"This Boy" or "Yes It Is?"

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This Boy is more hummable.

scotstvo, Wednesday, 19 December 2012 23:44 (eleven years ago) link

"This Boy" is a glory moment for me, but "Yes It Is" is by all means super impressive.

timellison, Thursday, 20 December 2012 00:05 (eleven years ago) link

hard to choose -- 'yes it is' is probably the better song and performance but 'this boy' is inextricable from black-and-white ringo wandering around on the dock looking glum in AHDN. so maybe 'this boy.'

(The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Thursday, 20 December 2012 00:07 (eleven years ago) link

"Yes It Is" always one of my Beatles favourites, and my #1 Beatles single paired with "Ticket to Ride." From the Wikipedia entry: "In his 1980 interview with Playboy, John Lennon described it as an attempt to rewrite 'This Boy' (the style of the song) that 'didn't quite work.'" What do songwriters know, right?

clemenza, Thursday, 20 December 2012 00:19 (eleven years ago) link

the ascending "yes it is, yes it is, oh yes it iiiis" is so great

If I was a carpenter, and you were a douchebag (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 20 December 2012 00:24 (eleven years ago) link

lennon said a lot of crazy stuff in that interview. he also dismisses 'and your bird can sing' (prob my favorite beatles song) as a 'piece of garbage.'

(The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Thursday, 20 December 2012 00:25 (eleven years ago) link

it's pretty funny

If I was a carpenter, and you were a douchebag (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 20 December 2012 00:26 (eleven years ago) link

but yeah he was clearly burning bridges

If I was a carpenter, and you were a douchebag (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 20 December 2012 00:26 (eleven years ago) link

I have the feeling that "Yes It Is" is one of those songs where more casual Beatles fans might not realize they know it. "Oh, you mean 'Please Don't Wear Red Tonight'--yeah, I know that one."

clemenza, Thursday, 20 December 2012 00:57 (eleven years ago) link

"This Boy" bridge is like got damn
I dunno which to choose though.

billstevejim, Thursday, 20 December 2012 01:31 (eleven years ago) link

Voted for YII because it was on Beatles VI.

pplains, Thursday, 20 December 2012 01:33 (eleven years ago) link

Yes It Is...amazing, underrated gem (harmonies mostly as Shakey pointed out)

Iago Galdston, Thursday, 20 December 2012 01:39 (eleven years ago) link

Two great, great songs. "This Boy" edges it for me because of the triplet rhythm guitars and the intensity of the bridge.

Gollum: "Hot, Ready and Smeagol!" (Phil D.), Thursday, 20 December 2012 02:06 (eleven years ago) link

both songs are similar in a way, you can see where Lennon's "rewrite" comment comes from. And both have intense bridges with awesome solo Lennon emotive vocal. But I had to pick This Boy b/c Yes It Is has a bit of sketchy harmonizing going on at times, plus I find the lyric embarrassing somehow (the "please don't wear red" thing is decidely un-Beatles-esque).

Doctor Flange, Friday, 21 December 2012 22:10 (eleven years ago) link

*decidedly

Doctor Flange, Friday, 21 December 2012 22:11 (eleven years ago) link

Decided on "Yes it is". There's a hint of darkness in the lyric which intrigues. It also has some lovely volume pedals swells. "This boy" has that horrible edit coming out of the middle eight which slightly spoils it as a recording. Both songs are great though.

Rob M Revisited, Friday, 21 December 2012 22:24 (eleven years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Tuesday, 25 December 2012 00:01 (eleven years ago) link

Going with "This Boy" if for no other reason than Lennon's solo "cry-y-y" in the bridge when they did it on the Ed Sullivan show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpONboAyXNc

Tarfumes The Escape Goat, Tuesday, 25 December 2012 14:05 (eleven years ago) link

I couldn't decide but that clip swung it for me

nate woolls, Tuesday, 25 December 2012 14:57 (eleven years ago) link

hard to choose -- 'yes it is' is probably the better song and performance but 'this boy' is inextricable from black-and-white ringo wandering around on the dock looking glum in AHDN. so maybe 'this boy.'

Basically agree with this, so voting "This Boy." Seem to remember seeing The Bangles do a capella version of "Yes It Is" at The Beacon Theater. Wonder if somesuch can be found on intranetz.

Rastaquouere Vibration (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 25 December 2012 17:11 (eleven years ago) link

Looks like there is a version here.

Rastaquouere Vibration (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 25 December 2012 17:33 (eleven years ago) link

You know how there's always a Beatles song you've either ignored or never gotten to because, well, you don't listen to the Beatles anymore but which knocks you on your ass when you finally hear it?

For me it's "Yes It Is," played before going out last night. Holy fuck, is that beautiful.

the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 25 December 2012 17:36 (eleven years ago) link

It's almost a Louvin Brothers song

Rastaquouere Vibration (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 25 December 2012 17:43 (eleven years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Wednesday, 26 December 2012 00:01 (eleven years ago) link


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