitar riffs, each hit accents a strum, a note or a melody like its playing drums like a guitarist would its 50% of how they sounded hardcore
It's funny that Jack White has gone out and hired some of the best session musicians on the planet for his solo work, and yet none of it has reached the peak of the work he did with Meg.
I'm so glad you did this video. I love Meg so much. I am sad she retired. As a drummer, I respect her feral playing. She's both primal and musical. She deserves all the respect she gets and more.
It's not always about technicality and complexity in music. People who hate on Meg's drumming style are very close-minded. If we had only complicated, complex music, it would be boring af. Simplicity is as great and needed and ironically not that simple to achieve as it seems to many.
@@DeuceDeuceBravo Try it. Putting in the right note and taking out the right note are tricky, but the latter has even less room for error. John Williams is known to agonize. Rumor has it he tried every possible combination of five notes before coming up with the Close Encounters melody.
I will always defend meg white to the hilt. She began my journey into learning the drums, you don't need a technical pallet of fills and licks to lay down the most iconic thrashy grooves that a crowd can rock out to. She's smart in her playing and not to be understated, no one sounds like her.
Meg is a very emotional drummer and her drumming helps connect me more emotionally to the music of The White Stripes. That is not an easy thing to do. It might even be more difficult than being a technically superior drummer.
Hell yeah! Good video! I love simplicity in rythm. When Meg is playing I can sence every beat, I can hear it loud and clear, feel it and enjoy it. Meg has never defend herself, she was the quiet one, but without her there is no White Stripes anymore! A genius band, a genius duo, and a GENIUS Meg!
After being in so many bands myself, I have realized that listening is more important than showing off how many notes or beats you can put into a song. What amazes me is a two person band, without a bass, sounding so good.
She kinda said "you don't need a million drum sounds to be good" without ever actually saying. I mean come on she could play 1 drum and 1 symbol and still probably make a banger of a track, absolute fucking LEGEND
What I love about Megs drumming, is that it's 0% ego and 100% vibes.
You forgot 0% talent!
Agreed. A musician's need to demonstrate their talent tends to lead to them trying way to hard. Everyone knows the best meals are cooked with the simplest ingredients.
@@weazelnews3552 If many people loved it…is it talentless?
@@AbsurdCatsHe doesn't understand what talent is. She has been recognized multiple times by an academy of her peers, and by their standards has been rightfully awarded.
The contrast between Jack's strong ego and Meg's 0% ego made their live performances very enjoyable. I've seen one interview in which she starts talking, and I realized how smart she is. Although most often she wouldn't want to speak.
“Meg’s ‘less is more’ approach to playing drums combines power with an abundance of space…” this sums it up perfectly!
Eh, I think that her "less is more" approach is due to the simple fact that she is unable to perform "more". What she plays is literally the extent of her ability.
EXACTLY!!!
@@Abyrne777It was simple... but enough. Enough is all that is needed. For want of more would undermine and overshadow the music.
@@ShouldHaveBeen I hear ya! I'm just not a fan of the current trends of glorifying under skilled players just because of elements that are completely unrelated to music and drum playing. Bread and water are "enough" to survive, yet it makes for extremely bland and boring dining experience. Just like the white stripes makes for a similar listening experience. There is a whole world of drumming out there, filled with lots and lots of creative and excellent players.
@@Abyrne777 I think an academy of her peers and a base of educated music journalists would disagree with your finite opinion.
She plays simply, yet you know its her when you hear it. To me that is a sign of incredible value and talent. Serve the song.
Exactly. There is a unique quality with all musicians who became legends. You only need to hear a couple of notes and you immediately recognize Malcolm Young. It is the same with Meg White and with Jack White.
Jack teached her to play drums. It's all his drums. So its mostly Jacks talent. You can here it in Th Dead Weather songs )) But she is preaty good in this simplisity
It's virtuosity in its simplest terms.
"wow look at her play the tambourine, she's so simple, its genius!!" this is laughable, she is riding the coattails of Jack's talent and people think she's an amazing drummer. cmon!
@@UrsusGrett No one is talking about her tambourine playing.
Another thing which made Meg White special was in live performance: Jack would often suddenly switch from one song to another, departing from the set list, sometimes mid song. Meg was never fazed and picked up the groove instantly.
I don’t think they used set lists.
When the drumming is the same in every song how can you say she "picked up the groove instantly"?
@@suburbanindie Did you watch this video?
@@cripdykeExactly. Doesn’t understand the genius, can’t comprehend that when you employ the “less is more” philosophy correctly and in a timely fashion, you create history. I have always loved Meg’s drumming, and I am not a drummer, I just hyperfocus on the beat to every song I hear. Within 3 seconds, I know whether I will like a song based on its drumbeat. I’m autistic with a side order of adhd. The way Meg plays reminds me of how I do things like write poetry or paint in oils. She is in the zone. Nobody can get in there except for her.
@@suburbanindieThat's the truth.
Meg's drumming is so absolutely perfect for every song she plays on. She doesn't throw in a bunch of busy filler but plays absolutely the exact amount the song calls for. Her drumming is the frame that the song is built on. The silences are as important as the notes and she is master class at placing them. And as you point out, the notes she does play have so many interesting choices that just work in their song.
Yup... she was just quietly perfect for the band.
Meg is my hero.
I was 9 when I first heard "Fell in Love with a girl" and that song and mainly its drumming line made me feel alive. I was taken aback learning that it was a girl who was playing cuz it was the first time I ever saw a girl doing it and I knew I could do it too. Meg definitely made me fall in love with drumming.
hello
That’s my favorite white stripes song.
Literally same!
I think it's a good thing when musicians like her are in the mix. It shows that music is for everyone. You don't have to be a technical monster to make good music. I guarantee a bunch of kids picked up sticks because of her.
She IS technical, but in her own way. If your drumming cannot be replicated by drummers who are supposedly better than you, then I think you're pretty technical.
@@petertromp8786 Fair point
@@pitpride1220 Thanks.
Music is for everyone not just musician elitists. People forget that sometimes.
@@petertromp8786 The Stripes were raw. That is what made them so popular. Meg was perfect at her job. Punks not ded.
If you can recognise who's playing two seconds into a song, you're a legend. I love Meg
@@Skepsis710enjoy beeing salty, mr. Looser
@@Skepsis710A 12 year old with 6 Grammys*
@Skepsis710 Well then that 12 year old is a genius!!!!!!!
there is no way you could recognize her if she played with a different band... well maybe you could, you would say wow this drummer is so armature, it must be meg white.
@@ShouldHaveBeen lets be straight, Jack won 6 grammy's. Any drummer he chose would have would have won as well.
Thank you for featuring a more simple drummer like her and showing that drumming isnt only about competition and craftsmanship but about music and expression. Very inspiring 🤠.
{{AllOfTheDamnedSkippiesItIs!!}}
That Would Be A Great High School Band Name.
I first saw The White Stripes before they broke open. I had no idea who they were. What I did know is that I was mesmerized. The entire set was a level of energy that translated perfectly to the audience. I was too young to know exactly what made them so magical, but those deep groves pulsed into my soul. When they blew up (like a month or two later) I got to hear everyone shit on Megs playing. It was so frustrating because I could not convey how uniquely impactful her drumming was live. I've seen thousands of bands play live, worked as a sound tech for over a decade, rubbed elbows with some of the biggest names in the industry, and yet nothing has ever compared to the impact that Jack and Meg left on me as a 14-year-old. If I ever had a doubt about what makes Meg the perfect drummer for Jack, it was seeing the Raconteurs live. That monumental energy I'd come to expect from Jack was no longer there. There was clearly something missing, even tho it was a full band.
I also saw them before they blew up (I'm older than you, went with a roommate who knew all the cool bands of the time), and I was just FLOORED by how BIG they sounded. I couldn't get over that it was two people on stage. They were amazing. Instant fan. I'm not a musician so I couldn't defend her to any degree when people shit on her skills (and for youngsters out there - it happened all the time and was pretty nasty), but it felt like huge misogyny - pretty girl can't really play the drums (especially if she's not playing like one is 'supposed' to). As a huge fan of jazz, I totally appreciate the White Stripes approach to music.
The one thing to learn from Meg White : play with your own artistic voice in service of the song and the music.
That’s funny, you think she’s artistic…
@@playlistmaker90125 all these pop guys who know nothing about music think being lazy is the same as being artistic lol
@@playlistmaker90125 Look everyone, It's the platinum record selling, umm..... what's your name again???
@@hapshan I don’t have to sell shit to criticize a drummer I play better than…
@@playlistmaker90125 It's funny you don't.
I saw them live in Boston and she played with two sticks tied together in each hand and she hit with the fat end. Sounded incredible.
So fucking awesome. I've never seen any live footage of this😭
I was at that show! Jack played with two sets of strings strung on his guitar AT THE SAME TIME! Essentially turning his 6 strong to a 12. Quite possibly the greatest live performance of all time!!!!!!!
That's a Bonham trick. Hence the song 4 Sticks
@@AllofJudea That makes so much sense.
She takes cues from the vocals in ways that somehow remind me of Broadway songs. Just absolutely glued to the vocal melody in ways that push the emphasis there, so good
I played a White Stripes song with my band as a drummer. We were kinda reluctant but we needed an extra song for our setlist and didnt have time to learn anything harder. What I found was that any attemt to do more than what Meg did just killed the mood of the song. I added 1 extra fill and more kick hits, but I just couldn't see a logical reason to give it a different part than Meg wrote for it
Jack White's guitar playing is so distinctive and recognizable because of how individually he attacks each note, creating a sense of staccato even when the notes actually slide together. Meg's drumming mirrors that directly, which is why I never understood all the crap she got for it. The music wouldn't be anywhere near as impactful if she was doing Keith Moon fills all over the place. She does *exactly* what her job as a drummer is and that's what makes it powerful playing. No ego, just auditory excellence.
I don't drum. I can't play any instrument. But I know good rock when I hear it. And The White Stripes rocked hard. I"m so confused why anyone ever criticized her drumming....like seriously? Without Meg there would be NO WHITE STRIPES ! Imagine Meg being sick one day and so Jack hires the world's "best" drummer to replace her at a concert or studio session....would it have worked? Nope. No way. The magic is the two of them together. You can't quantify it, or understand it, or replicate it. It just is. And it was good.
Thank you Meg, for picking up those sticks and banging along like no one else could have. You are a true artist. For every person who gave you a hard time on your drum playing, there are a zillion others who just loved it.
EXACTLY!!
💯
Well said!
So glad Meg is being highlighted, she is the main reason I started playing the drums and I learned by watching vids of her and Jack. She was unapologetically herself and exactly what the band needed, I hope she knows how many people she has inspired and how many people think she’s badass ❤
Nobody *thinks* she’s a badass. We just acknowledge the simple fact that she’s a badass!
@@stvbrsnamen.
Her drumming is like performance art. She is the sound. She’s the blood in the veins of those songs.
Exactly, she is the sound of The White Stripes.
Alright take it easy
ffs no
"the thing with music is, it doesn't have to be clever and impressive. it has to be honest and confident."
I’ve always loved Meg’s playing. I’ve defended her complex simplicity dozens of times over the years. You know their music instantly from those beats. It still pulls you in, decades later, whether you want it to or not. It’s like the difference between Da Vinci and Pollock. Both are extremely celebrated artists with vastly different style and skill. You don’t need to be a traditionally trained master to be brilliant at your craft. Recognition is everything and nobody can deny that Meg has created a sound that most people can recognize within a couple of beats.
Her stage presence and the way she performs also adds an element to the Band.
Meg's playing is proof of what Prince once said, "It's the space between the notes.... that's the good part". This dive into Meg's playing, especially the use of rims and other parts of the kit are essential to finding new ways to compliment a piece of music. Thanks for this! And, I'm gonna go play some White Stripes now!
i love prince
The rests are just as important as the pitched notes.
If you like sloppy careless drumming, Meg had a lot to offer.
@@richsackett3423 I think your interpretation of "sloppy" and "careless" says more about you than it says about Meg White.
@@ShouldHaveBeen Then your brain is broken because that’s stupid af.
Simplicity is one of the hardest things to achieve because most players minds try to over analyse things and their egos get in the way and they generally don’t have the absolute discipline for it. Meg was incredible because of what and how she played. The reason there’s a feature about her on Drumeo is because not many other drummers can play or think like she did. Absolute hand in glove playing with Jack’s guitar and vocal.
True, the key to catchy memorable songs is simplicity. Nirvana were masters at this.
"Most players' minds try to over analyze things and their egos get in the way and they generally don’t have the absolute discipline for it." Has nothing to do with ego, bud. YOU may not like what they're playing because you prefer simpler drumming, but you're attributing things to drummers based on your own tastes. If you like simple, go for it. Simplicity is NOT hard to achieve. A drummer like Meg White got famous playing basic beats most people could play in a garage band. What you call discipline I call tolerance for boredom.
@@StumptownDrummer each to their own, bud
So true with that statement!
@@StumptownDrummer you clearly did not understand, that's exactly what many musicians tend to do: overplay and overanalize and sometimes less is more rule really serves a composition better. I play drums myself and it used to happen to me too when I felt tempted to add some more fills, more complexed patterns and later had to stop to realize it would cause much more damage than do any better to a song. If all musicians played only complex stuff, music would be boring af.
I saw TWS on their last tour when I was 17. They had played a marathon show at MSG the night before and due that as well as a weird energy with the crowd, Jack kinda had an off night but Meg really fucking held it down. I could not believe how loud two musicians could be in a big room and being there in person made me realize that Meg’s primal ferocity was the driver behind that energy (which is all the more impressive in hindsight knowing that she was battling with anxiety issues at the time). I get really emotional when I think back to how Meg’s artistic instincts are so unique and overlooked. I really hope she is doing well these days and that she knows she is loved by so many people.
I really think part of what made Meg so powerful was that she's the whole rhythm section, taking over the space the bass guitar would fill for a lot of songs. Rather than busy it up to fill that space, she chose the bass player route, where what you DON'T play is as important as what you DO.
I reckon you hit the nail on the head my friend.
I always loved 70s punk rock music for its simplicity yet playfulness. Meg brings the same spirit to the rock music genius of Jack White.
Sometimes us drummers need to look past “chops” and just appreciate a rockin’ song. The White Stripes (specifically Meg) are case and point. Every track on every album is incredibly listenable. I do not skip songs when I’m listening. I cannot say that about many band’s entire discography, no matter how good the band may be.
you can say that again...there's one of these videos about fucking Ringo....RINGO
*case in point, not "case and point."
@@RockandrollNegro
Nice catch on the eggcorn. However, like many other eggcorns, the incorrect wording still make sense in the context in which it was used. Pedantic points scored to you nonetheless.
Honestly chops have a way of ruining a song.
Chops are overrated. Composing is where it’s at. I’d rather someone write a cool song instead of showing off how fast they can do sweeps in some exotic scale.
Nothing in The White Stripes sounds regular or normal. Guitars, vocals, drums, production... all in the same place, very connected and unlike anything else out there. They are unique!
When you hear Jack play White Stripes songs with his new band you realize how important Meg was.
No. You realize how interchangeable she is. One basic drummer for another.
@@BigNate78 100% disagree. The songs sound completely different with his new drummer. The White Stripes don't exist with Meg.
@@OhanaFilms It would seem Jack agreed by stopping when she quit.
@@marksvideochannel3592 Exactly.
@@OhanaFilms The problem is not everyone can hear those differences. I'm sure there are differences to be heard but as not a drummer and not specifically a White Stripes fan it sounds the same. Which is particularly meaningful when it comes to a band with a song as ubiquitous as seven nation army. 99% of people who hear the white stripes aren't specifically white stripes fans.
Her drum style keeps it simple and direct. Stays directly in the pocket perfectly.
She's an easy target - I'm glad to hear he praises sung. The Stripes are all about the great art that comes from strict parameters, limitations or constraints, self-imposed or otherwise. Artists tend to thrive in such conditions, and suffer with total freedom.
In pop music, yes. Other styles require a lot more focus and effort.
Honestly trying to make songs so catchy and sounding simple is hard. Most techincal players get caught up in thinking that you have to show off and use technical prowess to get attention.
@@corail53 You entirely made that up and proceeded to fart it out your ass.
have you heard of a movement called OuLiPo, an artistic movement where deliberate constraints play a central part in how they go about doing their work.
@@GCKelloch if you're gonna say stuff like that, at least give us a little taste of an example
i think she is also super brave....
i get so nervous before a gig and i only play to 8 people (with 6 being from the other bands and 2 their partners)
i heard Meg had great anxiety before gigs too, which is understandable in her situation.... plus, the added pressure of over judgey people criticizing her drumming...
ugh... so brave
i think about her before every gig
me too! I was at a gig w tons of ppl everywhere and I was just seeing my friends play😭😭 I had such bad anxiety till i got home🥴
@@3peppermints lol... 🤪
I havent listened to the White Stripes in forever. I’m gonna have to change that. Meg’s drumming really helped make them sound so much bigger than the sum of their parts. I love the feeling of them fighting their way through a song to get to the end. It worked so well. What a great drummer.
One of the handful of drummers who always leave me with electric chills coursing thru my spine.
I've been a drummer for 56 years. I've been into all of the usual great drummers you could list. Meg White in the context of this band is nothing less than perfect. Plus she is so cute.
I didn’t need this video to make me respect Meg, but I’m glad it’s here. There’s so much to say about not just the drumming but the dynamic that most of us would kill to have someone like her on our team. But also, I mean, it helps to back up a crazy ass genius like Jack.
Jack has said in interviews that she was playing what he asked her to play, and is far more skilled than people think. Nothing wrong with playing for the song. Gets you a lot of gigs.
She never touched a drum kit before Jack seated her behind one. What's he going to say? "Yeah, I know she's rubbish, but she's my wife and she really enjoys herself"?
@@kooijbasThat doesn't mean she can't practice and get better.
@@dahhmlife He partly stopped the band because she was getting 'too good' and it ruined the primal sound Jack wanted, her playing is amazing
@@kooijbasYou mean his sister? His wife... 😳
@@john-markwaddell2005 you're new, huh?
She's always gotten way more crap than she deserves. I used to play drums for the longest time, and her kind of drumming always appealed to me. During an era where more and more drumming was just straight up pinned to the grid, her internal rhythm and "rushing" kicks just felt damn good. The way she slaps crashes around is also nice, often hitting on the 'uh' or 'e', gives a really sloshy sloppy feeling.
I like her stuff a lot. She hits what she intends to hit when she intends to hit it and her beats are rad. Not sure I could ask for more.
You mean way less crap…
@@playlistmaker90125 you got a real hardon for her dontcha, buddy? Let me guess... you're in either an "extreme" metal band or a rote af hardcore act that sounds like clanking pans. Cry more about it! I'm enjoying your comments. 😁
It's not on purpose dawg. It's just bad
She’s a woman that’s why
@@djwalkerfemaledj no, because she’s objectively bad. It’s actually the other way around. If she was a dude not one goddamn person would defend her. All this praise is just modern feminism and nothing else…
Meg is an extremely solid drummer. She keeps tempo like a metronome and has unbelievable control. She really has a great understanding of syncopation and timing.
Her time was very loose, often behind the beat but regularly just all over the place. She felt the music more than she “played like a metronome”.
@@CookieCurls but it works in a band where Jack was playing with a sludgy style on guitar as well. She didn't keep time in the academic sense, but she kept time with Jack
Ur kidding right?
You know absolutely nothing about drumming. Why the fuck are you talking?
Dragging
Ball and Biscuits is brilliant . Thank you for this tribute to Meg White . Thank you for playing on the drums snd showing the sheet music . Incredible talent . Loved this .
In a world full of drummers ( and guitarists) that all sound the same, Meg White is a lesson in not imitating over edited, gridded, soulless music of the Spotify music era.
She sounds the same😂
@@playlistmaker90125
The same as what?
@@markmorris8532 every other mediocre drummer…
@@playlistmaker90125nah. Her playing is pretty distinct.
I’m not a drummer, but I did a lot of choir and theater growing up, and the hardest stuff to do was the subtle and simple stuff. Holding one note for a whole song and still staying present in the moment is really hard and requires a lot of focus and commitment. When you’re acting in a scene, some of the hardest scenes are the ones with the subtle nuance conversations and expressions. There’s a need for everyone to be big, flashy, and loud all the time in what you do, so it’s really impressive to see someone keep it simple and commit to it.
If Tom Morello, Questove and Butch Vig say your good...your good. Leaving space in your groove is something more drummers should incorporate.
@@mucho_machoreeeeeh
Also Taylor Hawkins.
you're*
@@ruimsilva95 Seriously what are you the contraction police? Put the keyboard down and go get some fresh air...it will help relieve your OCD anxiety.
Seriously, what are you, the contraction police?*
She's maybe the most untechnical drummer ever, but she's a f... BRILLANT musican. Her feel for space is UNBELIAVABLE. She's the one who brings the Garage and Hipiness into the sound. Even Brandon, that can play everything (f.e. I was amazed of his rendition of the newest Linking Park) can't get close to the sound of her. Pure personality play style. Brilliant analysis Brandon, as always! Big ups!
Thank you for giving her her flowers - I always felt it was misogynistic gatekeeping when people said she couldn't play. Meg rocks!!!!
I think the debate between “genius” and “beginner” is a little ridiculous. I think, if anything, Meg White proves something a lot of people don’t want to admit - someone without much technical skill can still make amazing music.
If you are in a band with somebody incredibly talented like Jack White who can cover her complete lack of ability.
Genius’s start out as beginners
@@baalaagaa lots of people think Jack White is a "bad guitarist" because his style isn't technical and the riffs are simple and raw. They're missing the point, and it's the exact same thing with Meg - what they do ~works~ and creates ~cool music~ and that's the important thing
@@baalaagaacomplete lack of ability? Were you watching the video at all? Lol
Technically... it is often overrated... or out of context
She was the designated driver is how I look at Meg. She drove the song kept it on the road and allowed Jack to be Jack. And as much energy as Jack had its her relentless driving beat that gives a song like Seven Nation Army it's pulse.
Exactly, she was driving the song and still leaving a lot of room for Jack so he can be Jack like you said.
I played SNA in a small town cover band and the thing I found hardest to master was that light open hi hat chick on the quarter notes. Her energy and control of it was what makes her great, not technicality.
Nailed it 👌
Totally agreed with you !!!!
@rubevaughn you nailed it. Watch their performance of Goin' Back to Memphis in the Conan O'Brien's show. Jack freaks out and Meg keeps on driving.
There are those people who tell us, that any drummer could play like her. The truth is, that she can play what she wants to play, and it sounds great. Most drummers want to play what they cannot play, and it sounds lame.
Thrilled to see you focus on Meg. I've said for years that Meg White plays exactly what those songs needed and absolutely nothing else.
Older drummer here, I only recently listened to their stuff, Andi must say I love her playing, she only does what's necessary and holds back from tons of fills and rolls which becomes boring, but what she plays is often genius.
I'm also learning to hold back and instead come up with interesting stuff,and its liberating and fun.
Chops are nothing without feel, and Meg's sense of feel is among the very best. So heavy, so iconic.
As a guy who played drums for 20 years and who follows drummers like Weckl, Coleman, Donati, Sucherman, Borlai, Smith, etc. I find her to be amazingly musical. In my 60 years I've never once seen anyone pay for a concert that was just a drummer drumming. Turns out it really is about the music. When is the last time you saw Virgil Donati play even a single song with a simple 4/4 beat all the way through? Weckl? Coleman? You just don't see it. She is what all of us should aspire to. She's living her dream, playing great music and doing it her way. I love her.
Her grooves are so perfect for Jack’s guitar playing. I wouldn’t want to hear more technical drum parts on those songs. It would take away from the attitude and mood of them. Drummers have to have good feel first and foremost.
They’re not grooves…just random playing…
@@playlistmaker90125 You have a bead on the truth of this mediocre player...good to read your comments. I am a skilled drummer who would retire if I developed arthritis or any disability which would shrink my ability to the pedestrian level of meg white.
@@boomer3150lol
@@boomer3150you are so insecure it makes me sad. Good luck with your musical journey. Try playing for the simple joy of it sometime ✨
People usually interpret music by comparison, and that just doesn't work with The White Stripes. I consider them as more of an art experiment than as a traditional band. Comparing musicianship by the numbers just isn't fair with Meg, because their performance is just magic. It's the perfect bridge between old time blues and the garage rock of the 90's. The perfect blend of marketable and expressionistic, experimental music. I miss The White Stripes.
The White Stripes really were quite a weird band for a band that became so big. I miss them so much and as much as I love Jack White's other projects the Stripes still reign supreme in my eyes (Dead Weather come close though)
Their music honestly sounds like it came out of an old-time juke joint. A unique mix of retro and modern.
@@JayPhonomancer glad you put that part about DW, they're ripping.
@maestrovonhuge9397 hell yeah, they never seem to get much recognition, but that might be because they never really tour. I would love to see them live
@@JayPhonomancer I remember first hearing them, getting the vinyl, playing it endlessly, enjoying, then when are they touring and being like 'you can't do this to people'.
I love Meg's drumming, I love that raw heavy sound, and the crash from the symbols sounds awesome. Her drum style is what makes The White Stripes sound so good.
The energy and charge Meg puts into playing the drums is unique! His ability to adapt in synergy to jack rhythm changes is unparalleled. Meg is a great drummer 🥁 and I love her ! ❤️
We miss you Meg! You were the perfect drummer for The White Stripes in the same way that Ringo was the perfect drummer for The Beatles. And you inspired a lot of us, so the naysayers can howl all they want. Much love to you
Your comment makes it sound like she died
Amen!
Ringo sucked too. Who’s the next person that will be honored by Drumeo? Phil Rudd?
@@lifespanofafry1534Ringo did not suck. He was just not that technical😁
@@joe.nail1 don't know anything about her and that's exactly what I thought this person was trying to convey. Seems like they were trying to make her sound more deep and alluring than she really is😂
I was tremendously lucky to watch them live while touring Elephant. It still is one of my favourite live experiences to this day. It still feels incredible to me how such a minimalistic formation could sound so damn full. That day I was blown away by this approach.
I like her 'less is more' approach. Fell In Love With A Girl and Seven Nation Army are great tunes.
@user-lk6wt7qz5v If she had idea or not doesn't matter. Her gut feeling created great music nonetheless. Artistry > technique. Something a lot of modern drummers lack.
@user-lk6wt7qz5v I'm not a pro musician, just an amateur guitar player and heavy rock listener. But I am a pro designer and graphic artist.
When I was young and naive about the world, I was deep into pixel art illustration and thought technique was everything, thinking the purposeful placement of every pixel was what mattered the most.
But with time I learned I was very wrong. The mastery of technique without artistic cleverness is meaningless. It's just boring self-masturbation that only some nerdy peers of your profession might find interesting. It's soulless work. Most of my work of that time, despite having good technique, is forgettable.
What really impacts the world is artistry, and technique is just a tool. Even a complete layman can have great artistic skills and be more important to humanity, than a robotic professional with a perfect technique will ever be.
In fact a lot of praised artists among the top of the world have really poor technique, and can only do things their way. And that's part of what makes them unique and praised.
@user-lk6wt7qz5v typical response of someone who is pissed off that someone who they consider inferior to them is more successful/famous than them. She's the embodiment of punk/garage-rock drumming to me. She's rock'n'roll as fuck.
@user-lk6wt7qz5v still salty your band is nowhere in a conversation?
@user-lk6wt7qz5v not as big as that, it's a sunny day so I'm gonna hit the bowl salty boy.
Meg White is an exceptional drummer! She is pure power, claw. His synergy with Jack in the adaptation to the change of rhythm is unique! Play the drums exactly as it should be for this genre of music. No one else transmits the same emotions to me as she does. Thank you Meg for what you have given us, and for the emotions you have made me feel! ❤️ 🥁
Thanks for the video. Her drumming gives me chills. I hold her in high regard with Danny Carey, Matt Cameron, Jesse Sprinkle, and other crazy-ass drummers. She has a real artistry to her drumming that helped change the way I personally write drums. She's rad! She's not playing prog-crazy, but her grooves, besides being so recognisable, are super integral to how the song sounds. She's a rad drummer and no one else would have come up with her recognisable, important-to-the-song beats. Meg, you changed things! Thanks!
She is perfect for the job. Nothing wrong with staying in the songs lane.
Meg White is a compression lover's dream of a drummer. Her open playing style is perfect for a huge but dry in studio drum sound. It's like extreme Ringo!
extreme ringo, lmao
My favorite thing is how her drum work sounds slightly off-kilter and chaotic. It adds an element of energy and excitement to their music.
Jack's playing is pretty messy at times too, but that's what makes them so great. Rawness is something that is misiing from most music these days, esp when everything is quantised to death. You can tell that even in the studio it's all eye contact and hanging on for dear life. The fact that it could all fall apart an any minute but doesn't makes it a big glorious mess
Yep, raw and a little messy but never, ever, EVER sloppy.
The first big concert I went was The White Stripes' show, in Brazil. They were already one of my favorite bands, but after that day.....
I don't remember lots of things, 'cause I was a small person in the crowd... But I remember how I felt.... Impacted, my rib cage was vibrating with Meg White strength on drums.... They are my favorite band ever, and Meg inspired me in many aspects of my life.... I love her for all the legacy she generated for the girls at this world 😊
Shes in my top 3. Her grooves are second to no one and you can just feel them.
I love Meg Whites playing! The first song I learnt on drums was Seven Nation Army, as it turns out. And yes, her ' less is more' approach, and not having to constantly fill space really works. Her persona behind the kit even looks different, which is a good thing. It's a shame some people detract from her contributions to the White Stripes... I for one am a fan!
Jack's music never got as interesting as in the White Stripes, and Meg was a big part of it. They had some magic, that's what music is about.
The drumming community deserves accurate and unbiased evaluations of drummers, allowing aspiring musicians to make informed decisions and pursue genuine excellence.
Agreed. Sadly, this video is the exact opposite…
Shut, and I can't emphasise this enough, up.
@@playlistmaker90125 Lol, you are so salty.
@@Sindrijo nope, just stating the facts…
@@playlistmaker90125 you have spent time "stating facts" on so many of the comments here. You could just state your opinion and then move on but it is starting to feel like this is personal for you. Did Meg White run over your dog? Did she fuck your gf? Show us on a doll where she hurt you.
Saw them many times, and their final show in South Haven, MS. I miss them so much. Meg is an absolute legend
Just like in writing or cooking, complexity and density can be beautiful. It can also be used to correct/hide mistakes and blend together notes/ideas/flavors to the point where many are unable to pick out the nuances that make the skill interesting. Many masters of their crafts use the idea of simplification to let the individual notes shine. Whether you enjoy Meg's music or not, there is no doubt that she is a master of her craft. There is nothing to hide behind. In the circle of learning, the master and the beginner use basic building blocks, in basic structures. It takes knowledge of the craft to see why one makes history and the other is forgotten.
Thank you! I wouldn't have kept on playing guitar if not for Jack White, and I wouldn't have started playing drums if not for Meg White. The White Stripes were such an important band for a great amount of reasons, but mostly to me because they showed how little (people, chords, notes, ...) you needed to make something that was absolutely killer. And I know bands like Nirvana and others had a similar approach in the 80s/early 90s, but it's all about the generation you're part of I suppose, and I was at the right age to be blown away by Jack & Meg who helped people like me with 0 musical education feeling like, actually, music might not be a thing just for a certain elite. The White Stripes didn't need crazy drum solos or complicated drum parts, that's the whole point of the band - you might dislike the band, but they knew what they were doing, and they did it more than right. So thanks again Drumeo for doing this video - it means a lot to me, and somehow I hope, if she needs it, that it means a lot to Meg too.
You must suck at both…
Oh excellent, I love Meg White’s drumming! Like Moe Tucker’s work, the drumming transcends its usual role of backboning to have an equal, organic conversation with the lead part.
Even to the untrained ear, Moe and Meg sound like no one else - a feat for any artist.
Meg and Jack made me love rock n roll! Meg is a powerhouse that can do what many drummers wish they could, play with feel.
Thank you for this - was getting about sick of hearing people diss Meg's skills and her undeniable contribution to what made that band "The White Stripes". It's so good to see someone singing her praises as she deserves more praise IMO. No she doesn't do what other drummers do - AND? She kicks ass!
This analysis of Meg White is years over due. One of my favorite drummer. Her work in "Red Rain" is perfectly arranged where you want her drive but she teases it only at the end for a bar or two. So in the pocket.
Meg white is one of the heaviest drummers I can think of... absolute monster on the kit, pure feel
Hysterical take.
say something without saying anything
With the amount of space she gives herself she has plenty of time to charge up the power shots.
@@time4807the dick riding in these comments is absurd lmao
She smashes the absolute shit out of the kit
She played the PERFECT PARTS for those songs. I remember the first time I heard them, I thought, that sounds so f****** heavy!
How is it heavy😂
@@playlistmaker90125It's heavy and fucking raw and nasty. Like rock music should be
@@JayPhonomancer she’s not a heavy drummer…Lars Ulrich is a heavy drummer. John Bonham is a heavy drummer. Mike Portnoy is a heavy drummer. Dave Lombardo is a heavy drummer…Meg White is not…
@playlistmaker90125 Bonham is possibly my favourite drummer ever. Generally, I am not a huge metal fan, so while I do love Metallica, I am generally not a huge fan of metal drumming. I don't particularly care for blast beats and all that shit. Danny Carey is amazingly talented, but I find a lot of Tool songs too ponderous to be enjoyable. I love Dale Crover and Greg Saunier, people who play small drumkits like that. You don't have to be metal to be heavy.
I always thought of The Stripes as a minimalist garage-rock Led Zeppelin. Meg's rough and raw style is perfect for the Stripes and if you can't hear the heaviness in songs like The Big 3 Killed My Baby, Red Rain, Ball And Biscuit, Why Can't You be Nicer to Me, or Icky Thump then I don't know what to tell you. Its not metal, but its raw thunderous rock and roll
Honestly, her playing may be incredibly simple but that just makes The White Stripes’ music as great as it is because her style has a certain power that may not have been there if she was a bit more technical
You misspelled boring.
Being lazy is not a style
Yeah, there is some kind of raw energy that comes with this simplicity.
Just like with AC/DC, many people claim anybody could play those simple songs.
And yet, it's not that easy to find people that really nail those songs.
@@etienne1062 Exactly
@@el.pibedelrock playing simple, right in a song, does not mean lazy lol
I loved this. There is not White Stripes without the 2 people, and I have ALWAYS loved her work I think she is a genius minimalist! I never understood why people were harsh towards her, she had it going on so much! If Jack liked it obviously it was great! Thank you, Meg, for your brilliant work and thank you Drumeo for highlighting and explaining this musicology!
Meg is a phenomenal talent, this was wonderfully done, and it was a pleasure seeing her being celebrated for her contributions, rather than being torn down for not conforming to what was popular at the time.
Meg White is one of my favorite drummers. Laser beam focus on serving the song that could only result from a deep and profound understanding of the music and what the Stripes were trying to do artistically.
Seven nation army is the first song I ever jammed to with my buddies, what a simple but powerful track, 13 year old me was so satisfied being able to play the whole thing, big props to Meg and Jack for this classic!
This is great. She is definitely under appreciated as a drummer.
I have just bought a cheap drum kit and had 2 lessons and watching Meg play is inspiring. Not to follow the 'mill' but to play what I feel within the music. Sometimes there is just too much drumming and not enough percussion! I would love to be able to chat with her and meet the woman that feels those rhythms. She and Jack really feel music and vibe so hard you can see it. I only hope that I can find that for myself. And super thanks Drumeo for feeling, hearing and seeing her music!!! Love your channel.
She enhances the guitar riffs, each hit accents a strum, a note or a melody
like its playing drums like a guitarist would
its 50% of how they sounded hardcore
everything she plays just always seems to be so much fun!
It's funny that Jack White has gone out and hired some of the best session musicians on the planet for his solo work, and yet none of it has reached the peak of the work he did with Meg.
Great description of the energy she brings to the table like very, very few other. Nice 🙏
I'm so glad you did this video. I love Meg so much. I am sad she retired. As a drummer, I respect her feral playing. She's both primal and musical. She deserves all the respect she gets and more.
What's great about he style is many of the greatest chopped out drummers wouldn't have the discipline to play such simplified grooves.
It's not always about technicality and complexity in music. People who hate on Meg's drumming style are very close-minded. If we had only complicated, complex music, it would be boring af. Simplicity is as great and needed and ironically not that simple to achieve as it seems to many.
Of course simple drumming can be good. But she's just not.
@@DeuceDeuceBravo in what way?
It takes more skill to take notes out than to put them in.
@@liimlsan3 yeah... no 😄
@@DeuceDeuceBravo Try it. Putting in the right note and taking out the right note are tricky, but the latter has even less room for error. John Williams is known to agonize. Rumor has it he tried every possible combination of five notes before coming up with the Close Encounters melody.
I will always defend meg white to the hilt. She began my journey into learning the drums, you don't need a technical pallet of fills and licks to lay down the most iconic thrashy grooves that a crowd can rock out to. She's smart in her playing and not to be understated, no one sounds like her.
flawless timing driving a high energy track is something that usually only comes out in studio. she just did it like it was auto pilot.
I’ve always liked her drumming but couldn’t put it into words why I liked it. This video explains it perfectly.
I grow up listening WS as I learned to play de the drums. The simplicity of her grooves teached me so much back then. She is one of my favorites.
Thank you for such a well-crafted video! Great song picks too. It's lovely to see all the Meg appreciation in the comments:)
Cannot argue with the noise the two of them make. Magic.
Meg is a very emotional drummer and her drumming helps connect me more emotionally to the music of The White Stripes. That is not an easy thing to do. It might even be more difficult than being a technically superior drummer.
Hell yeah! Good video! I love simplicity in rythm. When Meg is playing I can sence every beat, I can hear it loud and clear, feel it and enjoy it. Meg has never defend herself, she was the quiet one, but without her there is no White Stripes anymore! A genius band, a genius duo, and a GENIUS Meg!
it's amazing how much brilliant music these 2 put out together and how dynamic she is with a basic set up.
After being in so many bands myself, I have realized that listening is more important than showing off how many notes or beats you can put into a song. What amazes me is a two person band, without a bass, sounding so good.
She kinda said "you don't need a million drum sounds to be good" without ever actually saying. I mean come on she could play 1 drum and 1 symbol and still probably make a banger of a track, absolute fucking LEGEND
She only has a big kit in front of her on stage so they don't have to mic up ten different 3 or 4 piece kits.
If it were you, which symbol would you choose? I think I'd go with ☢️. That's a pretty cool one.