Frodo, it's okay, many of us here share the same weakness I'm quite sure. I know I do.Frodo wrote:I've tried to show restraint with this thread
There is so much about The Beatles' songwriting styles that amaze me-- and I say "styles" (plural) because when you look independently at the styles of Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison one could write volumes about each. In combo, it's overwhelming. Also consider that their styles changed so dramatically from their first album to their last and it's almost too much to digest-- at least for me. I remain a hopeless fan to a fault.
Yes, the stereotyping that drives me crazy. John and Paul were equals in a way we mere mortals can only aspire to. John wrote In My Life and Paul wrote Birthday, the former a poetic ballad, the latter a timeless rocker. It just doesn't make sense to me to label either guy with any title other than "genius."Frodo wrote:On the one hand, it's a little too easy to say that McCartney was the melodic balladeer and Lennon was the rocker. Both were scary in both respects-- I mean-- "Helter Skelter" could be considered the forerunner of metal in a lot of ways. That was McCartney. How Lennonesque of McCartney to have written that tune.
They fed off of each other, and drove each other to try different things. There's an interview with John post-Beatles where he talks about Paul's solo work on Band on the Run. John said something to the effect "Paul will do something great that will scare me into doing something more, then I will scare him."Frodo wrote:Anyway, "If I Fell" does exactly the same thing--- and it does some previously unheard of harmonic trickery. It starts on E-flat minor, although the tonal center is D-flat. But then it gets to "... and I found that love was more than JUST....". What? Em7? That serves as the pivot chord and the whole thing goes to D major after that.
That part of the song is only heard once-- right out of vaudeville. How McCartney of Lennon to do that!
They were a rarity, and we were lucky to be alive in a time to experience it. I wonder though if it is also why so much of todays music is disappointing. Where the Beatles tried to expand our conceptions of popular music, I can't think of one current massively popular pop star (or group) that is doing anything remotely on the same level. But our expectations are high because we know there are possibilities in pop music beyond just being formulaic.Frodo wrote:I really think this contributes in part to why The Beatles' still sound fresh all these years later.
I hope we've passed the audition.Frodo wrote: Thanks for "listening".