Drum Teacher Reaction and Analysis: Sting - Seven Days / Drum Covered by YOYOKA

[@yoyoka_soma]

Thank you so much🥁

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Thank YOU for the brilliant drumming and inspiration!

[@BobbyGeneric145]

​@@AndrewRooneyDrums only Yoyo-chan takes the time to comment on reactions!

[@daynelawless]

The rim click tone and bass drum note placement is perfect. Gosh.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yes Dayne 🤘

[@Richard-wh9wm]

Effortless musicality and incredible technique. She is maturing at an incredible rate. Bravo Yoyoka!

[@anthonyelliott243]

Been waiting weeks for you to react to this one, glad you did. Watching her grow and develop over the years has been a joy and watching your reactions, providing insight, has also been a pleasure

[@Mikheno]

Been following her from day one. This kid's off the chart.

[@ChurchOfTheHolyMho]

Several of Yoyoka's more recent videos have been out of this world... And when she's nailing a more simple funk groove and just having fun - her face is lit up and sometimes she is performing for the "large audience." What absolute joy at such a great age for all these fun experiences. Not only does this make me envious of her ability - but also long for those simpler days in the past. Thanks for covering and giving the lesson at the end. Great stuff.

[@greggump9923]

it is SOOO easy to overplay this song, but Yoyoka leaves all the spaces intact. Just brilliant

[@danw1955]

Yoyoka's versatility and technical prowess are off the charts! I remember her about a year ago, getting together with Ellen Alaverdyan, the 11 y.o. prodigy bassist, Mateo on guitar, and Eva on vocals, playing Led Zeppelin's 'The Ocean', and just killing it!! Now here she is totally mastering a 5/4 classic from Sting, complete with embellishments, and my mind is blown.😮 I played guitar and keyboards for years, and my mind still refuses to process even simpler 5/4 songs like Brubeck's 'Take Five', never mind something like this!😳🤣

[@accendlearning2757]

WORD! @danw1955 I was hoping someone would bring in the complexities of Joes (Morellos’) time signatures. Not as a comparison, but as to point out how HARD it is to play those kinds of time meters! 😳 Thanks Dan!!

[@MarStacey]

OH MY GOD I LOVE THIS SONG! Vinnie absolutely destroys this track. I was actually talking with someone about how I was upset that a song called "7 days" isn't in 7/8 🤣🤣🤣

[@MarStacey]

also hi, you should ABSOLUTELY cover this song✨✨✨

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yup! Genius drumming part

[@frankfertier34]

five for working days, plus two extra days for mowing the lawn and going to church; yep.

[@keithallpress9885]

When Yoyoka puts her head down you better watch out.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

HA! Yes 100% Keith

[@RedSinter]

It was even, as a none musicin, but a fervent lover...as Visually beautiful as it was Auditoryly delicious...And I Ate it Up. As a long time admirer she made it look easy and I know it wasn't even with you saying so. Thanks Andrew and as Always Thank You Yoyoka...

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Thank YOU James! 🙏

[@accendlearning2757]

Vinnie KILLS every groove he’s ever played, without a doubt. And Yoyola does as well. So I’m NOT going to compare. That would be just stupid! BUT she does “make it her own”. As usual. Thank you SO much Yoyola! ‘Nuff said…..

[@hurricane1951]

"Exploded" is exactly right.

[@hurricane1951]

Please react to her cover of "What is Hip" by Tower of Power. The whole song is terrific, but the last minute blows me away.

[@340rps]

You just called Yoyoka one of the best drummers in the world. ... rightfully so!

[@cheneyrobert]

Well hard to ignore you when your attire is Pink Floyd 🌈 …..December 5, 1972 we experienced Dark Side before the release…..anyways Yoyo laid it down here…..top shelf stuff….impressive….and her kit is tuned 👌👏👏👏👏👌thanks for your usual insights and hard work 🥂

[@michaeltaylor8835]

Your fave drummer Yoyochan

[@massimostoffella4161]

it's embarrassing to listen to the original version and realize that yoyoka plays it better

[@MichaelIrons-d5v]

hi mt fab upsum on vid mt, i reckon this makes her with these polyrhyms, a real bad ass drummer parexellent.

[@baumi-metal9123]

Yoyo-chan is always so good. Got one from Kanade Sato thats very nice (with Senri Kawaguchi in the background having fun) - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIDdl516Z9R5pck

[@SynicalDan]

Yoyoka moved to California now and is attending a school for the arts. She had a live chat, and I asked her what it was like being self-taught and now getting formal instruction. She said, “It’s making my brain explode!” But also, she’s enjoying being challenged.

[@ThePallidor]

I hope it doesn't stifle her organicness. That's her absolute trump card.

[@gustafsone]

@@ThePallidor There are probably many reasons why she would want to get formal instructions. Can she read music? Can she transcribe music? Can she compose music? Understanding theory can go a LONG way, too. There is also being able to play with others. She is a really great drummer, but on her channel I've mainly only seen her do these amazing covers, but I would love to see her sitting in with a group of other musicians and perhaps creating original music, which can be daunting and hard if you're self-taught and mainly figure things out my ear. Although he doesn't play drums, Steve Lukather says going to music school to learn how to read and transcribe was one of the best decision he ever made for his career. He was quickly able to get a lot of session gigs being able to do all of that on any given day.

[@chrisegbertky]

​@gustafsone you been checking her out lately? Big tour of Japan with non bullshit premier musicians. Recorded 2 EPs with a jazz quartet in Oakland. Plays concerts with them.

[@k-matsu]

@@gustafsone She's been writing her own music since age 8, and performing live shows (professionally) since she was five. As for writing, If you havent heard it yet, check out her song entitled "Sparkling". It was put together/arranged/orchestrated by a top Japanese composer (Yukihide Takayama), but Yoyoka came up with the overall concept - the the basic melody, shifts in tempo as well as all the drum/percussion parts. No question that a formal education in music theory and composition will expand her horizons even further ... but if you think that Yoyoka is just a KZbin cover player, you really need to find out a bit more about Yoyoka

[@SynicalDan]

Also, a chatter told Yoyoka during the live chat that she made this song look easy, to with she replied, “This was NOT an easy song!” Geniuses also labor. 😂

[@Timmayytoo]

Yeah, when she posted on Instagram about releasing this video, she said it's the most difficult song she's learned so far.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Not surprised. It’s Vinnie on the og track

[@Rob-Yule]

Fabulous reaction, Andrew; great in-depth discussion. As mentioned below by another Patreon member Dan, during the last call, she took 6 weeks roughly, and that is while going to school and maintaining an insane gigging schedule. Only YYZ is in the same time frame to learn.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Thanks for the info 🤘

[@philipmorris57]

What pure joy to watch yoyoko, Andrew, her feel is just top notch, it's in her bones, dna etc, big love to you both ❤️

[@gbulmer]

Great Reaction, and very helpful as always. 👏 Yoyoka's conquering whole new summits since emigrating. Her _Tower of Power - What is Hip? / Drum Covered by YOYOKA_ (6m:3s) is such a deep groove the Grand Canyon's downgraded to 'shallow gully'. 😀 Vinnie gives some insight in _Vinnie Colaiuta explains Sting's 'Seven Days'_ (4m:35s) † Maybe try Yoyoka's brother? _Yes - Roundabout / Drum Covered by Shido._ I'd hoped Yoyoka would cover Bill Bruford, my favourite 70s 'band' drummer. However, I'm very happy Shido's taken him on. 😀 I'm never going to be a drummer. However, I appreciate and enjoy music much more because of professional musicians like you 'laying it out' for us 'armchair drummers'. 👍👍 Learning "Seven Days" sounds like a serious undertaking. If you do decide to learn it, then it might be helpful and interesting if you explain your strategy and tactics in a video too, as well as playing your cover. Best Wishes. ☮ † Apparently Vinnie had a cold, so his voice sounds a bit odd. Though he is still able to talk while playing! Edit: Sorry, but YT won't save this with links. I don't understand why because @Baumi- Metal's comment has one.

[@ThePallidor]

This one gets better and better with every listen. She's just so organic and natural that the exuberance sections sound positively euphoric.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yup. Great song too!

[@daveintx]

Andrew, thanks for your excellent review! It is easy to forget now that she is growing up, but the kid is still only 13 years old! What a future!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yup world at her feet

[@lyleaustin2112]

I mean...she is just so damn good...I don't know what else to say haha. What a talent.

[@darrylbennett4297]

Dude I saw this a few weeks ago, she’s next level

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yup!

[@andrewplumb6544]

Doesn't Yoyoka inhabit the thinking of the composers? I think that is her facility. She seems to anticipate their creativity. At 9 she had an great enhancement of her skills, it's just happening again. She plays with a stadium audience in mind too. Goodness knows what is to come from her tour forthcoming in Japan. Thank you for your reaction Andrew, so enlightening.

[@mrh3578]

I love that she keeps challenging herself with really difficult stuff.

[@adam872]

What immaculate playing. Vinnie's drumming on this track is so clever but smooth and grooving, but this cover nails it. Fantastic drum sound sound too, especially the snare.

[@scottryan1989]

Absolutely fuckin brilliant drummer 😂 Jesus

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Awesome player!

[@calnative4904]

Thanks Andrew for bringing more attention to Yoyoka’s fabulous drumming, she is awesome to say the least.

[@tibetbill]

You have had a couple two or three years of doing reactions to Yoyoka and it just keeps getting better. I have been looking at her as a young adult, but with how she has further grown and developed over just the last year, you have to say that, at 13, she is an adult. It is not just her drumming skills, but music is part of her life. It seems like it was just a couple months ago she posted this video about what her intentions were regarding her immediate future. She posts the video and a couple months later, she shows up in the US after the US ambassador to Japan goes to her house in Hokaido to give her the artist visa she applied for along with some gifts. We all know that talk is cheap and moving an entire family from one country to another costs serious money. There are a lot of moving parts to doing something like that. Yet, Yoyoka found a way to make it happen. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3-lg2Zsesyrg68 One of the first things she did was to hook up with Ellen who is a tiny bassist who lives in Vegas. Yoyoka cannot resist the temptation to pickup the stick when the opportunity presents itself. They did this in one take. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqHEfnaPgdyYjbc If you listen to her in the prior video she says that she wants to get into singing and song writing. She hs said that this is not quite that easy as when she is with other musians, they are looking at her as the best drummer in the house so she ends up sitting on the throne instead of up front on stage. I think as she learns the English language and becomes comfortable with it, then we will see her spending time behind a mike. But her recordings are as good as it gets. Just like with this cover, she wipes te drum track, and lays down a new track. No big deal right? But to take possession of the song where you blend perfectly into the timing of the beat of the song and then blend the new track into the song so that it sounds like it was an original recodring, that takes talent. We know that Senri Kawaguvhi is the best female drummer in the world and can play any drum groove in any time signature. We, also, know that when Yoyoka was 7, she released a live video of her playing Onyx which went viral in Japan. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5zLeJqnjd6qi5o Nowadays, both are in the top 500 drummer list and both are seasoned professionals. One thing which Yoyoka still has in her toolbox is her youthful imagination. She is still out to take on the world, even to the point where she wants to solve some of its problems. But even that time will go quick as time keeps slipping into the future. In just a little less than 3 months Yoyoka will turn 14. No doubt there will be more epic performances from Yoyoka and drum reactions yet to be posted. The petals of the flower are opening, but the flower is not yet in full bloom.

[@namorlam]

Thank you Andrew for these comments which are always very much appreciated. I am truly privileged to be able to witness Yoyoka's hatching. Truly a timeless talent.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Been a great journey so far

[@marcellemay7721]

One of my all time favorite grooves ever. When this groove breaks out into the fills, I get shivers up my spine every time. Its like the Purdie half time shuffle... but only way better! She played it impeccably.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yup this is a banger!

[@gbulmer]

Yoyoka recently played this live with professional musicians, but without rehearsal: _Sting - Seven Days (Cover) / Jam at Drum Fantasy Camp in Los Angeles_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2HbfWefn8Z_gJY The Drum Clinic featured Dave Garibaldi, Gary Husband, Larnell Lewis and Dave Weckl !! So she's learning from the very best. In a recent live stream, Yoyoka said Larnell Lewis said something to her afterwards about her playing which made her happy. 😀 Best Wishes, All. ☮ All the accompanying musicians are high-class: jazz guitarist Vinny Valentino, Hagar Ben Ari (bass player on The Late Late show with James Cordon), and Chrissi Poland on vocals.

[@andrewplumb6544]

We did not know when she published this cover that she had months earlier recorded a 7 track Jazz album with the Ken Ocada Group (in one day!). My favourite track Is Hotel El Hot, in 5/4 time, and features a great Yoyoka drum solo. Rumour has it that she has recorded another album with them recently.

[@iamtangaroa]

"Every little thing she does is magic."

[@steveschwartz9771]

The great ones always play not as a manipulator of, but as an extension of, the instrument. Soulfully on display here by Yoyoka.

[@christopherbako]

I want a signed YOYOKA stick. Wgen she gets older I hope she's part of a great band.

[@chrisegbertky]

She's gonna be a part of a lot of great recordings.

[@accendlearning2757]

She’ll probably have a stick with her own name on it. Or named after her. Vic? (Firth) Zildjian? Remo? Any other takers? Jump on it SOON!

[@davecasper4792]

Hi Andrew. Please listen to Yoyoka's What is Hip by Tower of Power next, it's great.

[@olelense]

Damn! This gave me goosebumps! 🤩

[@Iamadrummer]

The drumming may sound simple but is not simple at all to play.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Hell no!

[@jrlaudio]

Hi Andy, somehow I missed you posting this. This was my request, shame on me. I love how this composition was laid down. How the asymmetrical 5/4 beat is "smoothed" by the accents emphasising the four over two bars instead of the five in each bar. It's a two bar groove and feel. So the accents anticipate an even 10 beats instead of an odd 5. It's like you said ... genius. I knew you and your viewers would enjoy this one by Yoyoka. Vinny is amazing, never ceases to amaze me. Yoyoka is such a pocket player and always feels what she plays, it didn't surprise me she would nail this one. OK ... now this New Yorker can go make a nice cup of cAUfee.

[@MrHarry440]

Only one Word! Brilliant🤘

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Agree

[@quajum195]

If you want some heavy sounds but extremly precise and technical you can look up Trey Williams drum cams, he is a beast and a lot of people are sleeping on him

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Sounds good! Thank you 🙏

[@billphelps5611]

1979 Vinnie behind Frank Zappa is pure magic...Yoyoka is magic!

[@donnelson6694]

She makes everything look so easy.

[@davidmejia7908]

She is a natural born wonder!

[@RedSinter]

❤ Andrew...besides luv'n the channel...and analysis of course, I love Yoyoka...this cove of hers just floors me. I recognized the difficulty immediately having been in my youth a close friend of Johnny Cola before fame and our association of musicians in our local HS Rock and Roll band. So, that said it just captivates me as to how effortlessly she plays it. VC's composition is Genius as you say as is her cover. Is beautiful, joyful, and delightful. And I will be listening to it often. In fact this is my 4tg listening and I expect many more viewings to come. PS...Thanks for being here.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

I think even she said this one was very tough to learn/play

[@RedSinter]

@@AndrewRooneyDrums 😂 I don't doubt that...in fact Wave Potter a younger Drummer Analysis Channel fellow said he bet it took her at least 3 tries 😂. I think it was year before last when she and her family came to the US she and her family made a special trip to see Wave and they played together he had Shock and Awe written all over his face and thanked his stars he played acceptable.

[@marksowers5041]

[@BobbyGeneric145]

Andrew you had STANK FACE during the 2nd chorus!

[@jonosullivan4727]

I usually say I'm speechless, but i will say she is a master of her art who gives me goosebumps every time ❤

[@raunohamalainen9667]

Yoyoka is a master of chostnotes!

[@m.aurelius1475]

There's a whole lot going on there...

[@LateCambrian]

I have to say, Seven Days is one of Sting's greatest solo songs. Sounds so good with Yoyoka's playing, wow.

[@ronaldluning4010]

Similar to the sound of muzak, 7/8 looping under 7/4.

[@ivanbutler6079]

Vinnie would be proud. Probably is.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yes Ivan! 🤘

[@Glen.Black.]

When she was here in Vegas a couple months ago, she attended the "Sting" concert, and subsequently put this cover out. Awesome young lady (as you know)!

[@jeffmakepeace9084]

I f you havent seen the Tower of Power cover she did you need to check it out "Tower of Power - What is Hip?" Amazing and great pocket, a must see!!!

[@mikemath9508]

it takes tremendous talent to hit cymbals lightly

[@accendlearning2757]

Yes it does Mike. Amongst her other subtleties, she’s just so FASCINATING to observe her & “technique” unlike an adults’ usual, (by comparison) “stiff” handling of the sticks.

[@Petergoforth]

Sneaking in a time-signature request via comments, brilliant fusion jazz by Senri Kawaguchi. I hope one day she and Yoyoka will play together, perhaps with Gev Delano on bass. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKmQgXptrNyqbbs

[@drummermomcjs]

Drumeo is awesome! There is so much content and a thriving community to encourage drummers at every level of playing. Drumeo has challenged me and caused my drumming skills to improve, but more importantly, I enjoy drumming way more now. I highly recommend Drumeo to any musician who wants to improve.

[@madlove1581]

Best cover she has done!

[@adladl4276]

Didn't know it was Vinnie on the original.

[@sanchezzz1]

Yikes indeed! What a permasmile I have on.

[@zacharystokes]

I REALLY enjoyed this video, and I’m not a drummer. It’s one of my favorite songs, but hearing how you break it down is sublime.

[@mlinderict]

Back to this as a good evening watch. What is amazing is the album track that follows this is "St. Augustine in Hell," another Vinnie masterpiece!

[@DaveyL1954]

If I may chip in my 5cents worth. Covers are all very well. But what is the point of this? Watching some kid being able to copy a master? My initial reaction is, please let me watch Vinnie. It's like looking at a copy of the Mona Lisa. So what, you can copy something.....so what.

[@patchitagain7373]

She drums awesome, but very robot-like, where's the emotion ???

[@hendrikmorang2851]

5/4 is never easy

[@gixxerboy555]

Sting has no easy drum songs..

[@Rob-Yule]

Her father Aki does all the recording and mixing - it's in the credits, and he is a genius!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Ah right. I saw a video of her saying she did everything so I assumed it was always the same

[@Rob-Yule]

@@AndrewRooneyDrums She is taking a music production class at the Oakland School for the Arts and is certainly capable ! Sometimes I / we / she / him etc are fuzzy in translation!

[@Glen.Black.]

@@AndrewRooneyDrums Yeah, I think she does certain ones. Aki is a sound engineer himself and has been teaching her for a long time. She is fully capable of doing it all, but I think Aki does it mostly because of her insane schedule and juggling school work etc.

[@sliverhi]

Great analysis.

[@d05wtt]

Your wave back to her at the end made me laugh….as if you were admitting defeat or just giving up….lol

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Correct.

[@thegoatchild3545]

Mind blown.

[@michaeltaylor8835]

We love you Yoyoka

[@michaeltaylor8835]

Totally nailed it

[@ruthlessreid9172]

Wow she is amazing.

[@raymondrobson4400]

This girl is phenomenal!!! I've seen several videos of this young girl playing and she's pro. SOMEBODY PUT THIS GIRL IN A BAND!! ☺️

[@andrewplumb6544]

YOYOKA has several projects at present. Regular at Whisky a Go Go, Ultimate Jam Night. Drummer of choice for Cali 3 and she plays live and has cut 3 albums with the Ken Ocada Group (Jazz Fusion). She is also bit by bit recording her own music album. She may be playing all the instruments herself because she can. And then there is the family band too.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yup she’s in multiple acts 👌

[@theopinson3851]

This song was what inspired the band Meshuggah.

[@frankfertier34]

indeed ???

[@theopinson3851]

@@frankfertier34 yep, they’ve talked about it a lot in interviews. You can also hear a lot of Vinnie’s influence on Haake’s playing especially on the early stuff.

[@432b86ed]

The Yoyoka video is slightly out of sync with the sound. Just sayin' Best regards Andrew.

[@luciemoreau1460]

You should react to her brother Shido, he's a great drummer too

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

What!? 🤯

[@ultantierney8562]

​@@AndrewRooneyDrums her mum plays drums too. When their family band play they all swap around instruments on different songs

[@prltqdf9]

7:06 If you would have read the video description on the original you would have learned that "Recording, mixing, videography and edit video by @soulmarkifme", which is Yoyoka's dad.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Ah right. I saw a video of her saying she did everything so I assumed it was always the same 🤘

[@Glen.Black.]

That's a bit harsh. You could have framed that a little friendlier. Reactors have to spend a lot of time doing the reaction, editing, etc. and don't always have time to check out all the details. They have other obligations and many have full time jobs, etc. I've seen many reactors that don't even know the names of the musicians they are reacting to. Andrew does a great job with his reactions and breaking the song down and analyzing the play of the musicians he reacts to. To miss a small detail like that is nothing. He provides awesome content for our pleasure and entertainment at no cost to you. You will find most of his fans, and YOYOKA's fans are more supportive and appreciative of his efforts, and will normally frame that as a reminder rather than a scolding.

[@Glen.Black.]

@@AndrewRooneyDrums Hey Andrew. We appreciate all that you do! Please see my response to Starship.

[@prltqdf9]

​@@Glen.Black. I managed to read the first three words of your effeminate wall of text before bursting into laughter. If you think that remark of mine was 'harsh' you don't have the slightest idea of the meaning of the word. Man up and grow a pair already! As an additional note, I've noticed that there is a disturbing number of people today just like you whom live in a constant fear of hurting someone's feelings. It's like an epidemic, of which end-product is anxiety, excessive amounts of it... and it really shows.

[@WhereMyCountryLies]

Yoyoka also did a cover of 'When the Levee Breaks'. but, I would like to have your opinion. I don't think she had to right 'tone'. maybe, it's just me.

[@wayne7725]

Led zep recorded it in a stairwell. That's why they couldn't reproduce it in concert.

[@WhereMyCountryLies]

@@wayne7725 yep. but Yoyoka don't seem to have to right tone ....

[@svenlima]

There are so many links in the video description that I can't find the link to Mrs. Yoyoka's original video. Why isn't it on top? Or is it?

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

It's the first link

[@svenlima]

I see: All links are blue font but this one - this is why I didn't realise that it was a link. Furthermore "OG Video" does not say anything about the content. What does "OG" mean? Why not "Yokoka's original video"? Sorry for the critisism. Have a nice day.

[@musiconyourowntermspodcast6128]

Couldn't find a video in your list, but how have you not reacted to Alan Cassidy?? Black Dahlia Murder live videos and drumcams aplenty my friend. Stupid good. Also contributes drums to a uk tech death band Slugdge....great playthrough video on an electronic kit and computer chair.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Thanks for the tip!

[@gabebabe1]

Her best ever - astonishing - her transitions are next level

[@lennarthage8942]

Talang and a Talang? She is ABOVE that level...