oscillations.
Diamond Member
Opinion = Fact
I was faced with a choice at a difficult age.
Joined: February 2005
Posts: 10,130
|
Post by oscillations. on Apr 20, 2008 13:53:41 GMT -5
My favorite song of theirs right now.
It's so intricately haunting.
I also really enjoy Elliot Smith's cover.
|
|
oscillations.
Diamond Member
Opinion = Fact
I was faced with a choice at a difficult age.
Joined: February 2005
Posts: 10,130
|
Post by oscillations. on Apr 20, 2008 13:58:42 GMT -5
AMG Review:
Song Review by Richie Unterberger
Right before the long medley sections that dominate side two of Abbey Road (or the last half of the CD, if you prefer) comes the interlude of "Because," one of John Lennon's downright quietest ballads, and certainly one of his most reflective. There's not much traditional rock instrumentation in "Because," which has no drums and is dominated by an eerie spinet electric harpsichord, played by the Beatles' producer, George Martin. The haunting melody was quite classical in feel, and that's no accident -- as eventually became well known, Lennon was inspired to write it when hearing Yoko Ono playing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata on piano. He asked Ono to play the chords in the reverse order, which provided the basis for his own composition. The other most striking feature of "Because" is the three-part harmony, arguably as impressive and sophisticated as the Beatles ever managed, in part because it's not just three voices -- it's three voices overdubbed twice, essentially yielding nine-part harmony. The lyrics have childlike simplicity, and arguably had Paul McCartney written them, Lennon would have later turned on him and dismissed them as one more example of his ex-partner's facile nature. Still, like McCartney's "Mother Nature's Son" to use one example, "Because" is strong enough musically to make its rather hippie-ish sentiments work, and sound profound in their simplicity rather than naïve in the extreme. As on several Abbey Road cuts, the musical texture's imaginatively enhanced by unobtrusive Moog synthesizer (particularly on the instrumental break), here played by George Harrison. Perhaps the most credible cover of the song was done by Elliott Smith, who did a version for the American Beauty soundtrack.
|
|
dth1971
2x Platinum Member
Joined: July 2007
Posts: 2,368
|
Post by dth1971 on Apr 20, 2008 17:39:44 GMT -5
Isn't this also a song by the Dave Clark Five?
|
|
WotUNeed
2x Platinum Member
Deacon Blues
Joined: April 2010
Posts: 2,935
|
Post by WotUNeed on Apr 20, 2008 18:24:55 GMT -5
Isn't this also a song by the Dave Clark Five? Different song, and to be honest I'd rather hear the DC5 one any day (although back when I used to listen to oldies radio more, I heard it every day...)
|
|
oscillations.
Diamond Member
Opinion = Fact
I was faced with a choice at a difficult age.
Joined: February 2005
Posts: 10,130
|
Post by oscillations. on Apr 21, 2008 1:50:21 GMT -5
Why, you don't like this song?!
|
|
WotUNeed
2x Platinum Member
Deacon Blues
Joined: April 2010
Posts: 2,935
|
Post by WotUNeed on Apr 21, 2008 13:50:59 GMT -5
Why, you don't like this song?! I don't dislike it. The harmonies are pretty. I just am not cool enough for this song. A bit too trippy and draggy. I'm so much more an early Beatles person it's not funny.
|
|
Pipa
Diamond Member
Sinner
1 week at #1: Of Monsters and Men - Alligator
Joined: December 2004
Posts: 10,448
My Charts
|
Post by Pipa on Apr 21, 2008 20:26:07 GMT -5
It's nice, but on an album with songs like "Golden Slumbers" and "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" it's easy to overlook. I just checked and realized I don't even have this one.
|
|
oscillations.
Diamond Member
Opinion = Fact
I was faced with a choice at a difficult age.
Joined: February 2005
Posts: 10,130
|
Post by oscillations. on Apr 21, 2008 21:42:54 GMT -5
I think it really is done justice on the LOVE cd. It sends shivers down my spine.
|
|
sunpeach
New Member
Joined: June 2010
Posts: 166
|
Post by sunpeach on Jun 16, 2008 12:13:30 GMT -5
This was one of Harrison's favorites on the album-
I HATE IT and I'm a big Beatles fan. I hate that moog synth on it, there's no melody, the words are tripe- and it's one of my least favorite Lennon songs.
|
|
oscillations.
Diamond Member
Opinion = Fact
I was faced with a choice at a difficult age.
Joined: February 2005
Posts: 10,130
|
Post by oscillations. on Jun 22, 2008 0:47:21 GMT -5
It strikes some Wordsworthian chord within me; I cannot deny the power of its innocence. I guess I am in the minority on this one; it seems to be one of their few divisive tracks; then again, I also love "Free As A Bird" and other oft-maligned Beatles' tracks. My favorite songs of theirs usually don't involve their best efforts.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2011 18:23:57 GMT -5
Aah, I love this one.
|
|
halo19
4x Platinum Member
Joined: September 2003
Posts: 4,683
|
Post by halo19 on Aug 3, 2011 15:30:38 GMT -5
<3.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2011 12:59:59 GMT -5
Abbey Road is incredible from beginning to end. This isn't one of my favourites on it, but it's still probably better than 99.9% of music.
|
|
God
4x Platinum Member
Crazy y Cubano
Joined: July 2010
Posts: 4,292
|
Post by God on Oct 15, 2011 0:30:41 GMT -5
The A cappella version from Anthology 3 is incredible.
|
|