Blackbird, by The Beatles

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Recommended: The 1960s pop

In the White album, formally known as The Beatles album, Blackbird is deemed as an underrated song. Why do I say this? YouTube’s commentators told me, repeatedly. I personally discovered the song after reading the book The Perks of being a Wall flower during middle school.It was one of the songs that Charlie , the protagonist , had on his mix tape, and I, being the curious soul that I am, looked the songs up. Blackbird completely outshone all of the other songs. Back then, I felt like it was written for me. Thus, when I picking the songs, Blackbird was naturally one of my top 5 songs. Although, I have to admit that I did not realize that it was so popular, until I noticed that a lot of my peers are going to be writing about it as well. Back on track, Blackbird is two minutes and eighteen seconds long. It is listed as number three on the second side of the White album, and it is beautiful. In context of The White Album, the song Blackbird creates an uplifting and hopeful experience through the use of raw instrumentation and vocalized repetitive lyrics that ultimately enchant the listener.

The White album was released in 1968.It’s blank cover frames the endless possibilities that imagination brings while listening to the songs, giving the audience a more personal and limitless perspective of the songs they listen to. The album has a total of 30 songs, and they all tell a story and are very clear, in comparison to past songs like Johns “I am the Walrus”. The album kicks off with “ Back in the U.S.S.R” a response to the many patriotic songs established in the era. It is a very upbeat and specific a narrative like song written by Paul. The same goes for the following songs on the first side of the White album. How...

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...ut.The song does sound more like it is based on a social commentary, like “ Back in the U.S.S.R “ and “Piggies”. Moreover, because the track is right after “I am so tired”, the song seems more sluggish. Could the White Album go on without ”Blackbird”? I do not think so. This album consists of a lot of bluesy and folky style songs like “ Back in the U.S.S.R” , “ Rocky Raccoon “, and “ Let’s do it in the Road” , and for the album to flow , there needs to be transition between the extremities of the album. “Blackbird” is that transition. Its slow tempo creates an atmosphere of peace and Pauls’ sole voice evokes raw emotion from the audience. Thus, “Blackbirds”, simple construction captivates the audience with its honest sounding nature.

Works Cited

"Blackbird." By The Beatles Songfacts. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014.

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=157

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