Tag Archives: the beatles

My iPod #208: The Beatles – The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill

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Finally! After almost three years from its release, I have seen the last Harry Potter film. The feels! I kid you not, just two minutes ago I finished watching it. Thank you MegaShare. I never thought I could get an actual working link as the top result on Google, but there you go.

Today’s track is one that would not be acclaimed by a lot of Beatle fans. It was one of my most played tracks in iTunes, which would either impress some people or gain some curious looks by others.

Well I don’t care! I like it. The song’s quite funny. And one based on real events. An American man went to visit his mother in India, where John Lennon and the rest of the band were staying at the time, and set out on elephants to hunt a tiger. A tiger was killed, John didn’t like it, the rest is history.

The song is also noted for the one and only appearance of a female lead vocal on a Beatles track. This pisses off some people, as it was provided by Yoko Ono. For me…. meh. I am indifferent. It is over before you know it.

My iPod #203: The Beatles – Come Together

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When I come to a Beatles song, I always approach it quite apprehensively. What could I possibly say about their songs that hasn’t been said on Wikipedia, on the countless fan sites dedicated to the band, or even YouTube comments where the person copy and paste everything and try to post it as their own original facts?

I can’t. That is my answer. All I can tell you is that this track is one of the most grooviest, laid-back and badass tracks to ever exist through time. Also a contender for one of the best tracks to start an album.

“Come Together” is the opener for The Beatles’ “last” album “Abbey Road“. Every time I see that famous album cover, that track always pops into my head. I think the track just sums up everything when your eyes witness it. The four guys all in time… in unison. Never missing a beat right up to the end.

I was walking to my friend’s house in my suit earlier this year when it was prom day, and I felt so cool listening to this song on my iPod. I have never experienced such a feeling since.

One theory about the song, written by John Lennon, is that each of the four verses describe the members of the group in their own abstract and surreal way. Another theory is that all the verses are about John himself. Lennon, apparently, stated that it was inspired by American politics.

I’ll carry on believing that it’s the first option, because to write those verses and then back it up with such tight instrumentation – with each member being at their best too – it’s almost as if they are saying “Yep, we’re good baby we know it”. Even though they weren’t getting along so well at the time. But still. Listen to it.

My iPod #158: The Beatles – Can’t Buy Me Love

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Another wonderful vocal performance by Paul McCartney. Sings it right from the gut. It was almost ear-piercing when I was always messing up the audio in Audacity and amplifying their tracks to ridiculous levels. I used to like my music very loud; I know now why audiophiles exist.

The first time I heard the song, The Beatles weren’t singing it. It was a cover version that played in a Simpsons episode. From what I recall Bart and Lisa volunteer to work at the Retirement Castle and they persuade the old folk to have fun outside or whatever, which leads to a montage very similar to the original video by The Beatles which you can see above all of this.

That occurred when I was a child. I didn’t see “A Hard Day’s Night” until I was fourteen, so that whole montage was something that I thought was silly and comedic, rather than a parody.

“Can’t Buy Me Love” is a joyful and bouncy song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, but mostly by the latter. You cannot listen to this song and feel sad at the same time. When Paul sings money can’t buy him love, he sings it like he believes it. You want to believe him when he sings it too. This is all very cliché, but it is true. Money’s bad. Love is good. Money does help a bit…. but compared to love it’s nothing. Love is all you need.

Jamie.

My iPod #109: The Beatles – Blackbird

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When I look at my iPod and see that I have to write a post about a song by The Beatles, a feeling of ambivalence arises. I like doing the blog, I wouldn’t have started it if I thought it was a silly idea. However, in regards to songs by The Beatles… I can’t really tell you anything new about them. Probably everything that can be said about them has been written by people, who know much more about music than me, on other sites. Wikipedia’s full of information too. I can only repeat what I already know and what I think of it. That is what I shall do.

“Blackbird” is a pretty song. It’s one of the few where it’s just Paul playing by himself. It’s him, his guitar, his foot tapping on the floor and a short break with a bird singing.

The music makes it seem very light, but McCartney was inspired to write it after racial tensions in the USA in 1968. For you Americans out there, the word ‘bird’ in the UK is slang for ‘lady’ and so the song is about a black girl, which makes lyrics such as ‘waiting for this moment to arise’ and ‘waiting for this moment to be free’ very thought-provoking. Once you find that the song isn’t actually about a bird, it changes everything.

I enjoy it. I hope you do too.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

My iPod #100: The Beatles – Birthday

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HEY EVERYONE. IT’S JUST GONE PAST FIVE O’CLOCK, AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

YES. IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE THE 100th POST OF “MY IPOD”. YES.

I’ve really accomplished in life now.

And what a great way to commemorate it too, with one of the loudest songs on “The Beatles” where Paul celebrates your birthday… as well as his own. I never knew about “Birthday” until it appeared in a trailer for “The Beatles: Rock Band” in 2009. The ‘dreamscape’ for the song in the game is the video above. Although it was written at a time when relations between the band members were starting to deteriorate – It is the only song on “The Beatles” where Paul and John share lead vocals. John sings lower harmony. Paul still managed to come up with this hard rocker, belting out high notes at the top of his chest voice.

Along with “Helter Skelter”, it’s a song where Paul can’t seem to control himself and goes all out on his performance. He takes charge of guitar while George plays bass and if you listen carefully during the drum break, you can here him screaming the measures in the background and he sings quietly during the instrumental break. But seeing as it is his song, one that he and John made up on the spot apparently, he should be allowed to do what he wants. The song also features Yoko Ono and George’s first wife, Pattie Boyd on background vocals.

Enjoy the song, enjoy this momentous occassion. 100 posts, get in.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.