Comments on: Song-stumper

By: mark

mark — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 21:45:19 +0000

all three songs when we hear them on the radio ….we switch over to talk radio.

Minnie rippeton’s Loving you would be another one.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 21:12:11 +0000

Heck, while I’m at it, this is from Alan W. Pollack’s Notes on “All My Loving”:

“Also special is the way in which the song opens in the midst of the action without an intro, or even a downbeat from which the singer can grab his opening cue note; somewhere on the studio tape I’ll bet someone plays the note ‘A’ for Paul just before they start. Clearly, the Boys liked this trick sufficiently to reuse it from time to time; just browsing among the two dozen-odd songs we’ve looked at in this series, there’s “She Loves You”, “It Won’t Be Long”, “Any Time At All”, “No Reply”, and “You’re Going To Lose That Girl”. In “All My Loving” (as in “No Reply”), the abruptness of the effect is enhanced by the first chord not being the tonic chord â€” i.e. I â€” of the home key.”

Now, that the song begins with an unaccompanied vocal doesn’t really mean it starts on the chorus, but I think the songs he mentions do start with the refrain. I will be quiet now.

Alan W. Pollack’s Notes on … Series

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 21:01:35 +0000

There’s a difference between starting a song a capella, or without instrumental accompaniment, and starting it with the chorus.

I think “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” begins with an instrumental intro (that happens to be the riff played throughout the song, except where it drops out in a few places). Not exactly sure that the song starts with the chorus, but I could be wrong.

By: Debi

Debi — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 20:16:18 +0000

Wouldn’t the Stones’ “(I can’t get no) Satisfaction” also fit here?

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 19:48:46 +0000

I take your word for it regarding A Hard Day’s Night, Alfonso, as I was not sure about that one. The other 2 songs I was sure, so that was what I based my answer on, in addition to David’s hint that Kman was close.

Technically, my prior comment regarding Bohemian Rhapsody is not correct as it does not begin with a chorus. I don’t believe the opening is repeated elsewhere in the song. In fact, Bohemian Rhapsody doesn’t really have a chorus. The first part is, however, vocals only. Instrumental music comes later. But, I digress, and ramble.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 17:09:27 +0000

The Beatles – “She Loves You”

By: Jef

Jef — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 16:21:24 +0000

Coincidentally, “Mrs. Robinson” is another one that begins on the chorus.

By: Alfonso

Alfonso — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 16:00:03 +0000

Except, Doug, that A Hard Day’s Night begins with a jangly electric guitar chord….

The first letters of Carry On Wayward Son spells a word (COWS). Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case with the other two songs.

By: David

David — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:58:50 +0000

Doug takes it, more or less… Bravo! They all begin with the chorus, or refrain. The 1st verse, which usually begins a song, comes second.

So how many other songs can you name that begin with the chorus?

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:51:07 +0000

They all begin with a vocal refrain, sans instruments. Another example would be Bohemian Rhapsody, by Queen.