Yesterday

"Yesterday" is one of those Beatles songs that I avoid listening to because of over-exposure and over-play on the radio, etc. I feel I need to protect it from becoming a song I am sick of hearing. Well...

My diligence has paid off, as I am listening to it on my Dr. Ebbets "Yesterday and Today" CD right now, and damn.....

What a masterpiece of songwriting!

I know what you mean... I went through a long period (I'm talking years) when I rarely listened to the more obvious songs in the canon. That experience helped me develop a new-found appreciation for some of the classics, and now I know I can never get tired of them.

Yesterday is one of those songs. It is stunningly beautiful, and gets more so with each listen. I remember long ago I used to think, "What a lovely song. Too bad its lyrics are not really attached to anything." And then Paul had that interview where he said that someone had told him that he must have subconsciously written the song for his mum. That was it for me... in my estimation, the song went from beautiful to sublime perfection!

It's an absolute ripper of a song. Melodically, if not lyrically, it's just about perfect.
Ha! I've played in covers bands for years. A long time ago, we were doing a wedding, and I looked through the list for a nice ballad to sing after the bridal waltz. I started singing "Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away, now it looks as though they're here to stay...". Everybody looked at me, bride and groom included, but I had to finish the song once I'd started. At the end of it I said something lame like, "Sorry, folks, it's just a nice little song."
Luckily, weddings are one-off events.

I spent quite a few time without listening to Yesteday. After that, when I listened to it again, I was completely mesmerised by it.

If you are tired of this song, I suggest you do this.

I NEVER get tired of this song! Well, partially because my radio station doesn't play it as much as some of the other songs...

I doubt "Yesterday" will ever be in my Beatles Top 10...but it is a very beautiful song, and I've come to appreciate that beauty more and more as the years go by. Very well performed too.

Originally Posted by 62hofner

"Yesterday" is one of those Beatles songs that I avoid listening to because of over-exposure and over-play on the radio, etc. I feel I need to protect it from becoming a song I am sick of hearing. Well...

My diligence has paid off, as I am listening to it on my Dr. Ebbets "Yesterday and Today" CD right now, and damn.....

What a masterpiece of songwriting!

So funny you'd mention that; I've been listening to it more often lately as well and find that I appreciate it more. Paul's singing, the guitar, the strings -- it's all just exquisite.

And I too think of it as being about his mother.

Yesterday is one I kinda grew into. I used to not care for it very much but after awhile I started appreciating it more. Maybe cuz i was younger and didnt like slow songs very much.

Originally Posted by John Cee

I doubt "Yesterday" will ever be in my Beatles Top 10...but it is a very beautiful song, and I've come to appreciate that beauty more and more as the years go by. Very well performed too.

I completely agree. I don't think "Yesterday" will ever be in my top 10 Beatles songs, maybe not even top 50, but it is beautiful nonetheless. The melody is so charming, and I love the "I believe in yesterday" lyric.

Unfortunately I have reached the point where I can no longer listen to this song because of extreme exhaust, regardless of what format and sound system it is being playing upon. Despite its consummated body type of melodic beauty, its gradual disappearance from my world has not left me in shambles. It has gone in peace and left me in peace. I actually don't listen to the Beatles quite as much anymore for fear of further exhaustion. They have already proved their transcendence to me, but now I am enjoying my odyssey for more extraordinary discoveries.

I like to watch Paul's Ed Sullivan performance of it ("for Paul McCawtney of Livuhpool, oppuhtunity knocks!"). His facial expressions, head movements, etc. are different from when he sings something like, say, "She's A Woman", but still so quintessentially Paul.

The audience didn't quite know how to react to it. Some screams, but sorta half-hearted. And was there a Beatle song before "Yesterday" that used an orchestral backing? I don't think there was.

It was a fine performance.

Originally Posted by mariposa

I like to watch Paul's Ed Sullivan performance of it ("for Paul McCawtney of Livuhpool, oppuhtunity knocks!"). His facial expressions, head movements, etc. are different from when he sings something like, say, "She's A Woman", but still so quintessentially Paul.

The audience didn't quite know how to react to it. Some screams, but sorta half-hearted. And was there a Beatle song before "Yesterday" that used an orchestral backing? I don't think there was.

It was a fine performance.

T'was indeed!

The girls didn't know how to react to it... it was such a diversion from the energy that they generated as a four-piece.

But, once he was finished, they sure went crazy again!