My Sweet Lord, It's Full of Celebrities!
December 15, 2021 11:00 AM Subscribe
Just dropped: A new, official music video for George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord", the first single off of his first post-Beatles 1970 solo album, All Things Must Pass.
"An all-star cast from the worlds of music, TV, film and comedy have come together to honor George in the first-ever official music video for his iconic hit song, “My Sweet Lord.” Directed by Lance Bangs, the video stars Fred Armisen and Vanessa Bayer as metaphysical special agents who are tasked by the head of a clandestine agency, played by Mark Hamill, to search for that which can’t be seen."
Full cast and credits on George's website here.
"An all-star cast from the worlds of music, TV, film and comedy have come together to honor George in the first-ever official music video for his iconic hit song, “My Sweet Lord.” Directed by Lance Bangs, the video stars Fred Armisen and Vanessa Bayer as metaphysical special agents who are tasked by the head of a clandestine agency, played by Mark Hamill, to search for that which can’t be seen."
Full cast and credits on George's website here.
Anyway, it’s always good to hear George’s music.
Yeah, I love him. He's so fine.
posted by The Bellman at 11:39 AM on December 15, 2021 [8 favorites]
Yeah, I love him. He's so fine.
posted by The Bellman at 11:39 AM on December 15, 2021 [8 favorites]
Whatever I was expecting, it wasn't that.
I mean, it's sweet and all with lots of people I enjoy, so it's a nice digression. But if you'd like a rendition of people really grooving to it, you should go to Albert Hall in 2002 with Billy Preston.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 11:40 AM on December 15, 2021 [17 favorites]
I mean, it's sweet and all with lots of people I enjoy, so it's a nice digression. But if you'd like a rendition of people really grooving to it, you should go to Albert Hall in 2002 with Billy Preston.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 11:40 AM on December 15, 2021 [17 favorites]
It's been a while since I saw an actual music video so I forgot that they don't always... make a lot of sense. Still, it was great to see some of those people. Garfunkel and Oats!
posted by bondcliff at 11:45 AM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by bondcliff at 11:45 AM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
Metafilter: I don't know, I... didn't even look.
(But seriously, I did. Right to the end!)
posted by klanawa at 11:47 AM on December 15, 2021
(But seriously, I did. Right to the end!)
posted by klanawa at 11:47 AM on December 15, 2021
Who was Dhani in this? I didn't catch him in it.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:50 AM on December 15, 2021
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:50 AM on December 15, 2021
I think that is Dhani standing on a rock with binoculars.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:54 AM on December 15, 2021
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:54 AM on December 15, 2021
So is it accepted canon that George's music has held up the best among all the post-Beatles catalog?
posted by indianbadger1 at 11:55 AM on December 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by indianbadger1 at 11:55 AM on December 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
That's such a great and timeless song. It doesn't need a random and pointless video like this. (No offense to those who liked it )
posted by Liquidwolf at 12:01 PM on December 15, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by Liquidwolf at 12:01 PM on December 15, 2021 [4 favorites]
So is it accepted canon that George's music has held up the best among all the post-Beatles catalog?
Pretty much. Paul was already starting to get maudlin and goofy towards the end of the Beatles and had no counterweight to that when he was solo. John spent half the 70's on a massive bender and a lot of what he released was more notable for its political content that its music. George had a huge cache of songs built up and ready to go, and finally the means to get them released.
(plenty of exceptions to the above obviously)
posted by kersplunk at 12:06 PM on December 15, 2021 [6 favorites]
Pretty much. Paul was already starting to get maudlin and goofy towards the end of the Beatles and had no counterweight to that when he was solo. John spent half the 70's on a massive bender and a lot of what he released was more notable for its political content that its music. George had a huge cache of songs built up and ready to go, and finally the means to get them released.
(plenty of exceptions to the above obviously)
posted by kersplunk at 12:06 PM on December 15, 2021 [6 favorites]
I have no beef with the video itself, but I don't think we can call something "the official video" for a song if was made after the artist has died. More like the "legally authorized by the copyright owners" video.
posted by straight at 12:07 PM on December 15, 2021 [10 favorites]
posted by straight at 12:07 PM on December 15, 2021 [10 favorites]
So is it accepted canon that George's music has held up the best among all the post-Beatles catalog?
The stuff off All Things Must Pass holds up damn well, at least. It's all the songs that George had stockpiled from the days he was still in the Beatles, and had been sitting on for years - but the rest of the band only let him put a song or two on each album and he had way more in his back pocket. That kind of "we'll throw George a bone and give him only one song for each album" thing was one of the reasons he soured on being in the band, and so when they broke up he released All Things Must Pass partly as a fuck-you to the rest of the Beatles over "this was all the stuff you said no to, you jackasses."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:07 PM on December 15, 2021 [8 favorites]
The stuff off All Things Must Pass holds up damn well, at least. It's all the songs that George had stockpiled from the days he was still in the Beatles, and had been sitting on for years - but the rest of the band only let him put a song or two on each album and he had way more in his back pocket. That kind of "we'll throw George a bone and give him only one song for each album" thing was one of the reasons he soured on being in the band, and so when they broke up he released All Things Must Pass partly as a fuck-you to the rest of the Beatles over "this was all the stuff you said no to, you jackasses."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:07 PM on December 15, 2021 [8 favorites]
Great track but that video was embarrassingly bad. What a waste of budget and opportunity.
posted by dobbs at 12:09 PM on December 15, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by dobbs at 12:09 PM on December 15, 2021 [8 favorites]
I guess it's the Official Video for the 50th anniversary remaster of "My Sweet Lord." Fine.
posted by straight at 12:10 PM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by straight at 12:10 PM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
So is it accepted canon that George's music has held up the best among all the post-Beatles catalog?
Certainly among those that have engendered all-star videos.
posted by dannyboybell at 12:10 PM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
Certainly among those that have engendered all-star videos.
posted by dannyboybell at 12:10 PM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
Apart from the well-known Chiffons link, I always thought that it can't have been a coincidence that the same languid i-IV acoustic strum in the famously spiritual George's My Sweet Lord turns up in a song called Godless by the Dandy Warhols.
posted by kersplunk at 12:21 PM on December 15, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by kersplunk at 12:21 PM on December 15, 2021 [4 favorites]
Meh.
It was nice seeing some of the celebs and all, but if you’re going to pretend there’s a plot line, then it’s best to have an actual plot line instead of a bunch of disconnected cameos that make no sense in aggregate.
Mumble mumble Chekhov’s Gun.
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 12:52 PM on December 15, 2021 [3 favorites]
It was nice seeing some of the celebs and all, but if you’re going to pretend there’s a plot line, then it’s best to have an actual plot line instead of a bunch of disconnected cameos that make no sense in aggregate.
Mumble mumble Chekhov’s Gun.
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 12:52 PM on December 15, 2021 [3 favorites]
I will say it: This is stupid and terrible. I love this song and have always maintained that he was the greatest talent of the four of them. I would love to see a beautiful and moving anniversary video. Of the entire universe of possible ways to do one, how the hell did they settle on this???
posted by HotToddy at 12:58 PM on December 15, 2021 [11 favorites]
posted by HotToddy at 12:58 PM on December 15, 2021 [11 favorites]
Ok so just take all those celebs that wanted in, have little clips of them doing their normal thing, and then they are all, individually, looking up at some bright light thing. Lots of 60s psychedellic effects, some grainy George in lotus position with 8 arms... There ya go, done.
posted by Meatbomb at 1:02 PM on December 15, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by Meatbomb at 1:02 PM on December 15, 2021 [4 favorites]
been a while since i read the actual lyrics on the lp record liner notes, but those subtitles looked pretty good.
posted by 20 year lurk at 1:10 PM on December 15, 2021
posted by 20 year lurk at 1:10 PM on December 15, 2021
So is it accepted canon that George's music has held up the best among all the post-Beatles catalog?
Some of his music is great but let's not get carried away.
posted by freakazoid at 1:14 PM on December 15, 2021 [11 favorites]
Some of his music is great but let's not get carried away.
posted by freakazoid at 1:14 PM on December 15, 2021 [11 favorites]
Great track but that video was embarrassingly bad. What a waste of budget and opportunity.
Agreed. I kept thinking " What is this? And Why?" I guess someone thought having a bunch of famous people ( if you can recognize them ) doing random things was brilliant. It's got zero to do with the aesthetic and feel of the song.
posted by Liquidwolf at 1:14 PM on December 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
It seemed sweet, if sort of pointless, to me. But if it attracts new listeners to George's music, it's all for the good. I read it as "all these famous peeps still love George's music" and little more.
Of course, I grew up when MTV actually played music videos and I'm used to them being little more than something for your eyes to rest on while your ears were entertained.
posted by jzb at 1:15 PM on December 15, 2021
Of course, I grew up when MTV actually played music videos and I'm used to them being little more than something for your eyes to rest on while your ears were entertained.
posted by jzb at 1:15 PM on December 15, 2021
Hurray for the Riff Raff's brilliant cover interpolates the Chiffons' "He's So Fine" (which, as noted above, Harrison plainly cribbed from for this song), adding lovely doo-lang-doo-lang-doo-lang's to the backing vocals.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:15 PM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:15 PM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
So is it accepted canon that George's music has held up the best among all the post-Beatles catalog?
Not quite sure I would make a statement like that. However, I do think All Things Must Pass is the only post-Beatles solo album that most people can name.
posted by panama joe at 1:18 PM on December 15, 2021
Not quite sure I would make a statement like that. However, I do think All Things Must Pass is the only post-Beatles solo album that most people can name.
posted by panama joe at 1:18 PM on December 15, 2021
However, I do think All Things Must Pass is the only post-Beatles solo album that most people can name.
I'd imagine so.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:22 PM on December 15, 2021 [24 favorites]
I'd imagine so.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:22 PM on December 15, 2021 [24 favorites]
Hardest of hard passes on derailing a George appreciation post into a "Who is the best solo Beatle?" argument.
Instead, here's my favorite underrated George solo track, his last solo single Cheer Down. It's from the Lethal Weapon 2 soundtrack and was made with Tom Petty and has that era's classic Jeff Lynne production sound.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:23 PM on December 15, 2021 [4 favorites]
Instead, here's my favorite underrated George solo track, his last solo single Cheer Down. It's from the Lethal Weapon 2 soundtrack and was made with Tom Petty and has that era's classic Jeff Lynne production sound.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:23 PM on December 15, 2021 [4 favorites]
I need a list of the celebrities in the video. I'm sure I'm missing a ton.
posted by widdershins at 1:26 PM on December 15, 2021
posted by widdershins at 1:26 PM on December 15, 2021
Never mind, just saw the end credits.
posted by widdershins at 1:32 PM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by widdershins at 1:32 PM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
The director explains: “The approach was to represent the song visually while these agents and inspectors kept missing the metaphysical wonder around them. Images are choreographed to the sounds of vocal melodies, guitar strums, drum patterns, chord changes. George threaded a sense of humor through all of his videos, so we kept that spirit and filled the cast with friends and admirers of his music, many coming from the current comedy landscape. I tracked down vintage prime lenses from some of the films George's HandMade Films had produced, and I hope that viewers can feel a sense of wonder and searching while they watch it, and that the song continues to add to all of our lives.”
Many of George's own videos were pretty goofy. Astute observers will recognize the chair dance from the "Got Your Mind Set On Your" video.
posted by credulous at 1:42 PM on December 15, 2021 [6 favorites]
Many of George's own videos were pretty goofy. Astute observers will recognize the chair dance from the "Got Your Mind Set On Your" video.
posted by credulous at 1:42 PM on December 15, 2021 [6 favorites]
I'm ok with being that guy that thinks folks should slow down and listen to the words again. A lot of yearning to see and be seen in this world, but not a lot of recognition or understanding. Focus on mystery (Hamill), knowledge/technology (library), focus on divergent exploration (splitting up/finding wackos like Reggie Watts to guide you), focus on looking at mass movements (movie theater) to try to make sense, but the only lightbulb going off is when the explorers return to share what they learned. And in the end they learned nothing from the things they tried, but they learned anyway.
It's silly, but that is actually Harrison's visual style - anyone remember "I Got my Mind Set on you?"
posted by SoundInhabitant at 1:49 PM on December 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
It's silly, but that is actually Harrison's visual style - anyone remember "I Got my Mind Set on you?"
posted by SoundInhabitant at 1:49 PM on December 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
So is it accepted canon that George's music has held up the best among all the post-Beatles catalog?
Perhaps, but I will always maintain that Ringo's Photograph is The Best Song Ever.
posted by JanetLand at 1:57 PM on December 15, 2021 [6 favorites]
Perhaps, but I will always maintain that Ringo's Photograph is The Best Song Ever.
posted by JanetLand at 1:57 PM on December 15, 2021 [6 favorites]
Speaking of early Christmas presents; the yearly Drew Magary
The 2021 Hater’s Guide To The Williams-Sonoma Catalog
has dropped. Unfortunately, it's behind a soft paywall; so I did not post it on the blue. If anyone figures out a non-paywall link; post it on the blue, please.
Bonus for this year; the featured name on the Peppermint Bark is "Drew". I think they know about the yearly snarkfest and are trying to horn in!
posted by indianbadger1 at 1:58 PM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
The 2021 Hater’s Guide To The Williams-Sonoma Catalog
has dropped. Unfortunately, it's behind a soft paywall; so I did not post it on the blue. If anyone figures out a non-paywall link; post it on the blue, please.
Bonus for this year; the featured name on the Peppermint Bark is "Drew". I think they know about the yearly snarkfest and are trying to horn in!
posted by indianbadger1 at 1:58 PM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
Kind of bummed out that Fred Armisen is involved with this.
posted by pxe2000 at 2:31 PM on December 15, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by pxe2000 at 2:31 PM on December 15, 2021 [8 favorites]
Have to say I agree with those who've said that aside from "hey, Jeff Lynn!" and other fun cameos, they couldn't have found a more bizarre pairing than this song and a random goes-nowhere video.
The spirit of this song is so iconic that to ignore it just seems like an incredibly lost opportunity.
posted by OHenryPacey at 2:44 PM on December 15, 2021 [3 favorites]
The spirit of this song is so iconic that to ignore it just seems like an incredibly lost opportunity.
posted by OHenryPacey at 2:44 PM on December 15, 2021 [3 favorites]
It's silly, but that is actually Harrison's visual style - anyone remember "I Got my Mind Set on you?"
Yes definitely. There was a lot of talk about this song a thread here just the other day.
posted by Liquidwolf at 2:54 PM on December 15, 2021
I'll just pretend this doesn't exist. These celeb love-ins all feel like it's more about bragging rights... "Ooh, I got the call to be in the new George Harrison video! I'm relevant in a semi-quirky way! I'm an insider!"
posted by SoberHighland at 3:08 PM on December 15, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by SoberHighland at 3:08 PM on December 15, 2021 [3 favorites]
Maybe they should have chosen among fan made videos like they did with What Is Life.
posted by Bee'sWing at 3:33 PM on December 15, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by Bee'sWing at 3:33 PM on December 15, 2021 [3 favorites]
I got so excited when I saw this news and then got really irritated when I saw the piece. I felt tricked. Weird how the internet works.
posted by tiny frying pan at 3:51 PM on December 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by tiny frying pan at 3:51 PM on December 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
I got so excited when I saw this news and then got really irritated when I saw the piece. I felt tricked.
I call this the Fred Armisen Effect
posted by Atom Eyes at 3:54 PM on December 15, 2021 [12 favorites]
I call this the Fred Armisen Effect
posted by Atom Eyes at 3:54 PM on December 15, 2021 [12 favorites]
Especially after Get Back, it woulda been so easy to move me with some meaningful official visuals set to that beautiful song but they chose... very otherwise
posted by frenetic at 4:11 PM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by frenetic at 4:11 PM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
for the record:
George Harrison began writing "My Sweet Lord" in December 1969, when he, Billy Preston and Eric Clapton were in Copenhagen, Denmark,[3][4] as guest artists on Delaney & Bonnie's European tour.[5][6] By this time, Harrison had already written the gospel-influenced "Hear Me Lord" and, with Preston, the African-American spiritual "Sing One for the Lord".[7] He had also produced two religious-themed hit singles on the Beatles' Apple record label: Preston's "That's the Way God Planned It" and Radha Krishna Temple (London)'s "Hare Krishna Mantra". [...] Harrison now wanted to fuse the messages of the Christian and Gaudiya Vaishnava faiths[11] into what musical biographer Simon Leng terms "gospel incantation with a Vedic chant".[4]
posted by philip-random at 4:17 PM on December 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
George Harrison began writing "My Sweet Lord" in December 1969, when he, Billy Preston and Eric Clapton were in Copenhagen, Denmark,[3][4] as guest artists on Delaney & Bonnie's European tour.[5][6] By this time, Harrison had already written the gospel-influenced "Hear Me Lord" and, with Preston, the African-American spiritual "Sing One for the Lord".[7] He had also produced two religious-themed hit singles on the Beatles' Apple record label: Preston's "That's the Way God Planned It" and Radha Krishna Temple (London)'s "Hare Krishna Mantra". [...] Harrison now wanted to fuse the messages of the Christian and Gaudiya Vaishnava faiths[11] into what musical biographer Simon Leng terms "gospel incantation with a Vedic chant".[4]
posted by philip-random at 4:17 PM on December 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
No thread like this can go past without a mention of George Harrison performing (some of) My Sweet Lord on Rutland Weekend Television in 1975.
posted by Hogshead at 5:02 PM on December 15, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by Hogshead at 5:02 PM on December 15, 2021 [3 favorites]
First couple minutes filmed inside The Last Bookstore of downtown LA, I believe.
Speaking of, for the really superior 'official new video' of an old song from the early 1970s I recommend Tiny Dancer especially if you're an Angeleno.
posted by Rash at 5:33 PM on December 15, 2021 [3 favorites]
Speaking of, for the really superior 'official new video' of an old song from the early 1970s I recommend Tiny Dancer especially if you're an Angeleno.
posted by Rash at 5:33 PM on December 15, 2021 [3 favorites]
... which was first discussed in this 2017 FPP, sorry for the derail.
posted by Rash at 7:05 PM on December 15, 2021
posted by Rash at 7:05 PM on December 15, 2021
I personally kind of liked that they avoided the trap of trying to put together a Big Iconic Meaningful Video, which would almost certainly have crashed under its own weight, and just went with something intentionally slight and fun.
posted by eponym at 7:49 PM on December 15, 2021
posted by eponym at 7:49 PM on December 15, 2021
My sweet lordy, there are tapes.
posted by kirkaracha at 8:02 PM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by kirkaracha at 8:02 PM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
This reminds me of that celebrity-studded Beastie Boys "Fight For Your Right" sequel which somehow I just discovered.
And here's George singing with a large red wind-up duck in his "Blow Away" video, the song inspired by a leaking roof.
posted by credulous at 9:04 PM on December 15, 2021
And here's George singing with a large red wind-up duck in his "Blow Away" video, the song inspired by a leaking roof.
posted by credulous at 9:04 PM on December 15, 2021
Nothing with Mark Hamill and Weird Al could be bad.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 9:08 PM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 9:08 PM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
And yet somehow this is.
The song is amazing, and the album is one of my all time favorites. And now I’ll think of Fred fucking Armison every time I hear this amazing song.
posted by dorothy hawk at 9:26 PM on December 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
The song is amazing, and the album is one of my all time favorites. And now I’ll think of Fred fucking Armison every time I hear this amazing song.
posted by dorothy hawk at 9:26 PM on December 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
I like George fine, but John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band is a hellacious masterpiece, and anyone who can get all the way through Living in the Material World or Gone Troppo has a stronger musical stomach than I have.
posted by argybarg at 9:47 PM on December 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by argybarg at 9:47 PM on December 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
If you fancy an exhilarating blast through some classic rock n' roll songs, McCartney's Run Devil Run remains an under-appreciated gem. Recorded as live, with the Pirates' mighty Mick Green on guitar. Details here.
posted by Paul Slade at 11:54 PM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Paul Slade at 11:54 PM on December 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
This video was like water off a duck's back for me - Fred ArmaWho? Whatever. Oh, and that guy from that thing? And - do I know who that is? No. And them? Am I supposed to know who _that_ is? Fuckit, whatever. Great song. Fucking titanic song. I clicked to a different tab, let the song play in the background.
(I think Meatbomb's suggestion is it, really. That's a video I could get with.)
posted by From Bklyn at 2:06 AM on December 16, 2021 [2 favorites]
(I think Meatbomb's suggestion is it, really. That's a video I could get with.)
posted by From Bklyn at 2:06 AM on December 16, 2021 [2 favorites]
All these comedians, and none of the remaining members of Monty Python.
I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and suppose that travel restrictions may have prevented it, but c'mon.
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:49 AM on December 16, 2021 [1 favorite]
I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and suppose that travel restrictions may have prevented it, but c'mon.
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:49 AM on December 16, 2021 [1 favorite]
I recognized some of the celebrities, almost-but-not-quite recognized a few of them, and had no idea who most of them were, so I was really relieved when they showed the cast list that I genuinely had no idea who most of them were, and it wasn't just that I've lost the ability to recognize famous people in this post-mask everybody-aged-seemingly-overnight world. Especially after the first two seconds of Weird Al where they barely showed him, and I thought how cool it was in its own way, having celebs there just for a few frames of film.
The actual video was pretty stupid, though. I know videos often are, but they're usually anchored by musical performance footage of some sort. Grainy random footage on a screen behind what passed for action was a poor substitute for that. But it got me to watch it till the end (once) where I probably wouldn't have otherwise, so success?
posted by Mchelly at 8:08 AM on December 16, 2021
The actual video was pretty stupid, though. I know videos often are, but they're usually anchored by musical performance footage of some sort. Grainy random footage on a screen behind what passed for action was a poor substitute for that. But it got me to watch it till the end (once) where I probably wouldn't have otherwise, so success?
posted by Mchelly at 8:08 AM on December 16, 2021
Speaking of, for the really superior 'official new video' of an old song from the early 1970s I recommend Tiny Dancer especially if you're an Angeleno.
Elton and Bernie commissioned three 'official' videos as some kind of YouTube-sponsored thing and they are all really really good.
Another good retro/official video I liked was the one Rush did for The Spirit of Radio, which had a nice tribute to the disc jockeys that gave them a break in their early years as well as a sad goodbye to Neil Peart.
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:08 AM on December 16, 2021
Elton and Bernie commissioned three 'official' videos as some kind of YouTube-sponsored thing and they are all really really good.
Another good retro/official video I liked was the one Rush did for The Spirit of Radio, which had a nice tribute to the disc jockeys that gave them a break in their early years as well as a sad goodbye to Neil Peart.
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:08 AM on December 16, 2021
George didn't get as many songs on The Beatles' albums as he should've, and when the band broke up he had a backlog of good songs to make IMO a very good double album that, like almost all double+ albums, could've been great as a single album.
I think his post-All Things Must Pass career shows he wasn't the best songwriter in The Beatles. Over half of the songs on his 1976 greatest hits album are Beatles songs. Of two of his most well-known later songs, "Got My Mind Set on You" is a cover and he co-wrote "When We Was Fab" with Jeff Lynne.
That said, "What Is Life" is one of the greatest songs ever. He wrote it around the time they were recording Abbey Road, but he didn't put it up for the album. Imagine Abbey Road with "What Is Life" instead of, I dunno, "I Want You (She's So Heavy)."
posted by kirkaracha at 8:19 AM on December 16, 2021 [4 favorites]
I think his post-All Things Must Pass career shows he wasn't the best songwriter in The Beatles. Over half of the songs on his 1976 greatest hits album are Beatles songs. Of two of his most well-known later songs, "Got My Mind Set on You" is a cover and he co-wrote "When We Was Fab" with Jeff Lynne.
That said, "What Is Life" is one of the greatest songs ever. He wrote it around the time they were recording Abbey Road, but he didn't put it up for the album. Imagine Abbey Road with "What Is Life" instead of, I dunno, "I Want You (She's So Heavy)."
posted by kirkaracha at 8:19 AM on December 16, 2021 [4 favorites]
I'm a big fan of his 1978 eponymous album, with "Blow Away", "Love Comes To Everyone", "Here Comes The Moon".....
posted by thelonius at 8:35 AM on December 16, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by thelonius at 8:35 AM on December 16, 2021 [1 favorite]
I'm partial to his very underrated and appropriately named 1974 album Dark Horse.
posted by Atom Eyes at 8:46 AM on December 16, 2021
posted by Atom Eyes at 8:46 AM on December 16, 2021
One of the most incongruous things I have ever seen. Weird and pointless.
posted by 0bvious at 4:50 PM on December 16, 2021
posted by 0bvious at 4:50 PM on December 16, 2021
I’m a huge George fan. Reading all of the comments here, I was prepared to hate this video. So I finally watched and I…didn’t hate it. I think there were a lot of little easter eggs, and I will def need to do a rewatch on a bigger screen then my iphone 6.
posted by sundrop at 7:19 PM on December 16, 2021
posted by sundrop at 7:19 PM on December 16, 2021
Marvelous. So many easter eggs in there for the longtime George nerds, and just plain old silliness (as featured in most of his non-posthumous videos) if you're just a regular fan.
George was a huge comedy nut (not to mention easily the wittiest of the Beatles), from The Rutles to the Pythons to his very last letter sent as a fan to Mike Meyers (it IS a little odd that none of them featured in the video). I have a hard time thinking George would not have laughed his ass off watching this video, it's funny and absolutely absurd. If you watch it in that context, as a love letter to George from his family and friends, it completely makes sense.
posted by quarterframer at 11:27 AM on December 17, 2021
George was a huge comedy nut (not to mention easily the wittiest of the Beatles), from The Rutles to the Pythons to his very last letter sent as a fan to Mike Meyers (it IS a little odd that none of them featured in the video). I have a hard time thinking George would not have laughed his ass off watching this video, it's funny and absolutely absurd. If you watch it in that context, as a love letter to George from his family and friends, it completely makes sense.
posted by quarterframer at 11:27 AM on December 17, 2021
George was a huge comedy nut (not to mention easily the wittiest of the Beatles), from The Rutles to the Pythons...
*snerk* One of the DVD Extras for the Concert For George is an interview with Michael Palin, who was discussing George's fondness for and friendship with the Pythons. Apparently George would regularly use the pseudonym "Jack Lumber" when he was getting a hotel or restaurant reservation somewhere and wanted to be clandestine about it. Also, sometimes, when he and some of the Pythons were hanging out, if there was a lull in conversation George would bust out with the opening line to one of the Python sketches and then look at whomever with an expectant grin, expecting them to pick up on their cue. So basically George was one of those Python fans - and to make it worse he was one of those Python fans to the Pythons themselves.
.... to his very last letter sent as a fan to Mike Meyers ...
....What? Link please?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:50 AM on December 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
*snerk* One of the DVD Extras for the Concert For George is an interview with Michael Palin, who was discussing George's fondness for and friendship with the Pythons. Apparently George would regularly use the pseudonym "Jack Lumber" when he was getting a hotel or restaurant reservation somewhere and wanted to be clandestine about it. Also, sometimes, when he and some of the Pythons were hanging out, if there was a lull in conversation George would bust out with the opening line to one of the Python sketches and then look at whomever with an expectant grin, expecting them to pick up on their cue. So basically George was one of those Python fans - and to make it worse he was one of those Python fans to the Pythons themselves.
.... to his very last letter sent as a fan to Mike Meyers ...
....What? Link please?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:50 AM on December 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
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Not sure what to make of the video itself, though. It doesn’t seem to have much to do with the song itself, at least nothing obvious. Lots of people celebrating George? Digging his message? Fred Armisen searching for...something? Enlightenment? It was fun playing “hey, I know that face!” It was great seeing half of the remaining Beatles make an appearance!
Anyway, it’s always good to hear George’s music.
posted by Thorzdad at 11:35 AM on December 15, 2021 [4 favorites]