- In My Life
Song_infobox
Name = In My Life
Artist =The Beatles
Album =Rubber Soul
Released =3 December 1965
track_no = 11
Recorded =Abbey Road Studios 18 October 1965
Genre = Pop [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonsong/songlibrary/inmylife.shtml Sold on Song: Top 100] .BBC . Accessed on August 6, 2008.]
Length = 2:28
Writer =Lennon/McCartney
Label =EMI ,Parlophone , Capitol
Producer =George Martin
Misc = Extra musicsample |filename=Beatles in my life.ogg |format=Ogg |title=In My Life |Type=songExtra tracklisting
Album =Rubber Soul
Type = studio
Tracks = ;Side one
# "Drive My Car "
# "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) "
# "You Won't See Me "
# "Nowhere Man"
# "Think for Yourself "
# "The Word"
# "Michelle";Side two
# "What Goes On"
# "Girl"
# "I'm Looking Through You "
# "In My Life "
# "Wait"
# "If I Needed Someone "
# "Run for Your Life ""In My Life" is a song by
The Beatles written byJohn Lennon andPaul McCartney . The song originated with Lennon, and while McCartney contributed to the final version, the extent of his contribution is in dispute. Released on the 1965 album "Rubber Soul ", it is ranked 23rd on the "Rolling Stone " article "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", and placed second on CBC's50 Tracks . "Mojo" magazine named it the best song of all time in 2000.Composition
According to Lennon, the song's origins can be found when English journalist Kenneth Alsopf made a remark that Lennon should write songs about his childhood.Everett (2001), p. 319] Afterwards, Lennon wrote a song in the form of a long poem reminiscing on his childhood years. The original version of the lyrics was based on a bus route he used to take in
Liverpool , naming various sites seen along the way, includingPenny Lane and Strawberry Field.Spitz (2005), p. 587]However, Lennon found it to be "ridiculous", calling it "the most boring sort of 'What I Did On My Holidays Bus Trip' song";Sheff (2000), p. 152] he reworked the words with
Paul McCartney , replacing the specific memories with a generalized meditation on his past. "Very few lines" of the original version remained in the finished song. According to Lennon's friend and biographerPeter Shotton , the lines "Some [friends] are dead and some are living/In my life I've loved them all" referred toStuart Sutcliffe (who died in 1962) and to Shotton.According to Lennon, McCartney supplied harmony and the "middle eight" or bridge section of the song.Sheff (2000), p. 178] McCartney claimed he set Lennon's lyrics to music from beginning to end, claiming that he wrote the whole melody but took inspiration from songs by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. Of the disagreement, McCartney said, "I find it very gratifying that out of everything we wrote, we only appear to disagree over two songs",Miles (1997), p. 277] the other being "
Eleanor Rigby ".Miles (1997), p. 283]Recording
The song was recorded on
18 October 1965 , and was complete except for the instrumental bridge.Lewisohn (1988), p. 64] At that time, Lennon had not decided what instrument to use, but he subsequently askedGeorge Martin to play apiano solo, suggesting "somethingBaroque -sounding".Hertsgaard (1996), p. 156] Martin wrote aBach -influenced piece that he found he could not play at the song's tempo. On22 October , the solo was recorded at half-tempo (one octave lower) and tape speed was doubled for the final recording, solving the performance challenge and giving the piano solo a unique,harpsichord -liketimbre .Spitz (2005), p. 591] Lewisohn (1990), p. 65]=Credits=
*John Lennon — lead vocal, guitar
*Paul McCartney — backing vocal, bass
*George Harrison — backing vocal, lead guitar
*Ringo Starr — drums
*George Martin — keyboardsCover versions and cultural references
The song has been covered by a number of artists, including
Mary Hopkin ,Judy Collins ,Dave Matthews Band , Crosby, Stills & Nash,Selah ,Jose Feliciano ,Rod Stewart ,Ozzy Osbourne (Under Cover ),Marie Osmond ,Keith Moon ("Two Sides of the Moon "),Kippington Lodge ,Astrud Gilberto ,Allison Crowe ,Bette Midler andJohnny Cash ("").Twiggy sang the song on "The Muppet Show " (Season 1 Episode 21).A cover by Canadian singer-songwriter
Chantal Kreviazuk was used as the theme for theNBC show "Providence".Bette Midler also recorded this song for the 1991 film soundtrack "For the Boys ".Dave Matthews played the song during a tribute show honoring John Lennon.George Martin borrowed the song title for an album of various artists covering Beatle songs. In the tribute song,
Sean Connery narrates the lyrics with minimal support from Martin's piano.Kevin Kern borrowed the song title for his album that covered many artists' songs in piano, including "In My Life". In this version, the baroque piano solo that was written by George Martin had been deleted.The Ten Tenors performed the song during their 2006 "Here's To The Heroes" tour, an arrangement a little slower than the original, with more emphasis harmonies, showcased in an A Cappella section in the middle of the song.Singer
Marques Houston covered the song in an episode onSister, Sister American Idol Season 7 contestantRamiele Malubay performed the song during the top 12 week forThe Beatles tribute week.
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