Everyone knows 'Yellow Submarine'. The guy at the bus stop. The little kid at camp. The random person you happen to ask on the street. In fact, when someone says 'Beatles' these days, most people are likely to think immediately, 'Yellow Submarine'! or boast that it's their favourite Beatles song when it's really the only one that they actually know.
But if you think about, besides the movie...why is this? As much as I love Ringo, 'Yellow Submarine' does not have the best vocals, nor are the lyrics particularly inspiring. In terms of sound, it's fun, but nothing we haven't heard before during the days of Sgt. Pepper.
So why is Yellow Submarine so incredibly popular? And why has it become the one song that people relate the Beatles to? One would think 'She Loves You', something brilliant such as 'A Day In The Life' or 'All You Need Is Love'...but no, it's got to be a kiddie song that sounds like Paul wrote it when he was either tripping or bored.
(Incidentally, what are your own thoughts about the song?)
At the end of the day I think most people respond to a simple catchy melody. Words are of little consequence (how many people bellow along to songs with no idea what the actual vocals are, or what they mean.) Most people only know the chorus of YS and wing the rest.It's a primate thing, like football chanting or drumming. If people can sing along they're happy. That's why you have to smile when you see all these aspiring songwriters agonising over deep complex lyrics that no one is going to give a sh*t about anyway. Macca knows what sells to the masses.
Oh and my thoughts. On its own on the radio now it sounds a bit rubbish. But as a track on Revolver and thinking it's 1966 it's cool. Sounds quite druggy. It's always struck me as a radio friendly version of Dylans "Rainy Day Woman #12 & 35." And as a single it's a perfect counterpoint to the gloom of Eleanor Rigby. Hats off Mr McCartney. A man who truly knew what he was doing.
Great to hear your viewpoint, Kevin. I've no doubt that you're right about "how many people bellow along to songs with no idea what the actual vocals are, or what they mean". For me, lyrics have always been incredibly important. I'm one of those people who soaks up lyrics and can recite them years later; they get in my brain for good. Which is why I find inane, empty lyrics annoying.
Personally I like YS because it's so much fun! I like the silly voices and sound effects and whole silly mood of it. Fun and happy is great! The overall Beatles impression is fun, happy, and silly--certainly it was in their Beatlemania phase, and I think that's probably how most regular listeners still perceive them.
All you've got to do is choose love. That's how I live it now. I learned a long time ago, I can feed the birds in my garden. I can't feed them all. -- Ringo Starr, Rolling Stone magazine, May 2007
For all I know, Ringo might be a yogi disguised as a drummer! - George Harrison
Yellow Submarine was always sung to me when i was at school to tease me, as they knew i was a fan. It seemed to be the only Beatles song that the kids knew, but they knew nothing on the fabs! of course, it's so "DAM CATCHY" (bit like Dance Tonight!), (yes, macca again!). i rememeber saying to someone when i was at school what music i liked & of course it was the fabs ... and then he goes, 'Oh yeah!, we all live in a Yellow Submarine!' i love the song but despise it at times!!
HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY TO THE WHITE ALBUM! you say its your birthday!
Paul Mc Cartney is the true bass god! Getting Better
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I think is a funny song, I remember when I was a kid and I heard it in the Spanish version of Sesame Street. I just loved the tune.... It makes me happy.
Yellow Submarine was always sung to me when i was at school to tease me, as they knew i was a fan. It seemed to be the only Beatles song that the kids knew, but they knew nothing on the fabs! of course, it's so "DAM CATCHY" (bit like Dance Tonight!), (yes, macca again!). i rememeber saying to someone when i was at school what music i liked & of course it was the fabs ... and then he goes, 'Oh yeah!, we all live in a Yellow Submarine!' i love the song but despise it at times!!
I can see what you mean when you say you love the song but despise it at times. We all love it, but it seems like it can be easily used to tease! Which I hate...
Maybe it's such a popular song because, like some people are saying, you can sing along to it and it's just plain fun! I'm sure little kids love it, especially. And I admit that before I was a Beatles fan, if you asked me to name one of their songs, the only one I'd be able to name would be Yellow Submarine, being a little kid. And I get the feeling that if I asked the clueless people at school to name a song, they'd name YS. It's hard to put a finger on exactly why this is true. It's a fun song and I love it, but it's not their best.
~Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans~ ~Give me love, give me peace on earth~ ~All day long I'm sitting singing songs for everyone~ ~The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you~
I think its such an innocent and catchy tune, that it relates well to children more so than adults. I like the song for what it is, but its not one of my favorite Beatle tunes by a long shot.
A co-worker and my oldest brother always sing and make fun of that song when they're trying to get a rise out of me about the Beatles. I never really stopped to think about it, but damn,,,,,it just might be their most popular tune.
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of course, it's so "DAM CATCHY" (bit like Dance Tonight!),
).
