Monthly Archives: March 2015

My iPod #459: The Beatles – Good Morning Good Morning

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“Good Morning Good Morning” tends to be the song from Sgt. Pepper that not even Beatles fans really appreciate a lot. Upon listening to the album for the first time in 2009 or so, I found the track to be one of the most likeable ones on there. I don’t want to say that it was simplicity that attracted me to it because the song has quite a complex structure to it, though it’s really the only track on there (apart from the title track’s reprise) which focuses on the four members and their guitars (sort of), bass and drums.

Inspired by a Kellogg’s Corn Flakes advert he saw on the television, John Lennon went on to write the song which can only be described as one of the observational kind in which he describes what he sees going on around him while he’s at work, in the town for a while after finishing the shift, at home for tea and when he’s at a show where he’s able to glance at the girls around him. So the subject matter is not as ‘deep’ on this song as for the majority of the others on Sgt. Pepper, but there musically there are plenty of things about it that hold it up as one of the best ones on there.

It changes its time signature many times. That’s something that still confuses me, and if I were to get all technical about it you would not be able to understand it either. Ringo and Paul own the rhythm section on here. The former playing on a drum kit utilising two bass drums which can be heard in full force during the final minute or so, and whilst playing a sliding bass line which maintains the song’s momentum, Paul showcases his guitar skills by shredding out a soaring guitar solo in the middle. Also, as the song begins to fade out and all the animal noises pan from ear to ear John, Paul, and George jokingly begin to sing in German. What more could you want.

So yeah, “Good Morning Good Morning” deserves more praise than from what I’ve witnessed. Just as important and infectiously catchy.

My iPod #458: Kanye West – Good Morning

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Kanye West’s third album Graduation, the last in the Dropout Bear/Education trilogy (the latter name I made up myself, probably not a good title), was the one in which the rapper now saw himself to be up there as one of the greatest rappers of this generation. Sure he had released two classics before, but it was the 2007 release where his ultimate goal to become known as one of the greatest of all time was set and established. Though “Stronger” was the first single from it to show the new edgier and focused Kanye, it’s “Good Morning” that starts it all off.

The first thing you hear upon entering the disc into your computer is a brief “Uh”, before the track’s beat kicks in followed by a descending synthesizer which leads into Kanye’s declaratory “Good Morning” and the soulful “oooh” sample that repeats after every time he says the phrase. Can’t get enough of that sample, could listen to that every day. In general the track is Kanye psyching himself up, telling himself to wake up, get focused, and prepare himself for what was coming now that he’d made a name for himself.

The guy never disappoints on his album openers.

My iPod #457: Weezer – The Good Life

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“The Good Life” was released as the second single from Weezer’s second album, one that is considered to be their best too, Pinkerton in 1996. Though reception towards the album was not too great when it first came out. You can read about that for yourselves. The song was somehow meant to save the album’s commercial status but by the point of its rush-release the damage had been done.

The song is written from Rivers Cuomo’s frustration after painful surgery in which one of his legs literally had to be stretched in order to match the length of the other. Times were obviously not too great for the guy, and the experience inspired him to write the track.

In it, he still sees himself as a ‘funky dude’ when he looks at the mirror but things aren’t really funky when you’re broken, beaten down, and can’t go around anywhere without a cane to support you. The man is in clear desperation. Now I wouldn’t say this is the most cathartic track on Pinkerton, because that album is catharsis defined. But it is definitely one in which every element from the lead vocals, the improvisational backing vocals, the whole band performance, the fast breakdown which leads into the slow comedown with the slide guitar……. Everything owns. One of Weezer’s best songs, in my opinion.

I wonder if this had been released as the first single whether that would have done anything for Pinkerton back in its day. Oh well.

My iPod #456: The Beatles – Good Day Sunshine

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Opening up the second side of The Beatles’ 1966 album Revolver is “Good Day Sunshine”, a bouncy Paul McCartney number about the happiness one seems to feel with everything (including the weather) whilst being in love. After the somewhat lyrical subject matter in “She Said, She Said”, the track comes to alleviate the mood and start the second half with positive vibes.

Set to a swinging rhythm established by the vibrant piano work and grounded drums, “Good Day Sunshine” is the song to go to on those days where you feel nothing could go wrong and everything’s going your way. The vocal work ain’t too bad. McCartney takes sole lead vocal during the verses, but it’s in the choruses where he is joined by George and John on the harmonies to produce to a simple, repetitive, but memorably catchy melody – one that also gets a sudden key change treatment right at the end of the song.

Only just over two minutes, “Good Day Sunshine” is of the happiest tracks you’ll hear today. I once made it the alarm song on my phone if that’s of any use to you. Made for a good way to start the day.

My iPod #455: Razorlight – Golden Touch

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I quite liked Razorlight back in the day. We can all agree that Up All Night, the album today’s track can be found on is their best work to date. Their self-titled follow up weren’t that bad either. Never listened to Slipway Fires because “Wire to Wire” made me wince every time. That was in 2008. And as the years have gone on the group’s faded into obscurity. A shame. But wouldn’t really excited by a sudden announcement of a new album any time soon. Just my opinion.

But enough on that. We’re going back to 2004. “Golden Touch” was released just a week before the band’s full debut album hit the shelves in stores nationwide. It became quite popular too. The song was the band’s first top-ten hit at the fourth time of trying, becoming one of their signature tunes and one of the British indie anthems of the year in the process.

Johnny Borrell talks/wails in tune about a girl, who unbeknownst to her, is the subject of many conversations behind her back. Borrell thinks this lady is special, she has the ‘golden touch’, and the song is a basic message to her to take no notice of the haters. Never really liked the way the lead vocals are delivered on here, though they’re made up for by the track’s loose feel established by the arpeggiated guitar licks and its overall groovy rhythm. There are some background ‘ha-ha-haaaaaaaa’ vocals at near two minutes in that are just perfect too.