First Listen Beatles - I Wanna Hold You Hand and Roll Over Beethoven (Hip Hop Fan Reacts)
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- čas přidán 28. 07. 2024
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Simplistic lyrically? Sure. But the chord changes, the harmonies and the sheer exuberance were thrilling. Still are.
There's a difference between simplistic and simple. Simplistic means weak minded while simple just means uncomplicated. The Beatles lyrics, even early on, were very rarely simplistic if ever. And to achieve what Paul Fussell called "that frank unshowy Swiftian simplicity is the opposite of the commonplace."
yes, and please remember he can't speak for our generation alone. I am younger and see the rhythm changes that are genius. It's just game changing in 1963 and its still a perfect pop song.
"The Beatles" weren't just another "pop band"; they were INTELLIGENT -- Lennon INSISTED on it. LISTEN to his lyrics to "Girl" on "Rubber Soul".
And they are barely in their 20's.
It's not the lyrics, it's the great melody, harmonizing and energy. They knew how to craft a no. 1 hit which was their main focus at the time.
Their appeal was the impression that anyone could do it. But, nope: it isn't as simple as it sounds. They were a kick-assed band and worked their asses off getting to be that. They were ahead of everyone else from the beginning.
Early Beatles were in a way, playing to an audience: themes that spoke to ideas that were already out there and popular. Their unique style was the appeal, as well as catchy tunes and smart lyrics. Later Beatles I feel were more of a presenting of editorials and ideals about life. Stories whether obvious or metaphorical. They grew and we came along for one hell of a ride. Born in '59 and grew up with them as my favorite band. Nothing has changed.
Yep, born the same year. And still my favorite band, too.
George Harrison was drastically underrated and was a genius in his own right.
I Wanna Hold Your Hand is the song that kicked the door open to the American market for The Beatles. All of their previous releases in the US had gone unnoticed - when George visited his sister in the US in the summer of 1963, he went to all the local record shops and asked if they had any Beatles records, and no one knew what he was talking about. There's some debate as to whether I Wanna Hold Your Hand was specifically designed for the US market, but it had all the elements there to break into that particular market - simple, straightforward, good beat, you can dance to it, etc. Plus being released soon after JFK's assassination made it a well-needed upper for a country in mourning for a youthful president. I don't think anyone thinks it's the most brilliant Beatles song, but it did what it needed to do.
But...at the time it was their most brilliant song to their targeted audience, the teen market, because no one knew the future...plus you didn't mention the "outrageous" long hair, screaming and loud guitars and drums...perfect storm to annoy the hell out of the parents lol. Not everybody was happy the Beatles showed up and it had nothing to do with needing a boost after JFK assassination for the adults...seeing these four long haired weirdos and their loud music, meant the world was going to hell in a hand basket for many of them, brought up on big band music of the 1930's and 40's.
The weird thing was how the EMI-owned label in US had a main man who did his level best to squash British music - not just the Beatles.
If you heard this stuff in conjunction with what was popular, you may appreciate this stuff more. It’s so much better than the crap people were being spoon fed.
Yeah. I've mentioned before that Billboard's top 10 for 1963 featured zero electric guitars.
have a look at the movie "American Graffitti" for some perspective of the music then. Or "Grease"
^^^^This^^^
@@bobguitarlearner8007 Rock and roll had been more or less dead for a few years with the first generation of fans settled down with jobs, mortgages, and children and the first generatyion of performers in the army or even in gaol. There were, of course, many groups all over US and UK who were moving in same direction as Beatles and, maybe, if not the Beatles, then someone else might have kicked the doors down to resurrect creative pop. But the groups and individuals who followed mostly stuck to one or two sub-genres and nobody else evolved like the Beatles and take the world (at least more than just English speaking world) along for the ride from 'I want to hold your hand' to 'I want you, she's so heavy'. Both American Graffiti and Grease set just that bit earlier and looked back to fun times for parental generation
No other band was doing what The Beatles were doing. Their music was streets ahead of anyone else. They were the first to write their own stuff and were very innovative in the recording studio. This track is just so joyous.
As my Dad said in ‘64 (he was 9) regarding “I Want to Hold Your Hand”…. “It sounded so different from all the other music at the time, it could have been from outer space.” Also, the lyrics may seem elementary but the chords were not. My Dad has never not been learning Beatles songs on guitar in my life (and I’m in my 40s.) The early stuff is more complicated than it may sound.
You have to realize that at this point, rock n' roll was only a few years old, the equipment was incredibly primitive, and their resources were only people like Buddy Holly, Elvis, Little Richard, who had come just a few years before -- at the inception of their own teen years. They were virtually making it up as they went along and in the process, set the trend for the rest of their generation of musicians -- their peers and those who followed. I remember vividly from '64 onwards literally every couple of months they would come out with a sound that not only no one had heard before, but no one had ever imagined before. Quite a ride, it was. Glad you're following their evolutionary continuum. That was a good idea and a good approach.
Well put. You simply cannot get a full appreciation of the talent and imagination of these brilliant artists without understanding context. Yes, much of their early stuff was an attempt to make pop songs that would break through, but they were certainly breaking massive new ground within that context with the chord structures, harmonies, etc. I think Syed is making a sincere effort
Also, Elvis being drafted, Chuck Berry in jail, Jerry Lee Lewis destroying his career by marrying his 14 year old cousin, Little Richard returning to "religion," Buddy Holly killed in a plane crash -- most music had deteriorated to dance songs -- see Chubby Checker. As I recall during 1963 "Major Lance" had two dance somewhat hits. They were actually the exact same music, the only change was the lyrics.
And "The Supremes" had their first chart entry, "When the Lovelight Starts Shining in His Eyes".
There was pretty much nothing on the radio of prolonged interest.
There were also Rick[y] Nelson and Brenda Lee. John said that Brenda Lee had the perfect rock and roll voice. Problem is that Decca didn't know what to do with her voice.
@@jnagarya519 It was the "pretty boy" era when the Beatles came along. Not that the music was bad, but the Beatles were just so far different and dynamic from what we were hearing in the early '60s -- Rydell, Vee, Vinton, Shannon, Avalon, Orbison, Fabian, Sedaka, Anka, Beach Boys, Tillotson, etc.
Syed is totally wrong about this song. When "I Want to Hold Your Hand" came along, we all had to sit up and pay attention. Hey, this stuff is different and terrific! Changed the direction of music because it ushered in the British Invasion, which was a welcome change, in my opinion.
@@benshafer5198 He listen's to a few tracks per LP, then distracts himself with other music, then listens to a few tracks from the next LP.
Believe it or not, this was revolutionary at the time.
When I first heard this as a kid in early 1964...it was like a kick in the head! The Singing Nun...Bobby Vinton...The Trashman...Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs...The Beach Boys...on the radio in 1963."I Want To Hold Your Hand" was NOTHING like I'd ever heard before. Radio stations phones lit up when this was played...people kept saying "Who is that?...Play it again!"...and they did. The Beatles changed EVERYTHING....and NOTHING has ever been the same since!!!
The thing that you'll come to understand as you go through this journey, is that back in the early days of the Beatles, society was more innocent as a whole. So as a young band of the time, they wrote simpler music, brilliant as it was. But the Beatles were on the crest of a wave never before seen in history. Their evolution took society with them - through the evolution of rock music, and through all the drastic societal changes that occurred during that time - psychological, philosophical, political, mind expansion, connecting East and West, and on and on. All done through expert song writing and story telling.
If you want to fully understand the Lennon/McCartney relationship both personally and musically, listen to “You Know My Name (Look Up My Number)”. Just the two of them goofing. It’s funny - hilarious - and shows the depth of their musical abilities and tastes. Keep going down this path. I’m 72 and lived it. It’s a blast to see someone experience and appreciate it. Peace.
Even their early music was completely new. Never been done before. Yes, it's "pop music" but it's the first pop music. Others tried catching up but by the time they did, the Beatles had moved onto Revolver & Pepper's. Everyone's been playing catchup ever since, and always will. The greatest ever.
The best way to describe them.They set the bar so high from the very beginning,nobody caught up for years. Music evolved after them,but ONLY after them.
You can really hear the influence of the Everly Brothers on IWTHYH with the vocals and harmonies, and they added a rather intricate arrangement. Brilliant.
And some boffo drum fills from Richie.
Hey Syed, I understand what you about this music and you being born in the 90s, but you gotta remember what the music was like when this stuff came out. It was new and powerful and exciting and they continued to grow and change as you will see.
What I've always enjoyed about this song is how John and Paul's vocals superbly pair up such that it almost sounds like one voice. Their vocals blend together perfectly here, as well as several other songs. The highlight to me is when their voices suddenly diverge with Paul going high creating that striking harmony on the word 'hide'. By doing that, it's as if they're adding a shot of electricity to the song. I honestly think that this harmonic jolt is what made this song such a huge hit. Another vocal feature that I believe points to their genius is when they harmonize only on the second bridge [And when I touch you I feel happy...] as opposed to both bridges. This clearly illustrates that they intended to pick and choose when to utilize their harmonies in their early compositions in order to make their songs sound more unique. Nearly 60 years later and this song still makes me smile.
I Wanna Hold Your Hand never sounded as radical. Take a second listen. Of course the focus is on the vibe, the music, the harmonies. The song is an absolute celebration of the Zeitgeist.... "And when I touch you... "it´s such feeling"... "I can`t hide, I can`t hide, I can`t hide"...!!! Eros pure...!!! "You know, she wiggle like a glowworm, she dance like a spinnin´ top"...!!!
absolutely. In the day you simply could not directly say what you mean about a lot of things, particularly sex. You had to find creative ways of alluding to many things or risk being banned from radio. That choice would never have been in the cards for any of the major early 60's bands.
The Beatles exploded into my ears in real time back in 1963. Nothing had ever sounded like them before. The first strange impact of their sound had to be experienced at the time. Back in Hamburg and Liverpool the Beatles were a hard rocking covers band. Through hundreds of hours of listening and playing, they absorbed the sounds and styles of Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, the Everly Brothers, so many others into their bones. Added their own unique talents, and that was the sound that came out. In "I Want to Hold your Hand", you can hear the chugging shuffle of Chuck Berry, the harmonies of Doo Wop and the Everly's, the falsetto whoops and jumps of Little Richard and Buddy Holly, all blended together and made new.
The lyrics, as you say, were the traditional boy meets girl that was the great tradition that dated back to the golden years of the Great American Songbook and inherited by Rock and Roll. Bob Dylan + drugs were the catalyst that revolutionised what song lyrics could be about and his lyrical influence affected everybody from the mid-sixties on, including the Beatles. Which is what you hear in the lyrics of songs like "Blackbird".
Chuck Berry was a true rock pioneer and one the best lyricists of the genre.
Yes he knew how to tell stories.
@@thomastimlin1724 cee la vie, Promiseland etc Berry had so many.
Buddy Holly too
The Voyager space craft were launched in the 1970s with the knowledge that they'd be the first human spaceships to leave the solar system. A gold plated record was placed in it, along with a diagram of how to make a record player and it contained hearings in hundreds of languages and samples of music, including classical recordings and Chuck Berry.
There was a joke that the first message that humans ever recieved from an alien world would contain the message: "SEND MORE CHUCK BERRY"
@@Hartlor_Tayley Chuck Berry was the most literate of rock and roll writers of the 1950s. Period. Full stop.
Another wonderful writer-performer was Fats Domino. It's stunning that his first crossover to white radio -- radio was segregated by race -- was the -- um -- "suggestive" song "Blueberry Hill". At the same time "Wake Up Little Suzie" by "The Everly Brothers" was being banned.
And if one looks at what was happening in civil rights in the 1963 South -- bombing of a church that killed 4 young girls, assassination of Medgar Evers -- Chuck Berry's "Promised Land," which is about a trip through the South from Virginia to California, takes on a whole new meaning and depth. The lyrics reflect humor; but at depth -- the bus ride that "turned into a struggle" -- it can arouse anxiety, and a sense of dread.
No rock and roll band was worth anything if they didn't play Chuck Berry. Listen to the "Beatles at the Beeb" recordings. John was about love of language; he usually sang the Chuck Berry covers.
At the same time one wants to avoid overintellectualizing a music that is about energy and performance; about visceral feeling expressed by the inarticulate. "The Beatles" were very much about the SOUND, including the SOUND of the lyrics. (John Lennon was one of the most articulate interviewees; but mostly about issues rather than the music, which he said is "good" -- not much said there. Bob Dylan is one of the most articulate in song, and one of the least articulate in interview.)
And that is why it is arguable that "The Beatles," primarily because of wordsmith Lennon and the focus being SOUND, can be viewed as being "imbued" with a poetic sense; does one REALLY know what "Get Back" is "ABOUT" as to _MEANING_?
I was 8 when this was released and I can assure you...we were stunned and changed forever - we had never heard anything like this before! It is hard to convey to the younger audiences just how groundbreaking of a sound this was...!
2:50 What you are missing here is what is brand-new to it at the time, a little bit the lyrics but mostly the piercing tight harmonies and the kinetic energy of it. By focusing too much on the lyric you miss out on what was so revolutionary about it.
I was 14 years old when this came out and I lived in Brixton London and was a dizzy teenage Beatles fan, I remember when " I Wanna Hold Your Hand" came out I lined up outside Broadmead's in Brixton to buy it. I was late for school and got a rollicking ! Before this I had been introduced to Bob Dylan by a friends older brother and eventually returned to listening to more of Bob Dylan's stuff, still, to this day he reigns supreme in my eyes. But "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" is one of my favourite records by The Beatles, there are many more, but this one propels me back to those carefree, happy times and always brings a tear. Bob Dylan mentions this record in his amazing "Murder Most Foul" record... that was so special xxx
The Beatles grew with their audience. So they matured and evolved.
Its amazing to me how the beatles could take someone elses song and make it THE definitive version that everyone thinks of when thinking of that song. A good example are "Roll Over Beethoven " and " Twist and Shout ".
You can REALLY hear Chuck Berry in it though.
What BS. Chuck Berry's and The Isley Brothers versions are and remain, not only ground breakers, not only originals, but vocally, rhythmically, and harmonically superior.
Dylan thought they were singing "I get high, I get high" which is why he turned up to meet them with a bag of weed. They did indeed get high then.
You have to realize that back in 1964 there was nothing that sounded like the Beatles and I Want To Hold Your Hand,it was like the Beatles were from Mars or something and here in North America they totally blew our minds,the Beatles were so impressive that millions of kids like me picked up guitars,I myself became a professional musician because of the Beatles,next to my family and my God the Beatles are the biggest influence on my life. Bob
Back in 1963 this song ripped and was the leading edge of any any music during that time
When I arrived for the 1st day of school 7th grade in September 1963, a lot of the girls were already in the auditorium standing around a Juke Box playing "She Loves You", and another Beatles song. That's the first time I heard them. President Kennedy was shot about Two Months later, and it was announced over the 'loud speaker' in the classroom around 1:30 in the afternoon on Nov. 22, 1963, that he had died .
It is arguably the most iconic rock recording in history. You must have heard it without realizing
The roots of their genius are already on display in these two recordings. The mistake some people make with the Beatles is not realizing how genius they were at making the complicated sound simple. Listen to the isolated guitar and drum tracks on either of these songs, and you'll see how creative they were. McCartney's bass is well down in the mix, but it's still there. Several verses on "I Want to Hold Your Hand," and not one the same as the other-and about those hand claps? Chuck Berry's original version of "Roll Over, Beethoven" is not nearly as complex. I was born after the Beatles got together, but young people at the time immediately recognized that the band was something entirely new. It doesn't seem revolutionary to you because everything after them has borne the stamp their influence. To understand their music, you have to listen to what came before it.
Once you hit "Rubber Soul" you'll really start to see more clearly where the band is eventually headed. Although a few singles and album songs ("You've Got to Hide Your Love Away") shine bright.
I remember being 4 years old and sitting in the bath tub with my younger brother and sister singing this and laughing so happily!
The band was very young at the time, and this was "teeny bopper" music. I remember singing it while playing on the swings. It was still very different from the popular music that came before it. After they quit touring and focused on making music in the studio, they adopted a more mature sound.
yeah, you listened to them "while playing on the swings". It was not "teenybopper" music even at the time. Suggest you pay attention to the maturity of the lyrics.
@@jnagarya519 That's harsh
@@SK-lk3iu I was 15 when "The Beatles" hit the US. Those who ignore the early "Beatles" recordings are relying on the opinion of others who also don't know what they're talking about.
Their first LP was #1 in the UK for THRITY WEEKS -- and was replaced at #1 with their second LP. As of January 1964, their second was still #1, and their first was still #2.
That didn't happen because they were like all the others; it happened because they were ahead of the pack from the beginning.
@@jnagarya519 suggest you pay attention to what someone says who was there, at a younger age than you, and experienced the Beatles in a different way from you. I was in elementary school when they were on Ed Sullivan and I did not pay attention to the maturity of the lyrics!
@@jnagarya519 I agree with what you are saying, but I think you may be misinterpreting what Sherry said....I don't think she meant that as a put-down, just that that's who they were initially meant to appeal to.
Exploring the Beatles catalog chronologically is the BEST way to discover their work. Remember that, when these songs came out, the world had no idea what was to happen in the future. There was no Hey Jude, no Day In The Life, no Yesterday and no In My Life.
Everything really came together with this first song. John's chunky, funky rhythm guitar and then they get to one of the hooks within the first three lines of the song - Haaaaand! Then the second hook follows immediately -- the descending stairstep of Ha-a-a-nd. Even the brief instrumental opening is a hook. The energy level drops during the interval but even that section ends with yet another hook - "I can't hide, I can't hide, I can't hiiiiiide".
The aim at this point was to write a hit song that rocked. As far as that is concerned this is next level songwriting and arranging.
By the way, you won't find the "attitude" in the Beatles music for the most part. Personally I find that "attitude" to be childish and often phony. For instance the cover of Sticky Fingers is a close up of the crotch area with an obvious phallic bulge. Oh my! But the reality is that John Lennon had already appeared completely full frontal nude, with Yoko Ono 2-1/2 years earlier on the cover of the Two Virgins album. Which made the Stones cover NOT rebellious.
Ok. So you’re right that they were more interested in their tunes and harmonies which were extraordinary next to their contemporaries. The lyrics weren’t so important at this stage. Having said that the ‘simple’ lyrics are full of double meanings. Very subtle.
Rick Shaw who was a DJ in south Florida was a DJ in Miami when the Beatles arrived. He got a copy of I Want to Hold Your Hand, put in on the record player and all the phone lines lit up immediately. He had never seen that before or since.
Ahhhhh. Thank you for going back to the Beatles
Sometimes you don't need a lot of fancy words to get a point across. That's called genius!
Their middle eight, again, is brilliant!
The people in the Cavern Club in 1962 knew the Beatles would make it big, and were sad when they got a recording contract. "They're not going to be ours anymore," they complained. Rightly so.And at this time they were performing 99% covers.
Simplistic. Yes. I Wanna Hold Your Hand was meant to be a pop hit. I think that's what you're remarking on, is that their early music was literally written to be pop music...made for radio play in its day. Short, catchy tunes, simple lyrics that can easily be sung along with. As they grew and evolved, they pretty much quit writing pop music and began writing more explorative and complex music. I was six when this was released, so I "lived" their evolution into who they became. I'm not surprised that the early stuff is often not "your cup of tea," because you're not experiencing it as a young person with simple pop tastes and your first transistor radio in 1964.
That's a good point - I would confidently bet that, had Syed been born in the 1940s or 50s he would have been absolutely knocked out by this then radical new music and would have been proud to call himself a Beatlemaniac! Yes, he'd have had a rebellious Beatle haircut and worn high heeled Chelsea boots and danced at the Cavern (or his local equivalent) and started a band, all inspired by the lads from Liverpool.. Everything he loves about music now was built on these apparently simple foundations.
@Kevin R. Carr perfectly stated👍
When I was seven, I played "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" 14x in a row from the restaurant jukebox. Pretty soon the whole place was looking over to our booth! Mark LaJOIE! of Living Waters
I Wanna Hold Your Hand led Bob Dylan to introduce weed to The Beatles. When they first met, Dylan apparently brought along some party favors, thinking that they were hip based on his misunderstanding of the lyrics. Instead of "I can't hide," Dylan apparently heard "I get high!" In any event, he rolled a few joints, and Ringo apparently "tested" the drug on The Beatles' behalf, and the rest, I suppose, is history.
The Beatles' Roll Over Beethoven was never a single, though. It was recorded for their second album, "With the Beatles."
I always used to think they said "I get high" too! or maybe "I get hives!" :D
Yeah not intended but was number 1 downunder
Literally, what changed their sound was being introduced to Bob Dylan and his roadie in NYC in late 1964. Their first cannabis experience led to the writing of Rubber Soul. When it was released, they boys were all already experimenting with LSD in 1965. Their mood, style, and imaginations widened incredibly, and so did the music.
The story of Bob introducing them to weed and them making Ringo try it first is one of my favorite stories.
They started out (very young themselves) with the goal of creating teenybopper dance hits. Over the years, they matured, and their goal became making art. And remember that classical icons like Beethoven were the Beatles of their day. They were the original rock stars.
Syed… The big change started with their album Rubber Soul, which came out n December of 1965. But lots of fun songs before that, especially the soundtrack from their first movie A Hard Days Night
Hearing the Beatles after hip hop must be like seeing colour for the first time. Seriously.
This is what the teenage girls were screaming for. Paul and John knew what they were doing, making hits and building a fan base.
Unbeatable
Great reaction. This music was revolutionary at the time. It was early rock taken to the next level. This inspired many great bands in the sixties and rock took off from there.
The secret behind the Beatles' early sound is the combination of, as you say, "pure" lyrics and spine-tingling rock 'n roll.
They may sing that they want to hold someone's hand, but what they're REALLY singing is that they want to FUCK that hand!
This is puberty music through and through. It's nervous fumbling mixed with orgasmic release and wet juices flying everywhere.
Later Beatles songs didn't have that energy. It may have been more sophisticated, but it couldn't match the excitement and sheer
thrill of the energetic early stuff.
At the time this was released, the general record-buying public was not ready for complexity in lyrics and melodies. They brought that on gradually, and the public seemed to grow with them as they did so. I was there for it, although I was a child. I'm told I was a precious one, but I think I understood what was going on.
I Want to Hold Your Hand has another interesting story attached to it. Dylan, as a closet high school rock n roller himself, realized that the Beatles were fantastic right away. He thought their chord progressions and harmonies were other worldly. They dominated the charts and to Dylan they were bringing American Rock n Roll back to America. Of course the love went the other way as well. The Beatles were blown away by Dylan’s lyricism and defiant attitude. When they got a chance to meet Dylan assumed they all smoked weed as he deduced from the song “I Want to Hold Your Hand” in the lyrics “I get high, I get high, I get high, which were in fact “I Can’t Hide”. They were new to the drug but, took it like an old acquaintance. It was also during that meeting that Dylan quite openly asked them why they had nothing to say. Lennon took this particularly hard but, it did move the Beatles to write more introspective songs that we all love today. Dylan for his part soon donned a Stratocaster and too made history.
Like your programs! Very much enjoying your Beatles journey! Hope there's more!
Eyeball to eyeball means, sitting across from each other with guitars. Since Paul was a lefty they were playing as in a mirror.
Ur in for a treat there career is so diverse. They cover almost all genres of music.
McCartney has said a lot of the Beatles’ early music was written specifically to say “please buy this record”. They were very conscious of the early lyrics. It was just to generate sales. After they made it, they didn’t sit on their laurels. They started writing much more sophisticated music and lyrics.
And the early monster sales bought the studio time and the artistic authority to do the later stuff
If you compare this with what was popular on the radio in1963, the energy and excitement were revolutionary. The lyrics...came soon.
The early songs were 2-3 minute teen love songs. They were written to be played live with just the 4 instruments that the Beatles played. Besides, they were all quite young at the time. Their sound was revolutionary and then became more so.
You're 27 my son is 14 and he thinks the Beatles are the greatest band ever! Amazing really! Nice reactions and comments!
You had to be there. It was POP MUSIC!! It was fun, a magical time to be young. Stop over analyzing (!!) and enjoy the sound, the rhythm and fun!!
This early music and sound was made up of great rock and roll melodies, high energy and lyrics about relationships aimed at a teenage audience and their raging hormones and if you ever saw them in concert you know how they hit their mark by the audiences frenzied reaction. They not only looked and sounded great but captured people’s imaginations and connected with them on a subconscious level.
They grew into what you saw later...
John and Paul said in their earlier songs it was mainly about the music....the melody and beat rather than the words. The hook and catchy melody and overall sound was what they were looking for. It wasn't until a couple years later into their recording career listening to artists like Bob Dylan that the Beatles in particularly John were inspired to write lyrics with a deeper meaning and depth.
A close friend of George's, Jeff Lynne and his band ELO covered Roll Over Beethoven (10 years after this release) with a twist I think you would adore.
3:20 have you heard the story yet that when Bob Dylan heard them sing (on the radio) "It's such a feeling that my love I can't hide, I can't hide, I can't hide" he thought they were singing "I get high, I get high, I get high" so he was surprised when he later met them and offered them some pot, they'd never smoked any! "Famous Misheard Lyrics of History"!
Amazing melody , ground breaking in tension and release .
Bob Dylan dug "I Want to Hold Your Hand," but thought they were singing, "I get HIGH!"
You have to remember that there wasn’t anything like this back then. This was rock n roll
rock n roll was there in the 50s. They literally covered the rock n roll of the 50s but yeah I'd say a modern pop-rock sound
I appreciate that you are honest with your reaction to these early songs. Following them from the start will make you appreciate the later evolutions. At this time John and Ringo were 23, Paul was 21 and George was 20. But they were smart enough to add in clapping to get the listeners/audience to join in. They would grow a lot in the next 6 years.
You have to remember the time frame in which they are making this music. These guys were trailblazing from the 1950's crooner types with a little bit of "safe" rock n' roll. The music industry executives were not going to let these guys upset the grown ups with music that was not wholesome and safe for even mom and dad to listen to. They were new onto the music scene and could not step away from the sensibilities of the musical culture back then. Once they became firmly established then they could become more daring and musically complicated. It really was a different world back in the early 1960s.
Listening to the first Beatles' songs in 2023 is cool. However, as one who was 13 in 1963, the impact these four young men had cannot be experienced today. The first band where all four members played guitars and sang harmonies had never been seen before. Their influence on the youth buying market was unprecedented.
Granted, it would have been better as "I want to hold that hand", but the sheer subtlety of describing how touching his lady gives him wood, is brilliant. It can be embarrassing when you can't hide your true feelings.
You have to understand that at the time it was ABSOLUTELY GROUNDBREAKING! It's one of the reasons they soared past everyone else! I like the early stuff because that's when the Beatles rocked more!
I was five years old when this came out, and believe it or not, it "terrorized" all the adults around me as long-haired, animalistic NOISE that signaled the end of western civilization, especially in the small midwest (US) town I grew up in. I'm not kidding about that either! 😂As the Beatles progressed and their hair got longer, the adults got more horrified, while we young whippersnappers only got more "tuned-in" and "turned on." When my parents would tell me to turn down the music, I'd say, "Hey, don't lay your heavy scene on me, man!" (Sorry, I kind of rambled there...😧)
lol 🤣🤣
The Beatles were young 20 to 23 year old lads when they recorded these two songs. As they matured, so did the body of their work.
yes, if there is an expectation that you will get led zeppelin (1st album 1969) then that's pretty unrealistic. The Beatles are not Led Zep and never tried to be. They were pretty much done by '69.
"and when I touch you I feel happy INSIDE, its such a feeling I CAN'T HIDE". Read between the lines I think here. What might it be that is difficult to hide?
Keep it going!!! Can’t wait for you to continue to hear the evolution!
Thanks for doing this deep dive into The Beatles. They were so fresh and new in 1963. At age 27, you are older than they were when they made this album. Enjoying your thoughts and comments, thanks.
At age 27, he's older than Harrison and same age as McCartney when they broke up
@@cuebj That’s amazing, isn’t it? Now I feel like such a slacker!
Great journey through the Beatles! When you get to the end & are exploring George Harrison, check out The Traveling Wilbury's, his collaboration with Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison ( BTW, if you've never heard Roy Orbison, youre missing an essential link between late 50s/early 60s songwriting and what would come to be known as progressive rock as well as pop music in general). That project probably best crystallized in the song "Handle with Care," but there were many other hits.
The track End of the Line prob showcases George best, but others might argue differently
You want to listen to the Electric Light Orchestra's version of Roll Over Beethoven. It's a barnstormer!
Funny, I like their early stuff the best. Pure energy
A rockin' masterpiece!
I saw a John Lennon interview where he stated that Buddy Holly was a big influence-he said thought he was brilliant-I guess I didn’t know how much they respected him
Playing eight hours every day on stage in Hamburg got them very tight. Chuck Berry opened with “Roll Over Beethoven” when I saw him play. The Beatles do a good cover, and Chuck is kind of hard to cover. His hands were so big that the stretches can be long, and he played two-string leads because his fingers were wide and it was easier for him to hit two strings than one.
my father, who was a musician, would constantly say lyrics dont meaan squat...the music itself is what matters
First record, a 45, that I ever bought. Disappointed that was all that was in the store at the time, sold out maybe, but now I love this song. So fun and full of life. Good for the soul. 💙☮
These are early 20's songwriters that are mastering their craft and with each album you see the maturity. 99% of the songs are about girls or love...then "Rubber Soul" they branched into life themes....
George did a great job on Carl Perkin's " Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby".
You are doing a great job looking back in time, to an era long ago. What was and still is hard to grasp is when they first went on the Ed Sullivan show in Feb, 1964, they drew an audience of over 70 million or 60% of the tv's in the US. So there was some magic in the air. There was many things that made them stand out but for me, it was the high pace, extremely tight and likeable band compared to anyone else. Newsweek, which was a popular magazine back then said " Their lyrics-punctuated by nutty shouts of 'yeah, yeah, yeah'-are a catastrophe, a preposterous farrago of Valentine-card romantic sentiments. The odds are they will fade away, as most adults confidently predict." Oops
This was the song that broke through to the USA market, Capital records could no longer turn them down [they were owned by EMI, the same corporation that owned Parlophone records which was the Beatles' UK label as you know ]. it went to straight to number one for something like 7 weeks in the USA in January/Feb 1964.
Please remember he can't speak for our generation alone. I am younger and see the rhythm changes and magic of the early songe (this one especially) that are genius. I Want To Hold Your Hand was game changing in 1963 and its still a perfect pop song.
Its the teen pop market ,, Which they improved a fair bit , I think thier first signal release which showed something was changing musically was Ticket to Ride ,
What was acceptable in '68 was definitely not in '63 and The Beatles rode that incredible wave of change perfectly; only those of us who were going through their formative years at the time can understand this!
Harrison had the perfect 3rd harmony voice. Ringo played the perfect drumming style for the group.
I believe George's voice was double-tracked on this song as it was on many of his early recordings (perhaps most noticeably on his first self-written song, the fine, dark "Don't Bother Me"). That was the typical studio trick (along with echo) used back in the day to enhance a thin voice. It was also used to give depth to some the early Lennon and McCartney vocals as well, even though they were much stronger vocalists than George (just 20 at the time).
BS! George's voice was just as strong. Listen to the live recordings of "Roll Over Beethoven" and you will know that is true. Many other recordings that confirm this are found on the "Live at the BBC" album. That is your homework assignment.
@@nonrepublicrat That's absurd. There's no debate about George's voice. It was thin, but he made the most of it with production help from George Martin and, later on, Phil Spector.
It is absolutely true that they became much more sophisticated later but if you compare this to other music of the time you realize it was still ahead of it's time. They just accelerated everything all the way through their time as a group.
Bob Dylan called Chuck Berry the true nobel laureate of roick and roll.
I think your approach is terrific --- tracking the evolution of the music and art, and how they got from "Love Me Do" and these songs all the way to "A Day in the Life" and the exploration of more sophisticated concepts as well as a heavier sound. Wait until you hit the tracks off of "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver" --- Enjoy!