#hey jude
29.03.2022—exhausted, and it’s only Tuesday
First on the charts… Saturday
The number one song on this day 48 years ago…
Hey Jude
Performed by The Beatles
Written by Paul McCartney (and also credited to John Lennon)
In May of ‘68, John and Cynthia Lennon separated due to his relationship with Yoko Ono (it would be a few more years before he left the band because of her. Yes, I blame Yoko. Bitch). Paul McCartney was good friends with Cynthia and went to visit her, writing a song that he would sing to her and John’s son Julian along the way that he called “Hey, Jules.” It later evolved to the title it would eventually become known by, mostly because Paul thought it “sounded better.”
This song is over seven minutes long. In a time when that was an unheard of length for a song that might become popular within the culture, this was a huge risk. The song MacAurther Park had suggested that a lengthy “hit” was possible, but Richard Harris’ song was not universally a hit. Still, the gamble paid off, and Hey Jude is listed as number eight on Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest songs of all time.
There’s so much lore attached to this song. There’s the spat between Paul and George Harrison about a reduced role in Paul’s songs. The drums not joining in during the first 50 seconds, which allowed Ringo Starr time to leave the studio for a bathroom break during the first take (which was used as the master) and snuck in behind Paul to join in right on cue. Then there was someone, stories differ over it being John or Paul, that can be heard saying “Fucking hell” about 2:58 into the song.
Paul, to his credit, still loves this song. He still plays it, just as he did while he was honing it, for “anyone too polite to refuse.” And seriously, who is going to refuse Paul frikkin’ McCartney?
Like much of the music of this era, I came into my enjoyment for it during my late teens and early to mid twenties. For me, in a career filled with many of the greatest songs ever written, this is the standout. Hey Jude is the signature song of The Beatles. Enjoy!
Hey, Jude, don’t make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
Hey, Jude, don’t be afraid
You were made to go out and get her
The minute you let her under your skin
Then you begin to make it better
And anytime you feel the pain,
Hey, Jude, refrain
Don’t carry the world upon your shoulders
For well you know that it’s a fool
Who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder
Nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah nah
Hey, Jude, don’t let me down
You have found her, now go and get her
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
So let it out and let it in,
Hey, Jude, begin
You’re waiting for someone to perform with
And don’t you know that it’s just you,
Hey, Jude, you’ll do
The movement you need is on your shoulder
Nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah nah yeah
Hey, Jude, don’t make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her under your skin
Then you’ll begin to make it better, better, better, better, better… oh!
Nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah, nah, nah nah,
Hey, Jude
Nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah, nah, nah nah,
Hey, Jude
Nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah, nah, nah nah,
Hey, Jude (Jude)
Nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah, nah, nah nah,
Hey, Jude (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah, nah, nah nah,
Hey, Jude
Nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah, nah, nah nah,
Hey, Jude (don’t make it bad, Jude)
Nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah, nah, nah nah,
Hey, Jude (take a sad song and make it better)
Nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah, nah, nah nah,
Hey, Jude (oh, Jude)
Nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah, nah, nah nah,
Hey, Jude (Jude, hey, Jude, whoa)
Nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah, nah, nah nah,
Hey, Jude
Nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah, nah, nah nah,
Hey, Jude (ooh)
Nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah, nah, nah nah,
Hey, Jude
Nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah, nah, nah nah,
Hey, Jude
Nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah, nah, nah nah,
Hey, Jude
Nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah, nah, nah nah,
Hey, Jude
Nah, nah nah, nah nah, nah, nah, nah nah,
Hey, Jude [fade out]
I’ve seen Green Day a handful of times now. I don’t know how many; I don’t keep track. But I do know that music brings people together and anytime Matt and I are brought together for Green Day, it’s a good time. I failed to secure GA tickets when the presale came out months ago and we debated what or how to get seats for the past several months.
Well, it came down to game time this year. Or, I guess you could say, it came down to Fuck Time. We bought seats in the nose bleeds on StubHub four hours before and we thought, well, it’s Green Day and our seats for PNC in Holmdel, NJ in 2010 sucked, too, but it’ll still be awesome to be in the room. When we arrived at our seats, which were basically on the right side of the stage against the wall, Matt and his girlfriend sat down and I went to ‘use the bathroom,’ aka scope out new seat as I’ve never been one to accept the shitty seats I’ve been dealt, even if they were the ones I bought. Nobody puts baby in the nosebleeds.
I found an area, still on the second level, but lower than where we were, directly across from the stage, that was inhabited by a railing, three or four high top tables and a few folding chairs, with a few people milling about. I scoped out the area, leaning against the railing, seeing if anyone would tell me move, and after 3 minutes, I rallied to the troops to relocate. The view was much better and we were all more than happy to sit (or lean) for the duration of the concert. Photos and more thoughts after the jump.
Against Me opened and they were great, but we didn’t really pay attention to them. The setlist was the standard setlist that they’ve been playing on this arm of the tour and it included King For a Day, which although it’s a song all of us would like them to stop playing for the rest of time, I couldn’t help but sing along. Matt and I performed as much of the American Idiot choreography as we could. Some dude rocked out during Longview and BJA asked him after, ”are you trying to take my damn job?” BJA asked after, and I’m pretty sure the fan Billie Joe pulled up onstage to sing Know Your Enemy didn’t actually know the lyrics.
I have a newly found respect for a couple of the songs from Revolution Radio that they played, mostly YoungbloodandForever Now.
Billie Joe, a master in the art of subtlety let out an exasperated, “Fuck you, Donald Trump!” at the end ofLetterbomb.
St. Jimmy was out of this world energized. Always a favorite of mine to see performed.
We watched on in horror, and also laughing, at the two kids who were sitting in folding chairs covering their ears and sulking while they’re parents (probably mid-to-late 30 something’s) danced and embarrassed the hell out of them.
The GA area was outrageously small and had no energy in it whatsoever. The three of us plus another couple who were probably of a similar age had more energy than all of the kids on the ground. I’ll just say this: There were far too many seats on the floor and the first rule of Green Day is: you don’t sit at Green Day.
The energy was high for the first encore which included American Idiot followed by the sensible 7-minute Jesus of Suburbia.
Lastly, I’m glad they’ve gone back to ending with Good Riddance. It’s just not the same when they don’t.
i have a thousand other thoughts but they’d make no sense and this “review” is pretty consciousness as it is. Green Day concerts, regardless of where you’re sitting, are always a good time and should always be attended when possible. They bring people together and get people off their news feeds, even if only for two-and-a-half hours. The backdrops, pyro, and lighting were fucking awesome, too. Snaps for whoever designed the tour. Last, but not least, here are a few photos:
So much pyro onstage!
Tiny GA section.
this gif is cute but also super creepy. george looks like slenderman, change my mind.
forget zodiac signs, forget mbti, the true personality test is, what song is this: na na na
he gets it❤️
