Tag Archives: the beatles

My iPod #248: The Beatles – A Day in the Life

1 Reply


“A Day in the Life” is the grand finale of The Beatles influential 1967 album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. Many consider this to be the greatest song the group did, and see it as the pinnacle of the experimentation the four guys had been undertaking during the mid 60s.

2007 was its 40th anniversary, and it was of an immense deal that the cast of Eastenders did a cringeworthy tribute of it for Comic Relief (take some time to think before you go to this) and a whole bunch of other bands (from Stereophonics to The Fray) got together to do a cover album as a tribute too. But it was two years later in 2009, when I first listened to the album and therefore the song. I did not think that it was worth all that fuss. I found out that it was. It’s still not my favourite of theirs though.

In terms of the track… I think I was looked at its article on Wikipedia one time (God knows why) and the overwhelming detail it listed about “A Day” – its background, the dates it was recorded on, the crescendos of the brass, the combination of Lennon and McCartney’s separate song ideas, the almighty piano chord at the end – it made me think I was missing out on a song of epic proportions. I had to listen to it.

Funnily enough, I didn’t care for it so much the first time. I was thirteen. This opinion has changed. It is one of the greatest album closers ever.

My iPod #225: The Beatles – Cry Baby Cry

Leave a reply


Uni work starts again from tomorrow until April. Can’t wait. Early wake ups three times a week and sitting through two hour lectures on a Friday. What could be better.

Never mind. Life goes on.

“Cry Baby Cry” may be another track out of the many on “The Beatles” that some consider to be filler. On the contrary I think it has as much worth as “Dear Prudence” and “Glass Onion” on the track list, even if it is not as highly regarded as the former or as continuously questioned as the latter.

“Sing a Song of Sixpence” always comes to mind when I hear this song, seeing as many words in that nursery rhyme are found in the track. A king is there, a parlour is mentioned, a queen and so on and so forth. But this track does not have a cheerful melody like that rhyme. In fact, this is the total opposite of what a nursery rhyme should be.

The descending phrase from E Major to G Major within the verses mixed with some minor chords along the way, John Lennon’s light and barely double tracked vocal and that harmonium in the introduction make this track very moody and quite saddening to listen to. It makes it even worse knowing that it’s the last time you hear Lennon’s voice on the album.

The actual track ends before it switches to Paul McCartney with a guitar singing “Can You Take Me Back”, which makes it even weirder and creepy. Then the next track “Revolution 9” starts and it goes all over the place from there.

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

1 Reply


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

Leave a reply


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

Leave a reply


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.