The Beatles, With A Little Help From My Friends - A Classical Musician’s First Listen / Excerpts
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- Опубликовано: 29 янв 2025
- #thebeatles #johnlennon #paulmccartney #georgeharrison #ringostarr #virginrock
Awfully sweet, with delightful lilt in the melody, and capturing the “forlorn, lonely teddy-bear” personality at just the right moment. In addition to Ringo’s surprisingly full and colored voice, I also really enjoy the bass in this song, but its strong point is the way in which it draws the audience (us) into an intimate experience with the singer.
Here’s the link to the original song by The Beatles:
• With A Little Help Fro...
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Amy Shafer, LRSM, FRSM, RYC, is a classical harpist, pianist, and music teacher, Director of Piano Studies and Assistant Director of Harp Studies for The Harp School, Inc., holds multiple degrees in harp and piano performance and teaching, and is active as a solo and collaborative performer. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, she teaches privately, presents masterclasses and coaching sessions, and has performed and taught in Europe and USA.
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Credits: Music written and performed by The Beatles
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I'm grateful to see people like you, so prepared and with so much musical knowledge, deconstruct The Beatles discography. I hope with this albums you realize why they are considered even nowadays as the greatest band in the history.
It's funny, at first I was a bit put off because on RUclips we can't hear the music. But I so love your explanations of each song. But then I realized, I've heard the songs so many times they are ingrained in my brain, so now I don't really mind that I don't actually hear the music.
In any case, you just play the song on another channel, on another device....so ......!?!?
I do. Thats why I really never listen to her Beatles reviews its to annoying 😢
Thank you for playing the melody on the harp.
You and Vlad are such a wonderful team. I so much liked him asking you to sing the opening with words and then hearing him applaud.
I’ve always enjoyed the musical subtleties in this song , such as how the bass helps the song bop along; and you are great at explaining the technical analysis of it ; The Beatles were able to master melody in such a way so as to be so enjoyable in a basic listen , and yet really, underneath it all to have constructed layers of sophistication
By the way Paul's bass is worth the price of admission withy regards to this tune. If Paul McCartney was not a Beatle, a composer, or a singer he would still be a superstar because of how he played the bass.
Absolutely! The chord sequences are very simple and, aside from the bass, the accompaniment is quite sparse, pretty much a four-square quarter-note feel. The bass dances around and is the star of the instruments! Very creative lines.
Great to see the true Starr of the band shine. Be sure to go see Ringo with his All Starr Band, the next time he passes through or near Nashville. At 84 the opportunity won't be there forever. Although at 84, he looks and acts younger than me at 64, so maybe he will still be performing after he passes the century mark. I really love Paul's bass on this one, so be sure to take the same opportunity if he ever comes to town, even if he is only the lowly bass player of the band.😉 Great reaction!
Thank you for doing this. When you announced that you would be doing full albums on Patreon, I thought I wouldn't get to see your Beatles reactions any more and I was a little crushed. I'm so glad to see I'd misunderstood.
Your analysis of the line, "I get high with a little help from my friends" was spot on. That's exactly the way I've always thought of it.
There is something about Ringo and his everyman voice. Even in the first band he was in, Rory Storm and The Hurricanes, he had his "Star Time" where he always had a song to sing. Then with the Beatles, Paul says that when they came to America, Ringo was the most popular Beatle.
Starr Time was actually more prominent than one song. It typically was the entire middle set, that’s a third of the show!
@@ifandwhen-kl2cr Thanks for the update.
Doing the simple really, really, really, REALLY well is one of the most pleasing forms of art.
Ringo was the 4th singer in the band, but as a singer Ringo had loads of charisma and personality. Furthermore, his voice timbre is very compelling and unique.
Ringo's voice is warm, comforting and welcoming. Pretty much all of the songs he sings lead on have a certain inviting, comfortable feel. Same thing with "After Hours," the only song Maureen Tucker sang lead on for the Velvet Underground. Same pleasant vibe.
such a wonderful song.... touches our common humanity in a quiet, soulful way... Ringo's voice is almost wistful!
You just got what Sgt Pepper is and expressed it perfectly. It's a perfect programmatic work. Beautifully set up. Can't wait for A Day in the Life!
This piece is in the style of a British Music Hall entertainment. A setup for the rest of the album.
This is such a fun channel. These are the songs that I grew up listening to. I was born in 1960 so The Beatles were part of my foundation and it's great to see someone who's never heard their music before give a listen and talk about the songs of days long gone by. It would be great to see you team up with "The Professor of Rock" for a few sessons and just listen to the two of you talk about Rock n Roll.
The lovely flat-6 chord ending on Frieeeeends is a McCartney trick, he substitutes flat-6 for IV and it's more interesting.
See also Come and Get It.
90% of the people don't know what you are talking about 😢
Such a delightful reaction!
One of the best music teachers I've ever seen.
Wonderful 👌 I love to watch this video this evening, I like this new format👍❤️🎼🎵🎶
This album was the start of psychedelia on a mass scale.
When the Beatles explored a thing, the world experienced it along with them.
I really would love it if Ringo or Paul reached out to you❤
One of the perfect sing alongs.
Good reaction as usual. Thank you for analyzing whether it should be regarded as one song.
RINGO🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤
On the White Album, Ringo is given The Closing Number, and it's a beautiful lullabye. No one else could deliver that grand, calming voice? Limited range was just fine.
But I agree - these two tracks are virtually required to be combined. That whole "this is a concept concert, and The Star walking onto the stage is REQUIRED as act #2."
I love when you play it on harp in "classical" way 😀 It sounds like a church chorale 😅
I love how you appreciate the awesome bass line that Paul delivers here. And
"Lend me your ears" is such a lovely expression here, you hit these details of the song fantastically. This reaction of yours was again a super delight for me 👍🏻😊👏👏👏👏
It's from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!"
@fredneecher1746 Thank you, great knowledge of the classic 👍🏻
Excellent voice you have,10+😁
A fellow youtuber of yours (fathom, she is really great) made a list of her favorite Beatles Moments. And she included Ringo's last note in this song. And i do so also. He holds this note that should be out of his reach so bravely for more than two bars perfectly pitch correct. As you point out, singing is not his main talent. But he pulls it off.
I have always felt the first 3 and the last two songs are programmatic. But you nailed it, we get invited in and can’t leave till the end.
As for drumming, please consider going slightly backwards in time and react to Rain.
Magnificent drumming by Ringo.
Yea man … Thing of real beauty ☮
The story of Ringo recording the vocal for this is an amusing one. It was a very long night into early morning recording session at the then EMI Studio (later Abbey Road). John and Paul were listening to playbacks and a tired Ringo started walking up the stairs to head home at 5 AM. Suddenly he heard Paul from the PA monitor - "Where are you going? You need to put down the vocal for "With A Little Help From My Friends". Ringo trudged back down the stairs to the studio. When Ringo heard what note he was supposed to reach for the last word of the final verse (friends), he told Paul, "I can't hit that note. I KNOW YOU can hit that note but I can't." Eventually, with John and Paul standing next to him at the mike for support, he reached and held the note on "frie-eh-eh-eh-ends"!
It's not just a collection of songs, there are themes through the album. Obviously there's the framing device of the concert for the alter ego band. There's a lonely hearts theme in various forms. There's the self improvement aspect which is heard. There's quite a few references to British culture through newspaper stories and culture, both present and past. There's also a contrast between fantasy and reality. The fantasy aspects can be seen as a more psychedelic approach, a need to rise above the humdrum. Because of the consistent theme I think this leads to a more powerful ending than with Revolver.
"...put together by McCartney and Lennon and the others..." - that would be (plural) George and George - Harrison and Martin. The others. I met the Harrison George and 13 years later I met Ringo (born Richard Starkey). I can die now. I perform this song at least once a week. Thank you Amy. You can weave a 3/4 into your own version and it sounds great. I often use the Joe Cocker arrangement as well because it's beautiful.
Not sure why but I always imagined a muppet version of Ringo singing this. It gives me a great Muppet/Sesame Street vibe. Wholesome melody lol
This song has a sequel. On his solo album, "Ringo", he sings, "I'm the Greatest" - written by Jonn Lennon. "Yes, my name is Billy Shears. You know it has been for so many years"...
The piano and guitar playing almost perfect unison together blends in just a way you don't notice the piano until it opens out... I really like that effect.
I almost expect to hear Elton John's cover of Lucy in the next week if the current pattern follows.
This is the best song they ever wrote for Ringo. It plays to his vulnerability and the insecurities that we all have, and then he has his buddies backing him up and singing along with him in the chorus. It wouldn't have made nearly as much sense or worked as well if any of the other Beatles had sung the song.
That opening will only be topped by She's Leaving Home
My Favorite Group and My Favorite Channel Peace
Personal story. Long ago and far away as a child in a catholic school we had a unconventional Nun as a teacher who was hippie-ish when I was in the 2nd grade. She had us film our own movie with a theme of the gospel parable of The Good Samaritan. My role was that of the traveler who was beaten and robbed. The point? In our film, when I was being aided by the Good Samaritan, the background music was I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends. So much for my acting claim to fame.
I never woyld have thought of it but yes the Corelli
Oh God! ... One of their most endearing songs ... I can't help but see if you played this song in public that people would join in immediately and start singing it, especially young females ... Community? Hearing it as a preteen, you couldn't help but notice Paul's bass line and the sound and impact of Ringo's drum, all pictured with them on stage before an audience and ... You! Billy Shears seemed relatable, the common man and you were him. Ringo was headed home but was convinced to sing the lead vocal early in the morning? So much musings ... :)
Amy, Ringo Starr will be performing in Nashville on Jan 14th 2025. Maybe you can get a chance to interview him after seeing him perform. I'm sure he would go for it, just contact him online. You could also get the copyright situation sorted out.
Please, react to the Ringo Starr song "I Am The Greatest," which was written by John Lennon. John gave it to Ringo, because he felt if he did it it would be pretentious.
I encourage you to read Mark Lewisohn's monumental book "Tune In" which covers the history of the Beatles from their ancestors up to December 31, 1962. It would be impossible to convey Richie Starkey's impoverished and dangerously sick childhood on his journey to worldwide adulation as Ringo Starr in a short post. As Ringo has said often, "I grew up an only child (and terribly lonely child) and suddenly I had three brothers". His mournful tone was earned, and his heart always shines through.
Yknow this whole copyright thing is ridiculous, cos we can listen to any song at any time for free on YT.
Sony, who owns The Beatles catalog, are notoriously stingy and litigious when it comes to the use of any of the songs.
The lowered 7th is the mixolydian scale/mode.
Nobody cares😢
For something completely different. The Angels . Am I ever going to see your face again . Live version
Ringo has stated that it took him numerous tries to hit the very last note. But he did it. Can't wait for your reaction to Lucy In The Sky. John Lennon meets Lewis Carroll. Let's not forget that Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane were the first two songs recorded for Sgt. Pepper.
Those two songs were part of an abandoned project to make an entire album about their memories growing up in Liverpool. They dumped the idea in preference of the Pepper project.
Jason Falkner, with Paul McCartney's blessing, released two instrumental versions of select Beatle songs entitled "Bedtime With The Beatles (Vols 1 & 2)." He didn't cover "With a Little Help From My Friends" but maybe he should with a Vol. 3.
Very much off topic but I would love to hear you talk about your thoughts on one or more the Bach cantatas. I appreciate this is not going to be within the scope of this channel so is unlikely to happen however if you ever expand into discussinh early western music this would be a real treat. Anyway, keep well and good luck for the future.
Dear Amy,
Please let us know if you ever get to listen to the live performance of the entire album of "SGT. Pepper Live, performed by the band CHEAP TRICK".
It's wonderful 👍🏼
I never knew that , checking it out now . Thanks
Who needs Ringo Starr or Joe Cocker when we have Amy Shafer (vocal, harp)? 😄 Rock on, Amy.
I understand that there was to be a slightly different running order on the album but technical constraints meant that they could not get everything they wanted to side one. It doesn't affect the first two tracks but "Lucy" was not planned to be track three.
I think that the band used Ringo's perceived amateurish singing as well as his persona to create a loveable Billy Shears (what Amy describes as "sweet")
BTW, Amy: I agree with your understanding of the use of the word "high". Not everything in the 1960s was drug related. I know, I was there.
Lennon & McCartney at their most Gilbert & Sullivan
You should review the Beatles She’s Leaving Home. It features the harp!
When later songwriters are compared to Lennon & McCartney, what I find they're most often picking up on is the almost naive simplicity of the melodies. Naive but incredibly potent. That's a gift.
Saw Anarchy in the Uk video … Interesting 🙂…. Try Outdoor Miner by Wire …. @Virgin Rock 😌
It took 16 takes (apparently) for him to hit the final high note with a lot of encouragement from the other members
A recommendation for you, the Joe Cocker version from Woodstock
'lend me your ears' probably references Shakespeare
Only in the sense that this common figure of speech’s earliest known usage is in Shakespeare, as are many common figures of speech. That doesn’t mean people are making a conscious “Shakespearean reference” when they use them, in any meaningful sense of the word “reference”
@fromchomleystreet But at the same time it isn't really a phrase that much in common usage, and the Mark Anthony speech has been taught in schools.
The Analogs do the best Beatles cover out there. The music that was too complicated to take on tour they can do on stage.
I happened to run across the Analogues on YT recently as I had not heard of them. They are wonderful and it is just what a Beatles fan would want that they try to recreate the music exactly! I check out their A little Help from mt Friends. Thax
@@marysweeney7370 Glad you found them. Maybe Amy can substitute The Beatles music for the Analogues because she can't play Beatles music. (copyright)
There are some amazing covers of this song but in the end I would rather just listen to Ringo's easy going delivery :-)
Don't think I've heard any covers of this song. Who covered it?
È una fortuna che io conosca alla perfezione ogni pezzo dei beatles perché ogni volta che provi a far sentire qualche loro nota... arriva la pubblicità 🙄. Snervante😁
the best Ringo's song ever is ''6 o'clock'' In my childhood days I usrd to listen the song o'r n o'r again. Как же быстро мчится время!
That one was on the 1973 "Ringo" LP produced by Richard Perry and was written by Paul. It's also one of my favorites from Ringo. Did you ever hear the original extended version here -----> ruclips.net/video/mkOAvWST-Hk/видео.html
@@shave-a-thon3415 Well I heard it, however the standard version sounds more even, in one style, I mean. Actually today I prefer modern artists like these - ruclips.net/video/jlMr7FxqYIM/видео.html
Billy S. was one of John's nicknames. It's what they called him. John was also Dr. Winston O'Boogie. Ringo did a great job with his loud voice!
Billy Shears is Paul's substitute. :)
It’s not really true to say the crowd noise is required to “mask” the shift in key. You can still clearly hear how the modulation is executed, and it’s far from random. They modulate, in stepwise parallel harmony, up a major third, along with the “Bi…lly…Shears” bit in the vocals. The crowd swell masks the tape edit itself, but that’s not really a composition thing. Also, the edit is actually BEFORE the key modulation.
🇧🇷❤️😍
Makes no sense that RUclips doesn’t allow the music…when I get RUclips music with my premium for free…and you can use any song from that in the creation of shorts or videos…their lawyers have a very thin argument considering their business model.
If I pay for Beatles on one part of RUclips…how is the other part of the RUclips office completely cut off from the Beatles…kinda like Vlad as a kid…poor Vlad like children…you guys rock!!! Your parents rock for showing you the Beatles Vlad!
Now we need reaction to Joe Cocker version
If you are going to steal a line, it may as well be Shakespeare: Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.
According to Ringo the intention at first was an autobiographical concept album. But after the first two songs were wrapped they sort of went "screw it" and lost interest. At this time they already had Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields which would have been perfect fits but would end up on Magical Mystery Tour, their follow up to Pepper.
Ah ues but it is an endearing voice
Ringo didn't have a great big vocal range, but his pitch is spot on and noticeably tighter than anyone else in the band. Curious.
Ringo sings gorgeously here, but noticeably tighter than the other three, you think…?
I don’t think so.
@dago87able yeah. It's not an insult to the other three. There's value to bending pitch a bit for sure. Ringo's singing is just more in line with the notes, more mechanical in a way.
@@eggman7527 oh, I didn’t take it as an insult in any case, just that I don’t see how Ringo is noticeably tighter than anyone else in the band here; I mean, I think there’s plenty of examples of the others singing clean tight notes.
So many Beatles' songs make us think of Queen songs. But the Beatles were putting out albums 10-15 years before Queen. What should we make of that?
that they were better.
*Recommends some toddler time with Thomas the Tank Engine. It's possibly one of Ringo's bests.
Ringo was not confident though and has said as much. He thought it was too high. It's actually not high as much as it required him to develop some breath control for the big finish. Perhaps the bridge was a bit challenging to him but you never know what's there until every stone is turned. Ringo did not practice anything, including drums. He was openly lost during this album because it was such a contrived thing where as he like John would rather play rock n' roll in a band live. Quincy Jones secretly overdubbed his drums on a solo album because he couldn't play in a certain time. I get the impression it was Paul who pushed him and got him to reach down inside and discover something he never knew existed before. A singer is always going to have certain limitations and so much can go wrong with a voice but you're not competing against the other guy, you're competing against yourself. Singing is not natural, it's a form of acting but also a form of athletics, you must exercise the muscles or you will sing like Neil Young. Paul for his part was frustrated with trying to achieve the "American Bass" sound. He and the engineer recorded the bass on its own track after the other left the studio. Paul played until his fingers bled. I think he was after the Wrecking Crew sound which had several bass players including Carol Kaye. Paul was found of the Beach Boys Pet Sounds albums which feature them. He's using taper wounds, probably Rotosound 88's which I have on my dusty bass. Nylon coated taper wounds will not fit in a normal nut slot. If you watch Get Back(restoration of Let It Be movie)you can see Paul complaining his strings keep popping out. He's so naive it never occurs to file it or get someone to do that for him. Jeez he's Paul McCartney, call Rickenbacker they'll send him a schlep to fix it.
Really thoughtful analysis until you criticized Neil Young’s singing to try to make a point. Whether you like it or not, he has a unique, universally-acclaimed voice and most people would love to be able to sing like him.
Oh, and then you felt compelled to throw a potshot at Paul . . .
@@garykatz775 Nooo, sensitive much? It's quite obvious Neil Young doesn't practice. His vocal chords are tight. Ringo's were semi tight, Paul said it was okay to unwind it. I triple dog dare Amy or anyone else to just do a reaction to Paul McCartney trying to figure out how tighten a microphone swivel during their Tokyo concert. Paul could be pretty thick sometimes. He'd basically turn a tape machine into his own custom Melotron one day and it never dawned upon him to get his guitar fixed. Oh he sanded it once....so the motivation was there...He should of rang up Brian May of Queen he and his pops already made a guitar and imo English people are often very resourceful.
@@BILLYMORGAN1971 Hey, I’ve got no horse in this game. Just think your analysis would have more authority without bringing in the unnecessary and negative points you chose to highlight.
Great! And know that we are talking about Beatles and great vocals. I would like to suggest you, for the cover-topic, the cover of Ticket To Ride by the Carpenters. Otherwise, I'm afraid you will come to Karen Carpenter in a couple of years. And, as with Simon & Garfunkel, you will ask why this music was being kept from you so long
Wikipedia:
Are Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach still married?
Who Is Ringo Starr's Wife? All About Barbara Bach
In 1981, Bach and Starr got married in London and the pair have been together ever since. Bach and Starr share a mutual love for fashion.
In 1991, Bach co-founded the Self Help Addiction Recovery Program (SHARP) with Pattie Boyd, the former wife of George Harrison and Eric Clapton,[9] both of whom assisted in the venture.[10] Bach and Ringo Starr created The Lotus Foundation, a charity with many sub-charities.[11]
I would love to see a reaction to Isaac by Madonna ❤ is there somewhere I can request this please?
I’d find it hard to judge the opinion of anyone in music who hadn’t heard pepper
psychedelic because of the chorus (I get xxxx with a little help with my friends). Psychedelic is more than a musical style. It can't be limited to that It is a culture and a state of mind, which is why Pink Floyd doesn't sound like Iron Butterfly, Donovan doesn't sound like the Temptations,, and the Moody Blues don't sound like Jimi Hendrix. Yet they all define psychedelic music (the Temptations, for a while anyway).
if you reduce it to the sound of the music, you still don't get it.
Try and checkout Love Forever Changes.. i think you'd like it
Solo drums at the beginning of She Loves You, in Please, Pease Me, I Feel Fine, Ticket To Ride, Rain, Strawberry Fields Forever and a few others.
It definitely has McCartney fingerprints. Lennon probably helped with the words.
Do some more Pink Floyd with this same format. Pls oh pls.
How come you could play the Cocker version but not the Beatles? Surely it's the same publishers
I never understood how it's allowed on other platforms. The music is still copy written regardless, and on the other platforms they are making more money than here on RUclips.
@@ForbiddTV *copyrighted
They are two different versions owned by two different companies.
@@vonVile Surely the songwriter publisher is the same though?
The holders of Joe Cockers copyright to his performance of the song are not the same as the holders of the Beatles' copyrights to their performances of songs.
Had you really never heard this song before? Even the phrase "With a little help from my friends" has sort of entered everyday English language as a common saying. I guess I just feel like pretty much everyone - even people who don't listen to music - have sort of absorbed this song through osmosis just by being alive in western society.
The bVII - IV - I is a Beatleism, and is shows up in many places in Beatle land. The bVII is functionally 4 of 4, so it's a double plagal cadence according to Beatles musicographer Alan W Pollack.
Look for it also in the epic ending to Hey Jude, Polythene Pam, and many other places.
I do hope you are only going to do that for the Beatles.
22:50 You mean the Mixolydian mode, not Lydian. Lowered seventh = Mixolydian, raised fourth = Lydian.
Mixolydian is very, very common in Rock. You could argue it is actually the signature modality of the genre (it’s even been dubbed “rock major”). The Beatles probably spend as much time in it as they spend in garden-variety “major” (AKA Ionian mode)
Here, the verses are in E Ionian, the choruses are in E Mixolydian. The bridge section is a mixed bag that could be analysed as beginning in C# Dorian for the first half (“do you need anybody?”), then switching to E Mixolydian for the second half (“I need somebody to love”)
There was a time when the burden of sins committed by the kings or demons became unbearable for innocent people, so they prayed to Lord Brahma for help. Lord Brahma prayed to Lord Vishnu and requested his intervention to save the earth and its innocent people. Lord Vishnu accepted his prayers and assured him that his next birth would be as a mortal. Thus, Shri Krishna was born to queen Devaki to kill the evil king Kans and provide solace to innocent souls.
Thank you.
I prefer joe cocker
Mixolydian, not lydian.
G major with no F# (i.e. minor seventh instead) = G,A,B,C,D,E,F,G.