It's really interesting to hear you reacting to the Beatles albums in reverse order and still picking up on how their development in using new sounds. In real time the band's development from their first recordings in late 1962 through to January 1970 were nothing short of extraordinary. Every single, every b-side, every EP, every album was a seismic shift from the last. As you rightly say, this is the first use of a sitar on a western pop record, sparking a trend over the next few years, although for George it was a lifelong passion as he became immersed in Indian religion, meditation and culture. Musically, you can see Dylan's influence writ large on this track. And note how the two opening songs on this album both incorporate a joke as a twist at the very end - 'Drive My Car' has a wannabe starlet seeking a driver before revealing she hasn't even got a car. In 'Norwegian Wood', the protagonist sets fire to the flat (maybe)!
Hi Justin. Dave from Across The Ocean. No singles were released in the UK from this album, but I remember this song getting a lot of radio airplay at the time. It's folky, it's catchy, and as you say it packs a lot into its 2+ minutes.
Was not expecting a George Takei sound drop. Very Fred Norris of you. About burning the house down it could be true. On the unmixed raw recording you hear John say at the end “I showed her!”
A skill that has been forgotten is to put a whole story within two or three minutes. It does leave a lot for the imagination with given hints. "In My Life" from this album is another great example.
Always been one of my favourite Beatles songs - and it's a fun and easy one to play live, too. It was a further exploration by John of Bob Dylan's folk stylings (following "You've got to hide your love away" on the previous album "Help!"). Bob Dylan replied in kind by using "Norwegian wood"'s melody as the basis for his 1966 song "Fourth time around".
My fav Beatles song. It really is. Even with all the great songs they did, this simple, very traditional folk guitar melody (almost like a sea shanty which the sitar complimented) it’s just a gorgeous song.
So Cool to play on acoustic, especially in an open tuning. Another channel I like similar to yours is Subterranean Visions with some out of the box music explorations. Keep 'em coming!
It's incredible to me JP you don't know this classic. It's truly one of the greatest songs they had done. It goes to show you we should all take a moment out of our day and learn something new - even if its obvious to others.
I always thought "Norwegian wood" was the firewood used in the fireplace. Being that England doesn't have a lot of spare trees, firewood was imported from Norway. (I think McCartney was lying or goofing around with his explanation. It's a Lennon song anyway).
John wrote some dark songs after the fun of Hard Days Night. He was definitely not enjoying the fame and it shows in songs like this one, I'm A Loser, Help, and Run For Your Life.
This is from an era when music changed and developed and learned and improved almost from month to month. She Loves You was only 2 years prior to this and A Day in the Life 2 years away. Almost everything from the charts I hear these days could have come from 20 years ago and I suspect that in 20 years we'll be hearing much the same nonsense written and performed by AI. Sad, really. Meanwhile, Norwegian Wood is excellent.
A Beatles classic, Lennon's voice is unique. I have to say I'm not fond of your new gimmicky sound effects, I find them distracting and off-putting. Your voice is all I need.
This is, besides Eleanor Rigby and Penny Lane, one of my favourites by the British bug band. Btw: Christmas in Switzerland is ok, but Christmas in Florida is much more interesting. Don't let "Last Christmas" rule your life.
I never knew what that line "So I lit a fire" had some malicious intent of burning the place down. It reminds me of the story of The Beatles' early touring days in Germany, when they set a couple of small things alight to allow enough light to quickly pack their suitcases before leaving. The story was they were burning condoms, which spread into a larger building fire. I'll have to do more reading about that.
No matter how many times I've listened to it over the decades, it's still 2 minutes of pure bliss and that's never going to change!
one of my fave Beatles songs! dbl ♥
It's really interesting to hear you reacting to the Beatles albums in reverse order and still picking up on how their development in using new sounds. In real time the band's development from their first recordings in late 1962 through to January 1970 were nothing short of extraordinary. Every single, every b-side, every EP, every album was a seismic shift from the last.
As you rightly say, this is the first use of a sitar on a western pop record, sparking a trend over the next few years, although for George it was a lifelong passion as he became immersed in Indian religion, meditation and culture.
Musically, you can see Dylan's influence writ large on this track.
And note how the two opening songs on this album both incorporate a joke as a twist at the very end - 'Drive My Car' has a wannabe starlet seeking a driver before revealing she hasn't even got a car. In 'Norwegian Wood', the protagonist sets fire to the flat (maybe)!
A brilliant track from my favourite Beatles album, and I reckon I played this over a thousand times as a busker. 🙃
One of my favourites
Also I have to say, those sound effects are pure local radio cheese, and not the type you want to eat betwixt two slices of bread.
Hi Justin. Dave from Across The Ocean. No singles were released in the UK from this album, but I remember this song getting a lot of radio airplay at the time. It's folky, it's catchy, and as you say it packs a lot into its 2+ minutes.
So short and so perfect
Hi Justin! The Beatles are always brilliant!
Was not expecting a George Takei sound drop. Very Fred Norris of you. About burning the house down it could be true. On the unmixed raw recording you hear John say at the end “I showed her!”
The second Takei drop was even funnier.
A skill that has been forgotten is to put a whole story within two or three minutes. It does leave a lot for the imagination with given hints. "In My Life" from this album is another great example.
Always been one of my favourite Beatles songs - and it's a fun and easy one to play live, too. It was a further exploration by John of Bob Dylan's folk stylings (following "You've got to hide your love away" on the previous album "Help!"). Bob Dylan replied in kind by using "Norwegian wood"'s melody as the basis for his 1966 song "Fourth time around".
My fav Beatles song. It really is. Even with all the great songs they did, this simple, very traditional folk guitar melody (almost like a sea shanty which the sitar complimented) it’s just a gorgeous song.
still hoping (looking forward to 😎) you'll react to Lennon's first solo album POB.
Great song, great album. My third favorite band.
"Isn't it good - knowing she would"
So Cool to play on acoustic, especially in an open tuning. Another channel I like similar to yours is Subterranean Visions with some out of the box music explorations. Keep 'em coming!
It's incredible to me JP you don't know this classic. It's truly one of the greatest songs they had done. It goes to show you we should all take a moment out of our day and learn something new - even if its obvious to others.
I love this one... Nice reaction too (:
I'd recommend following up with Bob Dylan's reaction song, "4th Time Around", as an interesting point of comparison.
I always thought "Norwegian wood" was the firewood used in the fireplace.
Being that England doesn't have a lot of spare trees, firewood was imported from Norway.
(I think McCartney was lying or goofing around with his explanation. It's a Lennon song anyway).
Of course, you now have to read the novel by Haruki Murakami.
John wrote some dark songs after the fun of Hard Days Night.
He was definitely not enjoying the fame and it shows in songs like this one, I'm A Loser, Help, and Run For Your Life.
This is from an era when music changed and developed and learned and improved almost from month to month. She Loves You was only 2 years prior to this and A Day in the Life 2 years away. Almost everything from the charts I hear these days could have come from 20 years ago and I suspect that in 20 years we'll be hearing much the same nonsense written and performed by AI. Sad, really. Meanwhile, Norwegian Wood is excellent.
A Beatles classic, Lennon's voice is unique. I have to say I'm not fond of your new gimmicky sound effects, I find them distracting and off-putting. Your voice is all I need.
This is, besides Eleanor Rigby and Penny Lane, one of my favourites by the British bug band.
Btw: Christmas in Switzerland is ok, but Christmas in Florida is much more interesting. Don't let "Last Christmas" rule your life.
Christmas in Florida is definitely...an interesting area lol
Can we not listen to this on patreon for free?
If you know the song, just imagine him listening to it. 😁
Yes he provides a link; but you do have to register. It's all free though.
@@frugalseverin2282 Yeah, not happening!
@@frugalseverin2282 You never used to have to register
I never knew what that line "So I lit a fire" had some malicious intent of burning the place down. It reminds me of the story of The Beatles' early touring days in Germany, when they set a couple of small things alight to allow enough light to quickly pack their suitcases before leaving. The story was they were burning condoms, which spread into a larger building fire. I'll have to do more reading about that.
Too much talking!
😃