You might want to listen to The Turtles' song, "Elenore". It was written as a joke to get their record label off their backs. In his autobiography and on many podcasts and interviews, Howard Kaylan (lead singer) has said that when Happy Together went up, Elenore would go down. When Happy Together went down, Elenore would go up. He intentionally used juvenile, stupid, and goofy lyrics. Lyrics like: "Your looks intoxicate me even though your folks hate me."; "Elenore, gee, I think you are swell"; "You're my pride and joy, et cetera" (yes, they actually used "et cetera"!); "I think you are groovy, let's go out to a movie." Although the song was written as a joke, the record company loved it. It turned out to be their biggest hit in Europe. The chorus has lots of energy, especially with the drum work (Johnny Barbata) and the bass (Jim Pons).
As far as I knew, the Monkees were an entirely legitimate band too, releasing the well know 'you really got me' and 'daydream believer'.. I love the sound from this era, and put this song in the same 'playlist' as the Beach Boys 'God only knows', Crosby, Still & Nash 'Our House', The Mamas and the Papas 'California Dreamin', The Hollies 'All I need is the air that I breath', and Renaissance's 'Spare Some Love' or 'Carpet of the sun'.
I love that era. In my opinion 1966 and 1967 were the years with the best beat music. I'm from 1970, but I grew up listening to the favourite music of my parents. That grew into a predilection for all sorts of metal in some way. Nice to see you react to this 'old' stuff.
I love the 60s. My favourite albums right now are Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys, and Astral Weeks by Van Morrison. Both released in the 60s. Magnificent albums that combine experimentation with catchy melodies, and dreamy production. Although very different to each other.
Imagine when this came out I thought it was a just love song, the infatuation felt and it will be never ending while looking out the school room window at the one I did get but ... yep ... ended up somewhere else with someone else? 🤔😆😂
I think that's a fair analysis. It really makes me wonder what their thoughts actually were with this song. No denying the chorus is catchy, but the verses are really.. provocative/off in some way? I can't really believe they didn't realize the feel and lyrics of the verses weren't slightly cringy compared to the chorus. It felt a little ominous with the intonation and shyness of the vocals. A little uncanny valley. If it were more clearly daydreamy or something, it might have worked better. Yeah I'm not sure where to put my finger on this song as a whole.
@@CriticalReactions how can it be wrong if it's the way of THE PEOPLE? 😤 these cReAtOrS want us say "jif" for gif and "ping" for png! they take us for absolute fools! 😭
@@CriticalReactions it actually says so even in a link you provided if you scroll down a little (or use ctrl+f to search for "png" or "ping") they played us like a damn fiddle! 😣
Without ever listening closely to the lyrics, I have always found this song somewhat gloomy, taken as a whole. Moog synthesizers went into production in 1965, so it's not impossible for one of those (or maybe something similar) to show up in songs from this early. My lazy search didn't turn anything about the keyboards used on this track, but the information is probably out there somewhere.
About the drums on the left: I'm almost sure these were the first years of mainatream stereo, and it was still mixed crudely, hard panning and all. Original mixes Beatles' albums of the era were like that, weren't they? I hope someone more competent can give more reliable commentary
The writers stated the song is definitely about unrequited love. Sad for sure. The verses really give that feeling.
You might want to listen to The Turtles' song, "Elenore". It was written as a joke to get their record label off their backs. In his autobiography and on many podcasts and interviews, Howard Kaylan (lead singer) has said that when Happy Together went up, Elenore would go down. When Happy Together went down, Elenore would go up. He intentionally used juvenile, stupid, and goofy lyrics. Lyrics like: "Your looks intoxicate me even though your folks hate me."; "Elenore, gee, I think you are swell"; "You're my pride and joy, et cetera" (yes, they actually used "et cetera"!); "I think you are groovy, let's go out to a movie." Although the song was written as a joke, the record company loved it. It turned out to be their biggest hit in Europe. The chorus has lots of energy, especially with the drum work (Johnny Barbata) and the bass (Jim Pons).
Reaally interesting take on the lyrics. Now I want to see different takes on the song of different directors, from Zemeckis to Nolan to Lynch etc
As far as I knew, the Monkees were an entirely legitimate band too, releasing the well know 'you really got me' and 'daydream believer'.. I love the sound from this era, and put this song in the same 'playlist' as the Beach Boys 'God only knows', Crosby, Still & Nash 'Our House', The Mamas and the Papas 'California Dreamin', The Hollies 'All I need is the air that I breath', and Renaissance's 'Spare Some Love' or 'Carpet of the sun'.
Were they? I only knew them as a TV show band. Though I suppose that doesn't exclude them from writing and playing their own music.
@CriticalReactions Huh, well they were born as a fake/ pre-fabricated band but went on to become real.
I love that era. In my opinion 1966 and 1967 were the years with the best beat music. I'm from 1970, but I grew up listening to the favourite music of my parents. That grew into a predilection for all sorts of metal in some way. Nice to see you react to this 'old' stuff.
Great read, exactly as you thought. Frank Zappa heard it and insisted that the singers join his band.👍👍
I love the 60s. My favourite albums right now are Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys, and Astral Weeks by Van Morrison. Both released in the 60s. Magnificent albums that combine experimentation with catchy melodies, and dreamy production. Although very different to each other.
I know this song from the docudrama Baby Reindeer
Ya know, I recently watched that too but didn't remember it in there. It makes perfect sense being in that show though.
@@CriticalReactions It's in the scene where Donny finds about Martha's stalking past, on the Internet.
Maybe episode 2.
@@pascalg16 Ah yeah, that makes sense.
I had no idea of which song you were talking about until I heard the chorus.
I agree, probably everyone know this song 😂
Imagine when this came out I thought it was a just love song, the infatuation felt and it will be never ending while looking out the school room window at the one I did get but ... yep ... ended up somewhere else with someone else? 🤔😆😂
The opening sounds simple but the singer had to nail the first notes of the lyric so that the vocals fell in with the mellow vibe.
Because you didn't live there in that time!
Flo & Eddie became singers for Frank Zappa not too long after this
They also ended the "Filmore East" live album by Mothers/Zappa with this song "Happy Together"
It was a really suprising ending of the album!
@@berntborjesson2042 It broke new ground as the most obscene album at the time. With x-rated lyrics throughout. Loved it.
Oboe or clarinet?
I think that's a fair analysis. It really makes me wonder what their thoughts actually were with this song. No denying the chorus is catchy, but the verses are really.. provocative/off in some way? I can't really believe they didn't realize the feel and lyrics of the verses weren't slightly cringy compared to the chorus. It felt a little ominous with the intonation and shyness of the vocals. A little uncanny valley. If it were more clearly daydreamy or something, it might have worked better. Yeah I'm not sure where to put my finger on this song as a whole.
20:32 my incendiary comment is actually about you saying gif as "jif" at 19:04 🙄
are we AS A COMMUNITY just supposed to forgive this?! 😢
Uhhhh.... "gif" with the hard g is the wrong way to say it 😄
(Especially since the creator says it uses the soft g www.olsenhome.com/gif/)
@@CriticalReactions how can it be wrong if it's the way of THE PEOPLE? 😤 these cReAtOrS want us say "jif" for gif and "ping" for png! they take us for absolute fools! 😭
@@ShadinCore Whoa whoa whoa -- there are people who pronounce "pee en gee" as "ping"....
Nope, that's just wrong lol
@@CriticalReactions it actually says so even in a link you provided if you scroll down a little (or use ctrl+f to search for "png" or "ping")
they played us like a damn fiddle! 😣
@@ShadinCore Nooooooooooooooo.
Well maybe the creator isn't always right.....
....but they are in the case of gif 🤣
Without ever listening closely to the lyrics, I have always found this song somewhat gloomy, taken as a whole.
Moog synthesizers went into production in 1965, so it's not impossible for one of those (or maybe something similar) to show up in songs from this early. My lazy search didn't turn anything about the keyboards used on this track, but the information is probably out there somewhere.
It's clearly an oboe
About the drums on the left: I'm almost sure these were the first years of mainatream stereo, and it was still mixed crudely, hard panning and all. Original mixes Beatles' albums of the era were like that, weren't they? I hope someone more competent can give more reliable commentary
I'm always glad to read insightful commentary, too bad it's soured by the unhelpful comment at the end