Grammy Beatles Show

[Son of Wobble]

C'mon, Jah, take it easy. Some people are just coming from a place of positive thought. Peace and love, peace and love, brother. Some people just don't dedicate a lot of time to hating music when there are so many other bad things in the world. I mean, it's alright to be dismissive if you're a Berklee freshman, but it gets a bit tired as life goes on.

Well as I have in fact just begun my freshman year at Berklee, I appreciate your giving me a pass. You know those snarky youngin's!

 

[joebar]

I seem to be the minority here but I thought Katy Perry was pitiful-that song was too big for her. someone actually thought it was a good idea for her to go up there and sing a timeless song. oh well.

that stambaugh sounded killer-I want one.

stevie wonder killed that song-In a bad way.

great to see king Luke up there

 

[bassbenj]

Katy Perry Yesterday? She looked constipated.

Paul's band is outstanding. Enjoyable show. Don't think any other band in Rock could have done this. So sad John and George aren't still with us.

Do you sing? All I'll say is just listen carefully to her phrasing. Impeccable.

House band not so shabby either.

 

[Interspace Station]

My wife and I turned it on, saw Adam Levine performing, turned it off and watched A Hard Day's Night.

 

[joebar]

what is interesting was paul's ability to hit all the notes in their original keys.
not bad for a 72 year old.

 

[Stealth Fighter]

Yeah I thought it was a good show overall! I disagree with the comments about some of the artists being bad. Just because someone puts their own style into a song doesn't mean it is bad. Some where better than others but I thought they all did a good job. I do wish Pharell would have taken that hat off though because now I'm hungry for Arby's!

Also they should have had Prince play on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" because IMO this is still the best cover of that song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SFNW5F8K9Y

Thanks, great guitar solo, but where did the guitar go at the end?

 

[SwitchGear]

Someone tell Yoko to sit down.

Why?

 

[GregC]

Overall, the show exceeded my low expectations. I'm really picky about Beatles covers, but I thought most of the artists did at least a decent job.

Lowlights for me:
*Imagine Dragons on Revolution--they gave it a light, happy treatment that didn't fit the song, IMO. The Stambaugh was by far the highlight of this bit, beautiful bass.
*Fool on the Hill--not so much for the performance, but the song itself. One of the Beatles' fluffiest, IMO, along with Yellow Submarine.
*Maroon 5--no, just no. It wasn't terrible, just uninspiring. The magical backing vocals (with no one else singing into a mic besides Adam whatshisname) didn't help. Plenty of other bands could have filled this slot better.

Highlights:
*Dave Grohl, Jeff Lynne on Hey Bulldog--Grohl always gets rock band tributes right, he should be part of every one of them. Nice unexpected song choice, solid performance.
*John Legend, Alicia Keys on Let It Be--a lovely reading, IMO.
*Gary Clark, Joe Walsh on While My Guitar Gently Weeps--A good version, marred only by Walsh's vocals, which were way out of place.
*Paul and Ringo themselves did well, as I expected. Ringo, jeez, he looks fantastic for 73!

I'm glad I watched.

 

[gomez hacienda]

I wonder if Ed took up the bass after this brief instructional by Paul...

That's Paul showing Ed that after the 7th fret, the intonation always goes flat.

 

[tinman 1967]

I agree with what k Jung said earlier about how great the sounded live and untouched. 4 wonderful musicians each doing their job, and doing it very well. I love watching george grab a handful of gretsch neck. It's like he's got 7 fingers on his left hand, and those wonderful chords.......

 

[Iridescentone]

Overall, the show exceeded my low expectations. I'm really picky about Beatles covers, but I thought most of the artists did at least a decent job.

Lowlights for me:
*Imagine Dragons on Revolution--they gave it a light, happy treatment that didn't fit the song, IMO. The Stambaugh was by far the highlight of this bit, beautiful bass.
*Fool on the Hill--not so much for the performance, but the song itself. One of the Beatles' fluffiest, IMO, along with Yellow Submarine.
*Maroon 5--no, just no. It wasn't terrible, just uninspiring. The magical backing vocals (with no one else singing into a mic besides Adam whatshisname) didn't help. Plenty of other bands could have filled this slot better.

Highlights:
*Dave Grohl, Jeff Lynne on Hey Bulldog--Grohl always gets rock band tributes right, he should be part of every one of them. Nice unexpected song choice, solid performance.
*John Legend, Alicia Keys on Let It Be--a lovely reading, IMO.
*Gary Clark, Joe Walsh on While My Guitar Gently Weeps--A good version, marred only by Walsh's vocals, which were way out of place.
*Paul and Ringo themselves did well, as I expected. Ringo, jeez, he looks fantastic for 73!

I'm glad I watched.

Mostly agree, except for Fool On The Hill. I took Annie Lennox rendition as faithful to the spirit and vibe of one of the Beatles more serious songs.

Lennox obviously doesn't have the pipes that she used to have, but she understands the depth of the lyrics and communicated that exceptionally well.

Same for Katy Perry's Yesterday. She dug deep into the story, like a method actor, then sung it from the inside out. Total communication, pure and direct.

These two gals were the high points of the show for me. It's not easy to capture the magic of Beatles music, but they did. You could see the dewy-eyed expressions on the audiences' faces during these songs. It must have been an electrifying show to see in person.

 

[Eggman]

A question that still remains - who was the bass player on Fool on the Hill? It wasn't Don Was or Mike Rhodes. Large, bald, black guy - looked like a red EB2 - tone was terrific IMO. Would like to know who it was.

 

[Flyingfrets]

I'm a big Joe Walsh fan back to Measles days

He played the professional on 'Something in the way she moves' playing the expected parts. I though he and Clark jr tore it up on 'While my guitar gently weeps' for me that was the emotional peak of the evening with some genuine feeling/playing going on.
I couldn't watch some other parts at all

Walsh still has it with sobriety squared -- a monster player and national treasure

I checked out the other all star version
Prince, I don't know, he's just in another universe these last 10 years. He makes it look way too easy

Always thought the version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" perfrormed at the Concert For George was the most emotional version I've ever seen or heard...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj4J6i_vw0w

Unfortunately, I saw nothing of that caliber last night. And believe me, as a dyed in the wool Beatlemaniac, I wanted to like it.

 

[mellowinman]

Look people; the Beatles' music is meant to be CELEBRATED. Anybody can do any Beatles song, any time they want. They always appreciated it. There are more Beatles covers I don't like than there are Beatles covers I do like, but as long as someone, somewhere is enjoying it, then that song is living and breathing.

I used to do a joke Marilyn Manson-esque version of "Let it Be," which was highly slowed down, sung in a low voice, and played in a minor key. A friend of mine heard it, and said, "that's AWFUL," and I said, "perfect! That's exactly what I was going for!"

Here is my band, with our first (not very good) drummer, doing "While my Guitar Gently Weeps." We do it a lot better now, but I don't have any posted vids, so you'll have to take this one:

 

[Jim C]

what is interesting was paul's ability to hit all the notes in their original keys.
not bad for a 72 year old.

Great observation and well said.

I was glad this didn't turn into a cover band show and that some liberties were taken to create a version of the original.

After all, who on earth could play these songs better than the original members?

 

[rickfan63]

The best parts of the show for me were outside of Paul and Ringo's performances and interviews were:

1. Joe Walsh, Jeff Lynne and Dhani Harrison doing "Something", it wasn't perfect but it was close enough.

2. Dave Grohl and Jeff Lynne doing "Hey Bulldog". I love that song, and they did a really good job on it I thought. I loved the energy he put in the drums on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" too.

3. John Legend and Alicia Keys doing "Let It Be" That was quite nice. Macca seemed to enjoy it too.

4. Seeing Frampton and Lukather together. 2 great guitarists doing a great job.

5. Hearing the recollections of some of the fans and TV crew who were there that magical Sunday night. How did CBS find some of those people?

Just these 5 things alone made the show enjoyable for me as a lifelong Beatles fan and musician.

 

[greybeard125]

Funny how the beatles bring up so much "discussion" when their music is played/replayed/etc/etc/etc. Only goes to show how special these guys and the music is. There's very little of any of their stuff that won't smack most of what's going around today in the ground.

I remember the night they were on Sullivan and I was pissed because I wanted to watch the "Scarecrow" with Patrick McGoohan on disney on the other channel. I was the baby so my sister pulled rank & I ran over to my cousin's to watch scarecrow. But then a Hard Days Night came around and I was hooked.

Anybody else hear George's voice during "Something"? Scary how much his son sounds like him. Also, it seemed like Joe W was fighting to play the lead, or just nervous. Who wouldn't be?

All in all a good nite. You just can't re-invent magic. It's either there or in ain't. The beatles had it, george martin captured it, and we all still marvel at it 50 years down the road. Nuff said

 

[Snakeman1066]

IMHO... Joe Walsh, Jeff Lynne and Dhani Harrison were the best performance of the night

With Walsh and Gary Clark Jr. coming in a close second

Though i would have to say Dave Grohl and Jeff Lynne would good too

Don't know if you guys know this or not, but John Lennon was actually quoted as once saying the he liked to call E.L.O. the Sons of the Beatles...lol

Love Jeff Lynne

 

[ryco]

A question that still remains - who was the bass player on Fool on the Hill? It wasn't Don Was or Mike Rhodes. Large, bald, black guy - looked like a red EB2 - tone was terrific IMO. Would like to know who it was.

Michael Bradford on bass according to this Dave Stewart article on The Eurythmics reunion to play Fool on the Hill.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Love The Eurythmics and really enjoyed their interpretation of a GREAT song.

 

[Jazzbassguy]

That's Paul showing Ed that after the 7th fret, the intonation always goes flat.

That's what I figured...