Comments on: Playing the Beatles Backwards: Songs 184 to 180

By: stephen barnes

stephen barnes — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 12:23:12 +0000

As a rabid Beatle fan , I appreciate the fact so much thought and time were taken in making your opinions clear . It certainly makes for interesting reading . But perhaps a little less stress …..Seriously …You seem somewhat sressed.
I always listen to The Beatles to calm me down …To help me become lost for a short while . That being said, I have added this website onto my favorites and look forward to reading more of your thoughts from time to time

By: BGK90@aol.com

BGK90@aol.com — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:17:20 +0000

and another thing. I’m pretty sure Yer Blues is a joke, or meant to be humorous and perhaps satirical. And you can’t tell me the live version at Rolling Stones Rock n Roll Circus with the supergroup didn’t kick ass.

By: BGK90@aol.com

BGK90@aol.com — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:12:56 +0000

Well can’t say I’m suprised by the choice as “worst Beatle song.” On the contrary, it’s one of my favorite Beatle tracks, if not my favorite (thats Hey Jude.) I don’t think people realise how intricatly the track is put togehter (indeed Lennon took more time on this, than any other song on the White Album.) Music of the future? 100% Think about it. What other time was the world exposed to avantgarde music, and at such an early time in it’s development to where it is now. Sure they weren’t the first to make music like this, but they were one of the first. This song has sampling, fragmented sound, anything you could imagine. Thank God this paved the way for the likes of Negativland and the Tape-Beatles. Sure it was a throwaway track, an experiment, and it’s certainly not for everyone. But for such a popular band to release such an edgy track is truly gutsy, and I’m glad they did it.

By: 70's Vin

70's Vin — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 06:32:36 +0000

I agree with Revolution #9 being a low ranker, but I don’t see Drive My Car on the bottom of the barrel? That’s about the only Beatles song I truly despise! Some are better than others, true, but Drive My Car just grates my nerves in a way I can’t explain. Between that, and Revolution #9, they are just about the only 2 I skip when they come up on random……well maybe some of the Sitar Harrison songs too.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:07:57 +0000

Wow, pretty decent job so far, but you missed some bad songs that deserve to go before these ones. Ever heard A Taste of Honey, Within you Without you, Here there and everywhere, Why Don’t We do it in the Road?, or Run For Your Life?, casue these are all definitely worse than what you have so far

By: Lynda

Lynda — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 02:38:42 +0000

Interesting site, J! Keep up the good work. I wonder, really, how their music can be completely treasured unless you happened to be there—in that particular time. I can remember coming home from school and putting an album on the turntable, or better yet, go to a friend’s house that just happened to be a “music geek” and listen to the latest Beatles album fresh from the music store. We created long lasting, rich, and unique memories with this music. Also, J don’t forget the drugs back then, especially acid. Revolution 9 is probably best listed to (and writing) while taking acid, but don’t go there. I think we were all a tad strange back then, but society expected us to be nothing less. The Beatles were a perfect fit.
I remember having Abbey Road on 8 track and bebopping around town with my friends listening “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” It was certainly an entertaining riding around song. How dare you dis “Good Day Sunshine”! It ALMOST ranks with the other weather song, “Here Comes the Sun” . Even high school students need a lift now and then!
You know, I cannot remember that we really looked very far into the meaning of their music. We just enjoyed it. Many of us have tucked these songs away into the folds of our brains along with the memories they created, to be brought out and reflected on every now and then

By: J.B. Dazen

J.B. Dazen — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:39:21 +0000

I’m actually one of those people who enjoys Revolution 9. When I was a kid, I was genuinely afraid of it. But now I love it for all the sounds. You can listen to it for ages and still find new sounds. You’ll probably need some growing up if it still scares you . The rest of your reviews physically hurt me. Not getting Revolution 9 is tolerable, but writing down those four classic beauties is beyond me. If I had to make this list, I’d probably end up with a 100 number 1s, and lots of 2s and 3s .

By: Dre

Dre — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:05:12 +0000

Well, I don’t know; I’m not one of the happiest people around and I understand your sentiments about what we in Holland call “blije eikels” (happy pricks), but I get more out of this song than just sheer happiness. Somewhere deeper, there’s some sadness as well, it feels more like a manic episode to me than just Paul being gay (no pun intended). I find that in other seemingly happy songs. Take ‘don’t stop thinking about tomorrow’ by Fleetwood Mac, which is actually born out of gloom (like most real positivity). Or the perfectly polished repertoire of ABBA, which, when you listen more closely, is about heartache most of the time.

By: BOJAN MARSETICH

BOJAN MARSETICH — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:16:46 +0000

Let’s say something about the Beatles. The worked hard to be who the were. they played all nights without pausing 6 H per night for some time. So, if someone thinks that today musician are close or that competent as them is F. wrong! Yeah, of course, they had BIGGGGGGG inspiration and TALLLLENT, but the way they played (don’t listen to SHE STADIUM – The barely heard themselves), YOU LISTEN BAD BOY or something from 63-64, You can hear that genuine ROCK AND ROLL sound and THATS IT – ABOUT PLAYING!
Today I also play guitar and have my own songs, bur when I start to record I maybe miss that hard work that is audibile to what to play when record, in fact your every single move on instrument or every tone you sing is the result of your COMPETENCE in music. Unless you don’t have talent of course. Beatles did almost every song in less that let’s say 10 takes? Well, that is IT.
I say, most (NOT ALL) people who are musician and try to imitate the playing style of the Beatles are KIDS, rather GO PLAY ON REAL Stages to smeel the “sound”, THAT IS THE REAL SOUND, WHERE YOU CAN START FROM AND YOU WILL HEAR THE SOUND MAYBE.
I am talking about the sound YOU produce and not some effect or EQ, You can make the EQ.

Did’t mean to attack anyone, just a few word of mine. TAKE A MAGICAL MISTERY TOUR ON YOUR GUITAR!

By: EBO

EBO — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:37:30 +0000

I agree somewhat with J-Beezie. Youve got to get stoned (sometimes out of ur mind) to enoy a couple of Beatles songs. “Because” sounds much better, as does “Good Day Sunshine” and of course “revolution 9″

By: J-Beezie

J-Beezie — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 07:44:28 +0000

I appreciate what you are trying to do here. You will inevitably piss a lot of people off, of course. The brilliance of the Beatles is their huge diversity of styles. They were one pop band that could go from Welk saccharin to Zeppelin Heavy on a dime… and still manage to hit the top of the pop charts everytime out. Somehow, old farts who cringed at even the mellowest Black Sabbath tracks could stomach Helter Skelter. People who find Zappa too weird just smile when that zanny loop after A Day In The Life jumps out at you. [at least on CD it ends without you having to go to the turntable and pick up the needle]

However, my friend… from your comments about the songs and your choices, one thing is obvious: You are not a tripper. The acid test for the Beatles… is acid. If you’ve enjoyed some lysergic excursions at some point in your history, you WILL get Revolution #9, you will LOVE I Want You [especially the lumbering She's So Heavy part], and even the cheesy Honey Pie will probably make you smile and feel cozily reassured. These things make sense in the context of a trip. In much the same way that coming out of a dark forest at 3am and raiding the pantry stocked with grandma cookies is a revelation at a certain stage of a psychedelic journey.

It seems you are not a big fan of the 60’s. Your comments about cueing the newsreel footage of dancing hippies et al shows your disdain. You also have homicidal tendencies towards people who are happy. Instead of being happy for your pronoia exhibiting, euphoric colleague you choose to feel as if their happiness is an attack on you. Thus you are either jealous and vengeful or somewhat evil. No offense, but perhaps you should try whistling while YOU pee.

So, I have to wonder why you chose to immerse yourself in the Beatles of all groups. Wouldn’t you be a better critic for something more angst ridden and darkly modern? The Beatles are the archetypal 60’s band. From mod to deliriously happy rockers to flower power and revolution, they run the gamut. You do realize that this is the band that made Yellow Submarine, and tended to smile and laugh to the point that their early movies were like slapstick vaudeville? If all you like about the Beatles is their pop craftsmanship and effortless hook spinning… and perhaps their influence on other pop songwriters… maybe you are not really a true fan?

Anyway… have fun.

By: Fjodor

Fjodor — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:18:37 +0000

Revolution no. 9 is the single most important song about the band itself. It is a statement about historical moment and about how they see themselves to fit in. Revolution no. 9 also changed history of comprehending what shoud or should not be presented by the respeced artists.

“…vague feeling that immediately after listening to it, something is going to rise out from under my bed and butcher me in my sleep.” That something is called censorship. Actually any ranking of art is in a way censorship.
Best to all!

By: milan

milan — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:30:26 +0000

Hi. If you want to talk about a song that lasts… When I was sixteen (i´m 25 now) the one song from Beatles that we play over and over was I Want You (She´s so heavy). That song has a teen spirit, but isn´t shallow since i like it very much today. (And not just because of good memories from high school). I also like Yer Blues, because of the John´s voice it has some energy that I can relate too.

By: Mario

Mario — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:38:43 +0000

“honey pie” in #183? You were supposed to be doing a song by song list, not saying that “honey pie” is better than “when I’m sixty-four” just because it is in a different album.
first and last visit to your website