What Is The Most Complex Beatles Song?
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- In today's live stream we answer the question of what is The Beatles most complex song, and why.
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In just one calendar year alone (1967), five of Lennon’s songs were Strawberry Fields Forever , Lucy in the Skies With Diamonds, A Day in the Life, All You Need Is Love, and I Am the Walrus. In one year. A mere mortal of a musician would be lucky to write as many legendary compositions over an entire lifetime.
There will never be another group that’s as prolific or culturally significant.
And a good year earlier: I’m Only Sleeping, She Said She Said, And Your Bird Can Sing, Dr. Robert and Tomorrow Never Knows.
Of course, in just a few weeks in 1964, he wrote 10 songs for A Hard Days Night.
@@JoelGarcia-gt6wlTotally. What I just meant, this contribution - all the songs of his - to Revolver was already stellar and highly special, in my mind
That was less than a year.
The whole B-side medley from Abbey Road is very complex, sophisticated, and absolutely BEAUTIFUL
Absolutely agree 10,000%. God, I wish they would have continued in that style with many more albums.
Yes and watch Fab Faux reproduce it LIVE… amazing what tools can do now in the hands of talented folks!
I won't say that is the "best" the Beatles ever did as far as an album or album side but it is objectively hard to argue against that this really was a display of each of their best studio performances. What a way to go out... Abbey Road and Let It Be. At their best studio and live and at their best leaving fans wanting more after a decade of already dominating.
John Lennon was a genius, as is McCartney... together they were deadly!
The back side of Abbey Road is the greatest b-side in the history of recorded music.
All I want for christmas is a Rick interview with Paul McCartney!
McCartney is already quite old, I fear that he may go any day and it would be a pitty if Rick doesn't have the chance to interview him. I feel most interviews of Paul are less about music and more about beatles' nostalgia (nothing wrong with that), but we need more of Paul talking about music.
I’d love it because he will ask new stuff about his bass creativity and how those melodic songs and riffs. Rather than the 1000th time of how did you write yesterday.
Paul died in 66
@@rona4851 that joke died the year before.
@@Frst2nxt joke??
The chances of 4 young guys from a coastal town in England this incredibly musical and talented ever coming together again at the same time and create what they did, will never ever happen again. I thank God every day of my life that I was alive then to witness all of it.
You're absolutely right!
You're right but that coastal town was a vibrant port city with a massive flux of musical influences from all over the world colliding with the traditional native sounds.Liverpool: a true musical melting pot.
Liverpool is a fairly large port city. Which was much larger before political boundary changes...just saying.😉
I agree, God had had something to do with it and the devil had something that it was afraid of John RIP. Notice intentional capitals and the lack there of.
@@EnzoFerenczyo that nonsense is absolutely not necessary and takes away from their talent and skill. No need for divine silliness
The Beatles are not Boomer music, as younger people like to claim. The Beatles are timeless music. From growing up with commercial radio in the '60s to fusion and bop in the 70s to ska/ alternative since, I have never lost my love for the Beatles. If anything, it's stronger than ever. They transcend generations. Their melodies, regardless of complexity, are unmatched.
Even their earliest tunes and those they gave away are awesome 😎.
Well stated!
"Bop in the 70s" Wtf are u even talking about bruh? Bop was a type of jazz from the 50s.
I think he was talking about the music he listened to at different phases of his life.
My head will never be able to process that they went from Please, Please Me & Love Me Do to I Am The Walrus & Blackbird in 4 years. 4 years!!!
That's one insane learning curve.
Add a couple years for "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" to "Revolution #9", which as far as I know they never performed live.
I think it was a throwback to their finger picking skiffle days
@@carlsaganlives5112 revolution number nine is literally just a cacophony of sounds, not quite performable live lol
@@yeehawo7 Pretty sure Yoko has, though.
@@carlsaganlives5112 LMAO
Norwegian Wood and Rubber Soul was the album that moved the Beatles away from the rest of the music world. It was definitely a turning point in their music writing.
Well, that's one of their least musically complex songs. But it's a strange question to ask. The Beatles didn't seek complexity for the sake of it. Their songs typically _are_ more complex than most pop songs - but the beauty is, they don't _sound_ it. Like Mozart - on a simpler level - it's 'the art that conceals art'.
Consistently great were the Beatles. But you can't under estimate the power historically of the British Invasion itself. Added up, it just about knocked America off the block as to who owns pop music and rock n roll respectively. The second after JFK was murdered, boom, Great Britain just steamrolled pop rock, something the U.S. had owned lock, stock and barrel for decades. And The Beatles led the way.
Yeah 😊people thought they were over...but the lads were busy in studio 💪🏽💪🏽
Agreed. The jump from "Help!" to "Rubber Soul" was mind-blowing. Then, the jump from "Rubber Soul" to "Revolver" was Earth shattering! To me, the only band who even came close to that in my lifetime was Radiohead from "Pablo Honey" to "The Bends" to "OK Computer." 😁
@@mysticmerman Revolver is my favorite Beatles album.
Not only is Walrus sophisticated, weird and beautiful, but listen to George Martin's orchestration - unreal! This has got to be one of the greatest recordings of modern times.
That whole album is wonderful. I thought Walrus was weird the first time. I thought there was a problem with my dad's tape in the middle muffled part. I remember listening to it in the backyard in my tent when I was either 6 or 7 (I'm 44 now). Penny Lane is my favorite of the album. Martin helped prove, along with Pepper that rock music didn't need to be only guitar, bass and drums.
Indeed, and don't forget the tape loops they added to that orchestration. An unbelievable masterpiece.
Jim Carey’s performance on I Am The Waltus is outstanding!
And yet IATW is the “B” side to “Hello, Goodbye”
@@Pat-nl4wkand it’s a billion times the song.
I was listening to Penny Lane the other day and it hit me yet again how absolutely brilliant it is. So deceptively simple. Brilliant storytelling through song. I’m so glad someone agrees with me 😂 I can’t talk to my daughter about it.
It is a masterpiece musically and lyrically..
The Syllabic rhymes are just amazing !
Penny Lane is a masterpiece. I will admit that John was always my favorite Beatle, and his songs were life-changing for me, but there's no denying that Paul is a master composer: Penny Lane, Got to Get You Into My Life, And I Love Her, She's Leaving Home, Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey.. so many more
That’s my favorite Beatles song overall
And Paperback Writer! @@U2WB
What seduces me most about that song is the bass line, Paul's Rickembacker sounds great and the song revolves around his notes.
I think that a good example of vocal harmony in the Beatles is 'If I Fell'. Wonderful interplay by Paul and John.
I love the key change at the very beginning
"If I Fell," is the song we used to test a vocalist ability. It messed a lot of people up! Great song.
One of my favourite Beatles song.
A vocal key change within 20 seconds of the opening bars..incredible, and such a complex but beautiful vocal melody.
The genius of Lennon at 22!
Fully agree. The vocal harmonies are wonderful. I can never listen to it only once. Masterpiece.
For different time signatures, and four keys, “Happiness is a Warm Gun” was a favourite song of the Beatles themselves.
Absolutely one of the most ‘flex’ numbers they did.
Great song of theirs, was an amalgamation of about three of ones they were working on...
That's the first one I thought when I saw the title of this video
And the same for me, ”Happiness is a Warm Gun" is the song I immediately thought of..
Same here
"If I Fell" -- I'm not sure if it qualifies as complex, but the progression there is definitely really unexpected. Borrows a bit from jazz standards I guess, but there's something really special about it. I'll always be mystified by how they came up with that one, and that was when they weren't even spending a whole lot of time crafting the songs! Probably tossed it off in an afternoon... It's not fair how good they were.
I had that song in mind too! It always struck me as "what???" when listening to the chord changes :)
Has it not occurred to you that perhaps the story we’ve been fed isn’t true?
Honey Pie is jazzy also
@@GT380manAre you a Paul died guy or are you saying they didn't write those songs? Or something else.
@@GT380manabout what?
A lot of today's musicians do not give The Beatles enough credit. The Beatles songwriting is more than meets the eye. Their chord progressions are out of this world and so complex. Thank you for the great video Rick.
Not to mention the vocals, the harmonies, the lyrics, the message, the world-changing-impact ...
There are 13 different chords in the intro to I am the walrus alone!
I'm 65 bought first guitar chords charts back in the late 60s
You said these were not available Rick. I'm 65, how old are you?
Not to mention melodies - which so many "songs" don't bother having these days. @@benjamindoverr3455
Not exactly complex . Just unusual .
Lennon was an icon. I listened to "Yes It Is" yesterday. His voice was the main event on that song. He gave it all he had, right to the limit. No window dressing. Blew my 14 tear old mind when they came out in 63". Has not stopped.
Totally agree and well & truly on the same page has to be 'This Boy.'
Both "Yes It Is" and "This Boy" were among the last Beatles' tunes to be released in stereo and two of my personal favorites. Great harmonies and vocal arrangements. Truly years ahead of the rest of the music world.@@grahamegreen789
Imagine if and when Aplle create a Love 2 album, and Giles Martin just adding strings taking away the instrumental and lifting in the Because harmonies it would be fantastic😎👌
Yes it is doesn t get the love it deserves. Ive seen it on several worst Beatles Song list. I really like the Anthology version, the harmonies are so much clearer.
No one has mentioned "Because"- that is beautifully complex.
He does mention it.
Inspired by John having Yoko play Moonlight Sonata backwards. She did contribute something! The vocal harmonies are otherworldly. That's what makes the song.
I did! but only 9 minutes ago, not 9 months!
and I'll include Julia.. always found it haunting and out of reach (for a normal composition..), especially that weird turn in the middle
I agree. "Because" really is complex in its harmonies.
I love the modulations and gorgeus melody in "Martha My Dear," one of the Beatles' most underrated gems. It's a helluva lot of fun to play on a piano.
Agree - it's a brilliant song. Never performed live by Paul.
Apparently Paul had an unusual style of piano playing where he'd use his left hand for the melody and right hand for the background chords..etc.
Absolutely adore that song
@@celt67 Yesterday that I heard something like that. But I can’t exactly recall if that’s the order of things. But I guess he’s a lefty… So maybe it makes sense. So Paul is playing piano on the wrong side… And Ringo is playing drums with a kind of a flipped kit. The truth is out there…
@@celt67I don’t think so. I’ve never heard that in his playing. In fact, the very song “Martha My Dear,” is not played like that. He basically plays octaves with his left hand, and melody and riffs with his right. Same with Lady Madonna, Hey Jude, Let it Be, Golden Slumbers, You Never Give Me Your Money, Single Pigeon, 1985, and on and on.
I once auditioned for a Beatles tribute band and it really opened my eyes as to how tough that stuff is to do Lots of singing and playing together and it's not just strumming G C and D all the time.
I can’t sing and play hardly at all, I played in a Slayer tribute band years ago and sang one song….War Ensemble,..and i had to constantly practice it to keep my chops up, or I would mess it up.
I have mad respect for singer/players!
Cheers!😉👍
I have a reissue 62 Hofner but never played in a Beatles tribute band , had a couple of Ric black glo 4003 , Maple V63 4001 now gone should had kept that one .
Play every Sunday despite M.S. , 4 to 6 different songs every Sunday. With my gear Ampeg V4B HLF 6X10 Volume is low , PA. is bare bones reason for my cab.
ha! True. I used to play and sing The Beatles' Birthday in a coverband a long time ago. It took me ages to learn how to play and sing a part right near the end. I can't remember exactly, but I'm pretty sure it was when the riff is 'pushed' as it repeats a few times with a vocal line.
dude, don't exaggerate, in intellectual pop music we also have an Em chord, maybe even an Am!
PS thats a sarcasm
Yeah, it's like you're trying recreate music played by the greatest band ever.
Another thing about the Beatles over their career is how their music never got old or outdated. Not to mention they went with the times as far as not getting dated with the same old stuff. They either went with the flow of time or started a flow that themselves never went out of style while keeping up it. Going on 60 years now and their music never gets old as many decades you listen to them.
I always imagine this dude as a musical sports announcer.
"Amazing use of a diminished chord there by Lennon."
Wow i love to watch when you explain Penny Lane and Straberry Fileds. The funny thing about both songs are they never get No.1. the horrible Please Realease Me by Engelbert Humperdinck takes No.1 what a pity
That “Eric Johnson” lick you highlighted from “Strawberry Fields Forever” was played by George on the swarmandal, an Indian harp-like instrument that he also played on “Within You, Without You.”
I thought it was something Indian and not a strat.
But, the fact that there are no minor chords in I am a Walrus is just mind blowing. The whole thing sounds like its in minor chords. Lennon was amazing.
That’s coz the melody and a lot of the string parts are written in a minor pentatonic scale, which give the song a kinda minor, off kilter feel, even if the song is in a major key.
i've noticed, at least, i think, that the beatles seem to often substitute where another composer would have a minor chord with a dominant 7th chord, almost like they are saying to the listener "we know that you are expecting a minor here, but we're the beatles, so we're going to give you a major that has a minor 7th in it, and that's good enough. trust us. we're the beatles."
@@winstonbbailey8740 that's jazz/blues vocabulary
There's an F sharp minor 7 in the second half of the verses.
@@gerrycoogan6544 actually it's D/F#
Something and Strawberry Fields are 2 of their greatest songs. Like, literally 2 of the top 3. Crazy that as much as the Beatles were "Lennon/McCartney" that George wrote perhaps what is their greatest song. Truly unbelievable and ridiculous that John, Paul, and George were in the same band. Unlimited talent and imagination.
Something is a great song but I wouldn't say it's their greatest (and isn't _that_ saying something - no pun intended). But I do wish Ringo was given more credit. Something and Come Together wouldn't be as great without his incredible and 'musical' contribution. He's masterful on Rain and even though the idea for the syncopated drums on Ticket to Ride was actually Paul's, Ringo's execution is superb. He was the perfect drummer for the perfect group.
@@raindrops21_9soooooo many people do not know that fact about Ticket to Ride, not even some drum Scholars. Even so, it has Ringo's feel, that makes it great and - of course unique. Ringo is a genius.
When you take the lyrics into account, "Strawberry Fields Forever" may be the most complex and profound of all of them. "I am the Walrus" is modern art in any era.
That's a good one too.
Walrus yes, it is Surrealistic Art: Picasso or Dali on song.
Strawberry Fields is hands down the most harmonically sophisticated song the Beatles recorded. Lennon doesn't get enough props as a composer/musician. The common thread is that McCartney was the musician and Lennon was more of a Lyricist who played some basic guitar but many of his songs are devastating on a purely musical level.
My brother-in-law was a professional musician. He said Something was probably the most perfect song he'd ever played. He loved it.
I used to play solo -- like at Open Mikes -- hardly a professional. Later, when I did some home recording, I realized just how many liberties I take with other peoples songs.
I played "Something" too. I sort-of learned a lot of songs that I never performed -- such as "I Am the Walrus" -- because I couldn't play them well enough.
I can't believe Rick didn't talk about Paul's bass in Something. It elevates de song to the highest level.
@@tockita Yes. I can think of so many songs that just would not be as good if not for that bass playing. From Sgt P and forward and back.
Just wow!
Frank Sinatra who was NOT a fan of the Beatles said it was one of the most beautiful song he even heard.
Yeah ! And he also credited it to "lennon and McCartney" when it was written by George Harrison !@@joelemerou3487
It almost didn't matter what any instruments did if Paul was singing, He was a beast. And his bass lines.... But then again John was magical, George Harrison's songs and guitar work always shined through so brilliantly, Ringo's drumming as well as his songs were always something special.. And to have George Martin as a producer. Magic indeed.
I would say COSMIC. I have been to Liverpool and to think John lived close to Paul's who lived close to George's who lived close to Ringo's... Come on!!! 😮❤🎉
so much talent, in all positions all damn day
Exactly!!
As the quote goes "Genius is making the complicated seem simple." Really descriptive of the Beatles. Most people think their songs are simple until they start to dig a little deeper.
Agreed!
yeh, they're all pretty complicated actually
Great comment
Exactly. Genius is crafting complexity that sticks in your head - that ear worm you can hum.
Someone mentioned Zappa but here the Beatles (4 minds at work) have it all over Frank (whom I love).
Representing complexity in simple terms IS GENIUS. And besides, shouldn’t everything simple already have been invented?
A nice girl I dated in High School in the 80s knew I was a Beatles' fan, and although she was a fan as well, she made it a conversation point to comment on just how "simple" their songs were. Though I liked her alot, Needless to say, we didn't end up getting married...!!!
The Beatles just put a smile on my face. Their music makes me happy.
Lennon and McCartney wrote from feeling, and figured out what chords fit the feeling. Often they made up chords which probably already existed but they didn't know their names.
"Strawberry Fields Forever" is one of the two greatest recordings in history. The other is the astonishing "Please Please Me".
As someone who loved the Beatles from 10 years old ( born in 1954) this was fascinating to watch you go through these songs. “Walrus” right up there in my favorites. I remember the story when Lennon played Walrus to everyone and George Martin famously said “ and what the hell am I supposed to do with that?”😂😂😂 Makes me laugh when musical illiterates say the Beatles are overrated.
Not to mention the ridiculous amount of work it took to mix the timing of the intro with the rest of the song, as they were in two different keys. Consider they went from I Want To Hold Your Hand (64) to I Am The Walrus (68). That's a hell of a leap in progression in four years.
@@josephmango4628 You can say from I Want to Hold You Hand in 64 then Tomorrow Never Knows in 66 through The whole of the whole of Sergeant Peppers in 67 finishing up with Helter Skelter in 68 you have an incredible diverse catelogue of development in 4 years.
How many modern bands can say that in 4 years they go from 3 minute standard love numbers to writing proto heavy metal tracks and record 4 albums that are million sellers?
born '54 myself...
We need to give just a little bit of credence to LSD, it opened a lot of minds those days and gave us some good music.
“YES IT IS” has some pretty great harmonies. Especially George Harrison’s part. He’s weaving below Lennon and sometimes in between Lennon and McCartney. Pretty cool
Rick, thank you for pointing out how sophisticated the Beatles really were. We're still listening to them over 50 years later. They are definitely THE FAB FOUR.
"Tomorrow Never Knows" is complex on more levels than just the chord changes. It's possibly the most influential recording in rock music.
It’s the lyrics
@@fromchomleystreet Yes, I mentioned that in my other comment. I basically said that the use of the studio as an "instrument" is likely the biggest influence, as tape looping, audio sampling, voice manipulation and distortion, backwards instrument recording, speed manipulation and more have influenced hip hop, electronic, Indie rock, avant-pop, alternative rock, alternative R&B, and even jazz and classical music. Leaving "Revolver" out of the top ten on Rolling Stones' most updated 500 best albums was a dumb mistake. It means that they are no longer polling people who understand the history of music. I think they needed an update, but they went too far.
@@aunch3 The lyrics are mostly taken from the Tibetan Book of the Dead, I believe.
@@RenataKleinRK My point is that the innovation and studio techniques are what make the song complex. Their use of audio sampling, tape looping, vocal manipulation, backward instrument recording, and much more influenced multiple genres, artists, and producers. 🙂
It may be because there are no chord changes in “Tomorrow Never Knows”. It’s a chant.
Love these types of videos. Brings a little more insight to the genius of the Beatles. I try to appreciate the genius of the Beatles. But they are so far beyond the normal man as far as melody intuition. Makes it a lot easier to understand what’s going on. Thank you
It's amazing how much these songs just have become part of the air we breathe, so we don't even notice their complexity anymore! When you mentioned Blackbird, I was like -- that simple little tune? And then I really listened -- 😄
I always loved I Am the Walrus, and I remember the day I came to the realization that it contains no minor chords; I bet when Lennon wrote it, he was thinking on some level "I am going to write a song made of up all major chords, but I am going to put as many different ones into it as I can while maintaining a relatively simple melody". As for the chord sequence at the end, if you just listen to that on its own, the chord progression is such that there's really no key centre. In fact if you play it live without a fade, as I did in a band I was in a few years ago, there is no logical place to stop; it doesn't resolve to any particular note, or chord. Crazy.
My band once played it for about 45 minutes during a drug fuelled jam. I was on piano; the other 4 were on one drum kit! We were probably trying to find a way to end it for the last 20 minutes!
En realidad fue George Martin quien cuando Lennon le presento la canción, no sabía que hacer con eso, pero se esforzó y hizo todos esos arreglos, que aunque la letra sea una porquería la música es genial, es como en un día en la vida, la canción es buena pero fue el trabajo de George Martin y del empeño y colaboración de Mccartney que la hacen estupenda
If virtually any Beatles tune doesn't blow your mind after having even a basic understating of songwriting, you gotta be in the wrong game. Not that much older genres/styles weren't already more sophisticated in certain aspects but its just a matter of blending simplicity/interest/surprise in a way that's clearly complete, pretty much irrelevant(but not necessarily so) of style or musicianship IMO. Writing genius will speak for itself no matter how good you are.
I think when the Beatles were at their musical peak, what was so satisfying about it - why it worked so well - was that they had achieved a harmonic level equivalent to some of the great classical composers of the Baroque and Classical genres. They achieved that through a combination of musical intelligence, effort and experience rather than education + that all-important combination of individuals which is able to bring out the best in each other to become more than the sum of its parts.
I think Michelle deserves more recognition, it has such a great melody and harmony as well.
Michelle introduced us to the Beatles in another language. And it worked. MICHELLE and GIRL made RUBBER SOUL the great album that started the Beatles middle period.
Well it won nothing but a Grammy in 1967 for song of the year. Inmortalized forever though in Rubber Soul and Revolver there were better song even only considering McCartney ones.
To me, by musical or lyrical means or both together, there were two non-album singles 'Day tripper' and 'Paper back writer', and 6 songs in Rubber Soul (Norwegian wood, You won't see me, Nowhere man, Think for yourself, I'm looking thru you, and If I needed someone) that marked the the transition of The Beatles music to a more experimental and deeper levels one. But not 'Michelle' or 'Girl', two romantic ballads in a traditional musical way.
I prefer "Michelle" over "Yesterday" as my favorite soft ballad of McCartney's. Lovely melody, nice descending chords, nice backing vocals from JPG, and that wonderful lead guitar part by George that fit the mood of the song perfectly.
The Beatles' learning curve was phenomenal. When you consider they went from "Love me do" to the intricate chord structures of "If I fell" (which I'm surprised you didn't mention!) in a bare two years, it's no surprise that by 1967-68 they were producing songs with the complexity to change popular music forever. PS: I've heard how Leo McKern's character pronounced "Beatles" in "Help!" - someone called Beato was fated to do videos like this!
I had "If I Fell" on my radar as well as I was watching - so 'weird' and unusual, in such a beautiful way, and in the WAY early days!
George Martin had a huge hand in bringing more depth and complexity to the table
I love the footage where John is playing piano and teaching "Oh My Love" to George. He's calling out the chord changes, and then comes to one and says: I don't know the name of this one. But Yoko knows. Yoko knows this one. So John doesn't even know all the names of the chords he uses when writing so many magnificent songs, some of them fairly complex. But he knows how they sound and how they work in his chord progressions. Absolutely mind boggling!
“It is not the Be-Atle with the ring, he!” It does sound a bit like Beato now that you mention it.
A good deal of people, when looking for sophistication in Beatles music, usually look to their later work. It makes sense. The were restlessly seeking newer and newer sounds later on. But in the early days, they tried to stick to the most commonly used Pop writing style. That said, I've done deep dives into their early work, and it's surprising what you can find. My favorite ever half-step modulation is in the intro to the beautiful 'If I Fell.' Most half-step modulations slap you in the face screaming "I'm here in a new key now!" But 'If I Fell' makes an amazingly seamless and sly modulation, deceptively moving from the key of Db Major to D Major. In Db, the D Major chord serves as a tritone substitution resolving a half-step back down to Db. The second time around the melody however, the D chord drops its role as a tritone sub and and becomes Root using the ii-V7 in D Major, thereby establishing the key of D for the rest of the song. Truly remarkable brilliance even in the very early days...
The most complex Beatles song? Easy: "You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)".
Probably one that no one will think of is You're Gonna Lose That Girl.
Great song
John Lennon and Paul McCartney are 2 of the greatest composers of all time . ❤
"You Never Give Me Your Money" it's 22 chords in a 4mn song with rythm changing 4 times.
Were the Beatles really playing all these sophisticated chords or what we are hearing is an amalgamation of simple chords, bass guitar, vocal harmonies and orchestral instrumentation???
not a Beatles song ..but McCartneys Another Day..has 17 different chords in it..pretty wild
Hey there, @RickBeato! Just for your information -- that descending figure between the chorus and verse of Strawberry Fields is not played on a Stratocaster. It's an Indian instrument called a swarmandal, which is similar to a zither. Unsurprisingly, it was George who played it.
Speaking of George, I would suggest that "Within You Without You" and "Love You To" should have at least got honourable mentions in the consideration of the most complex Beatles songs.
Major love for what you do, Rick. I was a 90s kid but you are my Mum's generation and thus I grew up with Simon & Garfunkel and Joni Mitchell and The Beatles in the house and in the car. There is no greater musical upbringing (imo). Music that makes you feel grateful to be alive. We simply will never have songwriting like this again. 🙏
I was born into the “Mary Kaye Trio” family. I became a musician after meeting the Beatles in Las Vegas. It was a life changing experience
It' s True. Beatles are The best of The universe
Sexy Sadie is pretty interesting, too! 😊 But I agree with Walrus, what a masterpiece!
I absolutely love these breakdowns that totally opens up the eyes of the casual listener who thinks they know and hear a song, till you break it down and see and hear all the nuances, fantastic! Listened to the Beatles since they landed stateside and I still learn new things, thank you!
@Rick Beato I discovered, by accident, that the timing in Two Of Us is deceivingly complex. I've never had trouble playing it correctly, I just copied what they did on the record. But a couple of weeks ago I was accompanying someone singing it, and I kept losing him in the chorus. He kept adding an extra beat or 2 to one or more of the lines. So I'm assuming he never tried playing along with the record, he just learned the chords and then sang and played it in a way that made sense to him. So, afterwards, I started to try to figure out why he would do that, and started counting beats along with the recording. And it was weird, time signature changes from one line to the next, something I did not expect. Always sounded straightforward to me! So I Googled Two Of Us time signature, and found some explanations:
Here are 2 commentaries I found:
"Though it might not sound like it, “Two of Us” has the distinction of containing the most time-signature changes of any Beatles track. Mostly in 6/4, it also goes to “waltz-time,” as Paul calls it, which is 3/4, and in and out of 2/4 and 4/4"
and then a more complete analysis:
"Next comes the fifteen-measure verse, which demonstrates that “Two Of Us” wins the award of being the Beatles song containing the most time-signature changes. While the song is predominantly in 4/4 throughout, the verse jumps into 6/4, 3/4 and 2/4 as well. The first measure is in 4/4, but the second measure is in 6/4, extending through the lyric “nowhere / spending someone's.” Then comes three more measures of 4/4 followed by another 6/4 measure (“driving / not arriving”) before returning for two more 4/4 measures. Then we go into 3/4 time for five measures, or “into a waltz,” as Paul explained to the others when he was introducing the song to them. Then comes a quick 2/4 measure during the lyric “we're going,” before one final 4/4 measure on the word “home,” which also comprises a 'Beatles break' that stops the song dead in its tracks. If we've grown up with the song, it has become 'second nature' for us to assimilate all of these changes, but for someone who may be hearing it for the first time and possibly learning to play it on guitar, it may take a while to figure out."
“Yes it is” is probably my favorite complicated vocal harmony song.
Cause red is the color that my baby wore
A strange one for me is Things We Said Today. It sounds simple enough but is a difficult song to sing with confidence because of the strange melody/harmony changes. The fact they did it so well on the Hollywood Bowl album without stage monitors is astonishing considering all of the crowd noise.
Another reminder that we will never see a group so utterly talented as the Beatles. They were a
band that only comes about once in a lifetime and I feel privileged to have witnessed them.
Autechre
Never to be duplicated again
@gently: ‘once in a lifetime’!!!! You meant, once in a millennia. Of course, I know what you mean; but it’s very easy to understate, just how unique; brilliant & otherworldly, The Beatles really were. Their compositions & songwriting produced music, that will never be equaled; hit after hit, after hit, after hit…
Steely Dan
Rick: What is the most complex beatles song?
Me: Uhhh....all of them...??? 🤣
Lennon and McCartney had an almost magical ability to construct melodies that most people couldn't possibly come up with.
That detail about the melody ascending and the bass descending simultaneously! 😍 That's amazing, it blew my mind!
Paul McCartney does that a lot.
@@xziggy_stardustx6786 Would you give me other examples, please?
"Whiter Shade of Pale" us a great example of this.
Strawberry fields is such an amazing song. Rhythmically it also has a lot of fun, especially at the end where it goes 2/4, 4/4, 6/8, 4/4, 6/8, 3/4, 6/8, 4/4!
(each measure with a different time signature)
I thoroughly enjoy watching your videos and I actually love your inability to remember lyrics. My late husband was an extremely talented musician and could play nearly any song from memory, but when it came to the lyrics he was so lost. So he would type up the lyrics all the songs he loved to play. He never really organized them he would just have stack of them and was constantly flipping through them if he wanted to play them. Following his death I found myself organizing them, alphabetically, in 3-ring binders. I’ve got seven 3-inch binders full now, one of those completely full of songs from his favorite group, the Beatles. He would have loved your channel, and I think I love it because you remind me of him, and I miss hearing him play his guitar’s every day. Thank you 🎼🎶🎵🎸
"Something" is just one of those great timeless songs. But also to consider "While my guitar gently weeps" and "Here Comes The Sun" as well as other Harrison songs.. Well when you consider the quantity and quality of songs that "Lennon/McCartney" could pull off no one can take anything away from Harrison when even the other members have admitted that George pulled off the best songs on some of their best albums.
And this is before even analyzing the brilliance.
You are so right.... I think George was, ultimately, the best songwriter of the Beatles. His songs are definitely different than those of John and Paul, almost a different genre entirely. "Beware of Darkness" (after the breakup) ranks as one of my favorites.
My father who was a professional piano player, mentioned the constant key changes mid bar, etc. was prevalent & said they broke every rule Beethoven wrote. To my proud amazement, he Loved it ! 👍👍👍
To quote Chuck Barry, "bend over Beethoven and tell Checkoskvy the news".
Chuck Berry having been a classical pianist
@@cuebj You're thinking of his cousin Marvin.
@@John_Locke_108 Great Scott. You're right.
Those said "rules" were set since the Middle Ages until Bach, Beethoven, etc., when playing a Major or minor 9 or 13 was considered an offense or even a sin (LOL)! The Beatles "broke" those stupid rules. And jazz players "break" them all the time, even further, and they play music far more complex and farther away from those said ancient "rules".
Great to see the sophistication of Lennon given its due. There's a school of thought that Macca was the musically sophisticated one. They were all geniuses and the originality of Lennon's rhythmic and harmonic creativity is still under-appreciated. I believe Dave Gilmour said The Beatles were not a band, they were a miracle. Hear hear.
mccartney is overrated
@@jaxteller312said someone with no clue
@@jamesleeStanley said someone who thinks everyone should like their interests...if you like his cheesy songs good for you,i don't and for me he is overrated
Why're you here?
You’re gonna lose that girl is another that at the time was so oddly perfect, these were truly new sounds
Interesting that you picked a George Harrison song, my favorite BEATLE, AND THE MOST UNDERRATED.
The very first Beatles song I ever heard was “I am the Walrus” on a 45 rpm with “Hello Goodbye.” I was 11 years old and my mom had just bought the single. When all is said and done, you must admit that only the Beatles could have pulled off such a cool song. Lennon was an absolute Wordsmith.
The output of simultaneously complex and catchy hooks/music The Beatles put out in ~7 years is absurd and I feel will likely remain unmatched forever. The greatest band we'll ever see IMO. Just love their stuff. Timeless.
Great point - all this in SEVEN fricken years!!!
The greatest behind the scenes ghostwriting music team ever...if anyone seriously thinks John wrote Strawberry Fields alone (let alone in the state he was in at the time) then they are on more acid than he was ;)
@@kimchi_b Out-take footage from Sgt Pepper sessions of the Lennon working out Strawberry Fields on an acoustic guitar - the same line, over and over again, small changes......then a bit further along - he wrote it, there's no possible doubt. There was a camera rolling while he did it.
@@socialmeaslesinpartnership1252 I would love to see that, where can I watch it? I didn't say they didn't contribute, I meant to imply that some of their own rough sketches (as opposed to the purely ghostwritten songs) weren't their work alone. John is in an interview on here where he says that actually he was only proud of a couple of Beatle songs he did (which may be a reveal in itself) and actually Strawberry Fields was one of them, but he didn't like what 'they' did with it, so I can accept he wrote the basic song and again would love to see that footage please :)
@@kimchi_b Dunno. I saw it in part of a documentary about the making of Sgt. Pepper on RUclips so keep an eye out for that. It showed McCartney conducting the crescendo, Jagger visiting the studio and some fairly "zonked" scenes rather than the band at work and several minutes of Lennon repeating this song.
The idea of ghosts writing much, all or any of The Beatles stuff is actually pretty strange. Lennon McCartney together had a pretty distinctive style but the early No 1s that launched them in Britain were almost all Lennon with that sort of "Buddy Holly-ish" strum to them. Lennon absolutely churned them out so if you're looking for a ghost - who else has that kind of talent? McCartney began to emerge as a singles writer when a number of his songs from that first album got play in U.S.A. when they first toured there and filled up half the U.S. hit parade!
The Ruttles (a spoof film, Eric Idle and co.) certainly didn't. Probably only the Gibb brothers (BeeGees 1st, 1966, is hugely Beatle-y in places) but even McCartney or Bacharach couldn't do that. There are a couple of places where McCartney can be accused of unconscious plagiarism but - I think it's accepted that The Beatles were blessed with two very exceptional writers and singers where most bands struggled with having something else to offer. Almost all the clones don't measure up today - The Fortunes etc. The exception might have been Tommy Moehler of Unit Four plus Two that weren't around for very long. They didn't have the strength of The Beatles singing. The first Beatles album was some covers of Americana but the originals had already been written and rehearsed long before they came in contact with a business that could procure ghost writers and this quickly established their sound and songs.
Ghost written? I think not. McCartney ghost wrote for others a couple of times and Lennon ghost wrote for Harrison maybe once.
Blackbird. I ve got a lot of respect for Quincy but sorry guys, Blackbird IS a huge composition. Blackbird looks so simple and naïve, not pretentious, but what a song... Pure genius that only the Beatles can be... The complexity of simplicity with an efficacity and such beauty... Blackbird IS a two minutes song and a music lesson for Eternity, when you listen to it, Time seems to stop...✌️🤘✌️. If there is life in another part of the universe I Hope they could listen to Blackbird song to represent what is humanity...
There is footage of their first American tour in the hotel rooms with Lennon playing a melodica and you hear the origins of the “Living is easy with eyes closed” melody. He’d been working on that song years before it was made real.
Yes, he plays a harmonium (I think) during A Hard Day's Night
The strange thing about Beatles songs for me was this sense of the songs were always there, but the Beatles simply found them.
Clapton and Harrison sure did have a lot in common … George took a lot from Eric’s playing, and Eric took his wife. And, “Bell Boston Blues” is pretty much “Something” in reverse, not to mention George’s guest shot on Cream’s “Badge“ under the pseudonym L’Angelo Mysterioso and Eric’s solos in “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Yes, they had a lot in common …
The fascinating thing I believe is that while you (Rick B) are able to break these songs down into all these complex chords and sophisticated key changes, I don't believe the Beatles ever conceived of them that way. I think that they sat with guitars or pianos and invented these sounds from their own imaginations, their own creativity, that is they composed these songs simply because they thought they sounded good. That is ultimately what makes these songs what they are. They were not created as an exercise in music theory, they were created by people who in fact had a limited awareness of music theory from an academic standpoint, which is part of what drives the unending fascination with them. We're all sort of suspecting there will one day be that "Aha" moment where it is revealed that they all had PhDs in music so that this mystery can be explained... but they didn't! I have always thought that the Beatles drove so many of us to guitars and music because there was a sense that they were just a bunch of guys all from the same town who could create wonderful music, and that if those guys could do it so could you. As we've all found out there was something else going on, something no one seems to put their finger on.
I'm pretty certain McCartney and Lennon had a good handle on theory. What you're saying is true, but I don't think they apply to that duo.
Yes, that is the way that we creative people think.
If you read the huge hardback about the Beatles, John and Paul shoplifted nough to buy a bus ticket to known person, in a near town, who knew what a B7 chord was. And when they wrote Michelle, it was from learning another new chord. I believe they used their ears and instead intelligence, not music theory. I believe that Michelle, a complex tune, was written before they were named The Beatles.
That something was called George Martin.
It's fun to understand the theory behind great songs but I don't know any great song that was created from theory.
The analysis is just a way to describe the music not an explanation about how to make the music.
It kind of bugs me when people imply that the Beatles used theory to create their tunes.
They were a great band, let's leave it at that.
Every time I come back to the Beatles I am blown away. And to think, to the Beatles, these were just songs they wrote and developed. To us these songs are icons in and of themselves that we have so taken to heart they are nearly "entities of worship". Just think, there was a different world before Sgt Peppers came out. "Imagine"😉 what the world was like before the White Album or Rubber Soul or Revolver or Abby Road. It's as if there came a time when each new Beatles album changed the world, at least in my mind.
How much less life and color would there be in today's culture if the Beatles had never been?
I was born in 1962, to me, the Beatles have ALWAYS existed in some form or manner. I don't know a world in which the Beatles did not exist, I don't want to.
A real Beatlemaniac sings the horns after the "I'm crying" interlude in "I am the Walrus". Beatles for ever.
Great video!
By the end of the Beatles George has become the best song writer of all.
This is proof of that.
When I heard the Anthology version of Walrus for the first time, it was the most exciting musical moment of my life. You strip away the orchestration and leave just the basic instrumentation, it is mind boggling how John was able to wring out so much complexity and sophistication from a seemingly simple set of major chords. It is, in my estimation, his greatest achievement.
I agree. Just hearing the 4 of them grind that song out is far superior to the ''Eeh eeh eeh- ah ah ah'' madness.
What I would not give to see Paul's face when John played the walrus for the first time to the band...
@@robbedontuesday I read somewhere that when John played his Walrus guitar demo for the first time, George Martin had no clue what he just heard, and didn't think they would be able to make much of it because it was so weird. This was right after Brian died. But you're right on, Paul adored this song, and would say "well it's no 'I Am the Walrus" when talking negatively about another track. Paul knew he could never write something this exotic, poor fella :)
@@kfiralfiavideo Martin was ok for more or less conventional arrangements... that is why they got along fine with Paul. John said around 1968 that they did not need Martin... John was self-taught/experiment driven.
That descending line is played on a Swarmandal, not a Strat.
One of the mind boggling things to me is that the Beatles are actually singing multi part harmonies while actually playing. The craftsmanship is just amazing. I would challenge that I hear so little of that in today’s music. Complexity, interesting lyrics, harmonies, originality, organic performance. Just amazing.
It was the singing, in particular the harmonies, which attracted me to The Beatles in the first place.
@@jasoncdebussysame here! What also intrigues me is the fact that they apply all those more complicated concepts in music theory without actually knowing their theory. It's very pure
BIFFY CLYRO
@@thomaslenglain8594 Biffy who?
@@thomaslenglain8594Billy Shepherd, surely?
I love how accurate your voicings are for all of these Beatles songs. 👌 It's a pleasure to listen to you reproducing these songs on your guitar.
"Penny Lane", with its verse in B major and the chorus in A major, is a rare example of downward key change...despite the downward step of the tonality the melody keeps going up creating a very suggestive effect... on the other hand "Strawberry field forever" brings you to a totally different world, escaping the tonality for a little while using non diatonic chords...brilliant songwriting‼️
Lennon/Mccartney 🔝
You could teach this to all the trap lovers out there and still get the sentence “Beatles have written only pop catchy songs”
@@NoelRox... and usually the ones they wish they'd written themselves😁...songs that stand the test of time👌
@@pierlu5083 don’t know my friend, I think they don’t like the ones writing original songs, they like coverbands a lot more and that’s why bands such as maneskin seem to work fine nowadays
@@NoelRox I get your point my friend😊...maneskin covers are good in their own way but surely not as great as they think they are, not by a long shot (anyway if people like them i won't yuck their yum) ...hope the new generations don't get too blinded by the smokes and mirrors of the media hype (anyone can be famous nowdays)...Rick Beato in this video is still talking of songs like Penny Lane and Strawberry fields, even if they were written 56 years ago..🤯😃
...and that says it all!!! I remember a song from the late Jimi Hendrix that said: "...and so castles made of sand melt into the sea...eventually"...i think it's a good metaphor....👌😊
Yes Beatles music is just historically amazing. Their creativity never had much of a match. Also the experience they built up as songwriters. How extensive their work is. Even after they split up. Lennon, McCartney and Harrison wrote so many great songs. Very few other people on the planet even today. Thank you as always for the listening experience.
The line in Strawberry fields was not a Stratocaster, it was an Indian table harp called a swarmandal. I have one I had a pickup put in expressly to perform strawberry fields. Harrison tuned each string to the figure so it’s as easy as playing each open string of a guitar.
Within You, Without and Love You To are both crazy complex songs especially to our western ears. Have played them both on sitar for full album performances of Revolver and Pepper (with orchestra). Just crazy impossible to count!
FWIW Abbey Road was recorded and released in 1969. I’m sure it was still on the radio every second of 1970 though. But hey, you’re only a year older than me Rick, so how would you know?
John would be honoured that 43 years after his untimely death we would still be discussing and trying to figure out his amazing songs ❤
Or he would say "What's bloody wrong with you people? Why don't you get on with your lives instead of fussing on about decades old songs?"
Tomorrow Never Knows.
Absolutely, yes he would! This one is George's though.
@@danstone8783 hehe, pretty much
@@danstone8783 Being John, he'd definitely say both. at different times.
As much as I love "I am the Walrus" I don't agree with your assessment of the melody. It strikes me a bit like some of the work of Squid (which I love) where the chords, riffs, harmonies, and beats are so complex that the melody has to be a bit contained. For that reason, I think "Strawberry Fields" with the melody and the backing music is more complex.
This world was robbed of Lennon's genius. What horrible fate for everyone.
Nobody who knew the Beatles before 1963 could have predicted that they would ever become what they became. EMI actually formally rejected them as a band more than once as did every single label in greater London. It was Brian's insistence that made EMI relent because they were worried about losing him as their Nothern distributor, so EMI agreed to give the Beatles the most minimal deal on a subsidiary label: Parlophone (which doesn't even specialize in music albums). To top it off they dumped them on George Martin as "punishment" for an alleged affair with one of the boss's wives. Neither Brian nor The Beatles knew that George Martin was under no obligation to keep working with them after 3 singles were completed. They could have been dumped after six months as George Martin was unimpressed with their playing and songwriting but felt he could at least create a comedy album since they were so witty. However Lennon and McCartney surprised everyone by how fast their songwriting seemed to improve from one song to the next. George Martin found himself so enthused by their work after Love Me Do he couldn't imagine not working with them thus began the greatest Artist-Producer working relationship in history.
Close, but a couple key details that need correction: EMI signed the band after their song publisher Ardmore and Beechwood wanted the copyright to the Lennon-McCartney songs (particularly Like Dreamers Do) and forced the door back open for them at EMI. And George Martin was indeed having an affair, but it wasn't with anyone's wife. It was with his secretary, whom he later married.
Still amazes me even after all these years, how pretty much any Beatles song is like a map to modern music.
Hey Rick you should get Murakami on for a serendipitous chat about your mutual love of the Beatles, music, Bach….. I think 🤔 it would be incredible, interesting and you could discuss the music in his novels….Naoko would surely put a dollar in the jar for that…..great video as usual 👏👏👏👏
On Strawberry Fields the the descending notes is not a Fender guitar but a a swarmandal. It’s an Indian type zither. A stringed instrument which is plucked those descending notes. During the time of recording Sgt. Peppers they we’re using some Indian instruments other than the sitar.
Since the day I first heard both Strawberry Fields and I am the Walrus, I have never been able to comprehend how someone could write those songs. And I mean those two in particular. Was cool to see Rick agree. I am the Walrus, not only is musically unbelievable, it also rocks. In my head those two have always been the proof that this guy, painful as a man as he seems to have been, was also a genius. The chord changes dont lie. Nor did the sound of his as always pitch perfect vocals, with just the hint of a growl. He nailed it. I like Paul, hey who doesn't, but this was some next level rockstar sh##!
What difference in musical quality compared to the top ten spotify songs. Today's music seems like it was written by children.
The Beatles really are in the musical DNA of most Americans who grew up in their era.
I am Rick's age. While he was playing and singing Penny Lane; unconsciously, I automatically started humming the vocal harmony part.
Haha...I whistled the trumpet part😂
Yes. As everyone is quite aware, their songs are like Christmas carols--embedded in our heads!
@@celt67 😗😄
Like in “Sliding Doors” where a character says we should call them The Fetals because we all know them from birth.
One of my favorite hidden Beatles gems is Yes It Is. It has a beautiful melody and some of the richest harmonies I’ve heard in any pop song. I’ve learned the guitar chords and the changes are surprisingly tricky.
It's a fun one to play. Look up the version Don Henley did at Bridge School benefit.
This is the first song I hear from the Beatles when I was 12. And after that there is no going back. Music because my life.
The Anthology version of it is outstanding as you hear the humble beginnings grow into something complex and beautiful. Just a great song.
Ah man, you should’ve mentioned the genius and complexity behind Something’s bassline. Great video though!
When people say Lennon wasn't a great guitar player, please point them to this video, because he could play all of these insane chord progressions with ease, while singing
Love this video being a Beatles nerd. As a bassist I try to learn their acoustic stuff. Another thing that amazes me about them that very few people talk about was their age when they wrote this stuff. I mean how many musicians you know that are in their early mid twenties can write a Elenore Rigby or Strawberry Fields or Something....I mean wtf..lol. Great job my friend.
In the throne room of the song gods. Rick opens the kimono on Beatles songs that have mystified amateur guitar players for decades. The language of music is filled with sophisticated terminology leftover from classical music studies. But we all know what sounds cool and Rick plays those chord progressions in front of us like we are just hanging out in his studio together. Keep it up, dude.
"within you without you" for that indian percussion the most complex song by them to me
To me it’s among their top 15 best songs. Criminally underrated. Some people say it’s just an “Indian” song from George. It’s a masterpiece, and although it has Indian influence, it’s much more than. It’s one of the greatest psychedelic songs ever recorded imo.
AFAIK, George Harrison's arpeggio on 'Strawberry Fields' was played on a swarmandal (Indian autoharp/zither).
Not many can hold a steady rhythm first time on All My Lovin' and maintain it throughout the whole song without a lot of regular playing or practice. A testament to the talent, and skill of John Lennon.