Song fragments that really grab you | Page 13 | Fab Forum | The Beatles Bible

I like it when a singer varies one part of a repeated melody in a song.  It also matters, of course, if that variation is cool.

Example: Lennon in Glass Onion has three repeated melodic phrases, and on the third time near the very end at the culmination of the song, he varies the melody in a cool way.

The first instance of the repeated melody is the last phrase of each stanza:

“…Where everything flows”

Next one is:

“…The walrus was Paul”

Then (after an instrumental interlude) when it comes up again, instead of singing in the same melody, he sings notes that start higher then stairstep down with:

“…Listen to me”

The melody he chose to use for that specific variation is very cool, and only certain musicians would think of it.

Ben Ramon said
One I can think of: Paul singing “and though she feels as if she’s in a pla-a-a-ay” in Penny Lane , a slightly sadder melodic twist to the existential plight of the pretty nurse selling poppies.

Yes, big time.  Paul of course also does this a lot.

As much as I love Paul’s “Oh Darling”, I can’t help notice it seems he’s holding back.  He seems incapable of really expressing any pain that would compromise (or seem to compromise) his vocal talent.  I.e, form above substance.  (Personally, I like that).

It’s sort of analogous to certain actors who are willing to do something unflattering for the sake of the art and the role: example, Jack Nicholson in “In Terms of Endearment”, playing an aging retired astronaut who is trying to attract his new neighbor, a recent divorcee, played by the somewhat younger and quite attractive Shirley MacLaine.  Nicholson at one point has just been swimming in his pool and he decides he’s going to be brave and risk confronting MacLaine with his romantic feelings, which he hasn’t told her yet.  He goes straight from his pool, marches across the yard to her house, goes in and upstairs to her bedroom.  He opens the door wide, standing in his swim trunks sopping wet, his balding hair a mess, and his stomach hanging out like a blimp.  According to MacLaine, Nicholson chose to do that for the scene himself.  She remarked that few actors would be so brave as to show their ugly side just to make a scene better.

While early on John was singing more by the numbers, as the years went on, he took more dares and used his vocal imperfections as part of the effect (faintly reminiscent of Dylan).  Paul HAS no imperfections.  That’s his “problem”.