If I Needed Someone

Today's song is "If I Needed Someone", George's requisite one song on Rubber Soul. Apparently Harrison was greatly inspired by the music of The Byrds. Wikipedia tells us that "'If I Needed Someone' was the only Harrison composition played during any of The Beatles' tours; otherwise Harrison sang only covers onstage." Also, this song is one of only two from Rubber Soul that the guys performed in concert; the other is "Nowhere Man". 

This one is interesting to me... I like the lyrics, in which the singer states he's too busy for love, but if you'll please leave your number he (may) call you back (probably... maybe). The heavily harmonized vocals are pretty good, though I think John and Paul's backup singing overshadows George's voice. Maybe that's just me, though. I'm always getting them confused. :P

That's all for today... See you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 18
Songs Completed: 97

Wait

Today's song is "Wait", which was written by either John and Paul, or just Paul, depending on who you ask. The lyrics tell us about the singer's anxiety about finally returning to his lover, unsure of where they stand since he's been away for a while. He advises her, "But if your heart breaks, don't wait, turn me away / And if your heart's strong, hold on, I won't delay." 

I like this one a lot, because it sounds unique. It's got a whole different thing going on than most of their other songs up to this point. The music matches the vocals, with the beats occurring at the same time. This gives the song a slightly stronger and more insistent emphasis, letting the audience feel the singer's insecurity on a deeper level. 

That's all for now! See you tomorrow. :)

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Heard It Tally: 18
Songs Completed: 96

In My Life

"In My Life" is today's song. It was written by John, who based it off memories and recollections from his childhood. George Martin, playing an electric piano, contributed the pretty awesome instrumental bridge in the middle. Paul contributed some to the song, but of course it's in dispute how much. However, Paul seems pretty content as far as the credits go, having once said, "I find it very gratifying that out of everything we wrote, we only appear to disagree over two songs" (the other being "Eleanor Rigby").

This one makes you want to reminisce. It's got a comforting melody, and that bridge that Martin plays uses very high notes that lend a classical, and yet almost childlike, atmosphere to the song. My favorite part, besides the lyrics, are the opening notes. There's just something about them. However I do sort of think that vocally, the song might have worked better with just one singer, minus the double-tracked vocals and harmonizing. A single voice would've been more personal, at least. :)

That's all for today. See you later!

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Heard It Tally: 18
Songs Completed: 95

I'm Looking Through You

"I'm Looking Through You" was written by Paul about his girlfriend, Jane Asher. It tells the familiar story of how two people can grow apart when one person changes. At this point in time, Paul and Jane had been together for five years--but it had been a pretty crazy and intense five years. The Beatles had shot to super-stardom, and stuff like that understandably changes people.

I like this one; Paul sings in a higher range, which gives the song a more urgent and questioning feel. The music is stabby, poking and prodding and almost accusing, an excellent match for the lyrics. Overall a great, albeit sad, song. :)

That's all for today. See you guys tomorrow. :)

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Heard It Tally: 18
Songs Completed: 94

Girl

"Girl" is the (amazing) song of the day. Written by John and Paul, it talks about a girl "you want so much it makes you sorry"--not the most romantic love song, and certainly not a positive one. 

As with many of their songs, John and Paul had differing memories as far as who wrote what and what it was supposed to mean. While Paul maintains that he wrote the lines, "Was she told when she was young that pain would lead to pleasure" and "That a man must break his back to earn his day of leisure", John said in a 1970 interview that those lines "were a dig at the Roman Catholic Church."

Despite its depressing lyrics, this is one of my favorite Beatles songs. I love the original, and I love the version from Across the Universe just as much. I think Jim Sturgess's accent just adds this fantastic sound to the song, even though he only sings the first verse in the film.

Well, that's all for today! See you tomorrow. :)

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Heard It Tally: 18
Songs Completed: 93

What Goes On

Today's song, "What Goes On", is the only Beatles song to be credited to John, Paul, and Ringo. It also features Ringo on vocals, giving the song a distinctive sound (sometimes I still have trouble telling Lennon and McCartney apart, but rarely George and never Ringo. They're too unique). Wikipedia tells us more about the songwriting credit:

Starr contributed to the lyrics, his first-ever composing credit on a Beatles song. However, when asked what his contribution was to the song, Starr jokingly stated, "About five words, and I haven't done a thing since." To his chagrin, the first pressing of the single accidentally omitted "Starkey" in the song-writing credit.

I'm rather fond of this one--not for its music style (it's very country western), and not necessarily for its lyrics, but because Ringo sings it. :) Overall, not a bad song; John wrote most of the lyrics during The Quarrymen days and dusted it off for a brush-up with the guys for Rubber Soul, so it does have an older feel stylistically, but it's not too distracting since they did a good job with its execution. :)

Well, that's all for today... See you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 17
Songs Completed: 92

Michelle

"Michelle" is today's song; the lyrics and most of the music was written by Paul, and John co-wrote the middle eight. The lyrics are unique from other Beatles songs in that they alternate English and French. "Michelle" was wildly popular in France and won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1966. 

Wikipedia tells us the song's origins in more detail.

The words and style of "Michelle" has its origins in the popularity of French Left Bank culture during McCartney's Liverpool days. McCartney had gone to a party of art students where a student with a goatee and a striped T-shirt was singing a French song. He soon wrote a farcical imitation to entertain his friends that involved French-sounding groaning instead of real words. The song remained a party piece until 1965, when John Lennon suggested he rework it into a proper song for inclusion on Rubber Soul. 

It took me a couple of listens to get into it. Once I imagined myself listening to it in France it clicked better in my head. :P This is definitely a song that puts you in mind of some incredibly attractive Parisians sitting at a cafe, sipping red wine, wearing dark sunglasses and smoking cigarettes with infinite coolness. The name "Michelle" is French itself; it means "who resembles God?" and was the most popular baby name in 1969.

Well, that's it for today! See you tomorrow. :)

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Heard It Tally: 17
Songs Completed: 91