(Credits: Far Out / APA-Agency)
The song to encapsulate a drummer’s madness is ironically believed to have “feel good” properties, according to a formula devised by a neuroscientist at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. They held a song’s positive bodily response to be brought by a combination of tempo, lyrics and key – and Led Zeppelin captured the perfect ratio.
‘Moby Dick’ began as a showcase for John Bonham’s enthralling talent on the drums. Belligerent, brutal, brave, the track took on such a flame on stage that it was sometimes extended from its record length of four minutes up to 15, 20, even 30 minutes. The troubled life of a family man’s homesickness came alive on tour under copious amounts of cocaine he allegedly kept at his feet to restock his nose at the start of his instrumental solo.
Dubbed ‘La Bête’ or ‘The Beast’ by a French label executive, though most commonly known as Bozo, he brought out his erratic temper each time ‘Moby Dick’ was brought to the stage. The track was named after Herman Melville’s novel, reflecting the song’s powerful rhythms and obsessive performance.
According to Dr Jacob Jolij at the University of Groningen, this tempo is a core element of pleasure for listeners. A pop song is typically around 118 beats per minute, while a feel-good song averages 140-150 bpm. The second element of cerebral enjoyment in music is a clear pattern in an upbeat major key. This track’s sombre yet uplifting momentum contains a lot of adrenaline, which becomes uplifting in its moody motivation.
Scientists at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital at McGill University found that physical reaction to musical enjoyment releases dopamine, a “feel-good” chemical that negotiates with the reward parts of the brain. Chills down the spine, increased heart rates, goosebumps, are some examples of bodily reactions we experience if the song fits the formula – neuroscientists at McGill concluded that we can even experience these in anticipation of emotional music.
The general pattern Jolij found would obviously include music of all genres and bring on different emotional states. Some make you bounce up and feel productive, some are more mellow, and some make you want to dance. Somehow, ‘Moby Dick’ does all three.
Although the study is from 2015, the musical examples mentioned are from the 1980s or before. Jolij doesn’t seem to associate good music to modern day artists, and Led Zeppelin fits the script. Although born as an instrumental filler for the album Led Zeppelin II in 1969, ‘Moby Dick’ was actually ahead of its time, since it was the second drum solo featured as its own track on any rock album in history, only narrowly beaten by Cream.
A year after its release, the track stunned everyone at London’s Royal Albert Hall when Bonzo interrupted his performance to lay down his sticks and start powerfully playing with his hands.
A 1973 performance in LA coincided with Bonzo’s birthday, wherein his 20-minute-long Moby Dick rendition was forcefully paused for the whole band and crew to sing him ‘Happy Birthday’, since it was during ‘Moby Dick’ that he came alive.
Related Topics
The Far Out Led Zeppelin Newsletter
All the latest stories about Led Zeppelin from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.
