Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
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| "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by The Marmalade | ||
| B-side | "Chains" | |
| Released | 1968 | |
| Format | 7" vinyl record | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Label | CBS | |
| Producer | Mike Smith | |
| Certification | #1 UK | |
"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" is a song by The Beatles originally released on the double-disc album The Beatles (also known as The White Album), and later released as a single. It is mostly written by Paul McCartney, though credited to Lennon/McCartney.
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[edit] Musical composition
The song was written around the time that reggae was beginning to become popular in Britain. The tag line "ob la di ob la da, life goes on, bra" was an expression that Nigerian conga player Jimmy Scott, an acquaintance of McCartney, often used.
According to studio engineer Geoff Emerick, John Lennon openly hated the song, calling it "Paul's granny shit". [1] After leaving the studio during recording of the song, (after several days and literally dozens of takes of the song, trying different tempos and styles)[2] Lennon returned a few hours later, heavily drugged, declaring loudly that he was stoned. He then went to the piano and banged out the unique piano introduction to the song, claiming that it was what the song needed. The chords that he played are the ones used in the final mix of the song.
When singing the vocals for the song, specifically the last verse of the song when sang the second time, Paul made a slip and said "Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face", rather than Molly, and had Molly letting "the children lend a hand". Reportedly, this mistake was kept in because the other Beatles liked it.[3] You hear George Harrison and John Lennon yell "arm" and "leg" during a break in the song; between the lines "..Desmond lets the children lend a hand" and "Molly stays at home..."
[edit] Lawsuit
Jimmy Scott later sued McCartney for compensation for using the phrase in the lyrics and as the title of the song.[4] According to McCartney, "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" was merely a common saying of the Yoruba tribe, and Scott had simply taught the saying to McCartney. It reportedly means "Life goes on", words which are also heard in the song.
[edit] Personnel
- Paul McCartney – vocal, bass, handclaps, 'vocal percussion'
- John Lennon – backing vocal, piano, 'vocal percussion'
- George Harrison – acoustic guitar, backing vocal, handclaps, 'vocal percussion'
- Ringo Starr – drums, bongos, percussion, handclaps, 'vocal percussion'
- Above credits per Ian MacDonald[5] and Mark Lewisohn[2]
- Horns arranged by George Martin
[edit] Cover versions
- Amateur Transplants, on the album Unfit to Practice as "Urology Clinic A".
- Arthur Conley, on the album More Sweet Soul.
- Jimmy Cliff, on the album Humanitarian.[6]
- Celia Cruz (a version in Spanish), on the album Tropical Tribute to the Beatles.
- Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, on the album Music of the Beatles.
- Daniel O'Donnell, on the albums The Jukebox Years, Rock 'n' roll show.
- James Last, on the albums "Die grössten Songs von The Beatles" (1983) and "James Last & Friends" (1998) (as a part of the "Beatles Medley")
- Maria Muldaur, on the album The Blues White Album.
- Marmalade (reached number one in 1969).
- The Bedrocks, a West Indian band from Leeds (reached number 20 in 1968).
- No Doubt, on the albums Boom Box, Live in the Tragic Kingdom.
- Dick Hyman recorded an instrumental electronic music version of the song in the 1960s.
- Persuasions, on the album The Persuasions sing the Beatles.
- Phish, on the album Live Phish Volume 13.
- Shango, on the album Shango.
- Sonderbar, on the album "Beatlemania"
- The Heptones, on the album Mellow Dubmarine.
- The Gas House Gang, on the album The Gas House Gang's 5th.
- The King's Singers, on the album The Beatles Connection.
- The Punkles did a Punk cover of this song on their fourth album.
- Youssou N'Dour, on the album 7 Seconds.
- The cast of Life Goes On during the show's opening sequence
- Pato Fu, a Brazilian band, on the album Gol de Quem?.
- Arik Einstein (a version in Hebrew).
- House of Heroes in concerts. The song will be featured on the House of Heroes Meets The Beatles EP that will be released digitally in the summer 2009.
- A slightly changed version called "Desmond" was recorded by Happy Mondays on their debut album Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out), but this version had to be removed from later reprints of the album due to an objection by Michael Jackson (the then owner of the copyright to the song[7]).
[edit] In popular culture
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Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (August 2008) |
- The song is referenced in Savoy Truffle composed by George Harrison, which is on the same album
- Spanish/French fusion singer Manu Chao references the phrase repeatedly at the end of his 2001 hit single, "Me Gustas Tú."
- The song came top in an online BBC poll of the worst songs ever.[8]
- In the popular play Angels in America, written by Tony Kushner, Louis tells Joe, "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Di."
- In the Hindi song,"Meri Mehbooba" from the movie "Pardes", Shahrukh Khan belts out "Ob La Di, Ob La Da"
- The song was used as the theme song of Life Goes On, sung by the cast with Patti LuPone on lead vocals. The DVD release of the show's first season has a replacement theme song at the beginning of each episode, with the exception of the show's pilot. The replacement was due to high licensing costs for "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da."
[edit] Chart positions
[edit] The Beatles version
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[edit] Marmalade version
| Chart (1969) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 1 |
| Austrian Singles Chart[12] | 1 |
| Norwegian VG-lista Singles Chart[13] | 1 |
| Swiss Singles Chart[14] | 2 |
[edit] References
- ^ Emerick, Geoff (2007). Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. New York: Gotham Books. p. 246. ISBN 1-59240-179-1.
- ^ a b Lewisohn, Mark (1988). The Beatles Recording Sessions. New York: Harmony Books. pp. 140–142. ISBN 0-517-57066-1.
- ^ Turner, Steve (1999). "The Beatles" (in English). A Hard Day's Write: The Stories Behind Every Beatles Song (9 ed.). HarperResource. ISBN 0-06-273698-1.
- ^ http://www.iamthebeatles.com/article1230.html | title=Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Music History
- ^ MacDonald, Ian (2005). Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties (Second Revised Edition ed.). London: Pimlico (Rand). pp. 131–132. ISBN 1-844-13828-3.
- ^ Gallucci, Michael. "Review of Humanitarian". http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jpfqxqlkldke~T1. Retrieved on 2008-01-07. "Humanitarian succeeds only when it sticks firmly to its roots. This means that the "CD bonus tracks" covers of "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" and "You've Got a Friend" are pretty close to being the most shameless representations of reggae to ever be released under the banner."
- ^ http://home.dialix.com/~u3336/factory/facuk4.html
- ^ Beatles classic voted worst song from The BBC (November 10, 2004)
- ^ The Beatles - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da austriancharts.at
- ^ The Beatles - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da hitparade.ch
- ^ a b number one single List of number-ones on the Japan's Oricon International Singles Charts (1968-2000)
- ^ The Marmalade - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da austriancharts.at
- ^ norwegiancharts.com The Marmalade - Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
- ^ The Marmalade - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da hitparade.ch
[edit] External links
| Preceded by "Lily the Pink" by The Scaffold "Lily the Pink " by The Scaffold |
UK number one single (Marmalade version) January 1, 1969 January 15 - January 22, 1969 |
Succeeded by "Lily the Pink " by The Scaffold "Albatross" by Fleetwood Mac |
| Preceded by "Fru Johnsen" by Inger Lise Rypdal |
Norwegian VG-lista number-one single (Marmalade version) 05/1969-12/1969 |
Succeeded by "Oj, oj, oj så glad jeg ska bli" by Kirsti Sparboe |
| Preceded by "Little Arrows" by Leapy Lee |
Ö3 Austria Top 40 number-one single (Marmalade version) February 15, 1969 |
Succeeded by "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" by The Beatles |
| Preceded by "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" by Marmalade |
Ö3 Austria Top 40 number-one single (The Beatles version) March 15 - April 15, 1969 |
Succeeded by "Proud Mary" by Creedence Clearwater Revival |
| Preceded by "Eloise" by Barry Ryan |
Swiss Music Charts number-one single (The Beatles version) January 28 - March 4, 1969 |
Succeeded by "Crimson and Clover" by Tommy James and the Shondells |
| Preceded by "I Started a Joke" by the Bee Gees |
Australian Kent Music Report number-one single (The Beatles version) March 8, - April 12, 1969 |
Succeeded by "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)" by Peter Sarstedt |
| Preceded by "Manchester and Liverpool" by Pinky and the Fellas "Manchester and Liverpool" by Pinky and the Fellas |
Japanese Oricon International Chart number one single (The Beatles version) April 7 - April 28, 1969 May 12 - May 19, 1969 |
Succeeded by "Manchester and Liverpool" by Pinky and the Fellas "La Pioggia" by Gigliola Cinquetti |
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