Sophia wrote on Nov 5^th, 2023 at 8:12am:

One song which for me crystalises the genius and originality of the entire Lennon-McCartney anthology is 'A Day in the Life'.

By the time it was written and composed, both of them had distinct styles and this song was a conjoining of two separate ideas for two separate songs which each of them couldn't finish.

It begins with Lennonesque dreamy, hallucinogenic imagery which gives a sense that the narrator has just woken up from a dream state and is half-conscious as he tells us, in hypnotic stream-of-thought, about events currently in his mind.

Then comes McCartney's urban, homely complacency where the narrator is simply starting an ordinary workday. This narrator then 'went into a dream' when 'somebody spoke'.

Then it's back to Lennon's half-dreaming narrator to close.

Each part is stitched together with the anxiety-raising orchestral glissando.

It seems McCartney never quite got over the originality of this collaboration, as its style reappears in some of his most famous and successful solo and Wings songs, such as 'Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey', 'Band on the Run' and even 'Live and Let Die'.

Sophia wrote on Nov 5^th, 2023 at 11:02am:

If Lennon's famous interviews of the '70s and McCartney's of the '80s are anything to go by, their clashes were titanic.

It's hard to keep in mind, now that they've been deified and presumed to have had the wisdom of gods, that they were barely out of their teens when it started and not even 30 when it ended.

Lennon's and Harrison's resurrection in 'Now and Then', at maybe 26 and 24 respectively, next to McCartney and Starr at 80+, (old enough to be their grandfathers), how frozen in time Lennon and Harrison will always be and how frozen in time Starr and McCartney will also one day be.

The stuff that 'gods' are made of - hypnotising, compelling, charismatic, timeless, ageless... forever young.

With Lennon, ironically, maybe bigger than Jesus, as he 'foretold'!

Aussie wrote on Nov 4^th, 2023 at 2:55pm:

I have to agree.  It's only been raved about because of
one thing—extremely competent marketing and
cross-promotion by corporate interests.   

Milk the cow = big dollars.

In actuality, it's merely typical of Lennon's "standard",
mournful, whining rock ballads—now fifty years out of
date, and ultimately... well... boring.

The poorly montaged, clunky green-screened clips are
the sort of stuff so-called rock historians have been
screening for decades, so, nothing new there. 

It's almost as bad as an old "Countdown" show from
1978 LOL.

If you wanna listen to some genuine period music, then
listen to the Stones "Love You Live" from 1977 instead.

Aussie wrote on Nov 4^th, 2023 at 2:55pm:



Whilst i think your critique overharsh, i agree that it's not a stand-alone great song. But why would you listen to it in isolation of it's context? It's the context that gives it is gravitas.

My son who is barely 17 stayed up to hear it's release. He's a massive Beatle's nerd. Owns everything he can and is forever playing strange studio outtakes at us. I recommend "Commonwealth", available on youtube or alternatively to be found in Peter Jackson's magnificent labour of love "Get Back"..

But this song, it's no.1 even though it's not fabulous. This is the legacy that endures that Beatles have left us with.

mothra wrote on Nov 6^th, 2023 at 3:58am:

That's true.

It's not even near their greatest, was written by Lennon very likely in a state of severe depression, its intent has been reimagined by McCartney, but it's a Beatles song.

From the online reactions, and from Beatles fans, it's almost like a 'Jesus moment' as in 'the second coming'.

I guess Lennon's memory really is bigger than Jesus... or at least just as big.

Zero interest.....pretty much.

A brilliant - as usual - review from Justin: