The Beatles, I’ll Be Back - A Classical Musician’s First Listen and Reaction / Excerpts

[@LeeKennison]

Thanks Amy for a great reaction and analysis. You pointed out several interesting musical elements that show how they were developing and becoming more sophisticated in their music. It is interesting that you are noticing the shifting between minor and major tonality (A and Am in this case) as being one of their reoccurring musical traits, along with noting their harmonic and rhythmic development. I'm glad you enjoyed this one so much.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Hey John pick a bloody key, blimey!

[@LeeKennison]

@@Hartlor_Tayley Lol. It is just John showing he really is advanced in his musical theory studies, even though he pretends not to. It is his lesson on the parallel minor, since that relative minor stuff is way too basic for him at this stage.😉

[@lejoe48]

I love that major-minor thing on Norwegian Wood.

[@LeeKennison]

@@lejoe48 Yeah, can't wait for Amy to get to that one.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

@@LeeKennison yes John really did advance with the use of switching a parallel minor in and out. But you know I wonder if it wasn’t Paul who put that too him.

[@albertwallace5060]

For some reason, this has always been my favourite Beatles song. It captures them at the peak of Beatlemania but, in spite of all that popularity and associated pressure, they shift towards the new. It’s a real moment.

[@jmadratz]

If I Fell and I’ll Be Back are my two favorite songs of the Beatlemania years (along with I Should’ve Known Better). A coincidence that all three are Lennon songs…I think not.

[@GlennErikMathisen]

I love the way Lennon adds and subtracts beats from his songs, stretches the tempo and plays with the rhythm. He always makes it sound so musical even though it's often quite strange from an analytical perspective. "Strawberry Fields" is all over the place rhythmicly. "She said she said" is another one of those psychedelic strange pieces. It switches from 4/4 to 3/4 in a strange way. But my favourite might be "Don't let me down." Every verse starting with 5 beats while the rest is in 4/4. Sounds unusual, but yet so musical and organic, and it's a beautiful love song.

[@Upe-f9c]

Hi! Every christmas when I grew up, I´ve got a Beatles record as a present from my grandparents. That was the higlight of christmas for me, to put that record on. And what a banger "A Hard Day´s Night" was : ) Greetings! /Ulf

[@G60syncro]

Go listen to the Anthology version... It was intended as a waltz but when John got to the ''I----------thought you would realize'' bit, he realized it was too long of a note to hold, so they took a break, switched up the tempo and finished the session with this version!! The fact that they could write a song, show up to the studio to record it and then just bin the original arrangement and change it completely in the same session!!!

[@cgjunglemusic]

This song was directly inspired by "Runaway" (Del Shannon), according to John Lennon. Both numbers exploit the major/minor ambiguity to great effect.

[@diogenesagogo]

I always maintain that every album contains a track that points in the new direction they're following, & this is the one. Also I hear a very Spanish 'influence to this track, almost flamenco like. One of my all time favourites.

[@PartTimeBuddhist]

As great as the rest of the album is, they really pulled out an ace with the last track. Coming at the end as it does, "I'll Be Back" plays like an ominous warning: "You were digging Beatlemania? Well too bad!" The status of the relationship John describes in the song remains scintillatingly vague. Who is playing who, exactly? In that sense, it's proto-"Norwegian Wood," and not just in musical feel. My local oldies station used to play this one all the time, but I find it rarely gets mentioned as part of the upper echelon. For instance, when they recently reissued the Blue Album (1962-1966), did "Roll Over Beethoven" or "You Can't Do That" really need to make the cut over this one? Really glad (Vlad?) you included it in your series.

[@michaelneal900]

the George Harrison guitar overlays are brilliant

[@joshgoldstein3991]

John Lennon was on an incredible streak in 1964. 'I'll Be Back' is easily perhaps the best song on 'A Hard Day's Night' and one of the best songs from their entire early period too.

[@davidrauh8118]

I'm so glad you enjoyed this one it's always been a favorite of mine. Don't forget to cover their single I Feel Fine / She's A Woman which proceeded the next album. Loved your reaction.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Those two songs are essential. Especially I feel fine.

[@ricardo_miguel13]

I just saw on their patreon that they left out No Reply. We have to do something about that! I also miss Baby's In Black for the waltz ryhthm..

[@davidbrankley1645]

This boomer was 11 when the Beatles first appeared on the Ed Sullivan show, and Beatlemania and the British Invasion finally landed here. Those were exciting times. Your examinations remind me of the excitement. It reverberates to this day.

[@philippesauvie639]

Interesting statement about John Lennon‘s knowledge of music or music theory. I have a theory and it revolves around visual art specifically painting. Think of the millions of students in art school that will never be real artists but they know basic design. I suspect that many of those students had nothing to say visually so they didn’t pursue it. A real artist always has something to say and uses their medium to communicate it. I suspect John Lennon, who had a visual arts background as did Paul McCartney both had something to say and said it brilliantly!

[@markjz2011]

Amy, I was waiting for a long time for you to review this great song. So happy you enjoyed this Beatles gem. I always felt there was something special about this one, but i couldn't put my finger on it. I thought it was the sound of the acoustic rhythm guitar and the haunting vocal harmonies. A beautiful melodic song. Definitely has been on my best of the Beatles playlist forever. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@leoneo4068]

Please, listen The band "Love" from California. Their album "Forever Changes" is a piece of art) This band some people called American Beatles.

[@davidmckenzie420]

I got this album as a teen, way back then, mainly because of this song. (And now I can play it on guitar. Never gets old.) "I'll follow the sun" appealed to me in the same way.

[@marysweeney7370]

This is one of my favorite minor key section songs from the early period My absolute favorite from the same period: is We Can Work it Out, with John's fabulous section in a minor key. I hope you'll get to it soon. I am grateful for your explanation of this song and hope to hear what minor key We Can Work it Out is in, I am interested in why the shifting from major to minor keys in these two Beatles songs is so effective in making them great. And I hope to hear your discussion. EDIT: I hope you get to watch the video and see Paul and John's magical interaction.

[@BobTaile]

We Can Work It Out was part recorded at Granada TV studios. John played the organ used by Ena Sharples in the Coronation Street soap. "Not many people know that!" as Michael Caine would say 😊

[@epikourosallebook790]

I LIKE THIS ONE A LOT AND I IMAGINE THEM PLAYING IT UNPLUGGED IN AN MTV OF 1964!THANK YOU REALLY VERY MUCH AMY FOR YOUR WORK!

[@bengerson7064]

George Martin didn't have a hand in the composition of the songs. Typically he added embellishments--baroque piano, piccolo trumpet, string quartet etc., and scored them following the composers' melodic guidance. He also had a hand with the engineers, particularly Geoff Emerick, in fashioning the sound of the records.

[@fractaljack210]

Don't underestimate Lennon's background as a banjo player. The influence on his rhythm structure is quite apparent. Great song, and a wonderful reaction to this often overlooked song.

[@richardfehlmann4593]

Fantastic song, fantastic analysis! This song is so much different than the others on the album, and John's timing was just by feeling, not schoolbook. Interesting is also that he tried out a 3/4 rhythm first as can be heard on the Anthology disc. This great engaged development in the melody, the built-up suspense, the descending chromatic part, so well explained. Energetic song, great term for this kind of song! I enjoyed this first listening very much 👍🏻

[@yes_head]

It was the benefit of having to work so quickly, that they didn't have time to get attached to a particular arrangement so when they showed up at the studio if something was working it was like, "OK, change it and move on."

[@richardfehlmann4593]

@@yes_head Yeah, that gave them a strong drive 👍🏻😊

[@geoford]

My favorite Beatle song, of the ones they wrote themselves. Amy, great review, I learned a lot. I also love the song's lyrics describing ambiguous emotions, complicated emotions.

[@lejoe48]

Por favor...Debéis recuperar NO REPLY, que es una de las mejores y más especiales canciones de John. Una rareza en el repertorio del grupo además. Una preciosidad que no dejo de escuchar una y otra vez. Gracias.

[@satorimystic]

Thanks!! `Twas a joy, as always. 🥰

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Such a great song. I love the part where it sounds like it’s all tangled up with itself and then the early 1 beat comes in and just clears the table. You really put this song into perspective and I agree it’s a harbinger of things to come. Wonderful commentary and analysis. You get right to heart of it on first listen. That’s Amazing. Now you can watch the movie. Thanks Virgin rock.

[@LeeKennison]

Agreed, it is now time for Vlad to show her the movie. I would love to hear her thoughts on it. Good for showing a bit of their personalities and humor. I wonder how someone not growing up in that generation would react to it.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

@@LeeKennison yea I am also interested in her thoughts. I think this movie is at least as important to the Beatles appeal as the records. The other movies are ok but skippable imho

[@LeeKennison]

@@Hartlor_Tayley Yeah, that was my take on them, but it has probably been around 50 years since I last watched them (other than short YT clips), so my memories are pretty vague. I have been intending to watch it again ever since Amy & Vlad started this series, particularly since it is available to buy or rent here on YT. If Amy does decide to watch and talk about it that will probably motivate me to finally watch it again.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

@@LeeKennison I haven’t seen it in a very long time but I do remember last time thinking how good it was.

[@richardfehlmann4593]

WOW ... I was so waiting for this video 😃👍🏻 ... awesome 👌

[@Deebhoy]

This is my most under rated/valued Beatles song. I learned to play it on the guitar a few years ago. It's so odd as there's no chorus and the structure of the song is really odd considering this was the start of peak Beatlemania. John was always proud of it and rightly so, it's a really beautiful song.

[@luismazzeo9006]

That reminds me of something I read from Krishnamurti a while ago that there was little point in studying a technique if you had nothing to say artistically. Of course technique and theory help but creativity and originality do not come from them. I think that in the case of The Beatles, their long years of playing and rehearsing continuously gave them the necessary tools to accompany their innate genius and that added to the contribution of George Martin with his theoretical knowledge produced something unique and difficult to repeat, "Yesterday" or " Eleanor Rigby" are the best example of this. Thank God that all those factors came together at that time and that after practically only 7 years, they left us that beautiful musical legacy.

[@evanleehome2178]

An underrated number, more complex than most early Beatles

[@adlermeni]

Thank you Amy for another great one. I would complete the album with 'When I Get Home', which was recorded in the day after (can't understand why Vlad omitted it) - it has two relative centers, C major and A minor, and rich tonal and modal inflections. Anyway, now it's time to watch the enjoyfull A-Hard-Day's-Night movie...

[@eggman7527]

This tune sounds great on the harp!!

[@-R.Gray-]

Looking up songs on The Beatles Bible site afterwards might be a good addition. It gives you recording and songwriting information. About this song it says that Lennon based it on the chords of the Del Shannon hit "Runaway", and that some early takes were in 3/4 time.

[@tommydevlin702]

Hi Amy and thanks again for a really enjoyable and informative reaction video. I am really enjoying your insights into The Beatles (and everyone else you look into). But to get a classical musician's thoughts on The Beatles, Zeppelin, Queen, Floyd etc is a very very cool approach and I am enjoying your journey immensely - especially as it also involves something of a journey for people like me for whom classical music is maybe not so far up their list of musical interests as others. So, this is a great channel for people like me. I am wondering if you (and Vlad) might be turning your attention soon to some of what I would call landmark songs from other artists in the Rock/Pop genre - for instance 'Wuthering Heights,' 'Space Oddity,' 'Vienna,' 'God Save The Queen,' 'Cyprus Avenue,' 'Breathing,' 'Golden Brown' etc. But thanks again and I am really enjoying your insights.

[@LeonardLeoneFilms]

As the final piece of the Beatles conquest of youth and popular culture, you surely must watch the Hard Days Night film. (What we'd love is a watch party!). It was written by a playwright who received an Oscar nomination for his script. It's considered the starting point of the counter culture movement. It's everything the Beatles themselves are, fun, joyous, creative, accomplished, and irreverent.

[@hw343434]

John Lennon’s unique chord progressions (he broke all the rules and made it sound magical!) along with his suprise time signature changes made him perhaps the most original pop music composer ever

[@anarcovision]

I was very interested in Amy review on this one, I've allways thought it was one early masterpiece of Lennon (and McCartney). I'd love to see her review in Not A Second Time from the previous album which is really crazy songwriting by Lennon too.

[@richardfehlmann4593]

I completely agree 👍🏻 I would love that too

[@ricardo_miguel13]

yeah Vlad missed that one. Amy would have appreciated it

[@ricardo_miguel13]

I just saw on their patreon that they left out No Reply. We have to do something about that! I also miss Baby's In Black for the waltz ryhthm..

[@stlmopoet]

A great review! Great insights into the melody! With the Beatles' songs being so well known to so many, we can hear the song in our heads when you discuss it. Your playing the whole song would be nice, but it's not essential.

[@yes_head]

Vlad REALLY loves A Hard Day's Night. 😄 Hopefully so much attention to this album doesn't leave you shorthanded to cover other worthy albums (Will there be slots left for Abbey Road?) But yeah, this was a huge leap in sophistication. It's the kind of song all their peers in 1964 could only dream of coming up with, but it was very influential on songs like "Waterloo Sunset" by the Kinks.

[@frankylaseure2641]

Another call for the song "Travel" by The Gathering, the TG25 live version. "I wish you knew your music was to stay forever".

[@ericwilliams1031]

Now that you have made it through the whole album, you should watch the Hard Day's Night movie. It's a slice of Beatlemania at It's peak and it's quite entertaining.

[@jnagarya519]

The word "urgency" applies.

[@julian65886]

The vocal harmony is in 3rds but there is a constant high E note throughout Am, G, Fmaj7 in the verses.

[@nellgwenn]

Actually just so you know the song A Hard Day's Night was the last song recorded for the movie, so by default the album.

[@dennismason3740]

Plus Cinnamon Girl, Harvest Moon, Old Man...Neil!

[@ryban1001]

Note how this song has TWO different bridges.

[@justlooking2222]

I think you would be interested in reacting to Emerson, Lake and Palmer, better known as ELP, interpretation of J.S. Bach's Toccata.

[@felipepezoa2372]

Saludos Virgin Rock, en tu viaje te recomiendo escuchar algunas canciones de rock latino y español, mis recomendaciones serian: "Rata Blanca - La Leyenda Del Hada Y El Mago" y ademas "Soda Stereo - Prófugos" por otra parte no he encontrado en tu canal "RAMMSTEIN Engel" y "NIGHTWISH - The Poet And The Pendulum" se que quieres concentrarte en la musica pero en este genero es muy importante la expresividad tanto musical como visual por lo tanto los video clip como los show en vivo hacen compañia a la fuerza de los temas sobre todo en grupos como ramstein, como ya te habras dado cuenta en la reacciones de este grupo. Vi tu reaccion de Nightwish pero creo que en ese momento no estabas preparada para ese estilo musical mas particular que aveces es dificil de absorver pero tambien creo que tu madurez con este genero a ido evolucionando y podrias dar otra vuelta en estos grupos que quizas no encontraste contenido tan interesante la primera vez que lo escuchaste. para finalizar espero puedas leerme en mi idioma aunque creo que eres una persona con mucha cultura y puedes entender mi mensaje, no quise aplicar traductor ya que algunas cosas no siempre quedan bien. Saludos desde Chile espero puedas introducir a tu viaje musica rock latino. Felipe

[@mmemarino4916]

Thanks for your reaction!!! I didn't have a UK Hard Days Night as I had the US Beatles 65 which I'll Be Back is on. To me it sounds out of place on A Hard Days Night and seems more suited to Beatles For Sale/Beatles 65 as that song sound more late 1964 at least to my ears!haha....

[@mikes9305]

Unfortunately, the next album is not as good. It has some good things, of course, but their 5th album, "Help," is the real standout, with only one clunker ("Dizzy Miss Lizzy"). And then they enter their peak compositional period in late 1965! 😃

[@dennismason3740]

woops! I meant Neil Young Broken Arrow/Ready to Fly which he wrote and performed when he was 13. I'm exaggerating but not by much. Some folk are born songwriters. Maybe we all are.

[@ricardo_miguel13]

Vlad, you won't do No Reply?? Thats maybe the most complex of Beatles For Sale! Please! and Babys In Black in the waltz rhythm, pleeeease! They are still very few songs of Beatles For Sale so I think it may be okay..

[@dago87able]

oh, within the albums too, definitely.

[@dago87able]

About George Martin’s genius and input, it cannot be in any way understated, but the development was really driven overwhelmingly by The Beatles.

[@joeb4142]

“He was successful.” Understatement of the year! lol

[@tonytjandra4798]

It's a bird, it's a plane, It's Not True by Sir Paul McCartney. Thank you.

[@markrice2821]

You haven't even scratched the surface yet!

[@beckykimble5680]

Sometimes ,obviously, it dose pay to think out side the box

[@peterbadore1338]

My copy of "The Beatles' Recording Sessions" by Mark Lewissohn is buried in storage and I don't recall if it was the last recorded for the album. Does Vlad have a copy? If not, get it. You'd both be enraptured with all the information Mark had access to. One of the best reads - if not THE best - on the Beatles and music in general.

[@actionic135]

I dug mine out to check if it was last recorded. It was fourth to last.

[@lejoe48]

I'll Be Back, siempre de mis favoritas, ¡estoy de acuerdo con Amy en que es especial!..Ahora, a por No Reply, que es tan preciosa...otro de mis amores secretos. John, John, John.

[@ricardo_miguel13]

They left out No Reply for some reaso. I saw it on their patreon.

[@lejoe48]

@@ricardo_miguel13 wow.... i can't believe it!

[@ricardo_miguel13]

@@lejoe48 Lets hope he still includes it. For now only I'm A Loser, I'll Follow The Sun, Eight Days A Week and Every Little Thing..Four songs are too few for Beatles For Sale anyways (they had 12 for the better album AHDN). I'd still include No Reply, Baby's In Black and maybe Words Of Love.. I left out Rock And Roll Music because she doesn't seem to like rock n roll too much plus its a step back and a cover.

[@lejoe48]

@@ricardo_miguel13 They should at least include No Reply, which is one of John's best and most special songs imo. A rarity in the group's catalog too. A beauty that I keep listening to over and over again with joy.

[@olaspaz3079]

If I was John Lennon I wouldn't worry about timing either.

[@jenscee7679]

It is mind blowing that they recorded Help, Rubber Soul and Revolver within two years of this (as well as some brilliant singles and the, for me, sub-par Beatles for Sale album.)

[@jnagarya519]

"Beatles for Sale" is only "sub-par" to those who don't LISTEN to it. It's up there with "Rubber Soul" -- which has greater emotional depth than "Revolver" -- and "The Beatles" (aka "White" LP).

[@joebersik9846]

i just signed up for patreon ....how do I watch the beatles videos with all the music not missing?

[@VirginRock]

www.patreon.com/collection/151195?view=expanded

[@dennismason3740]

What didn't the Beatles do/invent? Just when I thought they'd never do blues John does Yer Blues. The Dirty Mac.

[@ricardo_miguel13]

A lot of blues on the white album to abbey road (yer blues, for you blue, dig it, dig a pony, don’t let me down, I want you)

[@hw343434]

That John performance live with the dirty Mac is killer

[@dennismason3740]

@@hw343434 ...and Mitch and Keith and Eric...yes.

[@jnagarya519]

Martin was unusual in that he gave them space.

[@jnagarya519]

If you'd read Martin's book -- _All You Need is Ears_ -- you'll learn that the recording industry was regimented. Studio personnel were required to wear not only suits and ties but also white "lab coats". And EMI didn't invest in newer technology despite the amount of money brought in by "The Beatles". And yet the recordings are excellent, and modern technology finds no subtle variations in speed -- they are spot on.

[@ericwilliams1031]

Hopefully you're doing selected singles that aren't on the albums. They didn't include the singles on their albums back then.

[@BigSky1]

That is actually a myth. Please Please Me has the title track Love Me Do and their B sides Ask Me Why and P.S I Love You. A Hard Days Night had the title song, Can’t Buy Me Love and both their B- Sides. Things We Said Today and You Can’t Do That. Help! has Help! and Ticket To Ride. Revolver has Eleanor Rigby and Yellow Submarine. U.S Magical Mystery Tour album has all their ’67 singles. Abbey Road has Something and Come Together. Let It Be has the title track and Get Back. The U.S. only single Long And Winding Road and For You Blue.

[@ericwilliams1031]

@@BigSky1 I was referring to the Beatles original UK Parlophone releases, which is probably what they are using for these reaction videos. Different track listing than the US.

[@BigSky1]

@@ericwilliams1031 All that I have listed are the original U.K. releases apart from Magical Mystery Tour and the final U.S. single.

[@BigSky1]

@@ericwilliams1031 I have listed all the U.K. releases. Apart from Magical Mystery Tour and the final U.S. single. As you can see they put many singles on their U.K. albums.

[@ericwilliams1031]

@@BigSky1 I want to Hold Your Hand I feel fine We can work it out Paperback writer/Rain She's a woman Day tripper Hey Jude Revolution From me to you She loves you (All important songs not on original main releases)

[@WastrelWay]

Really, you need to fight youtube about the copyright issue. That a work is copyrighted does not mean it cannot be subject to analysis and criticism, which you are doing professionally and expertly. I don't practice law any more because I am retired, but my opinion is that what you do allows you to play the whole song, and tear the musical bits apart. Note that this song (and other Beatles songs) are reproduced in their entirety on other youtube videos. Perhaps all you have to do is ask for permission to do that, although I am not sure that others do that. Be bold! (By the way, for all the interesting musical tricks in this song, like the major chord on "again" and the different chords in the middle eight, I never liked this one much.)

[@saboteur1001]

The sense is that there are 3 vocal lines, not 2.

[@waschosen-]

There is a KZbinr who slows down the playback speed of music clips by 50%, and then asks viewers to watch it at 2X speed to avoid copyright issues. It's a clever idea, but is it really work?

[@EddieReischl]

It's amusing to me that this song gets classified as rock n' roll by the powers that be. To my ears, it has nothing in common with 1950's music. A good gauge for that would be trying to dance to it. It's not a rocker, and it's not really a ballad either. To me, this is another example of the Beatles beginning to write music that a person sits and listens to, a nice bit of Spanish-style flourishes on the guitar here and there, but a difficult song to classify musically, other than to call it "Beatle music".

[@michaelneal900]

The keys you speak of are western keys.

[@billhuber2698]

Please finish The Wall!

[@raedeankendall9169]

I wonder if you know that The Beatles couldn’t read music? Not bad for not being able to read music huh?

[@michaelneal900]

I love your analysis but I'm also wondering if you are simply pandering.

[@manuelaranas3973]

Too much talk!

[@scottstephens4587]

I listen to the Beatles a lot, but know absolutely nothing about music. However your focus on the first four notes sounds like a doorbell. Coincidence that the title is I'll Be Back (arriving back to your door)?