Yellow Submarine

[Sir Rob]

People moan about Sloop John B on Pet Sounds - wrongly in my opinion a.)  I think it's a great song and piece of music  b.) It gives a bit of pacing somehow to the album.  Doesn't sound out of place at all to me.

But what about 'Yellow Submarine' on Revolver?!  I have to say, I know it's a sort of children's song (along with whatever drug references there might be) but I find it very irritating and I really don't like it much.  I think it let's an otherwise really great album down a bit (but not that much!)

What do others think?

[king of anglia]

Agreed. Replace Eleanor Rigby and Submarine with Paperback Writer and Rain. All singles at some point so it doesn't ruin the 'no singles on albums' philosophy.

[Old Rake]

I think that's a pretty uncontroversial opinion. I think you'll have a hard time finding anybody who disagrees with you.

EXCEPT ME.

I find it not in the least bit irritating. In fact, I find it absolutely guileless and sweet. There's something so righteously innocent about that one -- screw the "drug references," cause I'm not biting, I think this is actually an attempt to write a genuinely cute children's song -- see also "Goodnight." Both songs I sang as lullabies to my daughter growing up, and both songs she loved, so I'd say both songs worked just fine.

If growed-up rock hipsters are too cynical to like it, it can't be helped. I'm glad it exists for the kids. I know *I* loved it as a kid as well.

Love the melody, too, and I'm a big defender of Paul's "nonsense songs" like "All Together Now," because I think he has a way with an almost painfully simple melody that is virtually unmatched. And I dig the production and the gooning dialogue in the middle. And I *adore* Ringo's performance. He's great for the kids: see also, again, "Goodnight."

[punkinhead]

i totally agree, sloop john b great, yellow submarine: overrated!
also, about the movie, it's not that great....Magical Mystery Tour is better, at least there's some Beatles involvment.

[Evenreven]

Sub is great. I love it dearly. Great Ringo vocal (although he stumbles a bit on the first line) and cool production. But the coolest part of it is that it was on a single with Eleanor Rigby. 60s pop yin and yang, baby.

And I'd say Yellow Submarine is underrated. Who exactly overrates it?

[Mitchell]

I like Yellow Submarine, too. Paperback Writer/Rain is awesome, though, so that would be a tough call. It's weird that those songs are 'hidden' on Past Masters.

[Sir Rob]

I think that's a pretty uncontroversial opinion. I think you'll have a hard time finding anybody who disagrees with you.

EXCEPT ME.

I find it not in the least bit irritating. In fact, I find it absolutely guileless and sweet. There's something so righteously innocent about that one -- screw the "drug references," cause I'm not biting, I think this is actually an attempt to write a genuinely cute children's song -- see also "Goodnight." Both songs I sang as lullabies to my daughter growing up, and both songs she loved, so I'd say both songs worked just fine.

If growed-up rock hipsters are too cynical to like it, it can't be helped. I'm glad it exists for the kids. I know *I* loved it as a kid as well.

Love the melody, too, and I'm a big defender of Paul's "nonsense songs" like "All Together Now," because I think he has a way with an almost painfully simple melody that is virtually unmatched. And I dig the production and the gooning dialogue in the middle. And I *adore* Ringo's performance. He's great for the kids: see also, again, "Goodnight."

Point taken but I still think it's out of place on Revolver.  'Goodnight ' I love - really wonderful 1930s movie or radio type pastiche.  The Beatles were full of all sorts of pre-rock 'n' roll music from their childhoods and Hamburg set lists.  Love the spoken 'Goodnight children everywhere' bit at the end.  My memory tells me that this, somewhat surprisingly, is actually a John song.   Is that right?

[Evenreven]

You're right. John it is.

[b.dfzo]

"Good Night" was written by John for Julian.

"Yellow Submarine" came to Paul in a dream, but John had some input, and, also, another fellow Brit: Donovan.  Paul was stumped when it came to finishing the last line: "And we live a life of ease, everyone of us has all he needs".  Donovan suggested: "Sky of blue, sea of green, in our yellow submarine".

I couldn't imagine listening to "Revolver" without "YS".  I think in the sequence of things, you have "Here, There, And Everywhere" (the loveliest tune on the album), "YS" (the silliest song on the album), and "She Said She Said" (one of the hardest rocking songs on the album.)  I think the impact of "She Said" is heightened by this sequencing.

[Sir Rob]

"Good Night" was written by John for Julian.

"Yellow Submarine" came to Paul in a dream, but John had some input, and, also, another fellow Brit: Donovan.  Paul was stumped when it came to finishing the last line: "And we live a life of ease, everyone of us has all he needs".  Donovan suggested: "Sky of blue, sea of green, in our yellow submarine".

I couldn't imagine listening to "Revolver" without "YS".  I think in the sequence of things, you have "Here, There, And Everywhere" (the loveliest tune on the album), "YS" (the silliest song on the album), and "She Said She Said" (one of the hardest rocking songs on the album.)  I think the impact of "She Said" is heightened by this sequencing.

What, you mean a good one after a duff one?    

Well, it is hard to imagine these things without because they've always been there on things which are so familiar.

[b.dfzo]

What, you mean a good one after a duff one?    

Well, it is hard to imagine these things without because they've always been there on things which are so familiar.

Hmm...I was going to make a witty rebuttal, but this came to mind: there is no greater mistake than that of always being right.  Or something like that.

[Sir Rob]

What, you mean a good one after a duff one?    

Well, it is hard to imagine these things without because they've always been there on things which are so familiar.

Hmm...I was going to make a witty rebuttal, but this came to mind: there is no greater mistake than that of always being right.  Or something like that.

Sorry I don't mean to come over that way!     I'm just giving an opinion.  Don't we all think we're right when we post?  It's up to others to prove us wrong or make us reflect (as you have done here).  Oops!  Have I done it again!   

[Jeff Mason]

YS is a great way to get kids to listen to the Beatles.  Trust me on this one.

[Sir Rob]

What, you mean a good one after a duff one?    

Well, it is hard to imagine these things without because they've always been there on things which are so familiar.

Hmm...I was going to make a witty rebuttal, but this came to mind: there is no greater mistake than that of always being right.  Or something like that.

Arrggghhhh!!!!  Now I see what you mean!   

[punkinhead]

i'm just stating people my age in my community love that song and say it's their best, of course they havnt heard anything past the 1 album

[b.dfzo]

What, you mean a good one after a duff one?    

Well, it is hard to imagine these things without because they've always been there on things which are so familiar.

Hmm...I was going to make a witty rebuttal, but this came to mind: there is no greater mistake than that of always being right.  Or something like that.

Arrggghhhh!!!!  Now I see what you mean!   

That was pretty funny, Sir Rob - don't feel foolish just because I let an old saying do the talking!  Anyway, you made my day, LOL

(That's why they are called old sayings...right?)

[I. Spaceman]

I hate it.

[b.dfzo]

I hate it.

It's easy to hate.  Can you tell us what you love about the song?

[I. Spaceman]

Nothing.

[Old Rake]

Your loss. Its a fun song if you let it be.

[I. Spaceman]

UGH! Another terrible song! 

[Matinee Idyll]

I'd have liked to hear Let it Be sung by Elvis.

[Old Rake]

Elvis would have NAILED that song.

[I. Spaceman]

Me too. I actually love the version Claudia Linnear sings in the Mad Dogs And Englishmen film and Deluxe Edition CD. Heartfelt and explosive.
Everybody, go buy that movie now.

[Matinee Idyll]

Made a great song even greater, eh Ian?

Speaking of Joe Cocker.  I really like 'im... I like all the versions of Beatles tunes he did more than the originals (I think)...