The Beatles' Magical Orchestra: "I Am the Walrus"

A live performance of "I Am the Walrus" by The Magical Orchestra (and the cast of King Lear). (Actually, John Lennon stumbled upon a radio performance of King Lear on Friday, Sept. 29, 1967, the day the original song was mixed.) Featuring Anthony Pomes on lead vocal.
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[@hezraylegend5279]

Only a real listening ear to music will be able to appreciate and understand this work of art.

[@nigelwright850]

How very true!

[@Nico_Tena]

This gives you an idea of how much production went into some of the Beatles' later music.

[@jeffthewhiff]

Yes, that's very true! The Beatles were so ahead of their time and that is what makes them the greatest rock-n-roll band of all-time!

[@Nico_Tena]

jeffthewhiff AMEN!!!

[@87JuliR]

The Beach Boys were far ahead of their time too. Ever listened to Pet Sounds? It's a masterpiece.... thing is they were overshadowed by Sgt Pepper's since both albums are from 1967.

[@jeffthewhiff]

Yes, the Beach Boys, especially Brian Wilson was far ahead of his time and I have actually never listened to the Pet Sounds album in its entirety. Also, I believe that Pet Sounds came out in 1966.

[@87JuliR]

+jeffthewhiff yes lol. I stand corrected. it was 1966. still they were overshadowed by the Beatles and Brian Wilson was very frustrated about it although he's always admired the Beatles and I think he even became sort of friends with Paul.

[@johnallen2771]

I'm sure John would have gotten a big kick out of seeing this being done this way. He certainly was a genius in so many ways. His is one of the cosmic minds.

[@KairuHakubi]

"Mr. Lennon, they're giving your songs serious scholarly examination!" (one song written later) "Let the fuckers work that one out." (Couple alternate decades later) "Sir, everyone loves that walrus song, now they've assembled an orchestra to play it!" "Well damn."

[@ifarias-bs1rl]

Lennon was a genius...

[@hewgrebe4771]

ifarias2000 yes, he was. Great guy.

[@shirleyleocadio]

Yes!!! Rio de Janeiro 2019!

[@Apo458]

In fact, George Martin is the genius behind all the overdubbed instruments and weird sounds on Beatles' songs

[@arthurmotta11]

Living um every pore, Life is real

[@jerrysmith8624]

No he was on LSD but you are right

[@javiermgtaoism5702]

George Martin was the brains behind the orchestration. I'm no master musician but the find and know what instruments to assemble and what notes to play...Wow!!! Man...It is like me knowing basic math but He was dealing with calculus.

[@Allan-et5ig]

mccartney says martin went by lennon's home in surrey and worked the orchestration out with him...

[@dannyvine3605]

True that George Martin wrote the orchestral score but if you listen to the demo the melody / notes / chords were already there - written by John (McCartney contributed very little). As Allan-et5ig stated - Martin went around John's house to write the orchestration; John stated what he wanted and Martin provided some pointers and suggestions

[@ermannogilardi1021]

Sitting in an English garden, waiting for the sun.. John is still there waiting for...GENIUS

[@gellexi]

I'm a long-time Beatles fan, how cool is this? Well done, everybody!

[@davidevans3227]

have you come across a (Dutch i think?) "band/group" called 'the analogues' ?? i stumbled across them just now and it lead me here.. just watched/listened to them do the whole white album.. seriously good versions, really really good i thought. 🙂 dave.

[@toddholmes4480]

The Beatles' music will live forever.

[@richroach1]

Shakespeare and the Beatles - two of the greatest exponents of British talent that ever graced our planet. This performance is "FAB"ulous! You capture all of it somehow - live - the lead singer handling Lennon's unique vocal on this track with ease. I love when the horns come in, the backing "woos", the percussion, and the Telefunken at the end. Brilliant. Thanks!

[@Jariel3311]

+Rich Roach Thanks so much, Rich!

[@onehilmi]

Freddie mercury?

[@leogarto5858]

The Beatles Rolling Stone Pink Floyd Queen David Bowie between other

[@danieljung9078]

Oasis

[@IgnacioClerici-mp5cy]

@@onehilmi he wasnt English he was born in central america

[@charlesdarwin4749]

Covering the Beatles: brave Making it sound really good and having fun with it: awesome.

[@markos111807]

R.I.P. George Martin

[@jerseydevil4102]

This orchestra did a phenomenal job on this amazing song. I can't stop playing it over and over again. Absolutely blown away.

[@Jariel3311]

Thank you, Jersey!

[@kikeolvera2614]

Beatles forever!!

[@williamdonnelly895]

Strawberry fields, Mr! Hahaha

[@jimcoleman4435]

Ho, ho, ho, he, he, he, ha, ha, ha ....thumbs up!

[@cbennett196631]

Jim Coleman everybody's got one....."" "" ""

[@Mariageshokaikoh]

'I am the Walrus' is a kind of a real masterpiece of Classical Music... Really I feel! Woo! OMG😮

[@warriordragonify]

This was wonderful.That serious Cello player in the background of the Conductor in Tails with Lennon's lyrics...And the three gentlemen at 3:17...

[@Tony54701WI]

Really. Really. Good

[@Jariel3311]

+Clyde Barrow Thank you, Clyde!

[@osa772]

I'm a beatle fan from back in the day. 1967 I was 6 years old and this was one of my first exposure to be beatles music and the The Magical mystery tour in 1967 and I was hook for life. I'm learning to play this on piano / keyboard not a difficult score from that perspective but changeling. They say the magical mystery tour was flop. 6 out of 8 song on an album is not a bad record. i think the whole album is amazing work. I think it's so amazing how 4 very talented and creative people doing a little acid and having a whole lot of fun and having all the tools at their disposal as they create this album. For some all the rules were broken but for the beatle the only rule was that there were no rules when creating music and videos. I says break the rules and let your creativity flow.

[@HaldaneSmith]

The seldom seen movie "Magical Mystery Tour" was a flop. It was unscripted, amateurish, boring and embarrassing. The songs were originally released in the UK as an EP which has about four songs on it. In the U.S., the executives at Capitol added Strawberry Fields, Penny Lane, All You Need is Love, Hello Goodbye, etc. to make a full album with an incredible number of hits. Almost the entire album made it onto the Blue Album, the Beatles' greatest hits from 1967-1970.

[@davetravelingheritage5403]

Spending a night going through music and came across this.. Blown my mind it's excellent

[@richardcook6284]

Excellent. And difficult to perform such a complicated song.

[@rubyslippers8737]

Good grief I love the Beatles more than I can say. This illustrates how brilliant they were. EXCELLENT job, by the way. what a phenomenal performance here. makes me want to get lost in a live performance of this fascinating orchestra.

[@Jariel3311]

+April kas Thank you, April!

And look how many people it required to do a song like this. Thank God for the Beatles and George Martin.

[@joe6096]

Been a Beatles fan since I was about 5 years old in 1983. I've seen a bunch of different Beatles cover bands, some better than others, some great, and one or two that are absolutely perfect. I have all the albums and pretty much know every word to every one of their songs. I have never once thought in my life I'd ever see anyone attempt to cover I Am The Walrus properly. Some bands and orchestras have done their own take on it, but I've yet to see anyone do it right, nor have I ever expected anyone to attempt to do it right. How can you? You need to find a BBC Radio broadcast of King Lear and time it perfectly with a live orchestra! Who'd even try to do that? Well, we've found them! This is absolutely incredible. My hats off to this entire orchestra and ensemble!!!

[@Jariel3311]

Thank you for your kind remarks, Joe!

[@javiermgtaoism5702]

I get chills in my spine just watching and listening. Awesome!!!

[@Jariel3311]

+Javier Gonzalez Thank you Javier!

[@golperuano]

It's so amazing to see this complex music actually performed. Kudos to all the musicians! Yes, Lennon was a genius! Ho ho ho, hee hee hee, ha ha ha! Love it!

[@anthoniodegravio3525]

Very nice live performance ! And Anthony Pomes has a fine Lennon like voice! Thanks for posting this !

[@Jariel3311]

+Anthonio Degravio You're very welcome, Anthonio, for all your kind remarks!

[@davideselmin1502]

Amazing song. Together with TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS it shows how ahead they were. How could they come up with these songs ? Led Zep, Rolling Stones, Deep Purple were excellent but always confined to their kind of music. The Beatles were beyond only one kind of.

[@siamahmed7936]

this is the most gibberish song by the beatles and yet see how much work were put into this ... this is what The Beatles are, they're the best.

[@nigelwright850]

Bloody Marvelous... This is what the loop function was just made for...

[@javiermgtaoism5702]

Brings tears to my eyes. Such very special times and memories.

[@Dailyedits4u2012]

Setting in a orchestra like this brilliant playing Beatles song 😳 wow

[@omicroneridani7456]

An accurate and pleasant rendition. That "Semolina Pilchard" arriving just a liiiiiiiiiiiittle bit too early just sounds like a trademark, not to make it all too faithful.

[@justinweber6346]

Holy Moly, I just saw this even though it has been out for a decade. What a performance! The lead, the conductor, the orchestra (!), the back-ups ......Excellent piece!

[@turinruss]

Great job!!!!! excellent cover...right ...sends shivers down my spine...

[@Jariel3311]

+turinruss Thank you, Turinruss!

[@williamdonnelly895]

Body aching all the time,Turinruss? 😀😊

[@williamdonnelly895]

@@Jariel3311 Class! I'll be listening again... Often! 😉👍

[@beachside1]

@@williamdonnelly895 Goodbye everybody

[@williamdonnelly895]

@@beachside1 Pardon? 🤔

[@SilvioBenchimol]

Lennon was not human, He was a God!!

[@robertnieten7259]

When i was a kid the Beatles coming on the scene was like one minute Pat Boone was on the radio and the next you hear the Beatles. It was electrifying !!!

[@bpabustan]

This gives you a glimpse of how HIGH the standards of the Beatles were.

[@erick-fenrir]

This is simply perfect! It brigs tears to my eyes. It's impossible not to love it.

[@ifarias-cr8sp]

Lennon era Genial... Gênio.

[@orestestavares2526]

O disco " Magical Mystery Tour, é tão fenomenal quanto qualquer obra Erudita.

[@windyhorses971]

Isn’t this wonderful? I just loved it so much. Thank you Orchestra one and all.

[@picbog]

sublime ; l’interprétation est fantastique ; la composition est divine . merci sir John.

[@juansanabria1403]

gran versión esto lo único que hace es imaginarnos como the beatles eran los únicos que se atrevían a innovar en esto llamado rock sinfónico inventado por ellos en aday un the life

[@jimmcfarlane5611]

Soy el morso

[@javiermgtaoism5702]

@@jimmcfarlane5611 Abrian y combinaban el talento creativo para crear obras de arte musical.

[@rockyracune1779]

I so enjoyed this performance! Wow!

[@rustyrobinson8027]

Great job everyone 👍🇺🇸

[@BrianSmith-ey9js]

An example of the complexity of this song. I've watched it a few times and with each viewing, I am more impressed. So much creatively then and so much fun here.

[@marciaallen2682]

Brilliant Version :-)

[@Th3End0fUs]

Wow his voice is kinda similar with john

[@nigeh5326]

Sorry can't hear that to be honest I've heard v few vocalists who can get to that place at the back of the throat (as I've heard it described) that John reaches I know I can't and I get a sore throat if I try :-) and John Lennon didn't rate his own voice, John Lennon you were WRONG about that .

[@kevinmalone8903]

This guy is terrible

[@macs8576]

Nige J

[@kepi-le9zn]

@MusicManMaurice I don't think he's terrible, I think he's trying too hard. John's approach to vocals were more laid back, nothing ever sounded rehearsed, he was very much that sort of musician, free spirited. The singer they got to cover him was just trying way to hard.

[@alexisgomez4996]

It’s the glasses

[@tigarsimultiyasa1386]

Worth a world tour!

[@Jariel3311]

+tigarsi multiyasa Thank you, Tigarsi! Our orchestra music is currently being used by a fantastic multi-media live show that IS in the midst of a world tour. It's called "The Sessions: A Live Re-staging of The Beatles at Abbey Road Studios." Here's their website; have a look: www.TheSessionsLive.com

[@rogerthomas169]

Yeah, ok, we all know the beatles were great, but this is about this rendition...fantastic, the beatles would approve!

[@Ebba-joy]

Excellent performance. 😁 ✌️ 🙏

[@mikemallery913]

Love this - seeing all these professionals recreate what the Beatles and George Martin did makes you appreciate just how incomparable the Beatles will always be

[@aldoaguilerabaxin2990]

Definitivamente el 5 Beatle fue George Martin.....comprender la idea de Lennon y participar en los arreglos musicales y la orquestacion es cosa de genios.

[@dabreu]

Musically, yes. However the Beatles were much more than music. There are only four of them.

[@FlamingoKicker]

The funny thing is John was trying to compose a song which couldn't be performed live. That was the point of the random radio broadcast being added in at the finale so you could never get the exact same performance again. I guess the challenge makes it all the sweeter. Little did Lennon know technology would come along to make it possible.

[@stevecornelia6817]

There was only one John Lennon and only one band that lives on and on.

[@aalam5747]

probably one of the funniest songs of all time, glad to see them enjoyed performing it,

[@carmenvasco1763]

Not funny at all. Ironic about the misery in the world

[@kimberlyj.sullivan9304]

Wow, this is incredibly fascinating! Thank you for sharing.

[@onemanvan1]

Fabulous. The orchestra captured the magic of the Beatles together with the talents of George Martin. Boundless talent and imagination together, captured magnificently.

[@elvisvalera4873]

uno de mis temas favoritos, gracias por compartirlo.

[@socratease1432]

Superb, the next generation gets it! Cool. ,

[@kimberlyj.sullivan9304]

Socratease, I sadly disagree. The next generation will NEVER understand or get it because it was a different time in life.

[@54RossB]

Enthusiastic tribute to the Fab Four & George Martin. Nicely filmed and edited, great audio, THANX

[@danonoveh8114]

Amazing tribute,💯💯💯❤️❤️❤️

[@johnallen2771]

Some people don't get the words but if you look closely the words all make sense. Some of the words are just because he liked the way they sounded together. Others, like "Sitting on a corn flake, waiting for the van to come," mean he was eating breakfast. "Choking smokers," it's obvious, don't smoke cigarettes. "I am the eggmen, they are the eggmen, I am the Walrus," the Beatles lived at a house while they were filming a movie and they got eggs delivered to the house that said "eggmen" on the side. Also, a referral to the luminous beings as described in "A Separate Reality," by Carlos Castaneda. The Walrus is just something he chose to represent a deity, a higher consciousness. This is my favorite song by the Beatles and that's not an easy choice. I tried to make my top 10 Beatles songs and ended up with a top 52 and couldn't get it any shorter.

[@davidb1038]

Excellent just excellent

[@KairuHakubi]

"Oh they can't possibly do this song just-" .... "just keep playing, guys..."

[@alonsoromero3478]

FANTASTIC!!!

[@dabreu]

It is a masterpiece. And this Magical Orchestra is...magical.

[@jorgejuarez1816]

Woooooh, solo los genios de Liverpool podrían crear eso, excelente cover

[@axiomist1076]

That sure took a lot of work to produce. Only with all 5 Beatles working on it could it have happened. Beautiful masterpiece.

[@vincognito]

I just discovered you guys yesterday. Just awesome. I'm a huge Beatles fan and have done an entire KZbin series dedicated to investigating and deconstructing the music of the Beatles from the vantage point of music theory. Keep it up! Luv it!

[@-Wolfgang-.]

I follow most other users - well done !!! This arrangement really reminds me of the original recording by the Beatles. I saw the Stones in 1965 at the age of 11 with my elder brother, who died in a car accident in 1975. After the Stones he went to a performance of his favourite band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience….. Well most of us probably have a good memory of the time when we were young, say 13-20 years when we fell on love for the first time….life was so easy, we had the Beat, the Flower Power Music, Psychedelic and later Punk Rock… The Beatles and Stones were the most popular bands in the 60s ( and the Stones still on tour on 2023 ! ), but there were plenty of other bands with great songs and live performances as well ….. Again, this is a very good performance of I am the walrus ! Thanks a lot to everyone performing it !

[@cliffordhatton4444]

Absolutely terrific....well done!!

[@xaviergonzales5609]

Esa es una súper canción de Lennon!!! No cabe duda que entre el y Mcartney formaron el mejor grupo musical en toda la historia!!!

[@raulpoeta5803]

Lo que Beatles no hicieron en vivo,la Orquesta Magica lo hace, enhorabuena, Gracias.

[@MrLonfellow]

Absolutely great!

[@predragberbakov6005]

The Beatles ...GENIUS

[@jameshaberkamp5927]

What a complicated song to reproduce. Awesome job sounds great.

[@Dave68Goliath]

So much musical talent to come out of one country.

[@raybrandes]

Really impressive. Lead vocal outstanding!

[@hernantrimarchi7295]

Excellent!!!!

[@polterbjj8269]

Amazing!

[@HoleN-zg2tf]

So Awesome.

[@mynah00]

That was so very well done! Congratulations one and all!!

[@timpani1950]

Brilliant performances....loved the vocalist

[@ajb919]

Fabulous!

[@billymac23454]

Manic and brilliant!

[@unclebillmusic]

AWESOME !!! And the original ending with the old men talking "Bury my body" "OOHHHH, untimely death, etc. !!!

[@lynnturman8157]

That was incredible!

[@kingflappy4827]

Absolutley brilliant

[@elsantosurf]

¡Sublime y perfecta versión!

[@joseaugustoleiteleite475]

Fantastic!!!

[@rfuriati]

Im Crying , excelente trabajo

[@JerryMack]

I love this video! It sounds great. The music has a good full sound and everyone looks like they're having fun.

[@eduardol.romeroamoretti160]

Simplemente genial la sincronización e interpretación.

[@LP6_yt]

This is excellent. Loved it. And all of the players having a blast too. That's what you want to see.

[@davidd6218]

Very nicely done.

[@joseluisduranalmiron5325]

John nos dejó un maravilloso legado.

[@normagarcia5142]

FABULOSO !!!!!! GRACIAS!!!!!

[@ispyhunting9804]

Wow beautiful!

[@roxyb.3293]

Wow !!!! Excelente la voz principal 😍

[@malcolmgilbert3420]

Just brilliant. ❤❤❤❤❤❤ ❤❤❤🎻 🎻 🎻