Back to it. Two songs that couldn't be more different from each other.
171. All Together Now (Yellow Submarine, 1969)
Beatles version:
Spotify YouTube
This song, along with a few others that will come up soon-ish, is a children's song but still a blast for me. It's also been a popular "terrace chant" at English football games - I think it was the Ron Howard documentary that had video of this (though I might be mixing that up with a different doc). I went to see the remastered Yellow Submarine in the theater last year, and the rollicking great time people were having singing along with this one at the end might have positively affected my rating of the song. Sure, it's a trifle, but it's just ####### fun. Sometimes that oughta be enough.
Mr. krista: "It’s a fun song. It’s appropriate for a children’s movie. [Discussion whether YS is a children's movie.] It’s very gentle, and both a children’s song and a drinking song."
Suggested covers: I would not argue it is "good," but the
André 3000 version cracks me up. Of course
The Muppets version is recommended.
170. Don't Bother Me (With the Beatles, 1963)
Beatles version:
Spotify YouTube
Apparently I enjoy the first George-penned song on a Beatles album much more than (1) George did or (2) the rest of the Beatles did, as I've read that none of them were pleased with it looking back.
But I like the spookiness, the darker mood than most anything else they were doing at the time. Check out some of these lyrics in comparison to the rest of what was on these early records:
Since she's been gone
I want no one
To talk to me
It's not the same
But I'm to blame
It's plain to see
So go away and leave me alone
Don't bother me
I can't believe
That she would leave
Me on my own
It's just not right
Where every night
I'm all alone
I've got no time for you right now
Don't bother me
Ringo's percussion and Paul's excellent bass combine to set either a Latin or Western tone (I vacillate on which one I'm hearing) that i find pleasing. I love the breaks just at the end of the verses, too.
Mr. krista: "I like the Western kind of galloping. I like this song a lot. Might be the first time I’ve heard it. I’m really into this. Would make a great soundtrack song, like something where you’d say 'What the #### is that?' 'That’s the Beatles, dummy.'"
Suggested cover: I've listened to more terrible covers of this song than any other so far. All I can offer, again, is
The Smithereens, though their version might be slightly too on the nose.