The Beatles, I'm Looking Through You - A Classical Musician’s First Listen and Reaction / Excerpts

#thebeatles #johnlennon #paulmccartney #georgeharrison #ringostarr #virginrock
Another song about relationship stresses, but what I really enjoy about this one is the abundant use of prepositions throughout the song.
Here’s the link to the original song by The Beatles:
• I'm Looking Through Yo...
/ @amyscut
/ @littleliesel
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Amy Shafer, LRSM, FRSM, RYC, is a classical harpist, pianist, and music teacher, Director of Piano Studies and Assistant Director of Harp Studies for The Harp School, Inc., holds multiple degrees in harp and piano performance and teaching, and is active as a solo and collaborative performer. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, she teaches privately, presents masterclasses and coaching sessions, and has performed and taught in Europe and USA.
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Credits: Music written and performed by The Beatles
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[@LeeKennison]

An enjoyable reaction with some great observations. I liked how you looked at the the beat divisions and patterns in the intro guitar, which reminded you of Simon & Garfunkel. As you say, it gives the opening a fluid flow. You have noticed the similarities between the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel before. The Beatles "I’ve Just Seen A Face" reminded you of the "Boxer." Loved your harp and piano demos and your commentary on Paul's vocal qualities and use of blues influenced tension in his voice (a bit of an angry growl). I also liked your lesson on his use of prepositions (before, after); the music teacher in you transitioned into a bit of and English language teacher.😉

[@jnagarya519]

Dylan's "Who Killed Davey Moore?" preceded Simon & Garfunkel's "The Boxer" by at least 5 years. But that was before Dylan went mainstream, and it wasn't prettified for commercial purposes.

[@LeeKennison]

@@jnagarya519 Interesting comparison. I hadn't heard this Dylan song before, I never really dug into his bootleg stuff. I just now listened to it (Live Carnegie Hall 1963) and I loved it. Classic early Dylan. I'm guessing Paul Simon heard this since they both come out of the early 60s NYC music scene (Greenwich Village, etc.)

[@jnagarya519]

@@LeeKennison There is a live performance of "Who Killed Davey Moore?" performed at the Newport Folk Festival that may be available on youtube. The song is a moral statement about the shared responsibility for the death. And the last verse is avoidance of responsibility by the boxer who killed him -- "Don't say murder, Don't say kill, It was destiny -- It was God's will." Davey Moore was a boxer who was killed in the ring. (Another killed in the ring was Benny "Kid" Paret, which changed the rules of boxing: when a boxer can't defend themselves, the referee steps in. At the time I saw a "Life" magazine, known as a "photo magazine" showing the x-rays of Paret's head: at the back top of his brain was a huge accumulation of blood from the nonstop pounding he got.)

[@jnagarya519]

@@LeeKennison Simon & Garfunkel actually started in the latest-1950s-early 196s as a "rock and roll" duo. Then when folk took off, Simon (and Garfunkel) jumped on the bandwagon.

[@LeeKennison]

@@jnagarya519 Then maybe I had heard "Who Killed Davey Moore?" before. Since I know I have heard/seen some of his songs from Newport. So I may have just forgotten it even though I did really like it just now. You have some good info on the folk history in the 60s. I would love for Amy to do a mini-project on this 60s folk genre and era sometime in the future.

[@seanmcmichael2551]

I love the dynamics of Paul's vocals. Here, the song is appropriately all about using his 'shouting' style, and I love his little off-piste bit during the fade out.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

The intro reminds you of Simon and Garfunkel because of the Everly Brothers who were a major influential band on pretty much every group in the sixties, S n G, Dylan, the Dead, the Beatles and the stones especially. Check out “Wake up Little Susie” and “Cathy’s Clown” by the Everly Brothers and you’ll see what I mean. The Everly’s had dual harmony vocals with strong rhythm guitar. I’m looking through you had no bridge on its first recording. Paul opens the song with a question just like John did with Girl. Prepositions and questions. I love how this song explores the range of emotions that come from these situations. Amy thank you for this one, you are very adept at not only analyzing the music but feeling your way through these subtle aspects of songwriting that are not necessarily musical or even lyrical. Thanks Virgin Rock great stuff

[@susanaltman5134]

Yes, she definitely needs to hear The Everly Brothers. Also, Little Richard.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

@@susanaltman5134 all those pioneers of rock and roll really. Chuck Berry, buddy Holly etc

[@donaldwebb]

Plus the riff to Dylan's It's Alright Ma..

[@johnsilva9139]

@@Hartlor_Tayley Right. I don't think she's reacted to any of the original generation (pre-Beatles) of rock'n rollers, which is a big omission.

[@stevengifford7457]

The Everly Brothers taught everybody how to harmonize. If she hasn't heard Wake Up Little Susie , it's time.

[@1967PONTIACGTO]

The acoustic introduction is pure genius... Rubber Soul all day every day!!

[@jnagarya519]

The acoustic introduction listening to Bob Dylan. What gets me is the non-geniuses who sling the word "genius" as substitute for informed analysis.

[@1967PONTIACGTO]

@@jnagarya519 what gets me is your first non-sentence.... what are you trying to say about Bob Dylan?

[@jnagarya519]

@@1967PONTIACGTO What gets me is non-geniuses declaring that what they "like" means the thing they "like" was made by a "genius". What are their qualifications -- not themselves being "geniuses" -- for assessing "genius"? And what get me is those who don't know that this LP, in particular, is well known to reflect Dylan's influence on "The Beatles". (And it was John Lennon, in particular, who in return told Dylan, "Get yerself a fookin' band.") And Dylan was alarmed when he heard this LP, and said that he probably shouldn't have turned them onto pot -- because this is their "pot" LP. Much of Dylan's folk music was based on British and Scottish folk music (and see Joan Baez and any number of other US folk musicians of the era). So one could say that with this LP "The Beatles" were bringing it all back home.

[@pmc609]

I love Paul's blues. Many of the songs you skipped in this project (She's a Woman, I'm Down, Long Tall Sally, Kansas City, etc.) have many of those blues elements. Looking forward to see you react to more of these, including Oh! Darling and Why Don't It in the Road?

[@ricardo_miguel13]

yes, they surely missed She's A Woman I'm Down and Yes It Is..I hope they'll still do Day Tripper because its a must

[@TheStradeyparkkid]

You mentioned clapping and thought how they did it to keep the beat. I went on a tour of Abbey Road in 1982 and while in Studio 2 we were all shown a film of them recording a song. The way they did the clapping was they played Pat-A-Cake Pat-A-Cake with each other. Paul playing Pat-A-Cake Pat-A-Cake with Ringo and John playing Pat-A-Cake Pat-A-Cake with George. Just sharing what I remembered from all those years ago.

[@nigeltown6999]

Great song, lyrically and musically.

[@labajadaman]

The stereo American version of Rubber Soul has a different mix of I’m Looking Through You. It features a couple of false intros before settling in on the introduction of this song, lengthening it and making it even more interesting.

[@Zholobov1]

Glad she wasn't observing the american version: in that case we wouldn't move further from the introduction for about 10 more minutes.

[@J0hnC0ltrane]

I forgot all about that. A friend had the vinyl.

[@-R.Gray-]

If you check out the Everly Brothers' music, you won't be reminded of Simon and Garfunkel (who were also influenced by the Everlys) as much. Paul said that as far as harmonies went, on their early songs, he took the part of Phil Everly and John sang Don's part. Later, McCartney wrote a song for them.

[@WayneKitching]

The intro reminds me of “The End of the Line " by the Travelling Wilburies.

[@XFLexiconMatt]

Good catch! Agreed.

[@altair8598]

I'm guessing that when Paul sings Jane was 'above' him but is now below, the meaning was that originally he saw her ashigher, 'middle class' to his working class but the way she was treating him was not in keeping with his ideal of that.

[@bertram2505]

Waiting for "In My Life"

[@karmacamilleon1]

LOL. We're talking about finding the creamer for our morning coffee while you're talking about "half and half" notes in the intro. We got a nice chuckle :)

[@richardfehlmann4593]

I'm looking forward to watching your reaction to I'm Looking Through You. And I'm even more looking forward to your next Beatles song reaction that I can watch in my life 👌😉

[@dago87able]

In My Life, got you ;)

[@richardfehlmann4593]

@@dago87able 😅👍🏻

[@donaldwebb]

Maybe she won't have time for In My Life. She needs to move onto Revolver soon ...

[@richardfehlmann4593]

@@donaldwebb 😅 You're so funny 👌😅

[@ricardo_miguel13]

@@donaldwebb for real? they will do it 100%! Its the fourth most streamed beatles song to this point in their career. Update: they already have it online on patreon so the song will come soon.

[@-R.Gray-]

Paul had his nice voice, and then he had his "rock" voice, which would be used for effect. Wait until you get to "Oh Darling " and "I'm Down".

[@petegiant]

"You're not the same" lyric also coincides with the harmony being 'borrowed', heightening the meaning.

[@stlmopoet]

A great breakdown of the song. I've never thought in as much detail about it. Thank you. Eighteen hours is five more than their entire first album took! Also, in 1968/69, Paul spent hours screaming just so he'd have a raspy voice on a particular song. It's a wonder his voice lasted as many years as it did. Thank you again!

[@johnsilva9139]

Right, but of course all the songs on their first album were written and performed many times before they they sat down to record them for their album.

[@stlmopoet]

@@johnsilva9139 True.

[@OperationPhantom]

One reason it took them so long to get this down, is that they originally had a slower arrangement for the song, with more jammy bits and a more prominent Hammond organ (played by Ringo apparently). It's certainly also an interesting attempt and can be heard on Anthology 2.

[@aBeatleFan4ever]

Amy - Simon and Garfunkel's first hit album was released in January of 1966. This was written, recorded and released before the S&G stuff really happened (with the exception of "The Sound of Silence" single).

[@EddieReischl]

So, so glad you didn't skip this song, I love this tune. I've heard a couple of bluegrass versions of this. It lends itself really well for that. I like this period of recording, where they were basically playing acoustic guitars in front of microphones rather than using an acoustic pickup. What Paul can do then is start the song closer to the high pitch strings and towards the bridge of the guitar in the intro, and then reposition the sound hole of the guitar more towards the lower strings and the neck of the guitar with respect to the mike for the basic rhythm track. Also, much gratitude for the girlfriends and wives of Beatles, and composers in general. It can't be easy on a person to know they might get a song written about them about things they might want to keep private. Edit: I almost forgot. The feedback at around 1:18. I think he's just beating on it and probably got the guitar too close to the mike. Brilliant.

[@user-bw6gs9ty2b]

First watching! Big fan from Brazil here 👏👏👏

[@joegarrison2344]

Great commentary. Thank you.

[@marcuspi999]

Wow. You are so right. The intro guitar has a strong Paul Simon vibe.

[@chrisaris8756]

Nice perceptions - this sound reflects the growing trend to move away a bit from electric to acoustic guitars following the amazing success of Bob Dylan’s album Freewheeling and the move to a “folky” style on some songs. Of course Simon and Garfunkel were well after this Beatles song so they followed this genre. I think people now don’t appreciate the HUGE impact the Beatles had not just on music at that time, but lifestyles in general. We were just finding our feet after WW2 and the time was ripe for this revolution to take hold. If only we could go back!!!!!

[@davidmckenzie420]

My favorite song on the album. I so enjoyed figuring out the guitar when I was a teenager.

[@0okamino]

This is a favorite of mine in general. It hits me in the part of myself that the more unrefined side of punk appeals to. Beyond even what’s presented on the surface, there’s this realness to it, feeling very much written through clenched fists, and gritted teeth. I can’t help but to appreciate the unpolished production as well. It has character. There’s so much to like about The Beatles, and this is just another part of it for me.

[@XFLexiconMatt]

A very relatable song, great one from Paul.

[@XFLexiconMatt]

I seem to recall that the original Capitol version had a different mix, and it opened with a false start, then again, maybe I dreamed that.

[@dago87able]

@@XFLexiconMattYou didn’t; I’m reading the same from another commenter.

[@BigSky1]

@@XFLexiconMatt It did and does.

[@johna6767]

In October 1965 when Paul wrote this, Simon and Garfunkel were barely known. The Sounds of Silence, their first big hit, didn't come out until a month earlier and took a while to catch on.

[@bengerson7064]

Yes, the influence ran the other way.

[@DayGloClam]

This was five years before the Boxer and it’s not like the Sound of Silence.

[@Alpha_WK]

In regards to how much time was put into recording this song, the Beatles were under contractual pressure to have a new album by the end of ‘65. I believe they started working on Rubber Soul in late’65 so they didn’t have a lot of time to spend on individual songs.

[@jnagarya519]

"You Won't See Me" is another argument with Jane Asher on the same LP. Another was "We Can Work it Out".

[@davidgollop2807]

Before Simon and Garfunkel. Simon and Garfunkel first hit was 1966.So the beatles were now influenced by them at that time.Thwy were with the Everly Brother tho.

[@braudabo]

Autumn 1965, to be exactly, The Sound of Silence, the first big hit of Simon+Garfunkel.

[@BILLYMORGAN1971]

I think Bob Dylan and his cover band The Byrds are who influenced them during this period. I can recall back in the late 70's or early 80's listening to a Beatles Radio Special, The Days In Their Lives. Specifically Roger McGuinn(i think)was explaining they really didn't know how to play anything but bar chords. They went out west in '65 and hung out with the Byrds(who had better grass than Bob Dylan's Scranton Schwag 🤯)and basically got a guitar lesson. John is playing acoustic guitar here, Gibson J-160E. I had to go down that rabbit hole. Laminated spruce top(probably stiff to avoid feedback). Guitar was made for live country bands. Beatles were fond of Nashville West. When I think about it, it makes sense the guitar sounds the way it does because of the top. I'm not hearing the rich resonance of say a Martin. Brazilian fretboard though, choice. I know some of the other songs on this album was John Answering Dylan's challenge which probably lead to Paul being challenged by John. Beside all that the Byrds had Go Go Dancers and the Beatles were likely jealous....I know I am.

[@melissayost4888]

My 2nd fave song. I adore Rubber Soul

[@menopausalmusician414]

My Favorite Group and My Favorite Channel! Peace

[@aBeatleFan4ever]

Amy - One of the reasons that this song took the longest to record - was that Paul came up with a new middle part after they had whet they thought was the finished version. Here is the earlier version of the song before Paul added the new middle section: kzbin.info/www/bejne/goKtY4WFp8-VnNU They went back in the studio and re-did the track from scratch with Paul's new middle section to make the final version that you listened to in this video.

[@Dios67]

A good song. I always thought the "Munsters" keyboard/guitar sound was out of place. I am still amazed Paul got a ring on Jane in December of 1967. It didn't last long unfortunately. They looked so good together but relationships need to have stronger foundations than that.

[@patrickminer5926]

Forget your reaction your hair style is really cute!! Rock on

[@BigSky1]

Amy, Vlad, This was the 2nd recorded version or Remake. The 1st recorded version was scrapped and is more hard edged and bluesy. You can hear the 1st version on The Anthology 2.

[@colindebourg9012]

I can't tell you how much The Beatles influenced us teenagers in the sixties, and as much as I enjoy your reactions and analysis please play longer clips as other reactors do so we can hear and enjoy this wonderful music to the full.

[@dago87able]

Apparently she can’t do that because the video would get stricken down. Still unexplainable for her and us why others manage to get away with it.

[@colindebourg9012]

@@dago87able That's such a shame because we get to hear so little of the music from this band who changed everything about pop / rock music worldwide.

[@DayGloClam]

@@colindebourg9012 Every one of their songs is posted on the Beatles Channel.

[@dago87able]

@@colindebourg9012 well, a relative shame, i’d say; what DayGlo says its certainly true.

[@charlesberton2581]

Don't think we didn't notice that you skipped that throw away song to Ringo, "What Goes On". I don't blame you, cats.

[@charlesberton2581]

In my opinion, Magical Mystery Tour era was peak Beatle material.

[@user-rw7qb1ef1o]

"Simon and Gara Fanko" This is how the automatic translator into Russian deciphers... 😄

[@yanizeski]

I would say Simon and Garfunkl got it from the Beatles. Listen to O Darling.

[@murff625]

There are plenty of bootlegs of the different takes of this song. Some of the earlier iterations are quite different. I'm pretty sure why the song took so long to complete.

[@martinwragg8246]

This was before the S & G sound.

[@johnsilva9139]

Right , but I think it's fair to say that this album had a strong influence on them. Paul Simon himself has said that Paul McCartney was his favorite song writer.

[@Jaxy451]

The reality is that this preceded Simon & Garfunkel. Paul Simon actually spent time in England and was influenced more by English as opposed to American folk music. So, probably what you're identifying is English style folk music of the 60s.

[@pallhe]

Great stuff! Would love to see your reaction to Steely Dan's "Aja" from the eponymous album. :)

[@G60syncro]

In this case, you can listen to the Anthology version of the song and you'll hear it was drastically different and they ended up scrapping that idea and moving onto this version. You should extend your Beatles 150 by revisiting the outtakes that are available of the songs you listened to!! In some cases it puts a whole bunch of stuff back into perspective and you understand why they took these decisions.

[@tonytjandra4798]

teks dengan kamera Visual(V), Auditory(A), Kinesthetic(K), Olfactory(O) and Gustatory(G) or VAKOG are our five senses which in NLP are known as Modalities, and these five things are what we use to recognize and also experience whatever is happening in the world around us. These modalities are also known as Representational Systems (Rep Systems) because they are humans' way of coding, storing and providing meaning or language (linguistics) from the information they receive. By the way, I think, Put It There by Paul McCartney sounds like The Beatles. Thank you.

[@Theam-Phibious]

A love me two times or light my fire by the doors reaction pls!

[@makeadifference4all]

There's an alternate take of this song that I also love done in a "hand jive" style. It appears on the Beatles Anthology at kzbin.info/www/bejne/goKtY4WFp8-VnNU.

[@johna6767]

I really hope Amy checks that out, very interesting alternate version.

[@ChipG3000]

Are we going to get to hear the song? 😁

[@johnbyrnes7912]

Of the 400+ songs McCartney has said they attempted scores of which they never recorded this is one of my favourites (all versions ). 😹🌈🤡

[@NoExitLoveNow]

The You Tube Channel "You Can't Unhear This" Has an interesting breakdown of this song - pointing out the weird anomalous things in the song titled "Why Is This Beatles Song So Messy?". There is stuff in there you kind of wonder why they didn't bother to fix it.

[@NoExitLoveNow]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/raHKg51rp96ciJY

[@0okamino]

It’s really something I like a lot about the song. I think it’s appropriate in giving it a genuine underlying hostility, like things have been thrown around, and broken, and those involved have stormed off to seethe without cleaning it up.

[@nellgwenn]

Personally I like the Bluesy edgy rock version of this song better. A little taste of things to come.

[@marknovaky]

I am a Lover....Not a Hater....

[@nyobunknown6983]

I issue you a challenge. Give a listen to Tool - Pneuma with it's constantly evolving and changing time signatures. I know you listened to Lateralus, but Pneuma takes it to a whole new level.

[@cheddermikey4893]

Oh but there is a conclusion. He broke up with Jane Asher. Also, finger tapping on a matchbox percussion. Great analysis 👍

[@KingKills-om3oc]

As a musician and composer i genuinely think you've put a lot more thought into what they were doing than they did. The intro for example is just them strumming a guitar without to much thought other than what they thought sounded good. You can pick it all apart to that much detail and they'd probably just laugh at what you're doing. I would! As if they thought that much about the rhythm of it. It was just what they naturally played based on their influences.

[@ifandwhen-kl2cr]

But whether the song was off the cuff or constructed analytically we are free to examine the results how we will!

[@josephmilitello647]

The guitar reminds me a bit of 1960s British acoustic guitarist Bert Jansch who greatly influenced Paul Simon's guitar playing style.

[@strathman7501]

I think the acoustic guitar here is played by John. Paul is on bass and overdubbed lead, George on tambourine.

[@bengerson7064]

Yes, John was the rhythm master.

[@davidrauh8118]

Paul is playing the guitar, probably the bass and the tapping. And I'm almost certain he is harmonizing with himself vocally. It's OK but not one of my favorites.

[@QCart-ic9ql]

His voice is doubled but john is harmonizing, i think

[@levindy6]

Of course, this is coming from a huge Beatles fan, but I never liked the sound of the electric guitars in this song. They are very harsh sounding, similar to how it sounds in The Word.

[@jnagarya519]

The guitar work: he'd been listening to Dylan.

[@ifandwhen-kl2cr]

+1

[@bobmorrison1715]

Almost 8 minutes to get past the intro?

[@dekk640]

I am sure you are a musician par excellence but pleeeeeeeeeesaaase listen to the whole song before you take it appary. 11:03

[@johnbyrnes7912]

She usually does but wants you to be a patron ! 😹

[@deanfoot4922]

Love the song; find her annoying

[@randallcurwen8041]

You play the intro SIX times before you get to vocal. For Pete’s sake, at some point just play enough of the song to remind us of what it was/is.

[@yes_head]

IMO this song proves that Paul had some catching up to do to match John in the 'cynical love letter' department. It's not a favorite. Paul's vocal is a bit shaky, and the organ stabs always rub me wrong. Plus, for this period it's relatively simple and predictable. I guess you could call this Paul's ultimate homage to Dylan.

[@jnagarya519]

Another whine from McCartney attempting to manipulate Jane Asher.

[@DayGloClam]

He used words, unlike Lennon.

[@jnagarya519]

@@DayGloClam Lennon used words. Listen to, as example, "Girl". And he was using language as a kid as he uses it in "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)". The FACT is that this song, and two others by McCartney, wee whines about the fact that he wanted Jane Asher to quit her career and be a house frau. The problem for Paul -- he was living in Jane's family's home at the time -- was that she returned home unexpectedly and caught him in their bed with another woman. "The Beatles" were MALE CHAUVINISTS. Paul was sleeping with anything in a skirt, but would not have tolerated Jane sleeping around. But we get it: Paul is a "genius"-in-everything and so perfect that he is not to be criticized for anything, including his hypocrisy.

[@DayGloClam]

@@jnagarya519 Last song on Rubber Soul.

[@jnagarya519]

@@DayGloClam How do you explain the fact that John Lennon's songs have lyrics -- "words"? Oh, right: Paul is a "genius" in everything and is perfect so can never be subject to criticism. Gad! you people are so "superior" in your insecurities.

[@johnbyrnes7912]

​@@jnagarya519nyet Paul had moved out when she found him in bed with Francie Swartz after being absent for months ! 😹