@TheBrabon1 Now THAT would be a good song for them to hear. The Move need more exposure on this side of the pond... though the group they eventually became is far better known here (ELO).
Excuse me but....Strawberry Fields is in Liverpool, in the Northwestern U.K. Blue Jay Way is in Los Angeles, California. High up in the Hollywood Hills and they're not exactly accessible to one another. This has been your Geography lesson for today! Tomorrow will include a Pop Test to see what you have retained after an evening of smoking marijuana!
This song features the ethereal sounding Mellotron (you can hear it at the beginning of the song), which could be considered the first sampler and forerunner of today's electronic instruments like the synthesiser as we know it.
The Beatles and George Martin changed rock music from being a live performance medium to an art form created entirely in the studio. They refined the technique of overdubbing that was invented by the jazz guitarist Les Paul.
To say the beatles and george martin were a bit ahead of their time is a wee understatement. I am very excited to see you do more beatles in the future.
I think the word Claire was searching for and couldn’t yet find is psychedelic. The Beatles felt free to “follow their muse” and create art for the sake of art. Many lesser bands would have been terrified to experiment so much. Pink Floyd and Yes are also major bands that experimented with psychedelic sounds, and you have already reacted to some of their songs.
The Beatles - the first ever successful pop/rock group in the world. At their height, they were talked about in the British press every single day for years. It was a great and magical time to be a teenager.
Yep, everything is in reverse, including the audio. It's mind boggling how far The Beatles progressed in a few short years musically. Almost unimaginable. You two are so candid and unabashed in front of the camera. The random banter is hilarious.
I really like the fact that you had very much the reaction and wonder that people had when this came out over 50 years ago. With all of the music that has been inspired by the Beatles and people trying to replicate their feel, it's amazing it still hits you that way. Really nice guys.
Ok im a Beatles fanatic and heres some info on it: Strawberry Fields was a place in Liverpool where John Lennon used to hang out. The recording consists of 2 versions of the song. The intro was played on a Mellotron which was a predecessor to the synthesizer. That was one in the video. In the song they set it to play flutes for the intro. The mellotron actually used tape recordings to emulate other instruments. The first part of the song features the band and their instruments, then, the song transistions and adds strings and horns. The lads had recorded 2 versions but John, "Harry Potter", liked both. He asked George Martin to combine both versions which presented a problem. They were in different keys. G. Martin, being a genius slowed down the version with horns and strings to match the key of the 1st version. Thats why John's voice sounds deeper later in the song. Thanks for your reactions. You are cool kids with a cool dad.
Claire for the win! The song utilizes a verse that is all flowery in a major key, and the chorus is in the relative minor, creating a feeling of mysterious change. And there all also instances, such as the guitar at the very end that bangs away at one note which is in tune, and the same note tuned a little flat, at the same time, that create dissonance. Also her comments on aesthetic are on point. They created very vibey music for a while that changed the whole music game.
This is a song written by John Lennon of The Beatles. Strawberry Fields was the name of an orphanage in Liverpool, England where The Beatles grew up. John was writing about a place he used to hang around and play at as a kid. Paul McCartney did a similar thing when he wrote Penny Lane, about a street near where he lived. The Beatles would often write songs about things very near and dear to them. I enjoyed your reaction. Claire, you seem to have a music background. You hit the nail on the head when you said this song was ahead of it's time. Keep up the good work.
Great reaction kids! This band was way ahead of their time in almost every aspect of popular music. The music jumped from the grooves of their records and created a template that so many artists draw from still to this day almost 60 years later! You can't go wrong with The Beatles.😊
The lines that really resonate with me in the song are "It's getting hard to be someone/ But it all works out/ It doesn't matter much to me". This is a psychoanalytical work according to John. He started to write it while he was in Spain filming the movie "How I Won The War". It was just after the Beatles had decided to stop touring. Lennon had gotten into controversy with his comments about their fame. These lines I believe refer to how he was dealing with the pressure of that fame. Also, at the time he started it he was alone, without the others and feeling a bit lost and depressed, especially after hearing about a close friend and likely lover, whom he admired, dying at 34 years old from ovarian cancer. (Alma Cogan) I think he wanted to return to that place he loved as a child and felt safe there. A place where he could just play and be himself without any adult worries or concerns.
Thoughtful reaction as always, I appreciate that. I loved Claire’s description of “polkadotted”. Song was made during the beginnings of the hippie era so I think it was intentionally very relaxed as a contrast to what young people thought of as the uptight establishment in power.
Yes my dear, Chaos! Chaos is the key to this songs beauty 😻This song amazed the world when it was released, nobody had ever done anything like this before
Yes. Strawberry Fields Forever used Mellotron flutes but also strings on the early takes. The other preset tapes include voices “ahh” and some rhythmic grooves like a nightclub combo. McCartney loves playing with one. Check out his Flaming Pie album recording sessions.
Genesis, King Crimson and Yes used them extensively. The sound of prog rock. The tape loops used for each key could be swapped out and had two sounds recorded on each set, one on each edge, and you could move the tape head across from say woodwind to brass or pipe organ to strings, there were even choral sounds. But the best sounds were when the heads were set in the middle to play both sound samples at the same time. Try “Watcher of the Skies” by Genesis with the truly cosmic sounding Mellotron of Tony Banks. Interesting thing is the longest notes could only be 8 seconds because that’s how long the tape loops were.
When the EMI Abbey Road recording studio was getting rid of a lot of old instruments that they decided were “surplus,” Paul bought a lot of the instruments that the Beatles had used. So he has the actual Mellotron from this song, as well as a harpsichord and other studio-owned keyboards and percussion that had featured on other Beatles recordings, that have found a new home in Paul’s home studio. Some of them have popped up on recent songs from Sir Paul, 50 years later.
When the word MELLOTRON appears...how about mentioning THE MOODY BLUES, who incorporated the said instrument into their first albums. I think you guys should be introduced to the MBs and if you could spare 45 minutes, or so, try their concept album Days Of Future Passed. If you like it...try more!!
Claire, You mentioned how the Beatles used the different keys in this song. You may find this video interesting. Composer Howard Goodall explains how the Beatles music changes keys and modes. He does an excellent job for layman like myself so you don't have to be a classically trained musician to understand it. It will explain how those changes make you feel they way you do, and why you do about the music. It is kinda cool. Not for a reaction, but for your own edification. He doesn't set there and just listen to Beatles music and then talk about what he was listening to. It is not like that at all. As a matter a fact, there is not a lot of Beatles music to listen to, just snippets necessary to get his point across. He does more on a keyboard playing other stuff to make his point about a snippet of a Beatles song he talked about. But, you'll understand if you watch it. It actually is worth the watch, if only for the general music theory education you can get from it. The Beatles: a musical appreciation and analysis by composer, Howard Goodall CBE ua-cam.com/video/ZQS91wVdvYc/v-deo.html
Here is a bit of news that may surprise you. From Forbes Jul 14, 2020 "Half a century after their breakup, The Beatles are still the biggest rock band of 2020, shifting 1.094 million album-equivalent units through the first six months of the year, 326,000 units ahead of the genre’s second-place finisher, Queen. The Fab Four also had the fifth-bestselling vinyl album of the year, selling 54,000 copies of their 1969 opus Abbey Road. " That is over a million albums sold in 2020 50 years after they broke up. More than any other group in 2020 - past or present. Their total record sales is over 1.6 Billion - yes billion with a B. At least that is the best estimate. You can't just go by certified sales since many countries did not even have certification systems in place. England, their home country didn't have certified sales until 1973 - 3 years after they broke up. So, they only list 21 million certified sales in England. Most of the greatest groups are only in the hundreds of millions. Even if you count the certified sales the only one that comes close is Elvis Presley. Their record is still over 600 million and as this years numbers show, still climbing. For Mark and Claire, the Beatles were very much the leader of innovative sounds and styles during the 1960's. From the music to the hair, the music videos, to movies based on their music. Almost every musician in the world waited to see what they would do next to see what they would be competing with to try to come up with something better. They did not all want to admit it, but it was just a necessity of doing business when they dominated the culture they way they did. There was one week in April of 1964, the Beatles held the top 5 spot on the singles charts, and at the same time also had the top 2 album spots on the charts. If you were the Beach Boys, or Elvis Presley, or the Rolling Stones, or the Who, and you wanted to have a number one hit (or any hit for that matter), they made it very very hard. They were also very prolific. John Lennon and Paul McCartney could throw an album together as fast as anyone out there if they wanted to. And they did. They also had a great great producer, George Martin. I didn't want to forget his contribution to their success. As much as he did for them, he didn't write there songs, only helped them get their ideas done (in a very big way). I also don't want to forget that George Harrison and Ringo Starr also wrote some songs for most of their albums. And some very very good stuff too. Just not as prolific or inventive as John and Paul. As a whole, the 5 of them were unbeatable, and I say 5 because i do include George Martin in as part of the whole although not part of the "band". Sorry for being long winded.
This song prominently features the Mellotron, a keyboard which uses one actual strip of audio tape per key with pre-recorded sounds. The flute at the beginning is played on this instrument. Maximum continuous duration of each note is about 8 seconds.
Great reaction! Claire got more into the musical depth and Walker got the emotional aspect of the lyrics. Together, you pretty much described what makes this song such a timeless masterpiece.
And you two have a rare gift of seeing eye to eye as brother sister at such a young age (a testament to your parents) And one damn fine set of Headphones, same ones Taylor Swift uses in her studio. I have 770i's also. Not cheap, but a lot better than Bose or Beats which do nothing more than boost base. Have fun, maybe I'll send you a request or two (I'm old so I know a lot) I just have to figure out the procedure for submitting.
@@TRUMP-2024-STF cos you clearly dont know them. Strawberry Field is a place in Liverpool, still there. plus whatever bands you like, were influenced by these guys, dont have to love every song to respect them.
Greg Neel Lol..! Really..!!?? Lol.!! Funny.. I have my taste.. and you have yours.. I could say the same thing back to you.. and we would be in a stalemate... the tie is personal taste. Not everyone likes the Beatles..
No, they had three of the best song writers in history. That said I will still argue that they are both a great band but also an overrated one. Until 1966 they were somewhat the 60s version of a boy band but everyone always forgets about that part of their history.
Good reaction, youngsters. 😉👍.. I really admire the two of you at your age that you love to listen the old songs. Take your time and GodSpeed. :) from 🇵🇭
Actually Claire, as a musician, l thought your observation about Beatles melodies employing minor scale notes over major scale chords in unexpected ways was quite astute of you! Very impressive! Are you a musician too, or studying music yourself? Learning the Beatles catalog is a musical education all by itself. Anyway, well done, young lady and l like your channel. You guys say some pretty interesting things. Best wishes to all.
‘Harry Potter’ and Walker throws out another gem. Claire comes with a strong 21st century relevant perspective... Her excitement is awesome. And Dad doing some solid editing, to keep YT from blocking the post. Very nice. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
The opening instrument is a mellotron. There were various brass instruments, guitars, bass, drums, dulcimer, a string section, and quite a bit of tape manipulation! Some of the tapes were played backwards and/or slowed down. When this was recorded, they did two versions at two different tempos and two different pitches. John said he liked the first half of the faster take and the last half of the slower take so, to make them match together, the producer slowed down the first half and sped up the 2nd half and, miraculously, they not only matched tempo but also pitch. Now you need to hear, "Tomorrow Never Knows", "I Am The Walrus", "It's All Too Much", "Only A Northern Song", "What's The New Mary Jane?" and "Blue Jay Way". Also, check out the album, "S. F. Sorrow" by The Pretty Things, especially the songs, "Baron Saturday" and "Defecting Grey". That album was recorded at the same time as "Sgt. Pepper" and the first Pink Floyd album and they were all recorded in the same building. At one point, Twink (the drummer for The Pretty Things), snuck into The Beatles instrument closet and borrowed Ringo's 26" bass drum for the recording of their album.
Well done guys, you pretty much covered the song. Strawberry fileds was a children's home in Liverpool. It was built as a mansion in the Victorian era, it's now a tourist attraction. The Beatles were most certainly ahead of their time and influenced so many musicians. Good one.
"Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see." This is even more appropriate in today's world than it was in the 60's. Great job! Peace and Love!
I believe the word you are looking for when you talk about the music notes suddenly changing from major to minor is "discordant". It is meant to throw you off balance and to call your attention back to the song. There is a good Wikipedia page on this song: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry_Fields_Forever Apparently, not only did they film in reverse, they also recorded some instruments and then reversed them on the song to get the weird sounds. I didn't even know that and have listened to the song since it came out. Weird what you learn when you pay attention. Cheers!
Claire's intuition is correct, it was 'ahead of its time' at the time, nothing like it had been heard before, there were even Beatlemaniacs that thought The Beatles had progressed too far away from their earlier sound! They literally led people with them on their journey. It was awesome! Tragic in retrospect of course.
You young one's can learn alot from the greatest band to ever live . This was there psychedelic period. Nice to see you young people listen to old music ❤❤😊😊😊
Great reaction - you continue to brighten my day and my future in general ! "Strawberry Fields Forever" was the first song The Beatles recorded in the sessions for their landmark album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - probably the single most influential album in musical history. With it, The Beatles expanded the possibilities of recorded music in a way that nobody had done before. They turned the recording studio itself into a musical instrument, creating sounds, mixes and arrangements that couldn't exist anywhere except the studio. This is all commonplace today, but back then, it was totally revolutionary. It's one of those musical moments where, comparing it to all other music, it's clear and easy to say "This came before Sgt Pepper" or "That came after Sgt Pepper" Interesting side note: while The Beatles were recording Sgt Pepper in Studio 1 at EMI Abbey Road, upstairs in Studio 2 Pink Floyd were recording their first album, Piper at the Gates of Dawn.
My mom was 11 years old when the Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan Show. She said she remembers sitting on the couch Very Very Quietly because she knew the second she joined the screaming fangirls, her dad would turn it off. Help! has been one of my comfort movies since I was a kid. It's completely ridiculous, but you can tell they were having a blast when they made it.
This song takes on a very different meaning when you listen to it while on a mind trip... On second thought kids, it's awesome listening to it the way you are... Dont ever get pressured to try mind trips. Stay young, stay innocent, stay cool.
you have to remember the Beatles were the first band (after their Rubber Soul album) to have a full album where the listener can listen to an entire album and be
Hi Claire & Walker, it look`s like they had a Loom connected to the piano, weaving a multi-coloured rug, mat or wall covering. Strawberry Fields is a place in their home town of Liverpool, that they used to enjoy visiting as kids, I believe. There is now another Strawberry Fields in the U.S., NYC I think, in memory of John Lennon. Glad you enjoy their music !!
Great review. You finally got to some Beatles! I saw the Mellotron used in this song at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a few years ago in Cleveland. Hope you do more Beatles at some point. My favourites; We Can Work It Out, Day Tripper and Hey Jude. Reaction Faction! 🎸🍁
With Claire liking these older songs, she’s an old soul. Maybe just born 50 years late. Great job on showing these youngsters real music, not the cookie cutter stuff out today.
Geoff Emerick, The Beatles famous sound engineer was the genius behind this song. He had to splice two different versions at two different tempos together to create what we have now.
One of the things that I hope you two will embark upon some day(s) soon on your own time at home is to take the deep dive into The Beatles! Listen chronologically to their albums - each one, start to finish as a complete piece of art. That way you will start to understand their unmatched contribution to 20th century music and culture! :)
Where to begin with The Beatles? 1) The Beatles didn't create classic rock but they did create the template that every classic rock band had to follow. 2) The Beatles were the first rock band to fill a stadium. 3) The Beatles at one time had seven of the top ten songs on the hit list. 4) The strength of The Beatles was the songwriting duo of Lennon/McCartney. This duo created catchy songs that were experimental and immortal at the same time. 5) Ringo was a left handed drummer that played on a right hand kit. In doing so, he created drum grooves never copied by any other drummer whereas pretty much every other drummer plays a generic groove for their songs. 5) McCartney also left handed, playing bass. Both him and Harrison have a playing style so unique that it's like a fingerprint to a musicologist. 6) A two and a half hour concert is rare to a rock band, but if McCartney was to play only his songs that hit the top forty he would easily exceed the two and a half hours. 7) A number of pressures broke up The Beatles when they were at their peak but we can only speculate what would have happened had they played events like Live Aid. With Starr, McCartney and Harrison being virtuosos, this trio did jam together more than several times after the band broke up. It is a treat to listen to these jam sessions-if you appreciate musical genius and don't worry about "Is this hit quality?" It's like Beethoven, Handl and Stravinsky in the same room at the same time.
Paul Mc Cartney is still touring with Ringo Starr making occasional guest appearances at his shows. You should watch Paul playing " Hey Jude " live at Hyde Park to get a feeling for just how good he is and how he can control an audience.
I think I was about Walker’s age when I discovered this side of the Beatles. Before that I had only heard the early songs. Then I found a few of my Mom’s old records: Magical Mystery Tour, Sgt Pepper’s, and The White Album. It’s been a long strange trip ever since. ☮️
This generation is so much different, we didn't have video to go along with the song, you would put the headphones on and just listen to the song, and unless you do that you're not going to fully understand it or feel it because you're going to be distracted by the video.
When I was little kid, probably 5, I shared a room with my older brother and he used to run the radio at night. I woke up in middle of the night to this song, just as it hit the creepy part there at the end. Scared me so bad, I couldn't listen to this song again until I was probably about Claire's age. Great song though! Just bad timing.
You guys have great taste in music! Dad taught you well!!! You also have a great interpretation of what you are experiencing the song! Keep it up! And thank you for what you do!!!
oh girl? ok 3 questions, do you mean "girl"? do you mean "oh darling"? or do you mean "oh girl" by the chi-lites? because as you can probably guess by the part where i wrote "by the chi-lites" that one isn't a beatle song
This song about a cemetery in England called Strawberry Fields, where you go to stay forever. This fashions were picked up after their visit to India. At this time John Lennon was experimenting in the recording studio with sounds and techniques. And they were ahead of their time and changed the world of music as well as the world itself. It is no wonder why they were voted Band of the Millennium in 2000.
This is one of my fave songs by the Beatles, and mind you they have tons of them. I like watching you kids do reactions. I wish I had close relationships with any of my siblings. I am finally going to subscribe to your channel... You both are a hoot.
You've got a good ear, Claire. "Major to minor..." Interesting story about the recording of this song: John Lennon recorded one version, and, then, tried a different version later on. He asked George Martin (Beatles' Producer) if he could combine both versions. George told him it was impossible, because they're in two different keys and in two different tempos. John, not being technically inclined, said to George, "Well, you can fix it." So, George ended up slowing down the pitch of both versions to make them sound more cohesive.
Your first psychedelia reaction. Nice. The 60's were definitely different from today in many many ways.
It's The Beatles! Enough said.
Here before it gets copyright blocked... good luck
"Living is easy with eyes closed, Misunderstanding all you see"
I figured the same thing, but got to watch it, the guy who requested it should have told them the true meaning of the song...jmo
I have no idea how it's still up. This stuff is usually instablocked.
The song is a childhood memory - Strawberry Fields was a local orphanage/playground where John Lennon attended game days and such.
@@ChristopherStendeck Maybe official videos are exempt?
Nathan Weiss maybe the censors don’t want to block the younger commentators
If Strawberry Fields is elevator music, that is one elevator I would like to get stuck in.
Same, but I'd be worried about where said elevator would end up.
The only way to get to Strawberry Fields is to take Blue Jay Way!
or you can take the detour through penny lane!
@TheBrabon1 Now THAT would be a good song for them to hear. The Move need more exposure on this side of the pond... though the group they eventually became is far better known here (ELO).
Please don't be long...
Excuse me but....Strawberry Fields is in Liverpool, in the Northwestern U.K. Blue Jay Way is in Los Angeles, California. High up in the Hollywood Hills and they're not exactly accessible to one another. This has been your Geography lesson for today! Tomorrow will include a Pop Test to see what you have retained after an evening of smoking marijuana!
TheBrabon1 “Blackberry Way” is a song by the Move, has some of the same qualities as this.
This song features the ethereal sounding Mellotron (you can hear it at the beginning of the song), which could be considered the first sampler and forerunner of today's electronic instruments like the synthesiser as we know it.
The Beatles and George Martin changed rock music from being a live performance medium to an art form created entirely in the studio. They refined the technique of overdubbing that was invented by the jazz guitarist Les Paul.
Strawberry Fields Forever - John Lennon’s trippiest song
This ought to be interesting
Tomorrow Never Knows is trippier and is about John Lennon tripping on LSD
Sam Mack Agree. Maybe I Am The Walrus is even trippier.
@@De_Futura I am the Walrus is bonkers.....in a very good way.
Three trippiest songs ever, and I like Ozric Tentacles.
Lucy in The Sky is also very trippy
I'm sure that a dozen or so people have already said this, but Strawberry Fields was actually a children's home in Liverpool!
To say the beatles and george martin were a bit ahead of their time is a wee understatement. I am very excited to see you do more beatles in the future.
I hope they someday react to Helter Skelter. They would be mindblown.
I think the word Claire was searching for and couldn’t yet find is psychedelic. The Beatles felt free to “follow their muse” and create art for the sake of art. Many lesser bands would have been terrified to experiment so much. Pink Floyd and Yes are also major bands that experimented with psychedelic sounds, and you have already reacted to some of their songs.
I like their reaction to this song.
This song makes me wanna eat some strawberries right now. lol
😂
Glad you kids are listening to the Beatles. Best band ever ☮✝
The Beatles - the first ever successful pop/rock group in the world. At their height, they were talked about in the British press every single day for years. It was a great and magical time to be a teenager.
Hello Claire and Walker and Dad Well someone beat us to it.The Beatles now You've come full circle.congrats
You two crack me up! Brilliant and so ahead of your years! Keep doing what you're doing!😃
Listen to this song with the balance all the way to the left speaker. Drums are epic!
Yep, everything is in reverse, including the audio. It's mind boggling how far The Beatles progressed in a few short years musically. Almost unimaginable. You two are so candid and unabashed in front of the camera. The random banter is hilarious.
I really like the fact that you had very much the reaction and wonder that people had when this came out over 50 years ago. With all of the music that has been inspired by the Beatles and people trying to replicate their feel, it's amazing it still hits you that way. Really nice guys.
Ok im a Beatles fanatic and heres some info on it: Strawberry Fields was a place in Liverpool where John Lennon used to hang out. The recording consists of 2 versions of the song. The intro was played on a Mellotron which was a predecessor to the synthesizer. That was one in the video. In the song they set it to play flutes for the intro. The mellotron actually used tape recordings to emulate other instruments. The first part of the song features the band and their instruments, then, the song transistions and adds strings and horns. The lads had recorded 2 versions but John, "Harry Potter", liked both. He asked George Martin to combine both versions which presented a problem. They were in different keys. G. Martin, being a genius slowed down the version with horns and strings to match the key of the 1st version. Thats why John's voice sounds deeper later in the song. Thanks for your reactions. You are cool kids with a cool dad.
Claire for the win! The song utilizes a verse that is all flowery in a major key, and the chorus is in the relative minor, creating a feeling of mysterious change. And there all also instances, such as the guitar at the very end that bangs away at one note which is in tune, and the same note tuned a little flat, at the same time, that create dissonance. Also her comments on aesthetic are on point. They created very vibey music for a while that changed the whole music game.
When the Beatles came along it was a major change in music. Their impact was huge.
The Beatles are widely considered the most popular, successful and influential rock band of all time.
This is a song written by John Lennon of The Beatles. Strawberry Fields was the name of an orphanage in Liverpool, England where The Beatles grew up. John was writing about a place he used to hang around and play at as a kid. Paul McCartney did a similar thing when he wrote Penny Lane, about a street near where he lived. The Beatles would often write songs about things very near and dear to them. I enjoyed your reaction. Claire, you seem to have a music background. You hit the nail on the head when you said this song was ahead of it's time. Keep up the good work.
Great reaction kids! This band was way ahead of their time in almost every aspect of popular music. The music jumped from the grooves of their records and created a template that so many artists draw from still to this day almost 60 years later! You can't go wrong with The Beatles.😊
So thankful to been alive back then.
Growing up in the 60's and 70's.
Best music ever.
The lines that really resonate with me in the song are "It's getting hard to be someone/ But it all works out/ It doesn't matter much to me". This is a psychoanalytical work according to John. He started to write it while he was in Spain filming the movie "How I Won The War". It was just after the Beatles had decided to stop touring. Lennon had gotten into controversy with his comments about their fame. These lines I believe refer to how he was dealing with the pressure of that fame.
Also, at the time he started it he was alone, without the others and feeling a bit lost and depressed, especially after hearing about a close friend and likely lover, whom he admired, dying at 34 years old from ovarian cancer. (Alma Cogan) I think he wanted to return to that place he loved as a child and felt safe there. A place where he could just play and be himself without any adult worries or concerns.
Thoughtful reaction as always, I appreciate that. I loved Claire’s description of “polkadotted”. Song was made during the beginnings of the hippie era so I think it was intentionally very relaxed as a contrast to what young people thought of as the uptight establishment in power.
Yes my dear, Chaos! Chaos is the key to this songs beauty 😻This song amazed the world when it was released, nobody had ever done anything like this before
The mellotron actually played pre-recorded sounds when you pressed a key, and could reproduce any instrument or sound effect!
Yes. Strawberry Fields Forever used Mellotron flutes but also strings on the early takes. The other preset tapes include voices “ahh” and some rhythmic grooves like a nightclub combo. McCartney loves playing with one. Check out his Flaming Pie album recording sessions.
Genesis, King Crimson and Yes used them extensively. The sound of prog rock. The tape loops used for each key could be swapped out and had two sounds recorded on each set, one on each edge, and you could move the tape head across from say woodwind to brass or pipe organ to strings, there were even choral sounds. But the best sounds were when the heads were set in the middle to play both sound samples at the same time. Try “Watcher of the Skies” by Genesis with the truly cosmic sounding Mellotron of Tony Banks.
Interesting thing is the longest notes could only be 8 seconds because that’s how long the tape loops were.
When the EMI Abbey Road recording studio was getting rid of a lot of old instruments that they decided were “surplus,” Paul bought a lot of the instruments that the Beatles had used. So he has the actual Mellotron from this song, as well as a harpsichord and other studio-owned keyboards and percussion that had featured on other Beatles recordings, that have found a new home in Paul’s home studio. Some of them have popped up on recent songs from Sir Paul, 50 years later.
When the word MELLOTRON appears...how about mentioning THE MOODY BLUES, who incorporated the said instrument into their first albums. I think you guys should be introduced to the MBs and if you could spare 45 minutes, or so, try their concept album Days Of Future Passed. If you like it...try more!!
GREAT song! Your parents have the BEST taste in music. Rock on.👍🏼
It was a letter from Mark, a subscriber. All credit goes to him.
There's just got to be some animation out there of a bunch of strawberries dancing in a field. lol
It’s a park in Liverpool.
Claire,
You mentioned how the Beatles used the different keys in this song. You may find this video interesting. Composer Howard Goodall explains how the Beatles music changes keys and modes. He does an excellent job for layman like myself so you don't have to be a classically trained musician to understand it. It will explain how those changes make you feel they way you do, and why you do about the music. It is kinda cool. Not for a reaction, but for your own edification. He doesn't set there and just listen to Beatles music and then talk about what he was listening to. It is not like that at all. As a matter a fact, there is not a lot of Beatles music to listen to, just snippets necessary to get his point across. He does more on a keyboard playing other stuff to make his point about a snippet of a Beatles song he talked about. But, you'll understand if you watch it. It actually is worth the watch, if only for the general music theory education you can get from it.
The Beatles: a musical appreciation and analysis by composer, Howard Goodall CBE
ua-cam.com/video/ZQS91wVdvYc/v-deo.html
Here is a bit of news that may surprise you. From Forbes Jul 14, 2020
"Half a century after their breakup, The Beatles are still the biggest rock band of 2020, shifting 1.094 million album-equivalent units through the first six months of the year, 326,000 units ahead of the genre’s second-place finisher, Queen. The Fab Four also had the fifth-bestselling vinyl album of the year, selling 54,000 copies of their 1969 opus Abbey Road. "
That is over a million albums sold in 2020 50 years after they broke up. More than any other group in 2020 - past or present. Their total record sales is over 1.6 Billion - yes billion with a B. At least that is the best estimate. You can't just go by certified sales since many countries did not even have certification systems in place. England, their home country didn't have certified sales until 1973 - 3 years after they broke up. So, they only list 21 million certified sales in England. Most of the greatest groups are only in the hundreds of millions. Even if you count the certified sales the only one that comes close is Elvis Presley. Their record is still over 600 million and as this years numbers show, still climbing.
For Mark and Claire, the Beatles were very much the leader of innovative sounds and styles during the 1960's. From the music to the hair, the music videos, to movies based on their music. Almost every musician in the world waited to see what they would do next to see what they would be competing with to try to come up with something better. They did not all want to admit it, but it was just a necessity of doing business when they dominated the culture they way they did. There was one week in April of 1964, the Beatles held the top 5 spot on the singles charts, and at the same time also had the top 2 album spots on the charts. If you were the Beach Boys, or Elvis Presley, or the Rolling Stones, or the Who, and you wanted to have a number one hit (or any hit for that matter), they made it very very hard.
They were also very prolific. John Lennon and Paul McCartney could throw an album together as fast as anyone out there if they wanted to. And they did. They also had a great great producer, George Martin. I didn't want to forget his contribution to their success. As much as he did for them, he didn't write there songs, only helped them get their ideas done (in a very big way). I also don't want to forget that George Harrison and Ringo Starr also wrote some songs for most of their albums. And some very very good stuff too. Just not as prolific or inventive as John and Paul. As a whole, the 5 of them were unbeatable, and I say 5 because i do include George Martin in as part of the whole although not part of the "band".
Sorry for being long winded.
This is going to be good.
This song prominently features the Mellotron, a keyboard which uses one actual strip of audio tape per key with pre-recorded sounds. The flute at the beginning is played on this instrument. Maximum continuous duration of each note is about 8 seconds.
they were an extremely visionary band. waaaay ahead of their time, yet at the same time, they fit perfectly into their contemporary music scene.
Great reaction! Claire got more into the musical depth and Walker got the emotional aspect of the lyrics.
Together, you pretty much described what makes this song such a timeless masterpiece.
Claire, you're brilliant. (But don't let it go to your head 😀). Totally agree with your take.
THE BEATLES!!!! my fav band and i’m only 12!!!!! great video ❤️
The title "Strawberry Fields Forever" means never let go of your imagination, your escape.
And you two have a rare gift of seeing eye to eye as brother sister at such a young age (a testament to your parents) And one damn fine set of Headphones, same ones Taylor Swift uses in her studio. I have 770i's also. Not cheap, but a lot better than Bose or Beats which do nothing more than boost base. Have fun, maybe I'll send you a request or two (I'm old so I know a lot) I just have to figure out the procedure for submitting.
It’s a drug filled innuendo song.
I can’t stand the Beatles.!! HORRIBLE..!!
@@TRUMP-2024-STF cos you clearly dont know them. Strawberry Field is a place in Liverpool, still there. plus whatever bands you like, were influenced by these guys, dont have to love every song to respect them.
@@TRUMP-2024-STF That just go"s to show, you have no taste in music. nothing personal, just saying
Greg Neel
Lol..!
Really..!!?? Lol.!!
Funny.. I have my taste.. and you have yours..
I could say the same thing back to you.. and we would be in a stalemate... the tie is personal taste. Not everyone likes the Beatles..
The Beatles had two of the BEST song writers in HISTORY. that is why they are the GREATEST BAND of ALL TIME !!
Love The Beatles! In my top 6.
No, they had three of the best song writers in history. That said I will still argue that they are both a great band but also an overrated one. Until 1966 they were somewhat the 60s version of a boy band but everyone always forgets about that part of their history.
@@88wildcat Just like a fine wine, they got better over time.
If you ever want to listen to a truly crazy song, try "Alice's Restaurant" by Arlo Guthrie. It's a mostly-true story.
Good reaction, youngsters. 😉👍.. I really admire the two of you at your age that you love to listen the old songs. Take your time and GodSpeed. :) from 🇵🇭
Actually Claire, as a musician, l thought your observation about Beatles melodies employing minor scale notes over major scale chords in unexpected ways was quite astute of you! Very impressive! Are you a musician too, or studying music yourself? Learning the Beatles catalog is a musical education all by itself. Anyway, well done, young lady and l like your channel. You guys say some pretty interesting things. Best wishes to all.
"Very smooth." She's got it in one and clearly has a musical ear.
‘Harry Potter’ and Walker throws out another gem.
Claire comes with a strong 21st century relevant perspective... Her excitement is awesome.
And Dad doing some solid editing, to keep YT from blocking the post. Very nice.
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
From the album that inspired so many musicians.
It's actually not on Sgt. Peppers. It was released as a single with Penny Lane before Sgt Peppers was released.
Beautiful Song!!
The opening instrument is a mellotron.
There were various brass instruments, guitars, bass, drums, dulcimer, a string section, and quite a bit of tape manipulation! Some of the tapes were played backwards and/or slowed down. When this was recorded, they did two versions at two different tempos and two different pitches. John said he liked the first half of the faster take and the last half of the slower take so, to make them match together, the producer slowed down the first half and sped up the 2nd half and, miraculously, they not only matched tempo but also pitch.
Now you need to hear, "Tomorrow Never Knows", "I Am The Walrus", "It's All Too Much", "Only A Northern Song", "What's The New Mary Jane?" and "Blue Jay Way".
Also, check out the album, "S. F. Sorrow" by The Pretty Things, especially the songs, "Baron Saturday" and "Defecting Grey". That album was recorded at the same time as "Sgt. Pepper" and the first Pink Floyd album and they were all recorded in the same building. At one point, Twink (the drummer for The Pretty Things), snuck into The Beatles instrument closet and borrowed Ringo's 26" bass drum for the recording of their album.
Once again you nailed it. Yes to backwards. Yes to wrong/right notes. Yes to serene. Yes to polka dots. Yes to WILD strawberries.
Well done guys, you pretty much covered the song. Strawberry fileds was a children's home in Liverpool. It was built as a mansion in the Victorian era, it's now a tourist attraction. The Beatles were most certainly ahead of their time and influenced so many musicians. Good one.
"Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see." This is even more appropriate in today's world than it was in the 60's. Great job! Peace and Love!
I believe the word you are looking for when you talk about the music notes suddenly changing from major to minor is "discordant". It is meant to throw you off balance and to call your attention back to the song. There is a good Wikipedia page on this song: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry_Fields_Forever
Apparently, not only did they film in reverse, they also recorded some instruments and then reversed them on the song to get the weird sounds. I didn't even know that and have listened to the song since it came out. Weird what you learn when you pay attention. Cheers!
Claire's intuition is correct, it was 'ahead of its time' at the time, nothing like it had been heard before, there were even Beatlemaniacs that thought The Beatles had progressed too far away from their earlier sound! They literally led people with them on their journey. It was awesome! Tragic in retrospect of course.
You young one's can learn alot from the greatest band to ever live . This was there psychedelic period. Nice to see you young people listen to old music ❤❤😊😊😊
I've never seen Walker smile with delight or pleasure at a single piece of music! What do you really delight in, dude?
Love what you guys are doing!! Old music must stay alive!! 🤘😝🤘❤️
The Beatles grow and grow on you and mean different things at different ages phenomenal
Great reaction - you continue to brighten my day and my future in general !
"Strawberry Fields Forever" was the first song The Beatles recorded in the sessions for their landmark album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - probably the single most influential album in musical history. With it, The Beatles expanded the possibilities of recorded music in a way that nobody had done before. They turned the recording studio itself into a musical instrument, creating sounds, mixes and arrangements that couldn't exist anywhere except the studio. This is all commonplace today, but back then, it was totally revolutionary. It's one of those musical moments where, comparing it to all other music, it's clear and easy to say "This came before Sgt Pepper" or "That came after Sgt Pepper"
Interesting side note: while The Beatles were recording Sgt Pepper in Studio 1 at EMI Abbey Road, upstairs in Studio 2 Pink Floyd were recording their first album, Piper at the Gates of Dawn.
My mom was 11 years old when the Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan Show. She said she remembers sitting on the couch Very Very Quietly because she knew the second she joined the screaming fangirls, her dad would turn it off.
Help! has been one of my comfort movies since I was a kid. It's completely ridiculous, but you can tell they were having a blast when they made it.
Notice at the end of the video, where the tape is reverse, they are walking forward.
"I buried Paul." Look it up. ;)
Cranberry Sauce!
This song takes on a very different meaning when you listen to it while on a mind trip... On second thought kids, it's awesome listening to it the way you are... Dont ever get pressured to try mind trips. Stay young, stay innocent, stay cool.
The Beatles!!!! Period!! I love generation Z kids reacting to music from another galaxy ❤️
you have to remember the Beatles were the first band (after their Rubber Soul album) to have a full album where the listener can listen to an entire album and be
your comment makes me Kind of Blue
Hi Claire & Walker, it look`s like they had a Loom connected to the piano, weaving a multi-coloured rug, mat or wall covering. Strawberry Fields is a place in their home town of Liverpool, that they used to enjoy visiting as kids, I believe. There is now another Strawberry Fields in the U.S., NYC I think, in memory of John Lennon. Glad you enjoy their music !!
Great review. You finally got to some Beatles! I saw the Mellotron used in this song at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a few years ago in Cleveland. Hope you do more Beatles at some point. My favourites; We Can Work It Out, Day Tripper and Hey Jude. Reaction Faction! 🎸🍁
With Claire liking these older songs, she’s an old soul. Maybe just born 50 years late. Great job on showing these youngsters real music, not the cookie cutter stuff out today.
Geoff Emerick, The Beatles famous sound engineer was the genius behind this song. He had to splice two different versions at two different tempos together to create what we have now.
I remember hearing this song when it first came out in 1967 and thinking, “that’s different.” I was 10 at the time, younger than Walker.
The Beatles progressed big time, they played a lot of covers and pop rock in the beginning but just went higher and higher totally progressing.
So brilliant. I don't think this record could be made today!
One of the things that I hope you two will embark upon some day(s) soon on your own time at home is to take the deep dive into The Beatles! Listen chronologically to their albums - each one, start to finish as a complete piece of art. That way you will start to understand their unmatched contribution to 20th century music and culture! :)
This convo of you both trying to break down the song was hilarious but glad you liked it.
Where to begin with The Beatles?
1) The Beatles didn't create classic rock but they did create the template that every classic rock band had to follow.
2) The Beatles were the first rock band to fill a stadium.
3) The Beatles at one time had seven of the top ten songs on the hit list.
4) The strength of The Beatles was the songwriting duo of Lennon/McCartney. This duo created catchy songs that were experimental and immortal at the same time.
5) Ringo was a left handed drummer that played on a right hand kit. In doing so, he created drum grooves never copied by any other drummer whereas pretty much every other drummer plays a generic groove for their songs.
5) McCartney also left handed, playing bass. Both him and Harrison have a playing style so unique that it's like a fingerprint to a musicologist.
6) A two and a half hour concert is rare to a rock band, but if McCartney was to play only his songs that hit the top forty he would easily exceed the two and a half hours.
7) A number of pressures broke up The Beatles when they were at their peak but we can only speculate what would have happened had they played events like Live Aid. With Starr, McCartney and Harrison being virtuosos, this trio did jam together more than several times after the band broke up. It is a treat to listen to these jam sessions-if you appreciate musical genius and don't worry about "Is this hit quality?" It's like Beethoven, Handl and Stravinsky in the same room at the same time.
The Beatles were the number 1 premier band in the world. Men and women fainted if they got to be near them. They were that popular. Crazy popular.
The greatest influential band in history
Dark Side of the Moon is the best album ever made.
Paul Mc Cartney is still touring with Ringo Starr making occasional guest appearances at his shows. You should watch Paul playing " Hey Jude " live at Hyde Park to get a feeling for just how good he is and how he can control an audience.
I think I was about Walker’s age when I discovered this side of the Beatles. Before that I had only heard the early songs. Then I found a few of my Mom’s old records: Magical Mystery Tour, Sgt Pepper’s, and The White Album. It’s been a long strange trip ever since. ☮️
This generation is so much different, we didn't have video to go along with the song, you would put the headphones on and just listen to the song, and unless you do that you're not going to fully understand it or feel it because you're going to be distracted by the video.
The reactions were great Claire was bopping along and Walker had a glazed What the heck is going on look on his face. LOL
Crazy to think they went from She Loves You to this in a few short years. Both excellent but very different
This is my first view of one of your reaction videos, and you guys are hilarious!! I'm definitely subscribing!!!
When I was little kid, probably 5, I shared a room with my older brother and he used to run the radio at night. I woke up in middle of the night to this song, just as it hit the creepy part there at the end. Scared me so bad, I couldn't listen to this song again until I was probably about Claire's age. Great song though! Just bad timing.
The Beatles Are The Best 💯 Period
You guys have great taste in music! Dad taught you well!!! You also have a great interpretation of what you are experiencing the song! Keep it up! And thank you for what you do!!!
Thanks Thadd
Remember, you're listening to geniuses of music !
Polka-dotted. The perfect description of The Beatles
My favorite Beatles song would Be "Oh Girl" " Norwegian Wood"
oh girl? ok 3 questions, do you mean "girl"? do you mean "oh darling"? or do you mean "oh girl" by the chi-lites? because as you can probably guess by the part where i wrote "by the chi-lites" that one isn't a beatle song
"Weird but cool" is a good definition for this Beatles era haha
Would love to watch your reaction to I want to hold your hand!!! A really great Beatle song, great reaction
We DIDN'T HAVE ANY SLICK VIDEOS from the late 1960s. It was ALL ABOUT LISTENING to The Beatles that meant so much!
This song about a cemetery in England called Strawberry Fields, where you go to stay forever. This fashions were picked up after their visit to India. At this time John Lennon was experimenting in the recording studio with sounds and techniques. And they were ahead of their time and changed the world of music as well as the world itself. It is no wonder why they were voted Band of the Millennium in 2000.
This is one of my fave songs by the Beatles, and mind you they have tons of them. I like watching you kids do reactions. I wish I had close relationships with any of my siblings. I am finally going to subscribe to your channel... You both are a hoot.
Good idea. I finally just subscribed too.
FYI. Strawberry Field was the name of a garden near where John Lennon of the Beatles spent some time in a Liverpool Salvation Army children's home.
everything they did was ahead of it's time. You are correct in the time, they mixed two different takes into one
You've got a good ear, Claire. "Major to minor..." Interesting story about the recording of this song: John Lennon recorded one version, and, then, tried a different version later on. He asked George Martin (Beatles' Producer) if he could combine both versions. George told him it was impossible, because they're in two different keys and in two different tempos. John, not being technically inclined, said to George, "Well, you can fix it." So, George ended up slowing down the pitch of both versions to make them sound more cohesive.
Strawberry Field is a park in Liverpool, England.