Video Drum Cover – Calogero – Voler de Nuit

“Voler de nuit” is a particularly interesting Calogero track for drummers because its aviation imagery is matched by an arrangement that gradually builds a sense of movement and lift. Here’s a drum-focused look at how the song came together and how it reached the stage.

Released in 2017 as the opening track of Liberté chérie, “Voler de nuit” is one of Calogero’s most cinematic songs. Its subject comes from the world of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and the romance of night flying, but the song goes beyond aviation: it uses the view from above to imagine a world without divisions, where people appear equal from the sky. The lyrics were written by Paul École, while the music was composed by Calogero.

Calogero has explained that his songwriting process generally begins with the music. He develops a sound or melody, often starting with his bass and piano, and then works with lyricists to find the right words. For “Voler de nuit,” that collaboration with Paul École produced a song built around Saint-Exupéry’s image of flying at night. The lyrics place the narrator in the cockpit, looking down at the world and reflecting on borders, conflict and human solidarity. Calogero himself described it as a song about peace and Saint-Exupéry.

For a drummer, the recording credits are especially interesting. The album credits list Jeremy Stacey on drums, with Christophe Dubois also credited for percussion. Calogero handles bass and a variety of other instruments, while Jan Pham Huu Tri contributes guitars and programming.

Stacey’s role gives the track its sense of forward motion. The drums do not simply mark time; they help create the feeling of a machine travelling through the night. The arrangement begins with the sound of an aircraft engine, an effect retained even in the live version, immediately placing the listener inside the story. From there, the rhythm section supports the gradual expansion of the melody and chorus.

The song also received a special live treatment. In 2017, Calogero recorded a live version of “Voler de nuit” at Abbey Road Studios in London, later released on the deluxe edition of Liberté chérie. In 2018, another intimate live session was filmed at the legendary Studios Ferber in Paris, while Calogero was touring France.

The song became part of his concert repertoire and was performed during his Liberté chérie tour. At L’Européen in Paris, contemporary concert coverage specifically noted how much greater the song became in a live setting.

For a drum fan, “Voler de nuit” is a lesson in movement and atmosphere. The drummer has to make the music travel without making it feel heavy. Like the aircraft described in the song, the rhythm section carries everything forward—quietly, steadily and with a sense of freedom.