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Beatles forums => Songs => Topic started by: Kevin on March 16, 2010, 09:56:07 AM

Title: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Kevin on March 16, 2010, 09:56:07 AM
What's to say? Absolute genius. just when they seem to be going off the boil they come along with a masterpiece. A great memorable melody, simple evocative lyrics, the greateast sing along chorus of all time, an innovative format....
And again hats off to Mr Martin for his production - as always beautifully understated. A lesser man might have layed it on, but the orchestration is unobtrusive yet powerful. One of the great singles of all time.

I have issues with Revolution's anti-youth culture lyric, but a great b side.

The last great Beatles single.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Joost on March 16, 2010, 10:09:23 AM
I like the basic song, but I hate the endless coda. I would've prefered a three minute single edit that fades out after the first couple of na na nas.

Revolution is a great one. Always loved the heavy guitar sound.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: HeyJude18 on March 16, 2010, 10:34:42 AM
All I have to say: <3
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Mairi on March 16, 2010, 02:46:15 PM
How do I begin to describe Hey Jude?
Hey Jude is flawless.
I hear its melody is ensured for ten million pounds.
I hear it's featured in car commercials... in Japan.
Its the favourite song of many people.
One time Chuck Berry heard it on a plane... and said it was pretty.
It punched me in the face once.
It was awesome.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: I_Will on March 16, 2010, 11:02:57 PM
How do I begin to describe Hey Jude?
Hey Jude is flawless.
I hear its melody is ensured for ten million pounds.
I hear it's featured in car commercials... in Japan.
Its the favourite song of many people.
One time Chuck Berry heard it on a plane... and said it was pretty.
It punched me in the face once.
It was awesome.

You're awesome.

Also, I absolutely adore "Hey Jude" and there's not a whole lot to say. However, for those that complain about the "endless" coda, it doesn't bother, especially because Macca's vocals kickass there.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: emmi_luvs_beatles on March 17, 2010, 12:11:41 AM
Did someone say Hey Jude?......

*dies*

Anyways, I absolutely adore Hey Jude, it's one of those songs that you could listen to a hundred times over and never get tired of. It was the first Beatles song I ever heard and absolutely fell in love.

Then there's the Hey Jude performance...

(http://www.beatles-unlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/paul-mccartney-china.jpg)

I think the Hazel eyes speak for themselves.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: tkitna on March 17, 2010, 01:04:30 AM
I love Hey Jude, but dont get me wrong,,,,I do get tired of it. Anyways, the song just seems simplistic and from the heart in a good way. A song that tries to be positive although the message is coming from something so negative, but yet it works. I for one like the coda more so than the first part. I love the energy Paul puts into it with his vocals and I love Ringo ride cymbal too. Great song.

Revolution is one of those tunes that i'm fairly neutral about. If I dont hear it for awhile, i'll enjoy it, but for the most part, I could do without it.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: SemolinaPilchard on March 17, 2010, 01:12:18 AM
I love love love Hey Jude. I'll put it on the jukebox at the bar and without fail everyone starts singing along to it.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Bobber on March 17, 2010, 03:15:45 PM
One great song, although I recognize Todd's feeling of getting tired of the song. I had not listened to it for a long time when I sort of re-invented it. The coda was and still is a little too long for me and I can't really understand why The Beatles made an issue of the nananana's. Wasn't it an idea to shorten it and get the song easier on a 45? Never cared much for Revolution, always I prefer the single version. The album version sounds like Paul's granny songs.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: maywitch on March 17, 2010, 09:48:07 PM
You're awesome.

Also, I absolutely adore "Hey Jude" and there's not a whole lot to say. However, for those that complain about the "endless" coda, it doesn't bother, especially because Macca's vocals kickass there.

I agree. It is such an uplifting song but it's not soft or sappy. One thing that shocks me about the song is that somehow that nearly 4 minute coda doesn't even seem long to me.  It's almost hypnotic and it's comforting and Paul does some great vocal gymnastics behind it too at certain points.  There is something magical about the song and I think the coda is part of it.  It just wouldn't be Hey Jude without it. 

Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Bobber on March 18, 2010, 08:14:32 AM
Still, the engineers were having trouble to get the song on vinyl, simply because it was too long. They managed to get the job done anyway, but obviously the Beatles really wanted to be the coda that long. It wasn't like 'well, let's make it a minute shorter'. Why?
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Joost on March 18, 2010, 10:03:49 AM
It wasn't like 'well, let's make it a minute shorter'. Why?

I assume that they just wanted to find out if they could get away with a seven minute single. I'm pretty sure no one else could've pulled off a stunt like that at the time.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Kevin on March 18, 2010, 10:16:58 AM
I assume that they just wanted to find out if they could get away with a seven minute single. I'm pretty sure no one else could've pulled off a stunt like that at the time.

As far as I know The Animals were the first to crack the three minute barrier with House Of The Rising sun. Dylans Like A Rolling Stone (1965) clocked in at 6.09.
Released a couple of months before Hey Jude, Richard harris's McArthur Park was actually ten seconds longer at 7.21.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Joost on March 18, 2010, 11:12:06 AM
As far as I know The Animals were the first to crack the three minute barrier with House Of The Rising sun. Dylans Like A Rolling Stone (1965) clocked in at 6.09.
Released a couple of months before Hey Jude, Richard harris's McArthur Park was actually ten seconds longer at 7.21.

I stand corrected.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: maywitch on March 18, 2010, 05:19:43 PM
Still, the engineers were having trouble to get the song on vinyl, simply because it was too long. They managed to get the job done anyway, but obviously the Beatles really wanted to be the coda that long. It wasn't like 'well, let's make it a minute shorter'. Why?

Why not?  That's how long they felt the song should go on for.  I don't know I love the song, coda and all, so I guess I just can't imagine the song without it.  Maybe that's how Paul felt too.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Almighty Doer of Stuff on March 19, 2010, 03:49:44 PM
I think the key to not being bored by the coda is to focus on Paul's vocals, rather than the "na na na"s. When I first heard the song years ago, I scarcely noticed Paul screaming and howling his lungs out, and I actually used a sound editor to cut off the end. Then when I read the transcript on Steve's Beatles Page (a seemingly defunct site unfortunately, which copies an old version of the What Goes On? Anomalies into each song's page, including "Hey Jude"), I thought, "I have to hear this", and now I know it's NOT just a four minute plus string of "na na na na"s, which indeed would be boring to me. I found that once I read the transcript and could follow along with Paul's vocals, it became much more interesting. I suggest those who see the coda the way I used to, give reading the transcript and following along a try, and see if it doesn't seem so long and boring.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Mairi on March 21, 2010, 06:27:22 PM
Hey Judey judey judey aaaaaooow wow wow!
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: cubanheel on March 21, 2010, 08:35:08 PM
It doesn't seem so long when he does it live in concert, you just get swept along with it. Or does he shorten it live these days, does anyone know?
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Almighty Doer of Stuff on March 21, 2010, 10:09:39 PM
He shortened it to just over five minutes at his Super Bowl performance, but it's full length on "Back In The U.S".
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: tkitna on March 22, 2010, 03:23:07 AM
It doesn't seem so long when he does it live in concert, you just get swept along with it. Or does he shorten it live these days, does anyone know?

I disagree. I think its way to long live and I would wish that he would never play it again (unless you've never seen him before I guess).
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Hombre_de_ningun_lugar on March 22, 2010, 07:32:34 PM
"Hey Jude" probably has the best Paul's lyrics ever. And "Revolution" is all a great rocker should be.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: cubanheel on March 22, 2010, 10:20:17 PM
Not sure I go along with best lyrics ever, I think it's all a bit full of cliche as Paul so often is. I think Eleanor Rigby or For No One for example are better lyrically. But stick it with a great melody, and flash those gorgeous eyes, and I'll call it genius!  What I do really like is Paul's phrasing; so often on cover verions, you hear awful phrasing, when it's all there in the original... no break between 'take a sad song and make it better'.  The lightness on 'remember', oh I could go on......
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Hombre_de_ningun_lugar on March 23, 2010, 02:28:53 AM
Not sure I go along with best lyrics ever, I think it's all a bit full of cliche as Paul so often is. I think Eleanor Rigby or For No One for example are better lyrically. But stick it with a great melody, and flash those gorgeous eyes, and I'll call it genius!  What I do really like is Paul's phrasing; so often on cover verions, you hear awful phrasing, when it's all there in the original... no break between 'take a sad song and make it better'.  The lightness on 'remember', oh I could go on......

"Eleanor Rigby" lyrics are impressive too, but they were not 100% Paul. But words like "take a sad song and make it better" or "for well you know that is a fool who plays it cool by making his world a little colder" are pure genius to me.

By the way, John thought that "Hey Jude" was Paul's best song.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Hombre_de_ningun_lugar on March 23, 2010, 06:54:08 PM
(http://www.rarebeatles.com/photopg3/cd5sing/cd15921.jpg)
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: blackbird_ on April 21, 2010, 09:55:38 PM
Favourite song. I just love it so much. The lyrics, if slightly clichéd are well-phrased and very uplifting.
It's the song I listen to when I'm upset, and is it ever a good song for that.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: The_Taxman on April 21, 2010, 10:40:49 PM
First Beatles song I ever heard, and still my favorite.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: peterbell1 on January 27, 2011, 10:51:00 AM
Has anyone ever heard the 3'25 edit of Hey Jude that appeared on the short-lived Pocket Disc format in the late 1960s?

(http://www.rarebeatles.com/photospg/pocket.jpg)

I actually have the Hey Jude pocket disc but have never been able to play it. The disc is so small (4" across) that the arm on my record player doesn't go far enough into the centre of the turntable to play it!! So I have never heard the version of the song that was used.

I assume that they simply chopped a few minutes off the Nah-Nah-Nah ending so that the song would fit on the little disc. Can anyone verify this?
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Bobber on January 27, 2011, 11:11:08 AM
Found this: http://www.rarebeatles.com/photospg/flexiad.htm (http://www.rarebeatles.com/photospg/flexiad.htm)

It says nothing of the edit of the song itself tho. But it seems you have a valuable piece here!
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Bobber on January 27, 2011, 11:40:07 AM
It seems to be on the bootleg Every Little Thing volume 4. I believe I have that on the hdd at the office. I'll be there tomorrow.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: peterbell1 on January 27, 2011, 12:45:13 PM
Thanks Bobber.
The "Nah-Nah-Nah"s of Hey Jude start at around 3'10, so I assume the song just fades out fairly quickly after they start.

I discovered that the same edit version is on the bootleg compilation All Together Now, sourced from Every Little Thing Vol 4.
I am trying to download a copy of the All Together Now album now, but the torrent is going very slowly  :(

Unfortunately, my copy of the Hey Jude Pocket Disc isn't in great condition - some of the writing has rubbed off and there is no sleeve - so I don't think it will be worth much. But it's cool to have (even if I can't play it!!)
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: peterbell1 on January 27, 2011, 12:56:43 PM
I found this at BootlegZone ...

"Capitol Records in the US released a special edited promotional copy of Hey Jude to radio stations. This one-sided 7 inch disc was edited to fade just after the start of the sing-a-long, bringing the running time down to 3:30. This special edited version also appeared on the short lived 4-inch 33 1/3 rpm “Pocket Disc.” Sourced from very noisy vinyl."
http://www.bootlegzone.com/version.php?vid=27881&section=1 (http://www.bootlegzone.com/version.php?vid=27881&section=1)

I have a few US promo 7" records from the 60s, but I never heard of this one-sided US promo disc of Hey Jude.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: peterbell1 on January 27, 2011, 06:37:53 PM
Here's the 3'25 version of Hey Jude, taken from the All Together Now compilation ....

Hey Jude (Pocket Disc 3.25 edit) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXj50QpGT6g#)

As expected, the Nah-Nah-Nahs just get going and then the song fades out.
This version of the edit is obviously transferred straight from a poor vinyl copy because the sound quality is terrible. But that's how it appears on the All Together Now compilation so that's what I used!
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Bobber on January 28, 2011, 07:43:00 AM
Here's the 3'25 version of Hey Jude, taken from the All Together Now compilation ....
As expected, the Nah-Nah-Nahs just get going and then the song fades out.
This version of the edit is obviously transferred straight from a poor vinyl copy because the sound quality is terrible. But that's how it appears on the All Together Now compilation so that's what I used!

Thanks. Saves me an upload. lol. While researching this version a bit, I found as well that the sound quality is terrible. On the other hand what can you expect from a disc like this?
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Mairi on January 30, 2011, 12:37:22 AM
I don't agree with those who have said that the lyrics are cliched. I think that Hey Jude has some of the best lyrics Paul has ever written. They are vague, yes, but I think the beauty of the song lies in its universiality. Well, the "na na na"s are not so profound, but hey, they're catchy!
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Hello Goodbye on January 30, 2011, 02:48:49 AM
I don't agree with those who have said that the lyrics are cliched. I think that Hey Jude has some of the best lyrics Paul has ever written.

I certainly agree, Mairi.  The lyrics are just as fresh today as they were over 42 years ago when I first heard Hey Jude.  And, yes, still vague but that's the beauty of this song which remains one of my favorites.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: nyfan(41) on January 30, 2011, 03:19:56 AM
It's a totally selfless lyric.
The whole thing is aimed towards making another person feel better.
The words 'I' or 'me' aren't even in the song.
Just beautiful
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: nyfan(41) on January 30, 2011, 03:31:50 AM
I disagree. I think its way to long live and I would wish that he would never play it again (unless you've never seen him before I guess).
^^ interesting
you kno - i think that's because live - it's paul carrying the whole thing
with george, john and ringo as the 'backing band' on the studio version - u can feel them all getting progressively 'into it' as it jams on. they get so in the groove. it's subtle but it builds intensity not just in the orchestral additions or paul's vocals. george's strumming gains determination in every go round and ringo has the conviction of someone jamming with his best friend

when paul does it live it more feels like the band is regurgitating the 3 chords while paul does a soul singer impression. it never gets off the ground.
Paul needs his homies ! (just my opinion)
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: Bobber on February 04, 2011, 01:02:10 PM

This version of the edit is obviously transferred straight from a poor vinyl copy because the sound quality is terrible. But that's how it appears on the All Together Now compilation so that's what I used!

I just listened to the version on Every Little Thing vol. 4. It isn't any better than this one.
Title: Re: Singles - Hey Jude.
Post by: real01 on February 16, 2011, 09:34:36 PM
The lyrics are just as fresh today as they were over 42 years ago when I first heard Hey Jude. 
And, yes, still vague but that's the beauty of this song which remains one of my favorites.

It struck me in the head - 43 years old song...
43 old year song... and it didn't aged a single year nor a day  8)