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Topic ClosedThe Beatles Eleanor Rigby/She's Leaving Home

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NYSPORTSFAN View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: The Beatles Eleanor Rigby/She's Leaving Home
    Posted: February 10 2016 at 12:05

One of the more interesting approaches in style in music and instrumentation well to me was Eleanor Rigby/''She's Leaving Home.

 

The dark lyrical themes, chamber style orchestration, lack of rock instruments with just vocal backings is almost entirely different genre of music in my opinion.

 

Any thoughts.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 10 2016 at 12:14
Love both songs but I just about prefer "She's Leaving Home" melodically and lyrically.

SLH wasn't scored by George Martin, he was busy recording with Cilla Black when McCartney phoned him. McCartney didn't want to wait so he called in Mike Leander to do it instead (and he later found fame with G*ry Gl*tt*r).
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 10 2016 at 12:38
Rigby came first so was a revolutionary approach for a "pop" single, but I much prefer She's Leaving Home.  More intricate musically and more emotional lyrically.  Makes me happy for the girl to "leave home" and start a new life but also sad at the same time for the parents who are convinced they somehow drove her away and are desperate to understand what they did wrong.  One of The Beatles most successful marriages of music and lyrics.  If written 100 years earlier it would probably be considered a tone poem composition masterpiece Wink

Edited by The.Crimson.King - February 10 2016 at 12:41
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 10 2016 at 14:34
She's Leaving Home is a real accomplishment but for pure songsmithing as well as musical and cultural impact, it's Rigby.   Who'd have thunk a rock 'n roll band in '66 could've pulled off a no-rock-instrumentation arrangement and still make it rock?

One of the most important pop recordings ever.


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 10 2016 at 14:58
I find both songs very dull, both musically and lyrically.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 10 2016 at 15:34
Originally posted by emigre80 emigre80 wrote:


I find both songs very dull, both musically and lyrically.


I feel the same.
Nahh 'A day in the life' is where it's at...Pepperwise.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 10 2016 at 17:28
Originally posted by Guldbamsen Guldbamsen wrote:

Originally posted by emigre80 emigre80 wrote:


I find both songs very dull, both musically and lyrically.


I feel the same.
Nahh 'A day in the life' is where it's at...Pepperwise.

 
Yeah, A Day in the Life is the best song on SP and the best Beatles' song all round. Unless you want to count the second side of Abbey Road as one extended song, in which case ADITL would have some serious competition.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 10 2016 at 19:38
Both are beautiful songs. Can't pick one.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 19 2016 at 07:14
Elanor is a true "pop" song in the sense that it has been covered by diverse artists from Sinatra to Harvey Mandel; SLH is a great topical song - it hit home as a lot of young people at the time were doing just as the title implies - leaving but not on the same paths as their parents and grandparents before them.  Exciting, heady times for sure.
I like to feel the suspense when you're certain you know I am there.....
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 19 2016 at 07:59
I much prefer the sound and ambience of Eleanor Rigby. Also it sounds much more fun if you cover it. 
Rigby feels more progressive and contains much more tension IMO.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 19 2016 at 15:48
The Aussie band Zoot did a really good hard-rock cover of Eleanor Rigby.
I've never liked the whiney, orchestral SLH. That track alone stops Sgt. Pepper's from the 5th star for me.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 19 2016 at 16:48
Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

She's Leaving Home is a real accomplishment but for pure songsmithing as well as musical and cultural impact, it's Rigby.   Who'd have thunk a rock 'n roll band in '66 could've pulled off a no-rock-instrumentation arrangement and still make it rock?

One of the most important pop recordings ever.


"Eleanor Rigby" does not  sound like rock to me. On any level, by any means.

Personally, I prefer the calm pacing of the stringwork in "SLH" over the anxious pacing on "Eleanor Rigby". Probably because I prefer a more laid-back vibe.


Edited by Dayvenkirq - February 19 2016 at 16:51
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 19 2016 at 17:01
Yeah this might be too different though and therefore too subjective.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 19 2016 at 17:29
Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

She's Leaving Home is a real accomplishment but for pure songsmithing as well as musical and cultural impact, it's Rigby.   Who'd have thunk a rock 'n roll band in '66 could've pulled off a no-rock-instrumentation arrangement and still make it rock?

One of the most important pop recordings ever.
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