INCREDIBLE!| The Beatles - A Day In The Life | FIRST TIME HEARING REACTION

[@tomlegener6131]

The most amazing thing about the Beatles is that they are NOT over-rated.

[@timothyryan3031]

Not if you ask some of the edgelords out there.

[@matthewteague623]

They're not always my cup of tea. But I will *always* afford them mad amounts of respect. They've earned it so many times over.

[@Hayley.a]

Very well said and very true also! Everyone can not be wrong. Cos basically everyone loves them!

[@scenevision356]

most over rated band in history. George Martin production. Paul And George Were Genius. Lennon was a pathetic loser.

[@jimarmstrong5820]

To me Led Zeppelin is the second greatest band. What is the gap between the Beatles and Zep?

[@jeremydahan2709]

"Love me do" was only 5 years away from this song. The evolution of this band is insane.

[@runntum]

You got that right.

[@djd2819]

Yeah. Years ago, I made a folder with every Beatles song in chronological order and it just confirmed to me how these guys led the evolution of rock music. They certainly didn't do it on their own but their success gave record labels the confidence to support others go outside the box.

[@fullgooseloot]

Evolution? It's called drugs

[@norcatch]

​@@djd2819Madly enough, I made a folder of all their lyrics. Spent a fortune (of my dad's money) on printer ink doing it.

[@traceydaizy]

Yep

[@markwatson7515]

The manager of the Hollies was present at the recording. When he left, someone asked him what did you think? His response: "I give up."

[@xiropigado]

Great comment. Pete Townsend actually admitted that he was totally intimidated by The Beatles genius.

[@augustingarnier4625]

As a fellow musician friend said, "I don't know whether to go home and practice or throw my instrument away". Talk about raising the bar!

[@amymeagor]

Ha, lovd that. Proper order

[@drbvo9578]

My dad bought this album Sgt Pepper when it came out, he played it late at night and it woke me, I came out of bed being a little girl and he said: "Come listen to this, these are the Beatles, this is unprecedented". I will never forget it, and became a huge Beatles fan.

[@timtorba0519]

Bless your Dad.

[@jbfree1122]

Awesome father ❤

[@SteveInTheOC]

“Unprecedented” what a perfect word to describe that album. 👍

[@MrUndersolo]

This is a beautiful story.❤

[@stephenboath924]

Wow, thats an amazing memory to have

[@michaelmueller8772]

Ringo's drumming on this is utterly, utterly magnificent. Those huge orchestral swoops have often been referred to as 'orchestral orgasms', and they were achieved by asking the full orchestra - over a specified number of bars - to move from the lowest not on their instrument to the highest, which confused the heck out of such formal players! And finally, that massive, massive chord at the end was play by all four Beatles and their roadie, Mal Evans, all thumping one hand each into the piano simultaneously. All in all, one of the most landmark, iconic pieces of music ever recorded.

[@btgiv6009]

I remember reading that on the last note, the only way they could get it to stretch out so long was to continually turn up the microphone volume as the sound from the piano damped out so that they could pick up every last second of sound.

[@eximusic]

Yes, Ringo was a genius on drums. This song, Something, Rain, Come Together. People who dismiss his drumming don't understand music. And anyone who's had a band and tried to cover a Beatles song know that your drummer can never play the part correctly.

[@j.woodbury412]

@@eximusic Ringo is a sorely underrated drummer in my opinion.

[@andymageen5308]

You guys are so spot on, this track was truly revolutionary, nothing, and I mean nothing, came before it, everything came after it. ✌️

[@Hayley.a]

@@andymageen5308 That is the story of this band, everything came after!!!!!

[@wchambers3849]

Without a doubt, A Day In The Life, is The Beatles EPIC MASTERPIECE!!!

[@gheller2261]

Why do people need to add the word epic to everything? It absolutely does not fit here.

[@bbmcrae]

@@gheller2261 Jog on, sourpuss.

[@Luming-di9rf]

@@gheller2261 It's EPIC, that's why.

[@karenjordan9607]

Totally

[@thefobbie0034]

@@gheller2261 Its one of the greatest songs written and produced ever that is why it is a epic masterpiece!

[@markbishopmusic]

Hard to believe this song, 1967, STILL stands up 55 years later! The Beatles work, all in less than 8 years, will never be surpassed!

[@Christopher-o3o]

I was born in 1967. I can remember singing along with my mother before I was 5. Iconic

[@amitavadas2628]

Still stands up ? Shouldn’t it be - does anything come close 55 years later as an album closer ?

[@Hessulo]

Seven years with Ringo.

[@joemc1960]

And let’s not forget Ringo’s drumming on this song. It’s perfect

[@gregorymoore2877]

John and Paul: "What do you think of drum solos?" Ringo: "I hate them" John and Paul: "He's hired!"

[@sillyboy173]

Ringo is the master of feel. I've been a drummer all my life, and he is still my hero. Inimatable!

[@davidfeltz8697]

So dope

[@davidfeltz8697]

​@sillyagreed. His drums on Something is fantastic

[@jimbo92107]

Ringo's drums fit so well, they simply are the mood. How the hell did he do that??

[@Chris-kj7de]

Nobody comes close the the Beatles for sheer creativity and mind blowing music. Their music changed the world.

[@johnfloyd4166]

Nice one mate 👍 😊❤

[@NancyDavis-Foss-ok7to]

And I suppose the psychedelics helped a bit !!😅

[@jamesscully529]

This was the last song on Sargent Peppers and is considered the best album closer in the history of rock music. No one has equaled it.

[@savvyplayz3484]

I'll take When The Levee Breaks over this every day.

[@369284ab]

Exactly!

[@zeus6793]

@@savvyplayz3484 I think that is my all time fave of LZ. But to compare the two is like comparing Monet to Van Gogh. Both masterpieces, but very different.

[@mrjules1982]

@@savvyplayz3484 While that may be my favorite last song on an album, 'A Day in the Life' really adds a new layer to the entire Sgt Pepper experience.

[@hrussell9677]

I highly recommend you watch the Beatles “Get Back” documentary by Peter Jackson. You can witness their genius as they create the album.

[@josephscally6270]

Extra kudos for letting the final note run the full duration. Most reactors would have cut it off. Your respect for the music is admirable.

[@davidteller7681]

When they recorded the final piano chord, as the sound decayed they raised the recording faders to maintain the chord as long as possible

[@bblair2627]

that is genuine important comment. KUDOS

[@JakeyFlakey100]

I'm going on 75yo: The point is that The Beatles were THE FIRST one day we were listening to Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, and Frankie Avalon, the next every aspect of music changed FOREVER!

[@dp-sr1fd]

I think it was Spike Milligan that said that Queen Victoria died in the 1960's. Someone else( I don't remember who) said the old world died somewhere between the end of the "Chatterly" ban and the Beatles first LP. Both early 1960's

[@RonF-q3l]

Exactly Correct!!

[@mattgarfinkle978]

Can we talk about “next level” for a second… This song revolutionized popular music, without understatement.

[@JimiBurleigh]

Absolutely agreed 💯. I'd argue further that this album revolutionized popular music and influenced everything that would follow.

[@newpuritan9292]

Surely without overstatement?

[@paulkane7771]

I think you meant without "overstatement".

[@kurtissjacobs5618]

That's why Sgt. Pepper's is still the "most important" album of all time, even if (arguably) no longer the "best." Sgt. Pepper gave every band the latitude to do whatever they wanted--there were no more "rules."

[@HenryWaltonJones]

No that was Tomorrow Never Knows

[@JohnMacRae23]

I think this is one of the most important songs ever recorded... it broke all the rules and was a dam breaker for modern music. That last note being the hammer.

[@MichaelF-cb6tx]

And this was recorded on a 4 track recorder. It was beyond anything done before. Back then there were no 164 track mixers, no auto tune, no overdubs or samples. This sing was made without any outside input from session musicians. I’m 66 and I lived thru that era. Believe it or not this album and song changed everything about music and paved the way for other talents to experiment and take it further. Gen Z is truly missing something if you’re not listening to the Beatles. I love both your reactions. Fifty years ago it blew us away. Nice to see it still does

[@augustingarnier4625]

You got that right, fellow Baby Boomer! Imagine hearing this off the original radio station release, at the stroke of midnight and this was the final song on the album. The Rob Squad reaction was just as it was then: mind blown! BAM!! Also, kudos must go to the producer of this album, Sir George Martin. The orchestra climb whereby every instrument starts at their lowest note and climbs to their highest note, regardless of the range, in the exact number of bars, was what made the song the legend that it is.

[@ddv6913]

Well...a full symphony orchestra is there.

[@deborahhall3860]

Amen to that! I remember where I was when I first heard it in elementary school.

[@TyrantOfAlbion]

I'm 23 and absolutely love the Beatles. I took a college class on the History of Rock Music, and they were a HUGE part of it. Absolutely blew my mind.

[@justtere]

George Martin was the Fifth Beatle, a little according to the band themselves. Not Billy Preston.

[@dixiechatty958]

The original song was John's but he felt it was incomplete. He showed it to Paul who came up with the middle part "Got up, got out of bed..." etc. John also said he wanted "war sounds". He, Paul and George Martin put their heads together and came up with the crescendos. For my money, this is the best Beatles song by far. Two musical geniuses at their creative peak. It changed everything. Popular music was never the same.

[@marietheresahughes2911]

It's like two people waking up to different perceptions of the day John serious, then Paul having a different lighthearted perception of his day its beautiful 💖💫💖

[@willasacco9898]

Yes- That is an incisive observation. This piece is a never-ending source of enthrallment.

[@Chris.Davis.2]

Wish it was 5 minutes longer.

[@cashflowhustles]

It definitely sounds like John's writing style.

[@janetholliday8667]

Well said!

[@senatorfred]

John's voice is very ghostly in this and sends chills up the spine.

[@NightBazaar]

John also uses that haunting voice on the White Album in the song, "Cry Baby Cry".

[@mnamhie]

Agreed. His best vocal ever.

[@deniseg812]

Love that song​@@NightBazaar

[@LR2894h]

And John sounds very British in this. Some songs he and Paul try to sound American.

[@richardbuchanan7124]

George Martin described John's voice as "haunting."

[@GoGoWhoa64]

Love younger generations appreciating The Beatles.

[@mind-brainstudio927]

It's so great! Thanks for being open to this brilliant music that some of us grew up with. It's really cool to witness you discovering it and being excited like we were!

[@martinl8574]

The most incredible band EVER! four men creating music that will last forever. Innovators and genius!

[@eviekelpie1]

And the 2 eldest Beatles were only 27 here 😱

[@sexysadie2901]

@@eviekelpie1 Actually 26!

[@eviekelpie1]

@@sexysadie2901 if this was 1967, both John and Ringo were born in 1940, makes them 27. Anyway, they were damn very young

[@mr.g1758]

Actually five. And one of them was 31 in '67.

[@reginawallinger8711]

Took a Beatles class as an elective in college. This was their attempt to combine two unfinished songs together. One was John's and one was Paul's. Love how creative they were. This has to be my favorite Beatles song.

[@allanjones1680]

Fun Fact ...At the end of this song (on the album) is a few seconds of a note so high pitched humans can not hear it however dogs and cats can....it was added by john as a kind of wise guy joke meant to drive the listeners dogs or cats crazy without the listener even knowing why ...lol

[@thewiseoldherper7047]

I read that somewhere. They had two really intriguing yet strikingly different songs that weren’t quite completed. The genius was in putting them together.

[@btgiv6009]

Paul said he wanted the two cacophonous sections to "sound like the end of the world." I'd say he succeeded.

[@sarahdee374]

@@allanjones1680 My cat's ears were just twitching at the end!

[@allanjones1680]

@@sarahdee374 😃

[@222veronicabean]

Im 71. I was 11 when i heard my first beatles tune. It was october 1963. I even remember exactly where i was. I think i held my breath the whole song.., i wanna hold your hand. I was so choked up. I remember thinking finally, my music has arrived!. Imagine growing up through your teens to the soundtrack of the beatles. I was nuts for all the wonderful music that followed the beatles, but they remainded my favorite group. I still believe i was born at the best time to enjoy this misic and was able to attend many concerts. I lived in LA. So access wasnt a problem. As i look back, i wouldnt miss it for the world! Yes, born at the right moment.

[@mdc53]

I'm 71 also and I second everything you wrote. The Beatles set the standard for every band that followed them.

[@augustingarnier4625]

Dick Clark said it best when he said, "Your music is the soundtrack of your life".

[@jeffreyflint6286]

What can I say. They changed my life way back in 1964. Music has never been the same. Long live rock and roll!!!!🤟🤟

[@vicprovost2561]

Me too, the Ed Sullivan show that they debuted in the USA did it for me, life altering moment.

[@jeffreyflint6286]

@@vicprovost2561 same show man lol.

[@mrnobody3161]

Yep. Then 6 months later my 18 year old half Brother moved to Canada from Liverpool. 🎶

[@pattyduke3079]

It changed my life at 5 years old that Sunday night.

[@jeffreyflint6286]

@@pattyduke3079 I was only six. Ain't it cool.

[@markmurphy558]

Without Magical Mystery Tour and Sgt. Pepper, there would be no Pink Floyd, no Moody Blues, no Yes, no King Crimson, no Steppenwolf, and a thousand others. The Beatles literally wrote the road map for for the explosion of R & R. Their genius will be appreciated in 100 years.

[@sllm2406]

that is correct. and also the white album, metal came from helter skelter

[@bestcongressmoneycanbuy9704]

Let's not forget Brian Wilson's influence on The Beatles. George Martin, commonly referred to as "The Fifth Beatle", stated in an interview that without Pet Sounds, there would never have been a Sgt. Peppers. But in turn, without Rubber Soul, there wouldn't be a Pet Sounds either. The Beatles and The Beach Boys were serious competitors and, at the same time, were each others muse.

[@melchiorvonsternberg844]

@@bestcongressmoneycanbuy9704 Well... At first, there was a fifth beatle and his name was Stuart Sutcliffe. But he left the band for a girl from Hamburg and died with 22 years in Hamburg. And 2nd... The name of the Beatles manager was Brian Epstein and not Brian Wilson. If I remember well, Brian Wilson was, one of the Beach Boys...

[@alanparsonsfan]

The Beatles coMpletely reinvented popular music. I was lthinking exactly what mark said here.

[@bongodroid]

You went a little too far with the namedropping there. Pink Floyd is older than you think and were already around when the Beatles made those records. Pink Floyd was recording at the same place (Abbey Road) and at the same time The Beatles were recording Sgt Peppers. February to May 1967.

[@zlonxman]

"A Day in the Life" is probably the greatest Lennon-McCartney collaboration. John wrote the first section of this (the trippy "I read the news today, oh boyy..."), which is like a dream. Then comes the orchestra crescendo, followed by Paul's part (Woke up! Fell out of bed. Dragged a comb across my head...). This is like the alarm clock waking you up, and now you gotta get your day started. But then when he lights up and "has a smoke," he starts to go into the dream state again, and we return to John singing the final verses, followed by another orchestra crescendo. And finally that huge doom-laden E Major chord struck simultaneously on multiple pianos. The chord seems to go on forever, giving the listeners time to think about what they just heard. Probably the most brilliant piece of music ever created in the 20th Century. Glad you liked it!

[@markdettra1794]

The blend of separate themes contributed by John & Paul --- made A Day In A Life , SURREAL & so powerful .

[@asticou]

I was 14 years old when this song came on the radio in our family kitchen. It was 1967. The song haunted me for days. I'd never heard anything like it in my young life. It seemed that each time I heard a new Beatles song from 64 on, their would be a new guitar hook or inventive sound. You never knew what new musical package was waiting to be unwrapped. The best of times.

[@thefishpiesky]

I too was 14. Heard this literally on my 14th Birthday. I thought I was in the presence of angels, or other worldly beings or God. I just so so so miss these guys.

[@asticou]

@@thefishpiesky We were so lucky to be alive when the Beatles music was coming out for the first time.

[@thefishpiesky]

We were. We were. I’m reliving it all though with the remixed box sets, and Let it Be movie series and with Jay and Amber’s Reaction vids. (The vibe those two emit is so uplifting) They capture something of “the first time” brilliantly. But the Beatles do seem to have some super power that sweeps successive generations up.

[@BlackPrimeMinister]

@@asticou I was a child when John Lennon died. I never came to terms with it. God bless that man, I'm so grateful he made such a mark on me. Almost worth the agony.

[@asticou]

@@BlackPrimeMinister Such a loss

[@WadeAustin-s2h]

No band can ever come close to the Beatles 11 albums in 7 years.Amazing!

[@hellokimmy68]

I've probably heard this song a hundred times, but it never fails to give me chills.

[@sagan666]

100 ? Pfft - They're rookie numbers. :-)

[@hellokimmy68]

@@sagan666 Estimate. ;-)

[@mikeortiz6008]

Simply one of the best Beatles songs ever! A masterpiece of lyrics and music.

[@johnandersonii]

When I was in high school, in the mid 90's, my modern history teacher did a 3 day seminar on Sgt. Pepper, completely paused the curriculum and taught only this album, for three days straight. That's how cool this whole album is. It was a world of 1sts.

[@EightPieceBox]

I love when teachers share something they are passionate about like that. To have one student remember that as something important means he accomplished his goal.

[@beckygrant2258]

I had an English teacher in high school who did the exact same thing when the White album came out. We spent at least a week listening to the songs and reading the lyrics and trying to interpret what they meant to us! Such a cool class. When my parents divorced, my father remarried after a year. She was like 36 yrs old and I was about 13. When he moved her in, she had the Beatles Rubber Soul album! Okay, I determined she was pretty cool at that point! I had a cool stepmom!

[@humanbones]

I inherited my older siblings Beatles records. I was 5 and 6 years old and listening to this song in 1969 with them so the Beatles have been the soundtrack to my life. To see young, intelligent and creative people such as yourselves become infatuated with their amazing music makes me smile. Thank you.

[@Zebred2001]

Same for me - born in 1961!

[@johngetz8585]

Meee toooo...born in 63' ...!!!! Sister born in 1960..!!!

[@ncarpenter28]

Same here, I grew up listening to them because of my older twin brothers (10 yrs older). I remember listening to all their albums with them, also remember seeing Let It Be in the theater with them, I was 7 years old and was in awe. I will never forget that.

[@rbking9296]

Born in 57 here was Fortunate enough to watch the Beatles evolve into the worlds greatest rock ‘n’ roll band ever

[@rbking9296]

Born in 57 here was Fortunate enough to watch the Beatles evolve into the worlds greatest rock ‘n’ roll band ever

[@sdpadrefan]

A masterpiece that still hits hard 55 years later.

[@user-ye4mp3lv9u]

The Beatles weren't a band, they were a miracle.

[@DanMcManus]

As someone who was born in 1954 and was 10 years old when The Beatles appeared on American television for the first time, I can confidently say that this band changed my life, changed music and fashion, changed the world. The musical and spiritual journey they went on during those 6 or 7 years from start to finish is unmatched. It is a journey that the world went on with them. After them, nothing was the same. The reason their music still resonates almost 60 years down the road is the pure and actual genius of their art.

[@davidpost428]

well said.

[@deborahdoesscrap]

100% agree and since I was also born in 1954 and first saw them on Ed Sullivan show, nothing was the same in music again. I feel so blessed to have lived through that era of music and to have been old enough to recognize what had happened. It happens that we were visiting my aunt for dinner that night. She was a single mother raising four children and my parents had us three children. After dinner my oldest girl cousin said she was going to her room to watch the Beatles on Ed Sullivan. I can remember asking her who the Beatles were. She was appalled that we didn't know who they were. So us 7 kids gathered around the television set and watched the world of music change in the length of two songs. We were always the cousins who were a little out of the mainstream and my four cousins were part of the popular groups. I doubt we would even have known each other if it weren't for the fact that we were related and they sort of had to be nice to us, LOL! All four of them went on to somewhat tortured lives, succumbing to drug and alcohol addictions. Us three kids navigated our teens and went on to have productive lives. I recently saw my girl cousin after not seeing each other in over 35 years. We had a good laugh about it and she is quite open about her struggles with addiction and has been sober for about 15 years. She didn't remember if she had graduated from high school and I told her that she had. She asked me if I was sure and I showed her her graduation picture in my yearbook. Funny thing, life. The Beatles will always be amongst my favorites. So many memories.

[@sarahzentexas]

Beautifully put. In my baby book, there was a space to list “Fads” in 1959. My mother put 1. Foreign cars and 2. Rock and roll 🤣🤣🤣 She took me to see A Hard Day’s Night when I was 5…she fell for them just like the rest of America did.

[@deborahpaley21]

Born in '54 here as well and yes to all you said. I think of them as MY Beatles.

[@MichaelJones-sh7nu]

Well said, Mr. McManus. I was a Beatles fan, but "Sgt. Pepper's" absolutely blew my mind and lifted the whole Beatles experience into the stratosphere.

[@redchick5278]

This is one of my all time favorite Beatles song! Just brilliant! John wrote this using the newspaper!

[@johnbarone8240]

John wrote the first part … and with Paul’s help they finished the song !! They are playing the tape backwards at the end . The greatest band loved by almost everyone ❤️

[@billymarx3038]

This was recorded in 1967. This was incredibly WAY ahead of it's time. And yes, that's Mick Jagger, along with Keith Richards and Michael Nesmith (The Monkees) sitting at the feet of the masters as they recorded this masterpiece.

[@richardsteiner8992]

And I think Marianne Faithfull as well.

[@charlesscottdoty1283]

And Donovan

[@waynecanning4122]

That Big Chord at the end of the song is 4 separate pianos all hitting the same chord at the same time and then just sustaining. So intense

[@allowah6]

The E chord!

[@winsloweskimo1]

That ending chord with the fade-out is to my knowledge the longest sustained note in recorded music.

[@waynecanning4122]

@@winsloweskimo1 Can’t confirm nor deny that but I do know that they did it by moving the mixing board faders up as the notes trailed off keeping the volume consistent.

[@liamwarwick2710]

greatest band to ever walk the earth

[@Dragonsinger71]

Amber, you've correctly identified a major foundation to The Beatles' songwriting. If you look back into it, you'll note that the vast majority of their catalog is credited as written by Lennon/McCartney. When those two lads got together to start writing songs, they often came in with a number of partials they'd been working on alone. They then proceeded to marry the parts into a single song. As far as this song is concerned there is a ton of different aspects you could dissect and analyze. For the entire album this comes the band had begun to push the parameters of what one could put into a song and how to achieve the sounds they heard in their minds. As a result, they were true trailblazers. They not only started using orchestras and string sections, but some of the effects they achieved in recording were groundbreaking. More than that, they were unheard of before, so they, George Martin and the engineers had to invent ways to achieve those effect. Today we've got all kinds of digital technology to create almost any sound you can dream up. We can get a delay that's more than 500msec that sounds like an echo in a huge canyon. They didn't have that available to them. To achieve that, they hooked up two tap machines and ran the tape from one machine to the other. Yet even as they were dreaming up all this "newfangled" tech and sounds, you'll find that some of their compositional acumen is solidly based in music theory that in some instances goes all the way back two centuries. Not bad for four blue collar lads from Liverpool.

[@ddiamondr1]

Yep, Ringo‘s drumming. Amazing. And the London symphony orchestra was told to start their instruments on their lowest notes and then rise as the conductor guided them upwards to their highest notes. That’s where they got that amazing sound. This song is a masterpiece of the 20th century. I cannot wait for you guys to react to the Abbey Road medley. It is their goodbye.

[@tedburke8187]

You nailed it, exactly right. Pushed the boundaries in every direction

[@cdronk]

Not only did the Beatles push the boundaries of popular music, they wrote and performed fantastic, timeless music.

[@gregwatson3300]

Ringo has always been underrated. Great drum fills in this one, as usual.

[@honolulublues5548]

What makes him amazing is he's left handed playing a right handed drum kit. Some of the songs they did is difficult for someone playing the same handed drum kit they are because his hands are opposite.

[@terrygarcia897]

Saw Ringo 4 weeks ago in Oklahoma. Sir Paul Dallas 2002.

[@terrygarcia897]

Ringo ran off the stage about 4 times. I guess when you got to go you got to go.

[@ChuckDrennen]

Ringo was definitely the best drummer for The Beatles.

[@gonzalofuster6491]

Ringo's creative drumming in this song is a masterpiece

[@foofghtr]

It was a wonderful time to be alive on this planet. The 60’s were awesome most of my family were all alive with plenty of time to go on… Everyone had work, everything was cheap and we all got along. The main thing is everyone loved the Beatles and people all had respect for each other.

[@subobing3551]

I agree. The music was so phenomenal

[@dgetzin]

Of everything they’ve ever done - this is probably the greatest thing they ever did - “tomorrow never knows” included.

[@gmb858]

I consider it the top of the mountain, what they had been building towards. Epstein's death threw them for a loop, and while they made more masterpieces, none approached this zenith of their careers.

[@iceman5006]

This song is pure genius.

[@garyarnett1220]

When the tempo changed so did the singer, John to Paul, then later back to John. And cameos from Mick Jagger, Monkee mike Nesmith, and British singer Donovan among others. And the Beatles couldn't have realized their imaginations without producer George Martin. He was a HUGE part of their sound and success.

[@fuchsiaswing8545]

Keith Richards and Marianne Faithfull, too.

[@patticrichton1135]

@@fuchsiaswing8545 PLUS George Martin (their producer, obviously) and PATTIE BOYD HARRISON (GEORGE'S wife)

[@chrisbarnett5303]

George Martin was the 5th Beatle

[@seantlewis376]

Sgt. Pepper was the Beatles' transition into psychedelia, and the album reflects that, starting with pretty traditional rock'n'roll, then the song Strawberry Fields itself transitions from regular rock into a very psychedelic feel by the end of the song, and the album just goes from there. A Day in the Life was the final track on the album, and full on surreal.

[@76063co2]

This is one of their most unique songs, with John doing the opening and ending vocals, and Paul in-between. To me, the John bits are when the narrator is dreaming/ day-dreaming, the Paul bit is when he is awake, and the rising orchestra are the points that he awakens from his dreams. This song was the final song on the Sgt Pepper Album, and ended with an impact. This song, like most of Sgt Pepper, made a statement that popular music could be art. People of the time, played, replayed, and endlessly discussed the album and this song.....and still do.

[@John_Locke_108]

Pauls bits are autobiographical. When the fabs were teens, he and George would take the bus to John's house. Paul was picked up first and while riding to George's house he would sit on the top deck of the bus smoking ciggies and daydreaming.

[@5yearsout]

If I recall correctly this is another Beatles song where they pieced together different song ideas into one beautiful masterpiece. They did a similar thing on Abbey Road with side two of the album being short snippets of song ideas that work so well together. One example of their genius to me anyway.

[@SaxyLament]

I can get on board with this. John's parts talk about mundane things but they are just a shade off, kind of like the old Energizer bunny commercials. Something just says, "This isn't quite real." I could totally see myself having a dream about holes filling the Albert Hall.

[@lisajames3359]

The Beatles are the greatest band of all time. Pioneering and I don’t think that any band will surpass them, in my lifetime anyway. Great reaction as always.

[@stevecrocker6904]

they bridged musical eras that changed so much form early to late 1960s. I heard the Beatles first when I was 9 or 10 and they changed so much through my teenage years. And Billy Preston, the "fifth Beatle", brought more to to table

[@karenjordan9607]

Totally agree. Thanx for this guys ❤😊

[@TheNawlinzNative]

Fun Fact: Tara Browne (4 March 1945 - 18 December 1966) was a British socialite and heir to a part of the Guinness fortune. His December 1966 death in a car crash was an inspiration for the Beatles' song "A Day in the Life"

[@AnnMonica-vy4rc]

John was filming a film at the time too. How I Won the War.

[@idaslpdhr]

When the Beatles released 'Rubber Soul' it was a huge leap forward for British music, then they released 'Revolver' it blew our minds and again there were sounds no one had used on a record, the following year 1967 'The Summer of Love' out came Sgt. Pepper I cannot describe to you what we all felt and thought, it was an amazing time to have lived through and probably set us up for the way we saw the world for the rest of our lives, the drugs helped as well, 😂😂😂🙃

[@andrewft31]

Rubber Soul, Pet Sounds, Revolver and Sgt Pepper expanded what you could do with an album as an art form

[@sross54]

Talent was there long before any drugs.

[@RS-qo1rb]

They still do brother. 😁

[@RichardPleiner]

Greatest band

[@randomcsorely]

Oh , they were taking drugs alright ​@@sross54

[@Great-Documentaries]

Without George Martin, songs like this never happen. None of The Beatles on their own had any clue how to make orchestrated music like this. The man deserves his due for making them more than a pop band.

[@artvandelay4545]

Not to worry, most serious Beatles fans know that GM was as important to their sound as any of the boys. But it never hurts to educate the newbies.

[@barbarastrayhorn4667]

True

[@eviekelpie1]

Much respect for Sir George Martin

[@PlumbPitiful]

I've always considered Sir George as the 5th Beatle.

[@usmcrn4418]

I was thinking the same thing.. although greatly appreciated by the Beatles themselves, much of the public were unaware of Martin’s contribution to their music. In my opinion, George Martin was the true “5th Beatle”.. Billy Preston’s outstanding contribution in later albums notwithstanding 😎

[@andyhinds542]

The absolute genius of the Beatles and the Lennon/McCartney dynamic in one song, right here.

[@kengunter6903]

Imagine being 12 yrs. old & buying SP'S & freaking out for the next 6 months. This whole album is mind blowing!!!

[@nancyhallatr]

A twelve year old wouldn't understand it. I was 18 when I first heard this because that's how old I was when it was released. There had never been anything else like the album, Sgt. Peppers, so everybody's minds were blown. It was a dazzling, eventful time in music, but this was still so much more than anything else we had. Dylan was also busting out walls, but in a different way. He did more with words than they did, but they did so much more with production. This was a studio album. Nobody went to a concert and heard this. The Beatles final concert was in 1966, the year before this was released.

[@sexysadie2901]

@@nancyhallatr A 12 year old could understand it perfectly, lol.

[@anthonyhedberg6471]

@@nancyhallatr I beg to differ. I was 11 when I first heard this, and I had already been following their careers since '63...and had been listening to (and singing along with), popular music since I was 5 or 6 years old, you know, Frankie Valli, Bob Dylan, the Stones, the Kinks, and especially...The Beatles. They were life altering. My two sisters and I bought every single that came out with our allowances. We had our own little acapella group, "Tony & the Tigers", and we sang all the songs (because I knew all the words), and we even got the neighborhood kids into it too. We all sat around the sandbox and the swings, ate candy, sang songs, and talked about them and what they meant to us. Age is not really a factor, when it comes to understanding (and interpreting), what you see and hear. Just my two cents...for what it's worth. ✌😎

[@anthonyhedberg6471]

@@sexysadie2901 I concur. Age is not really a factor at all. 😉👍

[@triggerwarning5762]

On my 12th birthday, in 1978, my Uncle Ken walked me to Kmart and bought me this album. He handed it to me and said, "You're a man now."

[@brentcox7772]

Love The Beatles!!! “Long and Winding Road” Is my favorite!!🤘

[@brianmcmaster5112]

They NEED to react to Let It Be.

[@theodoreritola7641]

Released in 1970 . One of the few songs that came out in the 70s From the Beatles

[@gregmarshall2513]

The Beatles …the best band to ever walk the Earth 🌏

[@johnboydTx]

In my Life by the Beatles..... Great song about life's reflection's 🤔♥️ R.I.P. John and George the World misses you two 🙏💔😢

[@johnboydTx]

@@TANTRUMGASM you understand women need a strong hand to keep them in their right mind..... Women love a Bad Boy......... Even a serial killer Ted Bundy got married and had a child after killing dozens of women???? Female Logic 😱😵

[@gwengoodwin3992]

Listening to the Beatles albums in order is quite rewarding because you can hear their genius flower from one record to the next. It's astonishing.

[@lisaclark1181]

This song is on their '67 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. This album put ALL of rock n roll on notice!!! PLEASE take the time to listen to the entire album! 💖

[@Mozart1220]

Had Brian Wilson released "Smile" in 1967, Pepper would be in 2nd place. Good Vibrations was to be on that album, so you see the direction.

[@JeffSkymaster]

Freaking Goosebumps hearing this. Masterpiece

[@ivangirardelli3482]

No other band has ever experimented, created and evolved musically like The Beatles, which is why they are the greatest. They revolutionized music in every aspect. Only they were able to change and transform music to an unsuspected level. The Beatle are and will be the greatest.

[@axltyler]

A Day in the Life is a patchwork of John and Paul's distinctly separate styles of musicianship edited together by George Martin, their producer. They had pieces of snippets of songs that weren't completed and weaved them into a single song. The transitions are brilliant too, and there's a music composition term for it, but at the moment the name of that term escapes me! I hope someone in the comment section knows and remembers what I'm trying to identify. This song also directly inspired Billy Joel to write Scenes from An Italian Restaurant (as well as the movie Scenes from a Marriage by Ingmar Bergman)

[@richarddefortuna2252]

Are you thinking of a crescendo?

[@axltyler]

@@richarddefortuna2252 No. It's a very specific composition theory term involving a number of chords. This same composition technique happens in Jimi Hendrix's Purple Haze.

[@richarddefortuna2252]

@axltyler okay. Interesting. I'll have to ask around, then - I'm a drummer, so never dealt much with advanced compositional theories. Thanks for the info!

[@donnakubiski5572]

@@richarddefortuna2252 A crechendo is a quivering note that ends a song. Yes, this song does end on a crechendo.

[@dianefeinstein8951]

Axltyler: The technical term when two songs are combined together is "mashup." Here is an example. It's Elise Trouw (pronounced "troll" from Dutch) doing a "mashup" of a Foo Fighters-Caldwell song... kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2TGeqqKj7mHn6s ♥️Diane, Vancouver,Canada. TuNO15/22 07:19 pm

[@debsparbel8325]

The orchestral transition was done by having each musician start with the lowest note their instrument could play and then quickly going up note by note until reaching the highest note the instrument could play. That was recorded several times and then the tapes of each recording were replayed together to create the final recording of the massive sound. The simultaneous piano chords with the slow fade out at the end were meant to bring the listener back from the huge orchestra sound and return you to nothingness/silence. Creativity is demonstrated here in abundance.

[@scottbrower9052]

The two most famous chords in history: the one at the end of this song and the one at the beginning of "Hard Day's Night."

[@davidalexander2607]

You missed one out . Feedback on I Feel Fine

[@aranmolloy6808]

That’s a note but ye @@davidalexander2607

[@Jamesaw85]

The chords at the end of this song were used by Apple as the startup sound for the Macintosh computers.

[@briangroboski4751]

Just remember: The Beatles did EVERYTHING first.

[@duvadjidgo9625]

Apart from the B7 chord 🤔😂🤣🤪

[@phillipareed2]

The Beatles appropriated American Afro blues. The blues were first. But I love the Beatles!

[@Hawkfalco]

@@phillipareed2 And the Beatles always acknowledged the influence of those roots with respect. They named names. They covered songs they loved and paid homage to the original artists. Then they went on to do their own thing.

[@kevinmcconnell3641]

There was this other band, I believe they were called The Beach Boys;)

[@joefriedman9843]

Everything? I mean, yea pretty much.

[@tonynascar3]

This song highlights Ringo's drumming... The jazz blend and beat around 5:45 is superior!!

[@apace003]

To think this masterpiece started out from John reading a story in the local paper about someone from the House of Lords killed in a car accident and another article next to the story about potholes in the street. John, and then Paul picked up ideas for songs from their surroundings and made them into masterpieces. John writing Strawberry Fields and Paul responding with Penny Lane. John writing A Hard Day's Night and Paul responds with Can't Buy Me Love. John writes If I fell and Paul responds with And I love Her. It happens over and over again in their catalog.

[@walterlopchuk8228]

I beleive it was the son of member of the House of Lords. His name escapes me now, but he was to be heir to the Guiness fortune. I believe he went through a light and crashed into the back of a lorrie. I understand he swerved at the last second to save his girfriends life.

[@gregsgot4]

Name was Tara Brown who was an heir to the Guinness fortune, who died in an single automobile accident ..

[@lrwguitar]

Yes Tara Browne Paul was friendly with him.

[@deborahcornell171]

Another Beatles masterpiece with a similar name (but very different) is "In My Life". Beautiful, evocative, a reflection on love...it made me cry the first time I heard it at the age of 12. It still does, all these years later. Hope you react to it. It's such an emotional, beloved song. 💙☮💙☮💙☮💙☮💙☮💙

[@garyporter1702]

I lived in England when this album was released, and I was a teenager. The Beatles took us all to a place we had never seen musically. You need to realize the whole album of Sgt. Pepper was recorded on a four track recorder, and is without question, remarkable! They set the musical future for my generation! I have played their music for my children, and now play them for my grandchildren! Their music is timeless!

[@BGNOLA]

I was yelling at a friend of mine back in the early 90s because his band was complaining about a studio having "only 16 tracks" the Beatles only had 4!

[@rollomaughfling380]

@@BGNOLA Well, that sounds like a stupid, dick move. The Beatles were recording in mono, and by the '90s stereo recordings were were the norm, so, what were you thinking?!

[@BGNOLA]

@@rollomaughfling380 they turned down a record deal because of it; what were THEY thinking?

[@davidpost428]

I was also living in England when this was released and it stunned us.

[@kihntagious]

Ooh I was 11 and watched them on Ed Sullivan. To say they changed everything is an understatement. A part of young girls transformed overnight. They were simply wonderful. Still are. I like lots of the older stuff too. Any Time at All is a great one and if you want to hear why Ringo is the master, listen to Rain.

[@dazwald1965]

Those drum fills are amazing.

[@jasonremy1627]

This is the apex of the Beatles catalogue. The perfect marriage of their individual styles into a perfect song. The best song they did.

[@gregorymoore2877]

The best song they did... that's a difficult choice as there are so many contenders.

[@sourisvoleur4854]

Agree 100%.

[@alphagt62]

I had heard that they had 3 songs they couldn’t finish, so then made one song out of them. What rock had anyone lived under to have never heard this? I guess I’m old.

[@starwood213]

Yes I agree.

[@robdee9341]

@@gregorymoore2877 I'd put "In My Life" up there..

[@Motownmike73]

This is a Master Piece Obviously But the Construction of it John Started it Paul Filled the Middle. John Finished it! " This is their Best! RIP John George!! 💔❤

[@gregorykrug8034]

That last chord is the greatest chord in music history.

[@Luming-di9rf]

As is the first chord of A Hard Day's Night.

[@jimmyjam6764]

... never could be any other way ...

[@russallert]

The video for this song was shot during the orchestral overdub recording session at Abbey Road. The Beatles decided to turn it into a party, invited some famous friends over (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Donovan, Mike Nesmith, and probably others that I missed) - and even some uninvited guests got in for a bit (you can see one girl being physically ejected from the studio). The orchestra player, conducted by George Martin, all wore formal dress and added funny noses and other disguises. As other commenters have noted, the score for the famous "orgasm of sound" was unconventional and required the players to go from the lowest note on their instruments to the highest note in the space of 24 bars (counted out on tape by Beatles roadie Mal Evans). As Jay and Amber just demonstrated with their reaction, 55 years after the fact, the song continues to be the ultimate musical mindf••k, in the best way possible.

[@sarablack2547]

thanks for the info on who was in the room saved me a job.although for those who don't know who these people are without their band name mick,keith rolling stones.mike the monkees and donovan solo artist mellow yellow is a famous song of his.

[@Waterloosunset2]

Marianne Faithfull is there as well.

[@richcrespo5110]

This is considered one of their best, but aren't just about all of them one of their best? Two random pieces of music are put together so perfectly.

[@mrfester42]

I've been listening to the Beatles for 60 years and I've heard this piece a thousand times and hearing it now sends chills up and down my spine.

[@clintcearley9487]

All instruments rising from low notes to high and ending with a 17 second single note is amazing. This song with its transitions is just fantastic, and a breakthrough as to what can be done with a song.

[@mikeanderson292]

17?? That note lasted 40 seconds.

[@patticrichton1135]

@@mikeanderson292 You could really hear how long that last note lasted on the original vinyl record. I kept turning the sound up as the note faded out and it goes on for quite sometime. Hard to do on a CD or listening to it online.

[@MrDiddyDee]

@@patticrichton1135 At that level you might be able to hear the studio's air conditioner fan and a squeak from Ringo's drum stool, it's there. Hope you remember to turn the volume back down quick before it goes into the run-off track.

[@alanbeaumont4848]

Achieved with a tape loop I believe.

[@clintcearley9487]

@@mikeanderson292 Yeah, that should have read 37 seconds. Sloppy typing. Saw it after I posted. Good catch though.

[@Cynthia...]

Can never get enough Beatles songs.

[@meetjohndoe1078]

Many will shut it off before the complete end. You let it go all the way! Excellent!

[@drc1989]

There is so much to this masterpiece. I'm sure many comments will cover a lot of the facts regarding the song, soooooo, I'll cover... Yes, that was Mick Jagger and Kieth Richard's of the Rolling Stones. Marianne Faithful (Mick's girlfriend at the time & a recording artist), Donavan, George Martin, Mike Nesmith of the Monkees, the art trio known as The Fool, Patti Boyd Harrison and more personalities from the 60's are in this video (film). By the way the song was banned in Britain because the line ..."I'd love to turn you on" and the middle part of the song's ..."I had a smoke, somebody spoke and I went into a dream" because the authorities saw them as drug references. I'm glad you enjoy and value The Beatles.

[@spazimdam]

"Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall". One of the greatest lines ever. I love this song.

[@razmo21]

There are a lot of Beatles songs, this one included, that they never played in concert. They stopped touring because they couldn’t hear themselves because the crowd would just scream over the top of the music so they became just a studio band putting out albums

[@thistimeImhomie]

This is in my opinion, the greatest song ever recorded....This is them at the peak of their game. A complete cohesive unit

[@jeanstrickland2445]

Doesn’t get any better than this song 🙋🏻‍♀️

[@vincentschmitt7597]

The greatest song ever recorded to me is The Great Gig in the Sky. It caught lightning in a bottle.

[@brianmcmaster5112]

@@vincentschmitt7597 Yeah, this song is widely considered the greatest song of all time. No offense to Floyd,Gig is a Masterpiece in it's own right

[@dawnpatrol700]

From the greatest album ever, and they left off Strawberry and Penny Lane from the sessions LOL. I can't even imagine where those would have placed in this opera of songs

[@ThePittsburghToddy]

It’s fantastic. Zero argument from me.🖖🏼

[@NoName-it5ck]

The Beatles showed that the sky is the limit when it came to expressing musical ideas.

[@somepig2k]

Even the last 30 seconds of the sustain on that last chord fading to silence is just phenomenal .

[@rickewilde]

Not only did The Beatles push the boundaries, they set new ones. They experimented with sounds that nobody else in music at the time had considered. This song is a perfect example of that.

[@walterlopchuk8228]

Like recording caliope music backwards...

[@wpl8275]

This song was placed at the end of Sgt. Pepper album for a good reason. It's no small wonder why that album is considered one of the best of all time. Each song on it is iconic and completely different. With a little help from my friends is a sing song. Lucy in the sky is pschedelic. Within you without you is meditative. She's leaving home is sweeping orchestral. Taken as a whole it is a distinct thought provoking boundary pushing work of art. It's one of the first concept albums. Listening to it you discover what was lost from today's music which is overproduced, under written and without much thought at all. It's also the last Beatles album made while Brian Epstein was alive.

[@Forest760]

I was born in 1967. I have been a die hard Beatles fan since Dec. 24, 1977. You have given me a refresher! John and Paul with George Martin created this masterpiece. I am thankful it lives on through you! Thanks!!

[@dgetzin]

That final piano chord was achieved by all Beatles at three pianos with George Martin conducting the signal. Total genius recoding engineer Geoff Emmerick pushed the faders UP as the chord faded out - to extend the fade and reveal the incredible texture of the harmonics. This is an astounding piece of work. And this was recorded on a tube-based 4 track with a single bounce down. (No hiss!) - this 4 track bounce down is why ringo’s drums are all on one side. Still - they are close-mic’d - (again Emmerick’s genius - no one had put a mic INDSIDE drums before) - amazing spatial sound on those drums. Near-peak Ringo

[@patticrichton1135]

ACTUALLY, it was John, Paul, Ringo and Mal Evans (their long time roadie) playing on 3 different pianos, with George Martin (their producer) on a harmonium. The 5 of them playing an E-major chord simultaneously.

[@dgetzin]

@@patticrichton1135 George Martin on a harmonium? I had never heard of that. Amazing.

[@VicMikesvideodiary]

That piano note was the longest sustained note ( at the time ) ever recorded.

[@michaelenosmusic]

They pushed the faders all the way up. It was said if you listened hard enough you can hear the air conditioning unit at the very end.

[@RichAdams21]

Thanks for holding that final note. That was an E-major chord played simultaneously on 4 grand pianos by Lennon, McCartney, Starr and Mal Evans. The sustain is magic. As someone who grew up in the sixties, I can remember how The Beatles seemed to get better with every subsequent release. Music then was The Beatles and everyone else trying to keep up. You guys should be applauded for recognizing their impact within their time period 60 years later.

[@Hana-p6j5h]

A friend of my wife went to record at Abbey Road. He took a few pictures of the instruments that are still there from the sixties. Among those pictures, there's a picture of one of tge pianos The Beatles used to record on many of their songs.... including that final note on A Day In The Life. It was just surreal to see that it's still there! If that piano could talk!!!

[@zenpuppy6025]

This song is a masterpiece.

[@ronnyparker]

LoL ya think

[@beeweb1137]

The first part is him sleeping and dreaming,(John) The second when the alarm clock rings is him getting up and living his day, (Paul) The third part is where he dozes off again and goes back into a dream.(John again) It is 2 songs put together.

[@patticrichton1135]

I don't think he was dreaming, I get why you would think that, because his voice sounds very dreamy. He is talking about the REAL articles that John DID read in the newspaper,

[@jimcarlson6157]

he must be an old retiree like me if he's sleeping all day. geezer tune

[@beeweb1137]

@@patticrichton1135 The second stanza literally says "Found my way upstairs and had a smoke And somebody spoke and I went into a dream" then it reverts back to John.

[@peterblack3665]

John’s voice is absolutely astonishing . It’s the icing on the Sgt. Pepper Cake right here.....Paul’s middle section of the song sets the tone for Lennon’s return summing up the rest of this masterpiece.......

[@gheller2261]

His voice was not epic. Nobody's voice is epic. That's not what the word epic means.

[@elizabethsteele4633]

Great reaction video . I'm 70 , I grew up hearing these songs when I was 13 , 14 , 15 years old . Looking back I can see that the Beatles , in the roughly 8 or 9 years that they were together covered and advanced popular music 30 years forward - in 8 years - and the best music of their generation . Once in a while I ask younger people , kids , if they like this group or that group and it varies - if I ask them if they like the Beatles , it's invariably 99 % " I love the Beatles ! " .

[@blackwolf6082]

This song gives me chills every time I hear it, just pure genius

[@chop3625]

Arguably their greatest song.

[@johncurtis7186]

John sings the front and end part of this song….often voted as best Beatle song ever. Paul covers the middle part, introduced by the ringing alarm clock ⏰

[@gregorymoore2877]

Fun fact: The alarm clock was added temporarily to the recording to signal where the "middle eight" should start as they didn't yet know what the middle eight would be. When Paul came up with "Woke up, fell out of bed..." they decided to leave it in.

[@ohfour-seven6228]

To this day I still listen to the Beatles all the time. Revolver is my favorite album. I'd suggest checking out next Tomorrow Never Knows, one of their trippiest songs and the most evolved song of theirs until they recorded St. Peppers and A Day in the Life. Tommorow Never Knows is a must hear. So glad you're discovering The Beatles, they will always be loved and revered.

[@robinmills8675]

I have many favorite bands but anytime someone asks "who's your favorite band" I answer The Beatles immediately. Every Spring I throw open the windows and blast the neighborhood with a Beatles concert.

[@ohfour-seven6228]

@@robinmills8675 They surely are absolutely incredible!