Drum Sheet Easy – Superbus – Travel the World

The track appears on Superbus’ third studio album, Wow, released in October 2006. “Travel The World” emerged as part of a burst of creative energy for the band: vocalist-songwriter Jennifer Ayache (Jenn) and her collaborators sought to write something that combined bold lyrics, catchy melodies and rock-pop drive. The lyrics themselves — referencing cities like Paris, Rome, New York, Tokyo and San Francisco — evoke wanderlust, romantic adventure and the thrill of movement.

Behind the scenes, the song was arranged by the band members (Jennifer Ayache, Michel Giovannetti, François Even, Patrice Focone and the drummer, Greg Jacks) and produced at ICP Studios in Brussels. Greg Jacks had recently joined Superbus (after Guillaume Rousé) and his drumming became a key part of the band’s third-album sound.

From a drumming-fan’s vantage point, “Travel The World” is a compelling case study in how the groove underpins a pop-rock song with energy and motion. The tempo and feel are upbeat but not frantic: the beat gives you forward momentum. The kick drum locks in with the bass guitar to drive that feeling of being “on the move” (travelling). The snare hits are clean and crisp, hitting on the backbeat to provide stability, while the hi-hat or ride cymbal carries the pulse and the toms and fills provide lift especially heading into the chorus. The way the groove opens up in the chorus – with cymbal crashes, larger fills and perhaps more dynamic playing – emphasises the lyrical declaration “I wanna travel the world (with you)”.

Live, Superbus included this song regularly in their set-lists during the “Wow” era and the following tours – one review of a concert in Cologne (26 Nov 2012) notes that Greg Jacks and the band delivered the track with strong live energy. In the live format the drumming often becomes even more expansive: the fill into the chorus may be extended, the cymbal crashes more pronounced, the groove slightly stretched so the audience can feel the motion and the arrival. The drummer’s job is to sustain the momentum, keep time tight and also allow space for the guitars and vocals to shine, while the rhythm section remains the engine of the song’s movement.

For a fan of drums, “Travel The World” by Superbus is proof that great drumming in rock/pop isn’t always about flash or extreme technique: it’s about groove, feel, dynamics, and playing in service of the song’s driving theme of travel and motion. Greg Jacks’ performance keeps everything moving forward, gives the song its heartbeat, and gives the band its forward thrust.