One of my favorite things about this song is the subtle use of technology in the stereo version that makes this song even more surreal. In the middle of the song, a 2:02 you hear an interlude with a string ensemble and high pitched whining. People born after about 1965 (and who have never used short band radio) probably won't recognize what that whining is, but it is the sound of an analog radio dial tuner switching radio frequencies (i.e. channels). Now days with digital tuning and station lock, you don't hear that noise. After the end of interlude when the radio is tuned into another frequency, the song proceeds but now in monaural! The subtle and almost unconscious effect is that the listener is transported into another dimension -- from the dimension of stereo to the dimension of mono. From what I read this was by accident (because the radio background was recorded onto the mono track and couldn't be separated for stereo, so they just used the mono recording for the second half of the stereo version) but it has the brilliant effect of making this already brilliant surreal song even more surreal.
Musically, I think walrus is Lennon’s most complex and beautiful composition. There are some wild chord changes and such cleverly timed melodies that put him in the same league as the greatest of classical composers. I recommend you listen to the anthology version which is a stripped-down outtake and you’ll see that even with just Lennon’s voice, an electric keyboard and drums the song is still a force of nature. I prefer the outtake to the release but my Beatles tastes are usually offbeat.
I wonder how many "greatest classical composers" you really know? Haydn?All 104 symphonies?Mozart? All operas? Schubert: all 600+ songs? Beethoven's 16 string quartets? All Chopin Nocturnes? Brahms' Intermezzi? J.C.Bach Sonatas? ..... 🤭
@@gerhardprasent3358 Fair point. There’s likely lots of composers that are more gifted than Lennon. I just love playing this song on piano I got carried away.
@@gerhardprasent3358 I don't know. Lennon was not a classical composer, sure. OTOH, did any of the classical composers you mentioned produce surrealistic songs in the nature of "Walrus" or "Strawberry fields"? If so I'd been keen to listen to them, and with your extensive knowledge of classical composition, I would appreciate you identifying a few classical compositions that you think would meet that criteria. Thank you!
The Beatles have always been a big part of my life (I was born in 1967). In fact, when the Beatles Recording Sessions book came out in the 80s it spurred me to actually got to uni and learn audio engineering. I digested everything in that book. So their sessions and methods have been ingrained in me. TO understand how John Lennon put words together you need look no further than the recent Get Back film. There's plenty of examples of him messing around and throwing things together. I find part of this is down to his dyslexia, as I've known quite a few dyslexic people who have similar traits. But he also loved Spike Milligan and the Goons, as well as his influence by Bob Dylan. It's a big reflection of how some people were at the time.
Yellow mater custard is from a rhyme we as kids in the 50/s i was a kid in the 50/s and come from St.helens near Liverpool. The rhyme went, yellow mater yellow mater Green snot pie all mixed up with a dead dogs eye slap it on a butty slap it on thick then wash it down with a cup full of sick.
"Just poetry" as if poetry has no meaning or intended meaning. John knows that it does. He also knows that foolish people take things literally and burn albums and make death threats for perceiving words as condemnations and thus condemning as a result. There is meaning in all John's songs, he was a very deep thinking guy. Even in trying to write nonsense verses he leaves meaning just by his intent. He also later goes onto write Glass Onion, and declares "The Walrus was Paul". Ok, nuff said.
No, George Martin was called the 5th Beatle, and it’s logical, Brian wasn’t a musician, George Martin was a musician and added so much musically to the Beatles anthology.
@@ThomasRyan-nf3wx He's the only person that Lennon actually told he was in the group. The group broke up after two albums with Billy. (He was on Abby Road)
I've never heard it, but wasn't there a 2012 remix done for Yellow Submarine DVD/blueray release? I look for it every now and then, but short of buying the disc of the film I don't know where to find it. That said, if you search I am the walrus stereo remix there's a version, nearer the original length, which I think may be it. But I'm not sure. It is good though. Oh, and the version from the Love album is also decent
1st: It's Ep-st-e-in like "i" not -steen! 2nd: Walrus is not THE most important song - rather "one of the best Beatles songs". If I'd have to chose THE most important it would be "A Day In The Life" - or Hey Jude, or Penny Lane, or Strawberry Fields, or She Loves You, or Let It Be, or All You Need is Love ... or Something ... Why should your opinion have any value? I'm at least an expert ...
As far as sheer importance, I'd probably have to say "I Want to Hold Your Hand". It not only locked them in as "*the* group" in the UK in 1963 (their third No. 1 single that year) but catapulted to being their first big hit and No. 1 in the US shortly before their arrival in the US, kicking off worldwide Beatlemania.
I tried to like this song for a long time, tried to give it credit for something. Now, I realize it's not a great song or a good song. It's Lennon and the Beatles trying to be profound and failing.
failing? they absolutely nailed it... only time they've been profound - or rather, the other two are: A Day In the Life, and the collage at the end of Abbey Road
@@cmonman3639 whever he wanted to take the piss or not, some of his lyrics did had deep messages. It's the artist's subconscious that adds the deeper messages, not his conscious effort
Sorry, but the fact that you don't like a song is not indication of "failing". Perhaps you'd like something catchier, maybe like "You're Mother Should Know."
One of my favorite things about this song is the subtle use of technology in the stereo version that makes this song even more surreal. In the middle of the song, a 2:02 you hear an interlude with a string ensemble and high pitched whining. People born after about 1965 (and who have never used short band radio) probably won't recognize what that whining is, but it is the sound of an analog radio dial tuner switching radio frequencies (i.e. channels). Now days with digital tuning and station lock, you don't hear that noise.
After the end of interlude when the radio is tuned into another frequency, the song proceeds but now in monaural! The subtle and almost unconscious effect is that the listener is transported into another dimension -- from the dimension of stereo to the dimension of mono. From what I read this was by accident (because the radio background was recorded onto the mono track and couldn't be separated for stereo, so they just used the mono recording for the second half of the stereo version) but it has the brilliant effect of making this already brilliant surreal song even more surreal.
Musically, I think walrus is Lennon’s most complex and beautiful composition. There are some wild chord changes and such cleverly timed melodies that put him in the same league as the greatest of classical composers. I recommend you listen to the anthology version which is a stripped-down outtake and you’ll see that even with just Lennon’s voice, an electric keyboard and drums the song is still a force of nature. I prefer the outtake to the release but my Beatles tastes are usually offbeat.
It surely must be the one Beatles song with the most extreme ratio of major chords (lots and lots) to minor chords (none)
I wonder how many "greatest classical composers" you really know? Haydn?All 104 symphonies?Mozart? All operas? Schubert: all 600+ songs? Beethoven's 16 string quartets? All Chopin Nocturnes? Brahms' Intermezzi? J.C.Bach Sonatas? .....
🤭
@@gerhardprasent3358 Fair point. There’s likely lots of composers that are more gifted than Lennon. I just love playing this song on piano I got carried away.
@@gerhardprasent3358 I don't know. Lennon was not a classical composer, sure. OTOH, did any of the classical composers you mentioned produce surrealistic songs in the nature of "Walrus" or "Strawberry fields"? If so I'd been keen to listen to them, and with your extensive knowledge of classical composition, I would appreciate you identifying a few classical compositions that you think would meet that criteria. Thank you!
This whole magical mystery tour set of recordings is exactly that.... magical
Paul is son of the magician as per Memoirs
Strawberry Fields Forever is the Beatles most crucial and pivotal song. This is what transformed the band from one era to the next
The Beatles have always been a big part of my life (I was born in 1967). In fact, when the Beatles Recording Sessions book came out in the 80s it spurred me to actually got to uni and learn audio engineering. I digested everything in that book.
So their sessions and methods have been ingrained in me.
TO understand how John Lennon put words together you need look no further than the recent Get Back film. There's plenty of examples of him messing around and throwing things together. I find part of this is down to his dyslexia, as I've known quite a few dyslexic people who have similar traits. But he also loved Spike Milligan and the Goons, as well as his influence by Bob Dylan. It's a big reflection of how some people were at the time.
Lennon always had an interest in Carrollian word play and double entendres. His 1964 book "In His Own Write" is full of them.
I agree, this is their best achievement
The sitting in an English garden bit reversed says "Worst of all he's in a dark chill Remember this please"
I LOVE THIS SONG
Yellow mater custard is from a rhyme we as kids in the 50/s i was a kid in the 50/s and come from St.helens near Liverpool. The rhyme went, yellow mater yellow mater Green snot pie all mixed up with a dead dogs eye slap it on a butty slap it on thick then wash it down with a cup full of sick.
Yes, it’s far better that hello goodbye
I just realised the Come Together chorus is basically an inversion of the Walrus chorus.
"Just poetry" as if poetry has no meaning or intended meaning. John knows that it does. He also knows that foolish people take things literally and burn albums and make death threats for perceiving words as condemnations and thus condemning as a result. There is meaning in all John's songs, he was a very deep thinking guy. Even in trying to write nonsense verses he leaves meaning just by his intent. He also later goes onto write Glass Onion, and declares "The Walrus was Paul". Ok, nuff said.
No, George Martin was called the 5th Beatle, and it’s logical, Brian wasn’t a musician, George Martin was a musician and added so much musically to the Beatles anthology.
John actually told Billy Preston "yer in the group", making him the "5th Beatle". In reality, there were only four Beatles.
@ ok, in a way, for one album that was true, perhaps he was the 6th for a short time..
@@ThomasRyan-nf3wx He's the only person that Lennon actually told he was in the group. The group broke up after two albums with Billy. (He was on Abby Road)
Lennon wanted his voice in the song "I'm the Walrus" to sound like "a monk chanting from the top of a mountain."
I think that was Tomorrow Never Knows, wasn't it?
@@BosleyStarr Yep
@@BosleyStarr yes
BosslegyStarr You are right.
Um, yah, brilliant tune and even better lyrics. Most important song?.. I would vote for Day in the life.
I've never heard it, but wasn't there a 2012 remix done for Yellow Submarine DVD/blueray release? I look for it every now and then, but short of buying the disc of the film I don't know where to find it. That said, if you search I am the walrus stereo remix there's a version, nearer the original length, which I think may be it. But I'm not sure. It is good though.
Oh, and the version from the Love album is also decent
It is a L,ovely S,ong D,efinitely .
1st: It's Ep-st-e-in like "i" not -steen!
2nd: Walrus is not THE most important song - rather "one of the best Beatles songs".
If I'd have to chose THE most important it would be "A Day In The Life" - or Hey Jude, or Penny Lane, or Strawberry Fields, or She Loves You, or Let It Be, or All You Need is Love ... or Something ...
Why should your opinion have any value? I'm at least an expert ...
BTW: did you realize that there were FOUR Beatles, 3 of them composing masterworks? Paul is hardly mentioned in your video ...
As far as sheer importance, I'd probably have to say "I Want to Hold Your Hand". It not only locked them in as "*the* group" in the UK in 1963 (their third No. 1 single that year) but catapulted to being their first big hit and No. 1 in the US shortly before their arrival in the US, kicking off worldwide Beatlemania.
I tried to like this song for a long time, tried to give it credit for something. Now, I realize it's not a great song or a good song. It's Lennon and the Beatles trying to be profound and failing.
failing? they absolutely nailed it... only time they've been profound - or rather, the other two are: A Day In the Life, and the collage at the end of Abbey Road
John Lennon was taking the piss out of people who wanted to read deep messages into his lyrics.
@@cmonman3639 whever he wanted to take the piss or not, some of his lyrics did had deep messages. It's the artist's subconscious that adds the deeper messages, not his conscious effort
Well done for having the worst opinion on the Internet. That takes some going
Sorry, but the fact that you don't like a song is not indication of "failing". Perhaps you'd like something catchier, maybe like "You're Mother Should Know."