'Help!' was released in 1965 at the height of Beatlemania and the only way I can describe this album is pop at its catchiest ever. Not wackiest yet, though. That would come later with the 'Rubber Soul' and 'Sgt Pepper' recordings. The songs are short (the whole LP lasts just over thirty minutes) but their life-affirming ethos is intoxicating. The Killer Opening Song finds John in confessional mood, struggling to open up to others. Whoever said that men were not emotional beings? In addition this K.O.P. was the soundtrack to a spoof James Bond movie.
I shall write no more now for what can one add to what's already been said about 'The Four Fab from Liverpool'?
By the way, what's that funny squabble going on between Paul, George and Ringo, all behind John, competing for the camera?
Copyright 2008
I enjoyed watching your music clip on your profile; it was a moving reunion. I still listen to the Beatles too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, sarah and welcome to my blog.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
Catchy is right. My parents had every single Beatles album...and very BIG speakers. Sgt. Pepper was my favorite album as a child...I think due to the artwork.
ReplyDeleteNote to self: Put "Across the Universe" in Netflix queue.
Esa canción “Help” es también el testimonio moderno de la angustia ante la perdida de la juventud, hay algo en ella que siempre me llamó la atención y es su desesperación. Detrás de la risa y la jovialidad del éxito de los 4 chamacos que cambiaban el mundo con sus canciones de formato pequeño ‘hágalo usted mismo’ se escondía también, esa imagen eterna con un valor conmovedor, al igual que antes nos dejaron las novelas de Alejandro, las leyendas de Al-Khidr, la saga del Corán, la piedra filosofal, la panacea universal y el elixir de la vida o en el Libro de las maravillas del mundo de Juan de Mandeville… el sueno de burlar a la tragedia del envejecimiento prematura, el paso efímero de esta vida insuficiente y el deseo de encontrar de una vez, el misterio de la juventud eternal.
ReplyDeletenos vemos , tony. ':/
Help
HELP!
HELP! I NEED SOMEBODY,
HELP! NOT JUST ANYBODY,
HELP! YOU KNOW I NEED SOMEONE, HELP.
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, SO MUCH YOUNGER THAN TODAY,
I NEVER NEEDED ANYBODY'S HELP IN ANY WAY.
BUT NOW THESE DAYS ARE GONE, I'M NOT SO SELF ASSURED,
NOW I FIND I'VE CHANGED MY MIND I'VE OPENED UP THE DOORS.
HELP ME IF YOU CAN, I'M FEELING DOWN
AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU BEING AROUND.
HELP ME GET MY FEET BACK ON THE GROUND,
WON'T YOU PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME.
AND NOW MY LIFE HAS CHANGED IN OH SO MANY WAYS,
MY INDEPENDENCE SEEMS TO VANISH IN THE HAZE.
BUT EV'RY NOW AND THEN I FEEL SO INSECURE,
I KNOW THAT I JUST NEED YOU LIKE I'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE.
HELP ME IF YOU CAN, I'M FEELING DOWN
AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU BEING AROUND.
HELP ME GET MY FEET BACK ON THE GROUND,
WON'T YOU PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME.
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, SO MUCH YOUNGER THAN TODAY,
I NEVER NEEDED ANYBODY'S HELP IN ANY WAY.
BUT NOW THESE DAYS ARE GONE, I'M NOT SO SELF ASSURED,
NOW I FIND I'VE CHANGED MY MIND I'VE OPENED UP THE DOORS.
HELP ME IF YOU CAN, I'M FEELING DOWN
AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU BEING ROUND.
HELP ME, GET MY FEET BACK ON THE GROUND,
WON'T YOU PLEASE,
PLEASE HELP ME,
HELP ME,
HELP ME, OH.
Diva, 'St Pepper' IS my favourite Beatles' album :-)! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteAsere, n-o, bro la botaste por el lel fil', chama! Es cierto que despues de haber leido la letra de la cancion puedo ver muchos de los temas que escribes sobre todo en la primera estrofa:
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, SO MUCH YOUNGER THAN TODAY,
I NEVER NEEDED ANYBODY'S HELP IN ANY WAY.
BUT NOW THESE DAYS ARE GONE, I'M NOT SO SELF ASSURED,
NOW I FIND I'VE CHANGED MY MIND I'VE OPENED UP THE DOORS.
Saludos desde Londres.
Wonderful post, Cuban. But may I add that HELP!!! is what John Lennon's statue sitting in one of Havana's Vedado parks must be sadly demanding. In the midst of their worldwide triumph the Beatles were forbiden in our nowhere land, by the real nowhere man (though they weren't less popular and well known for all his efforts). Below is an extract from a post I've just read, which masterfully depicts those times:
ReplyDelete--
I recall being stopped once by a cop who called his superior and said: Agarramo a ete con un dico de uno pelú americano. Eto é diversionimo ideólogico jefe.
¿que hacemo con ete, lo pelamo, l'entramo a patá, o le rompemo lo dico? Sadly, they broke my records. I would have traded a forceful haircut and a beating for the integrity of my records. But I went home unharmed.
full post:
http://blacksheepofexile.blogspot.com/2008/09/brutality-and-ignorance-go-hand-on-hand.html
I love the Beatles--I'm definitely of their era and associate so many things in my life with them...thanks for the clip and for your sweet comment on my blog! My birthday is the same as John Lennon's. ;))
ReplyDeleteThans, yoana and brush for your comments.
ReplyDeleteYoana, I will be checking that blog in no time. Yes, it's sad that the Cuban government has usually been led by the voluntarily blind!
Brush, you're so lucky! To share your birthday with one of the better lyricists ever is a real privilege!
Greetings from London.
Hi Cuban in London, thanks for swinging by the Black Sheep of Exile -do not miss my blog opened to give a voice to Cubans in the island, La Bête Noire....
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting, because I've been dreaming lately of a more rocking version of Help, let's say, with a dash of punk seasoning, and yes, with Spanish lyrics.
Loved your websites!
Ah, the Beatles. Nice. I have a couple of their albums on vinyl. :)
ReplyDeleteAh, where to start here. It's nearly impossible to pick just one song, isn't it. As soon as I saw this, my mind automatically went to the guitar riff that opens "Hard Day's Night." (That is my favorite Beatles film.)
ReplyDeleteThe nice thing about these guys is there's pretty much a perfect song for every mood...by I'll have to say that Revolver is my favorite album if one *has* to choose.
oh this is fun..thanks Cuban y muchas gracias Aseres por poner las letras ! estaba cantado la cancion ya dos veces..es verdad que Beatles = imbatible..
ReplyDeleteI'm putting my favorite Beatles album on right now!! They are balm to my soul. You're right, they are intoxicating.
ReplyDeleteThe Beatles inspired my novel, The Abyssinian. I just love them.
ReplyDeleteHow are you doing? What new book are you reading now?
Hi, charlie, I will be checking your other blog in no time.
ReplyDeleteKarma, The Beatles, vinyl? Wow! You make me believe in humankind again!
TB, 'Revolver' is a little jewel. Still have it on tape, though (Yes, moi, I still use cassettes!)
Castle, I've been going over those lyrics twice or three times today. Brilliant.
Willow, don't forget to swing from side to side when nobody's watching, especially 'The Ballad of John and Yoko'.
Onyeka, excellent source of inspiration! I am reading 'The Second Sex' by Simone de Beauvoir. Needless to say, it's bewitching.
Thanks to all for your kind comments.
Greetings from London.
I have a special relation with Thee Beatles for many reasons. One is that I discover their music by myself. Nobody had ever told me about it. I was playing with an old radio and I was struck by the music. It was very contagious and different from everything else I had listened before. It was one of my first discoveries.
ReplyDeleteSecond, because as a consequence of not being able to keep the secret to myself I developed the ability to communicate with others. I became the center of a group of teenagers willing o learn how to access the Beatles on the radio. I was the guru.
Also, when they became a negative symbol in Cuban internal politics, I learned to distance myself from mainstream. I wouldn't give up my music.
My mother later told me that she enjoyed very much my romance with The Beatles because I was so happy that she wouldn't want anything else for me.
And yes, I also have most Beatles records in vinyl. I keep two digital copies of Help: One from a clean record and one with all the scratch as it used to sound from our abused records in the old turntables of the 60's. That's the one I play most often.
Oh, Al, how I loved that anecdote! You should put it up on your blog. You definitely belong to that generation who first felt the Cuban government' transition from a social force for good to a dictatorial monster.
ReplyDeleteThanks, indeed, my friend.
Greetings from London.