Flying Dutchman is a song with a darker tone and theme, played in an upbeat catchy manner. It is an example of how a track can have a light tune, yet have deeper and darker lyrics that contrast. The main highlight of the song is its brilliant horns and theme, giving audiences a unique listening experience exclusive to the trademark of Michael Kazalski. Based in Portsmouth, Virginia, Michael mainly plays bass but does all the instruments in his recordings. All his songs are written, performed, and produced on Candy Island.
The difference between this track and his other songs such as Cheap and Christine is its darker theme, exemplified by the lyrics and the instrumentals. It begins with a drum roll into a complete set of piano, pipe organs, bass, and horns such as the trombone. Shortly after the intro, simple notes are played by the bass, piano, and drums during the verses. Other instruments incrementally join the sound as it builds into the climactic hook that explodes into a memorable rhythm between the vocals, guitars, percussions, horns, and more. The track utilizes the trombones effectively, giving a grand and epic feeling. The song still retains the same fast-paced, upbeat style of Michael Kazalski through the lyrical imagery of the Flying Dutchman, the legendary ghost ship doomed to sail the seas forever. In this tune, the soundscape can perfectly illustrate the feeling of doom impending, especially during certain parts of the track. In the end, the piece ends with a dark, gloomy sound played in minor keys.
