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View Full Version : 'Ultimate Pop Star' Cliff Richard launches astonishing attack on 'horrific, out of tu


edubeltran
Feb 03, 2008, 05:44 AM
From The mail on Sunday
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=511940&in_page_id=1773

Sir Cliff Richard has launched an astonishing attack on The Beatles, claiming some of their music was "horrific" because it was "out of tune".
Sir Cliff, who has a reputation as pop's Mr Nice, maintained some was so off-tune it was "unbelievable" – and "unforgivable".

His criticism of the pop icons concentrated on the guitar solos, often played by George Harrison, who died of cancer in 2001.

The 67-year-old singer said he could not believe these were not re-recorded.

He insisted: "The Beatles were an incredible force. Of course they had their own sound, style and wrote their own songs.

"But, yes, even now, when I listen to them, some of the guitar is so out of tune, it's unbelievable.

"I couldn't believe that here they were in this high-tech age, with four-track recording machines, and they couldn't go back and do it with a tuned guitar.

"Being out of tune – I find it unforgivable.'

Sir Cliff said he could not remember which songs offended him the most.

"It's mostly their guitar solos, which can be fairly horrific," he added.

Later, in the interview with Q Magazine, he was quick to point out he had achieved things that The Beatles had not.

The man dubbed the Peter Pan of Pop said: "My only gripe is when critics writing the history of rock'n'roll leave me out altogether."

Speaking of his emergence in British pop half a decade before The Beatles, he went on: "All I'm asking is that [the critics] recognise that I did something that no one else had done before, and five years before The Beatles. "I am the UPS – Ultimate Pop Star – and no one can take that away from me.

"A few years ago, Channel 4 did a programme called The Ultimate Pop Star – and it turns out I have sold more singles than not just Elvis, but everybody.

"That's my big claim to fame."

The Beatles biographer Hunter Davies said: "It doesn't sound like Cliff Richard. He's usually banal in his comments.

"I've never heard the guitar-playing being attacked before. I'm surprised.

"George is someone everyone thought was one of the best guitarists ever.

"Historically, Cliff's nose was put out of joint when The Beatles came along.

"He was a total pinch from Elvis Presley, with the same gyrating hips.

"The Beatles looked totally different. They sang in Liverpool accents, whereas Cliff affected a mid-Atlantic accent. They wrote their own songs, while he sang other people's."

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I 've tried to post a reply twice but it hasn't been published, mind you, I didn't offend Sir Cliff just stating that maybe he was slightly jealous,
As far as I know, Cliff doesn't write his own songs nor play any instrument. I guess George wouldn't be the least offended by this statement but anyway I see it as unfair.

BadLittleKid
Feb 03, 2008, 05:58 AM
George would tell him to Cry For A Shadow.

Harbidge
Feb 03, 2008, 09:56 AM
Ahhh, jealousy...

"My only gripe is when critics writing the history of rock'n'roll leave me out altogether."

He can't attack the vocals, he can't attack the song writing, so he goes for the guitar solo. What's he done - listened to them play live when they did play out of tune occasionally? There's no way George Martin would have allowed an out of tune quitar solo be pressed into vinyl.

Not once have I heard a Harrison solo and winced, and I have a very good ear for that sort of thing.

Get Back
Feb 03, 2008, 01:00 PM
Oooooh, very scathing attack. I thought Cliff was a bit more modest than that with his own claim to fame, but I guess his age is getting the better of him.

jtal909
Feb 03, 2008, 08:31 PM
He knows not what he's talking about.

62hofner
Feb 04, 2008, 02:41 PM
I just read this....

Sorry, Cliff.... but even on your best day, each separate Beatle was better than you on their worst days!

And I can't think of ONE Beatles song where the guitars were out of tune. Maybe in the early days, they may have been a bit lax with their guitars being pitch-perfect tuned with each other. But, if that were the case, they sure made them sound good!

beatlebangs1964
Feb 04, 2008, 10:14 PM
He's just a Jealous Guy.

Serena
Feb 04, 2008, 11:07 PM
regardless of how the solos were played, the records still sold by the millions. it probably wasn't necessary for any re-recording unless the band was unhappy with the playback.

besides, that style of playing gave them originality and uniqueness. it is an authentic beatles technique.

BadLittleKid
Feb 05, 2008, 01:21 AM
He's talking about the four track machines and apparently he is referring to their 1967 songs.

Yeah, there was some quite heavily out of tune songs that time, but criticizing that would be beside the point. There were million seller singles that were in tune as much as it can be. "I am the Walrus" is out of tune and there is no way to reproduce that or "Tomorrow Never Knows" on stage, although Oasis has done both in their own way.

erinluv182
Feb 05, 2008, 03:54 AM
Yea, Cliff. You hit the nail on the head! That's why almost no one today knows who the Beatles are and everyone and their brother owns all of your albums. :rolleyes:

It seems like he's trying to strike out to find some way of getting himself in the paper. Pretty pathetic.

beatlebangs1964
Feb 05, 2008, 09:36 AM
It is pathetic. I think Cliff is a fox with some very sour grapes. I also think he is one very Jealous Guy.

62hofner
Feb 05, 2008, 11:40 AM
http://www.br-online.de/bayern1/musik/artikel/foto/cliff_richard01.jpg

"I was feeling so by-passed,
and my name was off the map.
So I slammed Beatle solos...
I slammed Beatle guitar soloooooooos.
I did mean to besmirch you,
'Cause I'm washed up while you Beatles thrive.
Oh, now... I had no choice but to besmirch you.
I'm just a jealous guy.

:wink2:

Rellevart
Feb 05, 2008, 12:42 PM
Eh, just sounds like ole' Cliff had a case of the crankies that day. He should just relax and enjoy the wads of bucks he's made and remember the old saying about tearing others down doesn't build yourself up. :smile1:

feelfab
Feb 05, 2008, 03:05 PM
'mediocrity recognizes nothing better than itself...'

beatlebangs1964
Feb 05, 2008, 05:55 PM
Well said, Rell. Maybe the Cliffster will take a good look at what he does have and do something constructive with his time instead of frittering it away on tearing others down. Hof, I like your Cliff song and Fab, I like your quote. I think that sums it up very well.

zonymous007
Feb 07, 2008, 10:08 AM
Later, in the interview with Q Magazine, he was quick to point out he had achieved things that The Beatles had not.

Ah, shut up. :sleep2:

Lady Madonna
Feb 07, 2008, 03:28 PM
I've never even heard of Cliff Richard.

LadyGrinningSoul
Feb 08, 2008, 10:18 AM
Sir Cliff said he could not remember which songs offended him the most.

Says it all really, :laugh5::laugh5:

BadLittleKid
Feb 09, 2008, 01:12 AM
I've never even heard of Cliff Richard.

He failed to chart in USA. Elvis was the word that time.

Harbidge
Feb 09, 2008, 02:05 AM
Cliff Richard was kind of like the UK Elvis Presley, but a more toned down version. He started off with rocky music but very quickly moved to more pappy, commerical pop and the band he managed, The Shadows, became his backing group for numerous records and tours.

Today he's very Christian and recently decided to release The Lords Prayer to the tune of a drunken sea shanty.

lennonluvr9
Feb 09, 2008, 05:27 AM
Wait, was he the guy that did it to the tune of Auld Lang Syne back in 1999?

Anyway, yeah I've heard of him, but I know nothing about what he's done or any songs he's sung. It does sound to me like he's a bit jealous. To be called an Ultimate Pop Star I would think you'd have to be popular in more than one place.

Harbidge
Feb 09, 2008, 07:00 AM
Yeah, that's him.

HeyBeatle
Feb 09, 2008, 07:06 AM
Ok, now I'm listening to some George solos to TRY and hear what he's talking about. I don't have perfect pitch, but I can hear when things are noticeable out of tune and aside from the occasional odd note choice I don't hear it.
And if you're going to go after that sort of thing you'd have to go after any guitarist with style, not to mention jazz, and some latter classical music.

It sounds like someone is jelly eggs.

Buckeye Beatle
Feb 09, 2008, 09:18 AM
He's daft!

lennonluvr9
Feb 12, 2008, 06:07 AM
Yeah, that's him.

Oh geez, my mom played that song almost constantly when that came out and it got so annoying...Well, that makes one song I've heard by him. :laugh5:

Lucy
Feb 14, 2008, 09:39 PM
I haven't even been able to finish reading the article because I am so disgusted. Cliff Richard is such a total loser. He actually thinks that he is God. Check out the video of that stupid Millenium Prayer song and you will see what I mean.

The nerve of him.

Siobhan
Feb 16, 2008, 11:23 PM
Cliff is a twit who doesn't know what he's talking about. He's been a laughing stock in the UK for years. And as for having more hits than the Beatles and Elvis, of course he has. Elvis has been dead for over 20 years and the Beatles were only releasing singles as a working band for 8 years, apart from a couple of exceptions like the anthology. The fact that Cliff has been releasing singles for 50 years doesn't make him superior.

Rant over :laugh5:

jtal909
Feb 17, 2008, 08:55 AM
I don't know about the rest of the world but he never became popular in the USA.
If he was so great why didn't he receive international recognition?

jagatinho
Feb 17, 2008, 03:50 PM
The only song of his that I remember is "Living doll".