Free As A Bird was something Beatles fans were lucky to get. I give it 8 stars out of 10. Sir Paul gave it all he had but had vested interest. George's slide guitar was nice and so was Ringo's distinctive drumming. Ringo did sing back up. And compared to a lot of other stuff in 1995, it managed to sound great. So, 8.5 stars with that in mind.
“Lennons forced participation in the worst peice of J.D. Salinger fan fiction ever…” This has got to be the most brilliant description of Lennons death I’ve ever heard.
George Harrison's guitar solo on Free as a Bird is one of his most moving ones to me. And it was a genious touch to make it have the same tinny timbre as John Lennon's vocals!
Good stuff, that - but it was the out takes I'd heard on bootlegs of which I'd finally get commercially-mastered versions. Having that this, what the hell was with the "out-fakes"? I was pissed, but at least I got a section of what I'd heard on bootlegs.
@@farrellmcnulty909 I am a die-Hard Beatles fan, have been since I was 9 yrs old, when I seen them on "The Ed Sullivan Show" But I'm not really into these out takes or altenative versions. If the Beatles wanted you to hear them, they wouldve released them years ago. Im happy and content with just the way they recorded and relesed them. Why ruin it and release a song with no vocals or a diffewrent guitar? "NEW" stuff I love! I cant wait for this "New" and final Beatles record. This will take me back... Back to the days when The Beatles were together, and you couldnt wait for their next album and single. It was always different from the record before! ❤🚶♂🚶♂🚶♂🚶♂🌞
FAAB is, well... FAB!!! Where George's slide solo come in is like a revelation. Brilliant. Well done Paul, George, Ringo, Jeff and Yoko for making it happen.
@@MrKeychange because Kim Carnes was at #1, maybe? But, ATYA hit #1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart for a week. So, yeah, it hit #1. Just not on the Hot 100.
@@georgeprice4212 It's because John just died and the three of them are on the track. It's cool if you're into it, but it's more of a guilty pleasure kind of song.
"Free as a Bird" hits all the right heartbreaking notes for the Beatle fanatic to hear a Beatles "reunion". I've never tried to be objective about it in the least which would mean grading it in comparison to dozens of Beatles classics. The emotional video is the icing on the cake, a perfect distillation of what was great about the Beatles and recaptures the spirit of Beatlemania in less than four minutes.
Excuse me ? George had a smash hit #1 single and critically and commercially acclaimed solo album Cloud Nine in 1987. Went on to form super group Travelling Wilburys in 1988 and win a Grammy.
What's most interesting is now the audio demixing technology the Beatles used on Get Back and the recent Revolver box set could be applied to Free as a Bird and Real Love and John's vocal can be separated from the piano and drum machine on those home demos. A whole new remix could make the tracks sound better! Also I like your idea of the '40s swing/gershwin thing. That would have been cool for a bridge to introduce a variation of the chorus, and yeah make John's voice in that section sound completely like an old scratchy 78 jazz record. That kind of shift would have given it more of an innovative feel like some of the best Beatles songs have.
I remember my first listen when the single was released. I cried. I was soooo happy to hear the Fabs together once again. It was both a reminder of the greatness of the catalog they'd left, and a vivid reminder of what might have been had Lennon not been shot. In the nearly 30 years that have ensued since it's release, while others who initially rejoiced it and now slag it off, I have only grown to love it more. Is it a great song, no but given the limitations surrounding it's creation and release which you point out, it is still sonically a lovely swan song.
I'd never heard George play slide like that and really loved it - that's my favorite part of the recording. It's a fair enough song but as the host says, no groundbreaker. I'm in it for the guitar.
i love your studio. free as a bird is, needless to say, a masterpiece, its video is also great. greater than any gaga's video. paul is really a good person to make his and george and ringo's dream come true, as well as many beatles fans.
Very nice video, mate! I thought it was pretty mediocre when it came out, but I have grown to value it more as time wears on ... George's slide guitar is the highlight for me now.
incredible video, also part two! very muich enjoyed the irreverent, funny style, yet still lots of love for and knowledge about the beatles; hope you are going to do more beatle content!
All the thoughts , comments etc. put aside. They were the Beatles. Magical, time enduring, even to this day. Will I still need them when i'm 64....Yes.
The Beatles- "Grow Old Along with Me" made my eyes water! Broke my heart.. Because of the Lyrics, they can never happen. John never got to grow old.... 👓
My dad from the big band era, who didn't really. get off on all of these rock groups, did take note and acknowledge the monumental achievement of uniting the Beatles even with knowing John was dead, thought that the creative mindset to make the production was brilliant, and when he heard the final project piece, he actually liked what they created. My dad was an artist and knew the Beatles were a unique and special band of musicians, his favorite song of theirs being And I Love Her. Amazing Free As A Bird.
Hi! Interesting video! The first one I have seen of yours so it was great to see a deep dive into Free As A Bird. Now Free As A Bird has a special place in my heart as it was the song that made me a Beatles fan. At age 19 I was aware of some Beatles stuff but nothing had drawn me into that world. However hearing this amazing song, and watching the Anthology on TV, made me a huge fan of them and their solo careers! I also, around 96/97 discovered ELO and they became one of my favourite bands ever so having Jeff involved made me love the song even more. With the technology Peter Jackson used for Get Back, and subsequently Revolver, they could really improve Free As A Bird some more. Separate things a bit more and make it sound even better. Great video. Look forward to some more!
This was truly good work by Paul to start this whole project thing and ask witch woman for some of Johns music. Yes George didn’t get the respect he deserved most of the time but you got to admit the egos (and money) were flying during those last few years. I say it’s a miracle that it happened, but on the other side not surprised. The Beatles were a miracle!
Delighted to discover your channel and just subscribed! Love your droll style, and while some of your comments may be a bit brutal, I appreciate your great insights. I grew up a Beatles fan (I was 11 when they first played the Ed Sullivan Show), but I guess I was too busy with life and my career to truly listen to "Free" when it was released. Personally, I think doing it in a retro style would have diminished its honesty, but thanks for sharing the story around it, and I look forward to more of your videos!
I agree, hard to take you seriously when you're locked in a closet! Documentary wise, you were informative but should be more animated or do a green screen background of old video clips or still photos, with you in a picture in a picture style. The head on shot is too limiting since you're trapped in a closet.
It was a real Beatles tune. even though it was taking old material and redoing and refining reworking, it was fine anytime I could hear them sing their harmonies and them together is good for me .I don’t care if it’s skiffle or rock ‘n’ roll together they made great music and I liked it ,and you’re right Paul McCartney is the MVP and a genius ,and a melody machine ,and when you put that together with another genius or two ,you get the Beatles.
What an amazing video! I was in two minds as to whether I’d watch or not- so glad I did! It’s brilliant- fantastic insights, humorous and highly entertaining. Thanks a million for all your work in this. Great job!
It was great when "Free As A Bird" came out. It was a whole new really beautiful Beatle song that came out MANY YEARS. after their break-up and a death. It was like finding a long lost Van Gogh painting. Could you imagine finding a previously unknown Sinatra recording today? The companion song "Real Love" was OK but not as great as FAAB.
Great song. Thanks for making this video. I learned a lot, and it enhances my long relationship with the song. I watched the video when it premiered on US television, buying the CD soon after.
Are you aware of the 2015 Remix of both Free As A Bird and Real Love? They cleaned up the audio and Lennon’s vocals with modern technology. Sounds a lot better. I am very grateful the remaining Beatles made these. It’s more an epilogue than a part of the official catalogue. I’d give FAAB 9.5/10, RL 7/10.
I think Free as a Bird should be remastered and rebooted at the same time with today's technology, and with Paul at the helm. And the same done to Real Love.
Great retrospective review😎👌 Always thought FAAB stood shoulder to shoulder with their late sixties output. Remember hearing the complete original demo on UA-cam some years ago and even in its raw state it carried a very surreal feel which the remake still managed to bottle. The very fact that as Threetles they had recorded Here Comes The Sun without John showed that it could easily be done such was their combined talent. In a alternative universe it would have been great to see Jeff Lynne come on board and do a one off album by the Electric Beatles, he certainly had immense musical genius to make it work.
It’s refreshing to hear a beatle fan with thoughtful and insightful and brutally honest commentary. Very smart takes. Refreshing to hear a beatle fan speak honest truth and be critical as fuck. Well done.
Yes it's a real Beatles song. It's amazing what they were able to do with an older cassette recording. I remember before I first heard it saying, "please don't suck"...... it didn't. It brought tears to my eyes. It WAS the Beatles. It was if they never left. The follow up to " Abbey Road".
If Johnny is singing, then it's a Beatles song. I like the song, the slide guitar of George is very emotional, perhaps my favorite part next to hearing Lennon singing on this old/new track. Although not groundbreakingly innovative, the song reveals how culturally conscience worldwide the Beatles were in the latter part of the last century. I really enjoyed this commentary. Great post!
I don´t know much about how the song came to be, but I was very happy when it came out - 25 years after LET IT BE ! ! It was great to have a new Beatles song, although John had been dead for 15 years :-(!
I am glad The Treetles took the Free As A Bird and Real Love to close the out the final work of Beatles music. This gave us a real hint of what a full studio project between the four of them might have sounded like. I think the results was very good considering they were working off a homemade cassette demo. The later 1980s were good for George, Cloud Nine and Traveling Wilburys.
I'm now looking forward to your Real Love video. I think its a Beatles canon song, which was verified in the last singles box set which included the two new songs. I'm hoping now with the new DeMix Technology, that they can go back to the original source tape of John's demo, and do an equalization on it, experiment with time stretching and make it so that it sounds like a studio recording instead of a home demo. Overall I give it a 100% on everything, the passion was there, the interest to see if the impossible can be possible, and of course as it was mentioned, Paul was the VMP of it all.
Thank you Mr. Superfluent for your take on Free As A Bird. You shed a lot of light on what happened behind the scenes. Personally I think the finished song is perfect. The lyrics are haunting and personal and and the music has a touch of melancholy to it. George's slide guitar is a highlight as is Ringo's signature drum style. And yes, although Paul's influence is omnipresent, it comes across as a team project. On a related subject, I would like Apple to consider letting Peter Jackson's team have a go at separating the vocals and piano and generally cleaning up the sound and remastering it. I think that's what they are doing to the upcoming Now and Then. Finally, I think Peter Jackson should take a stab at the Magical Mystery footage and see if he can work his magic on this beloved hot mess of a film.
Personally, I think “Now & Then” was the best song out of the four that Yoko gave to the Fabs. It’s a shame that George vetoed it. Getting back to “Free As A Bird”, one of John’s great talents was creating space within a song, the “less is more” approach, that allows for harmonic overtones. I think that that space is there on the demo, but it got quantised and lost in the finished recording. Still, it’s The Beatles.
I love Free As A Bird. The best part is when Paul's vocal comes in - it gives me goosebumps every time. Both Free As A Bird and Real Love should be reissued using the AI on John's vocals.
Yoko called Elton John and made him fly to New York where she asked him to finish the songs on the cassette tape . He graciously turned down the offer as he didn’t think it would be right for him to do.
I remember when it was released with the video in 1995 and I wept hearing John's mournful voice from the grave. The day of his death in 1980 was a day I have never forgotten, then a teenager. I was so upset he never came back to us in the UK.
I thought REAL LOVE was the clincher for me. Free as a bird was kind of draggy, but Real Love seemed more like a new Beatles song for me, and The break with George’s guitar solo were great . Even the drums were more like a Beatles song. To me REAL LOVE rates much higher than FAAB. The bass guitar sounds and style were much better too.
Great video ! But I think FAAB is perfect as it is. The swinging version would have been terrible. John laid out a demo. An imperfect demo. That lacked many many many things musically. Yet they made it enjoyable. For whatever reasons. I think, artistically and musically, I prefer the "Real Love" song more but FAAB has this magical feeling of having The Beatles back together if only for a few moments. It always make me shiver when I hear the first measures.
I feel the same as Ringo said at the time. I was in college when I was anxiously awaiting for the songs to come out and hear them for the first time. It wasn't "the beatles", but it also was. I imagine this is how they might have sounded had they still been together, it wasn't the 60's anymore. Also they weren't building a song from the ground up, they had to work with what John had already put in place so it was more a "John" song with them adding to it and no room to change anything. When they all worked together, one would write a song and while most of the writer's song stayed intact, the other 3 would come in and suggest modifications to the song, couldn't do that here, all they could do was add to it. The video was amazing though
Awesome commentary. Spot on warts and all. Love the brutal honesty Very excellent comments in telling it like it is It’s even more powerful with the clothes in your closet as background.
Fantastic analysis video. All very valid opinion and well made and put together. You made me feel what you were saying. And I couldn't disagree with anything you said. Thanks, and I look forward to more. A1
man, I love all of the Beatles. but McCartney has always been my favorite, I wish I could someday see him live at least once. this was a very nice story i would have never known this if not seen this vid
It would have been cool if they'd completed a third song/ single and for all of the singles had done recordings as just a trio and done one lead vocal each for the b-sides. Ringo and George's King of Broken Hearts from slightly after Anthology gives clues what that would have been like but I suppose tensions between the three surviving Beatles in the mid 90's would have made that impossible.
@@Pedgem I was just annoyed by him saying :It's My Sweet Lord all over again...essentially treating George as he had all those years. John was wrong, he didn't learn anything...in all those years.
@@farrellmcnulty909 Here is the quote from Paul: "I told Jeff Lynne that I was slightly worried about this because I thought it might get to sound a little bit like My Sweet Lord or one of George’s signature things. I felt that the song shouldn’t be pulled in any way, it should stay very Beatles, it shouldn’t get to sound like me solo or George solo, or Ringo for that matter. It should sound like a Beatles song. So the suggestion was made that George might play a very simple bluesy lick rather than get too melodic. And he did: what he played was almost like a Muddy Waters riff. And that really sealed the project. I thought - I still think - that George played an absolute blinder because it’s difficult to play something very simple, you’re so exposed." So I could see how George would be frustrated but I also see where Paul is coming from.
Very fair evaluation. Having watched the Beatles on Ed Sullivan at age 12 & followed them to their break-up, I loved the Anthology’s two new songs, video & CD’s. Me & my brother went to Barnes & Noble at 11pm for Anth 1’s release & joined in the Fab Quiz! The CD’s opened up the Beatles’ studio working process, something we all hungered for. Again, very fair eval. But I love “Bird” & it’s video far more than Real Love.
The first time I heard the song, I didn't know who it was and I thought "oh God, another bunch of middle-aged guys trying to sound like the Beatles". Well, they weren't trying; they were IT.
Really loved this song.... and the second song they did (can't remember the name of that song). I really liked the CD's that went with them. Hours of great listening.
@Sir Henners that's the one. And yeah, they are both fantastic songs. Given the restrictions due to the low quality of the original recordings I think it could not have been done any better. Hearing the Beatles again was just such a joy when I first heard these songs.... and I LOVED the video clips for them as well..... cheers.
True appreciation for Jeff Lynn's efforts here must be seen amongst the days technology limitations, especially now when Peter Jackson's "Get Back" movie and soundtrack are literally blowing peoples minds! That said, take the song "Real Love" and slow it down just a touch, I used imovie, and the real Beatles come flying out! Lynn had to speed up the Lennon cassette version to sync it with a usable click track, turning it into somewhat of a cartoon sounding vocal.
Sure, there was a lot of technical wizardry thanks to Jeff Lynne. Lennon’s 1 6 iv 5 progression is pedestrian, but for me the addition of the bridge with the wonderful diminished chord complemented the emotional wistfulness that hovers (no pun intended) around the whole song. As noted, the song doesn’t push any musical boundaries the way The Beatles used to, but it acts as a fitting elegy to an enormous talent and to his equally talented brothers in arms.
Being a relatively new Beatles fan, I only discovered them 4-ish years ago at the age of 25, I will admit that Free as a Bird broke me. I had always shunned the Beatles as a sort of proto boyband of the 60s. Yet, as a lifelong fan of music, and as I prepared myself to explore 60s music, I talked myself into giving them a try. At worse, I'd just not like them, right? Well, that turned out to be true. As corny as it is, I walked away after listening to their albums changed in a way. I grew a new sense of appreciation for the older generations that would claim "The Beatles are the best band ever!" because, you know what? I agree. As far as contemporary music goes, for my money, they are the GOATs. So, when I sat down to listen to/watch Free as a Bird just after I finished the albums, I just broke. Like, yes, it's a bit cringe for being so sappy and sentimental, but at the same time, it rightly deserves to be that. It's for that reason that I could never fault the track. Despite the reasons they may have taken up the project, it more than merits being apart of their discography. Great video dude. I'm honestly shocked UA-cam recommended this, but I suppose they get something right once in a while. Here's hoping you blow up big time!
@ LeeLee94TV, "proto boyband of the 60s"? Who cares what you think? You've become a Beatle's fan because of this song? Almost everyone who watches this video knows more about the Beatles than you. Stop doing us favors. Nobody cares what you think.
@@MrCook1227 No, I did not became a fan because of this song. I didn’t insinuate whether I knew more or not, I simply decided to share a story regarding my Beatles journey on a Beatles related video. Thanks and much love to ya.
Paul didn’t need the Anthology to bring him back to relevancy. He had just come off one of the year’s highest grossing tours prior to the release of Anthology.
Free As A Bird was something Beatles fans were lucky to get. I give it 8 stars out of 10. Sir Paul gave it all he had but had vested interest. George's slide guitar was nice and so was Ringo's distinctive drumming. Ringo did sing back up. And compared to a lot of other stuff in 1995, it managed to sound great. So, 8.5 stars with that in mind.
More like ELO or TW song
@@marguskiis7711 , without the Beatles, there'd be no ELO as we know it.
Agreed. It was a great song.
I dunno. That slide guitar sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.
It was a perfect 10
“Lennons forced participation in the worst peice of J.D. Salinger fan fiction ever…”
This has got to be the most brilliant description of Lennons death I’ve ever heard.
👊
@@_Superfluentyou are brilliant man. Spot on with your takes. Analysis and insight. 😊
George Harrison's guitar solo on Free as a Bird is one of his most moving ones to me. And it was a genious touch to make it have the same tinny timbre as John Lennon's vocals!
Free as a Bird and Real Love were amazing songs! They were the real reason I went out to get the Anthology sets!
Good stuff, that - but it was the out takes I'd heard on bootlegs of which I'd finally get commercially-mastered versions. Having that this, what the hell was with the "out-fakes"? I was pissed, but at least I got a section of what I'd heard on bootlegs.
Me too
@@farrellmcnulty909 I am a die-Hard Beatles fan, have been since I was 9 yrs old, when I seen them on "The Ed Sullivan Show" But I'm not really into these out takes or altenative versions. If the Beatles wanted you to hear them, they wouldve released them years ago. Im happy and content with just the way they recorded and relesed them. Why ruin it and release a song with no vocals or a diffewrent guitar? "NEW" stuff I love! I cant wait for this "New" and final Beatles record. This will take me back... Back to the days when The Beatles were together, and you couldnt wait for their next album and single. It was always different from the record before! ❤🚶♂🚶♂🚶♂🚶♂🌞
Free as a Bird is awesome. A true Beatles song.
FAAB is, well... FAB!!! Where George's slide solo come in is like a revelation. Brilliant. Well done Paul, George, Ringo, Jeff and Yoko for making it happen.
Soaring, uplifting are words that come to mind.
Fitting.
Actually George, Ringo AND Paul are on All Those Years Ago - and it still mystifies me why this wasn't and still isn't a bigger deal!
Because the song isn't that good. George should have tried a little harder.
@@MrKeychangenot a good song? NOT A GOOD SONG? A #2 hit single is NOT considered not a good song!
@@georgeprice4212 We all know why it was #2.
@@MrKeychange because Kim Carnes was at #1, maybe? But, ATYA hit #1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart for a week. So, yeah, it hit #1. Just not on the Hot 100.
@@georgeprice4212 It's because John just died and the three of them are on the track. It's cool if you're into it, but it's more of a guilty pleasure kind of song.
Free is a fine song ... novel, historic, well engineered (considering), and a pull back to better days
ELO
"Free as a Bird" hits all the right heartbreaking notes for the Beatle fanatic to hear a Beatles "reunion". I've never tried to be objective about it in the least which would mean grading it in comparison to dozens of Beatles classics. The emotional video is the icing on the cake, a perfect distillation of what was great about the Beatles and recaptures the spirit of Beatlemania in less than four minutes.
The first time I heard this song I just started balling my eye's out. It was so good. I couldn't believe it !!
Excuse me ? George had a smash hit #1 single and critically and commercially acclaimed solo album Cloud Nine in 1987. Went on to form super group Travelling Wilburys in 1988 and win a Grammy.
You mean a cover? Shame on him. I love George, but his 2 biggest songs out of the Beatles are covers: I got y mind set on you and My sweet lord.
@@desoxido my sweet lord isn’t a cover
@@danali1942 it is. Originally called: “He’s so fine” Popularized by the Chiffons.
@@desoxido unintentionally ripping something off isn’t really covering it
@@danali1942 even John Lennon said it was plagiarism.
I like it. It's the Beatles. It's quality. In this case, a little was enough.
What's most interesting is now the audio demixing technology the Beatles used on Get Back and the recent Revolver box set could be applied to Free as a Bird and Real Love and John's vocal can be separated from the piano and drum machine on those home demos. A whole new remix could make the tracks sound better! Also I like your idea of the '40s swing/gershwin thing. That would have been cool for a bridge to introduce a variation of the chorus, and yeah make John's voice in that section sound completely like an old scratchy 78 jazz record. That kind of shift would have given it more of an innovative feel like some of the best Beatles songs have.
Free as a Bird super deluxe box set come soon with remix by Giles Martin :)
I thought it was great to hear their voices together. I like the middle eight and the guitar solo is fantastic.
I remember my first listen when the single was released. I cried. I was soooo happy to hear the Fabs together once again. It was both a reminder of the greatness of the catalog they'd left, and a vivid reminder of what might have been had Lennon not been shot. In the nearly 30 years that have ensued since it's release, while others who initially rejoiced it and now slag it off, I have only grown to love it more. Is it a great song, no but given the limitations surrounding it's creation and release which you point out, it is still sonically a lovely swan song.
Me too I was about to go to the university when I first heard it
Excellent story telling. Thank you!
I'd never heard George play slide like that and really loved it - that's my favorite part of the recording. It's a fair enough song but as the host says, no groundbreaker. I'm in it for the guitar.
If you want to hear a cooler slide guitar solo that George has done check out Lennon’s How Do You Sleep takes 5/6 it’s also on YT
i love your studio. free as a bird is, needless to say, a masterpiece, its video is also great. greater than any gaga's video. paul is really a good person to make his and george and ringo's dream come true, as well as many beatles fans.
Great video . I’m so glad they made these two songs 🙏
I really love this snarky guy's wardrobe storytelling. He was funny (lol'd with migraine!) And informative. Look forward to seeing more, subscribed.
What tremendous analysis of this song and the Beatles in general. Look forward to hearing another segment. Great job!
this is really well made, i loved watching it all
Wow!
Brilliantly put together! Tight and and succinctly put together!❤️🎤
thanks bud 👊
As a Beatle fan we could never get enough. This was the icing on the cake. Thanks guys
These last two made me wish even more that they had stayed together, but we can’t change history.
Very nice video, mate! I thought it was pretty mediocre when it came out, but I have grown to value it more as time wears on ... George's slide guitar is the highlight for me now.
Appreciate that you are reaching a younger Beatles fan base, even if what is being delivered here, has been said before.
Free is a Bird is the first Beatles song I heard and they have been my favourite band sinse 1995.
incredible video, also part two! very muich enjoyed the irreverent, funny style, yet still lots of love for and knowledge about the beatles; hope you are going to do more beatle content!
All the thoughts , comments etc. put aside. They were the Beatles. Magical, time enduring, even to this day. Will I still need them when i'm 64....Yes.
The Beatles- "Grow Old Along with Me" made my eyes water! Broke my heart.. Because of the Lyrics, they can never happen. John never got to grow old.... 👓
It’s great to hear an in-depth study of this track.
My dad from the big band era, who didn't really. get off on all of these rock groups, did take note and acknowledge the monumental achievement of uniting the Beatles even with knowing John was dead, thought that the creative mindset to make the production was brilliant, and when he heard the final project piece, he actually liked what they created. My dad was an artist and knew the Beatles were a unique and special band of musicians, his favorite song of theirs being And I Love Her. Amazing Free As A Bird.
Mark David Chapman, robbed the world of a Beatles reunion. It’s sad. That could have been one of the highlights of my life. A dream come true.
Its insane but true. Can you imagine if he shot Yoko?? John would have written a Masterpiece.
You shouldn’t ever mention that maggots name online or to anyone, he doesn’t deserve any attention
Hi! Interesting video! The first one I have seen of yours so it was great to see a deep dive into Free As A Bird. Now Free As A Bird has a special place in my heart as it was the song that made me a Beatles fan. At age 19 I was aware of some Beatles stuff but nothing had drawn me into that world. However hearing this amazing song, and watching the Anthology on TV, made me a huge fan of them and their solo careers! I also, around 96/97 discovered ELO and they became one of my favourite bands ever so having Jeff involved made me love the song even more. With the technology Peter Jackson used for Get Back, and subsequently Revolver, they could really improve Free As A Bird some more. Separate things a bit more and make it sound even better. Great video. Look forward to some more!
I really really really freaking like the new Beatles! I didn't know I liked them! Thank you!
I absolutely love Free as a Bird, perfect could not be better and very moving!
This was truly good work by Paul to start this whole project thing and ask witch woman for some of Johns music. Yes George didn’t get the respect he deserved most of the time but you got to admit the egos (and money) were flying during those last few years. I say it’s a miracle that it happened, but on the other side not surprised. The Beatles were a miracle!
Delighted to discover your channel and just subscribed! Love your droll style, and while some of your comments may be a bit brutal, I appreciate your great insights. I grew up a Beatles fan (I was 11 when they first played the Ed Sullivan Show), but I guess I was too busy with life and my career to truly listen to "Free" when it was released. Personally, I think doing it in a retro style would have diminished its honesty, but thanks for sharing the story around it, and I look forward to more of your videos!
Thanks everyone for the views and kind words - questions and comments will be responded to in an upcoming Q&A so keep em coming
You could hang a sheet over your closet. Light blue or magenta would look good.
I agree, hard to take you seriously when you're locked in a closet! Documentary wise, you were informative but should be more animated or do a green screen background of old video clips or still photos, with you in a picture in a picture style. The head on shot is too limiting since you're trapped in a closet.
I got a kick out of George sayingvI hope someone does this to all my crappy demos when I die!!
It was a real Beatles tune. even though it was taking old material and redoing and refining reworking, it was fine anytime I could hear them sing their harmonies and them together is good for me .I don’t care if it’s skiffle or rock ‘n’ roll together they made great music and I liked it ,and you’re right Paul McCartney is the MVP and a genius ,and a melody machine ,and when you put that together with another genius or two ,you get the Beatles.
Thank you for doing this
What an amazing video! I was in two minds as to whether I’d watch or not- so glad I did! It’s brilliant- fantastic insights, humorous and highly entertaining. Thanks a million for all your work in this. Great job!
It was great when "Free As A Bird" came out. It was a whole new really beautiful Beatle song that came out MANY YEARS. after their break-up and a death. It was like finding a long lost Van Gogh painting. Could you imagine finding a previously unknown Sinatra recording today? The companion song "Real Love" was OK but not as great as FAAB.
Great song. Thanks for making this video. I learned a lot, and it enhances my long relationship with the song. I watched the video when it premiered on US television, buying the CD soon after.
Are you aware of the 2015 Remix of both Free As A Bird and Real Love? They cleaned up the audio and Lennon’s vocals with modern technology. Sounds a lot better. I am very grateful the remaining Beatles made these. It’s more an epilogue than a part of the official catalogue. I’d give FAAB 9.5/10, RL 7/10.
I mention them in pt 2 aye
Good stuff, I was very intrigued and enjoyed the video
I think Free as a Bird should be remastered and rebooted at the same time with today's technology, and with Paul at the helm. And the same done to Real Love.
I love it ,it's part of the story.
The song sounds like some Traveling Willburies song feat Paul as a quest.
Great retrospective review😎👌
Always thought FAAB stood shoulder to shoulder with their late sixties output.
Remember hearing the complete original demo on UA-cam some years ago and even in its raw state it carried a very surreal feel which the remake still managed to bottle.
The very fact that as Threetles they had recorded Here Comes The Sun without John showed that it could easily be done such was their combined talent. In a alternative universe it would have been great to see Jeff Lynne come on board and do a one off album by the Electric Beatles, he certainly had immense musical genius to make it work.
It’s refreshing to hear a beatle fan with thoughtful and insightful and brutally honest commentary. Very smart takes. Refreshing to hear a beatle fan speak honest truth and be critical as fuck. Well done.
I'll never forget the countdown on Anthology 1 - the video and song had me sobbing.
Yes it's a real Beatles song.
It's amazing what they were able to do with an older cassette recording. I remember before I first heard it saying, "please don't suck"...... it didn't. It brought tears to my eyes. It WAS the Beatles. It was if they never left. The follow up to " Abbey Road".
Clever and insightful view into the brief reunion of the FF from a musician's perspective. Looking forward to more... love the closet acoustics!
If Johnny is singing, then it's a Beatles song. I like the song, the slide guitar of George is very emotional, perhaps my favorite part next to hearing Lennon singing on this old/new track. Although not groundbreakingly innovative, the song reveals how culturally conscience worldwide the Beatles were in the latter part of the last century.
I really enjoyed this commentary. Great post!
I don´t know much about how the song came to be, but I was very happy when it came out - 25 years after LET IT BE ! ! It was great to have a new Beatles song, although John had been dead for 15 years :-(!
2 things I got fm those works were 1: They could still make magic and 2: Real Love and friendship were the fuel to that magic
Loved your video. The fact that you are doing it in a closet takes stones.
Sir… I salute you! 🫡
Happy that we got it. I wish there were more of Lennon's home demos left that Paul ànd Ringo could work on (before it's too late). Love your video.
I am glad The Treetles took the Free As A Bird and Real Love to close the out the final work of Beatles music. This gave us a real hint of what a full studio project between the four of them might have sounded like. I think the results was very good considering they were working off a homemade cassette demo. The later 1980s were good for George, Cloud Nine and Traveling Wilburys.
I'm now looking forward to your Real Love video. I think its a Beatles canon song, which was verified in the last singles box set which included the two new songs. I'm hoping now with the new DeMix Technology, that they can go back to the original source tape of John's demo, and do an equalization on it, experiment with time stretching and make it so that it sounds like a studio recording instead of a home demo. Overall I give it a 100% on everything, the passion was there, the interest to see if the impossible can be possible, and of course as it was mentioned, Paul was the VMP of it all.
I think the demix thing will defs happen!
@@_Superfluent after I made this comment, I actually found the audio of John’s demo and Demixed it myself and his voice sounds amazing on its own.
@@PaulinaAngel Nice, do you know what take you used? I found 3, take 1 was kind of crappy but the vocal was clearer on the other ones
@@_Superfluent I’m thinking the one they used, the characteristics of his voice matches
Thank you Mr. Superfluent for your take on Free As A Bird. You shed a lot of light on what happened behind the scenes. Personally I think the finished song is perfect. The lyrics are haunting and personal and and the music has a touch of melancholy to it. George's slide guitar is a highlight as is Ringo's signature drum style. And yes, although Paul's influence is omnipresent, it comes across as a team project. On a related subject, I would like Apple to consider letting Peter Jackson's team have a go at separating the vocals and piano and generally cleaning up the sound and remastering it. I think that's what they are doing to the upcoming Now and Then. Finally, I think Peter Jackson should take a stab at the Magical Mystery footage and see if he can work his magic on this beloved hot mess of a film.
The truth....with a side of 'piss and vinegar". Beautiful. Easy on the 3, 6 and 9's
My only regret on FAAB is McCartney didn't do his usual crazy bass playing.
But I loved it from the second I heard it. It was a dream come true
@Plodding” nails it. Free as a Bird is nothing if not lackluster.
Great job and enjoyed it very much! Super thanks!
Personally, I think “Now & Then” was the best song out of the four that Yoko gave to the Fabs. It’s a shame that George vetoed it.
Getting back to “Free As A Bird”, one of John’s great talents was creating space within a song, the “less is more” approach, that allows for harmonic overtones. I think that that space is there on the demo, but it got quantised and lost in the finished recording.
Still, it’s The Beatles.
Another cracking video, man. Quite emotional when you consider all their history.
When is part 2 out?
thank you! preview here:
ua-cam.com/video/dE2rmMc4Fu8/v-deo.html
Full vid is available on patreon / ko-fi 👊
I love Free As A Bird. The best part is when Paul's vocal comes in - it gives me goosebumps every time. Both Free As A Bird and Real Love should be reissued using the AI on John's vocals.
Yoko called Elton John and made him fly to New York where she asked him to finish the songs on the cassette tape . He graciously turned down the offer as he didn’t think it would be right for him to do.
What a interesting video and presentation...
Love that song!
I remember when it was released with the video in 1995 and I wept hearing John's mournful voice from the grave. The day of his death in 1980 was a day I have never forgotten, then a teenager. I was so upset he never came back to us in the UK.
I thought REAL LOVE was the clincher for me. Free as a bird was kind of draggy, but Real Love seemed more like a new Beatles song for me, and The break with George’s guitar solo were great . Even the drums were more like a Beatles song. To me REAL LOVE rates much higher than FAAB. The bass guitar sounds and style were much better too.
I agree entirely
I agree! I prefer Real Love
Great video ! But I think FAAB is perfect as it is. The swinging version would have been terrible. John laid out a demo. An imperfect demo. That lacked many many many things musically. Yet they made it enjoyable. For whatever reasons.
I think, artistically and musically, I prefer the "Real Love" song more but FAAB has this magical feeling of having The Beatles back together if only for a few moments. It always make me shiver when I hear the first measures.
I feel the same as Ringo said at the time. I was in college when I was anxiously awaiting for the songs to come out and hear them for the first time. It wasn't "the beatles", but it also was. I imagine this is how they might have sounded had they still been together, it wasn't the 60's anymore. Also they weren't building a song from the ground up, they had to work with what John had already put in place so it was more a "John" song with them adding to it and no room to change anything. When they all worked together, one would write a song and while most of the writer's song stayed intact, the other 3 would come in and suggest modifications to the song, couldn't do that here, all they could do was add to it. The video was amazing though
great video
Awesome commentary. Spot on warts and all. Love the brutal honesty Very excellent comments in telling it like it is It’s even more powerful with the clothes in your closet as background.
brilliant video mate, keep it going
Yeah good stuff mate as far as the track goes I always thought it was dripping Beatles
This is briiiiiliant! Very entertaining. Love the hangers.
Fantastic analysis video. All very valid opinion and well made and put together. You made me feel what you were saying. And I couldn't disagree with anything you said. Thanks, and I look forward to more. A1
I love Free As A Bird. 😊❤
Life gave the post-Beatles Beatles a few lemons, and they made lemonade. FAAB is fab.
man, I love all of the Beatles. but McCartney has always been my favorite, I wish I could someday see him live at least once. this was a very nice story i would have never known this if not seen this vid
Great video 👌love it
It would have been cool if they'd completed a third song/ single and for all of the singles had done recordings as just a trio and done one lead vocal each for the b-sides. Ringo and George's King of Broken Hearts from slightly after Anthology gives clues what that would have been like but I suppose tensions between the three surviving Beatles in the mid 90's would have made that impossible.
15:37 I would LOVE to hear a version like this
Yeah Paul got more vocals on the song but George got to play a small slide bit and ukelele section at the end. I'd say it was fair.
Once again, Paul was a dick and George got pissed. No wonder he held onto that grudge.
@@farrellmcnulty909 How was Paul a dick? George got to pick the producer, play slide guitar, play ukelele, sing, and complain the whole time.
@@Pedgem I was just annoyed by him saying :It's My Sweet Lord all over again...essentially treating George as he had all those years. John was wrong, he didn't learn anything...in all those years.
@@farrellmcnulty909 Here is the quote from Paul: "I told Jeff Lynne that I was slightly worried about this because I thought it might get to sound a little bit like My Sweet Lord or one of George’s signature things. I felt that the song shouldn’t be pulled in any way, it should stay very Beatles, it shouldn’t get to sound like me solo or George solo, or Ringo for that matter. It should sound like a Beatles song. So the suggestion was made that George might play a very simple bluesy lick rather than get too melodic. And he did: what he played was almost like a Muddy Waters riff. And that really sealed the project. I thought - I still think - that George played an absolute blinder because it’s difficult to play something very simple, you’re so exposed." So I could see how George would be frustrated but I also see where Paul is coming from.
Paul knew what to do for the song. I think he was not only correct, but fair. George sounded GREAT
Very fair evaluation. Having watched the Beatles on Ed Sullivan at age 12 & followed them to their break-up, I loved the Anthology’s two new songs, video & CD’s. Me & my brother went to Barnes & Noble at 11pm for Anth 1’s release & joined in the Fab Quiz! The CD’s opened up the Beatles’ studio working process, something we all hungered for. Again, very fair eval. But I love “Bird” & it’s video far more than Real Love.
The first time I heard the song, I didn't know who it was and I thought "oh God, another bunch of middle-aged guys trying to sound like the Beatles". Well, they weren't trying; they were IT.
A super to the point clip.
Definitely the Beatles. Definitely great. Sounds like the opening track to the followup to Abbey Road.
Really loved this song.... and the second song they did (can't remember the name of that song). I really liked the CD's that went with them. Hours of great listening.
The second one was called Real Love. Holds up just as well as Free As A Bird. Both absolutely brilliant songs.
@Sir Henners that's the one. And yeah, they are both fantastic songs. Given the restrictions due to the low quality of the original recordings I think it could not have been done any better. Hearing the Beatles again was just such a joy when I first heard these songs.... and I LOVED the video clips for them as well..... cheers.
True appreciation for Jeff Lynn's efforts here must be seen amongst the days technology limitations, especially now when Peter Jackson's "Get Back" movie and soundtrack are literally blowing peoples minds! That said, take the song "Real Love" and slow it down just a touch, I used imovie, and the real Beatles come flying out! Lynn had to speed up the Lennon cassette version to sync it with a usable click track, turning it into somewhat of a cartoon sounding vocal.
You’re a great story teller
Sure, there was a lot of technical wizardry thanks to Jeff Lynne. Lennon’s 1 6 iv 5 progression is pedestrian, but for me the addition of the bridge with the wonderful diminished chord complemented the emotional wistfulness that hovers (no pun intended) around the whole song. As noted, the song doesn’t push any musical boundaries the way The Beatles used to, but it acts as a fitting elegy to an enormous talent and to his equally talented brothers in arms.
Being a relatively new Beatles fan, I only discovered them 4-ish years ago at the age of 25, I will admit that Free as a Bird broke me.
I had always shunned the Beatles as a sort of proto boyband of the 60s. Yet, as a lifelong fan of music, and as I prepared myself to explore 60s music, I talked myself into giving them a try. At worse, I'd just not like them, right? Well, that turned out to be true. As corny as it is, I walked away after listening to their albums changed in a way. I grew a new sense of appreciation for the older generations that would claim "The Beatles are the best band ever!" because, you know what? I agree. As far as contemporary music goes, for my money, they are the GOATs.
So, when I sat down to listen to/watch Free as a Bird just after I finished the albums, I just broke. Like, yes, it's a bit cringe for being so sappy and sentimental, but at the same time, it rightly deserves to be that. It's for that reason that I could never fault the track. Despite the reasons they may have taken up the project, it more than merits being apart of their discography.
Great video dude. I'm honestly shocked UA-cam recommended this, but I suppose they get something right once in a while. Here's hoping you blow up big time!
I couldn't agree more ...!!!
Thanks man really appreciate it
@ LeeLee94TV, "proto boyband of the 60s"? Who cares what you think? You've become a Beatle's fan because of this song? Almost everyone who watches this video knows more about the Beatles than you. Stop doing us favors. Nobody cares what you think.
@@MrCook1227 No, I did not became a fan because of this song. I didn’t insinuate whether I knew more or not, I simply decided to share a story regarding my Beatles journey on a Beatles related video. Thanks and much love to ya.
God bless you.
Paul didn’t need the Anthology to bring him back to relevancy. He had just come off one of the year’s highest grossing tours prior to the release of Anthology.