I didn’t appreciate this one until I read Ian Macdonald’s review of it in his book Revolution in the Head. He especially lauds the ending, which was apparently improvised from a happy accident: a rattling wine glass, a couple piano chords, a cymbal crash, a disembodied wail of anguish and love.
Anyway, Ian won me over. And in case you’re wondering, there are plenty of Beatles songs he didn’t like.
“Hey Jude”
Can you say repetitive repetitive repetitive?
Can you say boring boring boring?
Good!
I knew you could.
Yeah, love the Beatles, best pop band ever, can’t stand that song. There’s actually a good number of classic Beatles numbers that I don’t have much patience for. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” is another one that just has never clicked with me.
‘For the Benefit of Mr Kite’ is rubbish. Oooh, I get it’s clever, etc - still rubbish.
I feel like I should stick to Beatles originals that were officially released by the group during their 1960-1970 career – otherwise, it’s too easy to pick something like “If You’ve Got Trouble”, “You’ll Know What to Do”, “A Taste of Honey”, “Mr. Moonlight”, etc.
I would have to say “Revolution 9”… I “respect” the track, but can’t say I like it. In terms of actual songs:
Absolutely! But to be honest the beginning is pretty good. It’s the repetitive BS that makes it a bad song. I feel the same about any song that finishes with the last 1/4 or worse last 1/2 repeating the same words over and over. It’s like band member A comes in and says “Hay I got a great start to a song but no finsh. It’s only a minute or two long.” And band member B says “Screw it. Let’s just na na na or la la la for two minutes and record it anyway.” Like Steam with “Kiss Him Goodbye” or Journey “Lovin’, Kissin’, Squeezin’”.
You know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know…
“Honey Pie” always irritated me for some reason. If I never hear it again that’ll be fine with me.
One of my least favorites is “Drive My Car”, a song for which I never liked the *sound * of.
Yeah, “Rev9” and “She’s Leaving Home” might be worse, but DMC just irritates me.
I can’t help but think that if you think Hey Jude is too long then you don’t like the song at all anyway.
“Of course the artistic intent and credibility of the artist make no difference. It’s my ADD that I use to judge a real piece of music!”
I’m sure you’re aware that line comes from “Baby Let’s Play House.”
Nah. It’s not too long at all. It’s just boring (to me). Your mileage, and the mileage of many listeners, obviously varies. Luckily, there’s plenty of Beatles songs to love and, luckily, taste is not universal.
This one. I hate this song.
“Run for Your Life.” Eeww, one of the most disgusting songs ever written. I like pretty much anything else they’ve done. “Do You Want to Know a Secret” is a nice melody, but rendered unlistenable by George’s out of tune singing. “You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)” is… hell, I don’t know what it is. “Goodnight” is not my sort of music, but at least it was produced well and I can listen to it without cringing.
“Within You Without You” and “Revolution 9” I don’t have to read the thread to know they’re among the most hated songs, but I really like 'em.
Revolution #9 has to be the worst. The only song I skip on the White Album every time.
The title is “Revolution 9.” Save the hashtag for Twitter.
#hateRevolution9
Most of the ones I hate seem to be Paul’s particular version of sap.
“Michelle”, “Yesterday”, “When I’m 64”, etc.
John’s writing was more oddball and dark, although I could not stand the bulk of his solo output. The production seemed so limp.
Maybe I could rephrase: If you don’t like Hey Jude then how could you like McCartney?
Revolution 9 is so bad I listen to it to remind myself of how much I can hate something. It’s so bad that it needs its own thread, on it’s own forum. It should be compared with Hitler but that’s been overdone.
“Revolution #9” plays like a parody of a self-important train wreck. I can almost hear John Lennon saying, “You’re not supposed to enjoy it, luv,” in a smug, self-satisfied voice over the entire thing.
Wild Honey Pie is still probably worse, and You Know My Name (Look up the Number) gives that one a run for it’s money. Pretentious dreck is still better than intentionally annoying.
Sometimes I think I’m the last person alive who still fully loves Hey Jude. Start to finish. Like, it might make my top 10 favorite Beatles songs list.