#former beatle

[joy-society]

"home life is best for me." - george harrison, 1978

[location: frair park]

[dccmics-blog]

ringo starr see f1 i can die happy after this

[dccmics-blog]

[dccmics-blog]

kisses on the bottom

[huachuuma]

*Going to see Ringo Starr preform*

*My shoes start making clicking noises when I walk*

Mom: Are you wearing heals?

Aunt: Slut.

Me:

Me:

Me:

Me: I came out to have a good time and I'm honestly feeling so attacked right now.

[somesongsconsidered]

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“What Is Life” – George Harrison (Words/music: George Harrison, available on All Things Must Pass, Apple/EMI 1970) Sure, George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass was a tremendous success, but I’m always fascinated by the amount of attention paid to Harrison’s collaborators and friends than to his own skills as a songwriter.  Far too often, George Harrison’s name comes in tandem with his former band mates or Eric Clapton or even the performers he culled for his massively successful Concert for Bangladesh, but very rarely (or, perhaps more accurately – not enough) will Harrison’s songs receive the respect they deserve.  His compositions for The Beatles include some of their best songs – “Something,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” and “Here Comes the Sun” – but they tend to be afterthoughts behind the Lennon/McCartney compositions.  Perhaps it’s natural that Harrison’s songs fit his personality – in general, Lennon wrote the moody, charismatic songs, McCartney wrote the carefully arranged pop songs, while Harrison wrote the contemplative and spiritual songs (Ringo, who occasionally co-wrote, was far more than the punch line that some try to make him into – but more on him tomorrow). While “My Sweet Lord” was massively successful as a single (and rightfully so, as it’s one of the most beautiful songs of its era), “What Is Life” reflects more of Harrison’s strengths as a songwriter.  The opening guitar riff rivals any in his catalog, but the song’s true strength lies in the different ways that Harrison plays with the riff.  Each time through this introductory riff, a new element joins his electric guitar; whether it’s an echo in the bass line, a chugging rhythm guitar, or a closely related horn line, the riff’s firmly entrenched in our brains before the verse even begins.  Like “My Sweet Lord,” “What Is Life” draws upon Harrison’s beliefs in Hinduism, specifically in the idea of personal submission to the Higher Power.  While the song fits this idea, it also works well as a simple devotion to love.  By the time the final verse rolls along (including Eric Clapton’s slinky slide guitar lines in the background of that final verse), I can’t help but sing along to the chorus.  It might not get as much radio play as a Lennon solo cut or a Wings track, but “What Is Life” is one I always turn up when I hear it.

PS - I learned today that Olivia Newton-John had a UK top 20 hit with this song.  Thanks, YouTube!

More on George Harrison: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm