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1.05pm
25 January 2016
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Did you know that the *first* song the Beatles ever recorded and the *last* song the Beatles ever recorded were in the same key and the same tempo? Here they are mashed up together, two at a time, as part of this 7-minute mega medley comprising all 65 Beatles songs in the key of A major.
Can you guess the song titles before peeking at the track listing (and trivia) below?
vimeo.com/155023938
[Vimeo has removed or disabled access to the video Every Beatles Song in the Key of A as a result of a third-party notification by Recording Industry Association of America, Inc. that claims this material is infringing on their copyright.]
Mod note: @jakepride please feel free to edit this message, add a valid video link, and remove these notes.
That’ll Be The Day / I Me Mine
Words Of Love / Here Comes The Sun
Please Mr. Postman / Wait
Young Blood / Ticket To Ride
I’ll Be Back / If I Needed Someone
I’ll Be On My Way / I Want To Tell You
Crying, Waiting, Hoping / I Need You
Sure to Fall (In Love With You) / Raunchy
Things We Said Today / Back in the U.S.S.R.
Hello Little Girl / Doctor Robert
Johnny B. Goode / Carol
Rock And Roll Music / Shake, Rattle and Roll
She’s A Woman / You Know What to Do
Too Much Monkey Business / Another Girl
Help ! / Twenty Flight Rock
That’s All Right (Mama) / Blue Moon of Kentucky
Nothin’ Shakin’ (But the Leaves on the Trees) / I’ve Just Seen A Face
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds / Happiness Is A Warm Gun
Strawberry Fields Forever / Something
Revolution 1 / Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues
You Really Got A Hold On Me / She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
Penny Lane / Thinking of Linking
I Am The Walrus / I’ve Got A Feeling
The End /
Good Morning, Good Morning
The list encompasses Beatles tracks in the officially released and currently available canon — including the Anthology and Live At The BBC releases. Plus four bonus Threetles tracks from the Anthology DVD. Plus “I Feel Fine ” because, c’mon, that feedback.
Fastest song? “I’ve Just Seen A Face ” (240 bpm) Slowest song? “I’m So Tired ” (68 bpm)
Six of the songs are in 6/4 time (“My Bonnie ,” “Dig A Pony ,” “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds ,” “Happiness Is A Warm Gun ,” “Oh! Darling ,” “Baby’s In Black “) — although many of John’s time signatures skip around quite a bit — and “You Really Got A Hold On Me ” is in 6/8.
Most of the songs are in their original tempo, but for practical purposes some had to be beat-matched to each other. Many BBC or Anthology versions were used instead of studio versions, because they were in the right key (“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da ” and “Something “), or they provided cleaner parts to mix. The Beatles Rock Band tracks were also heavily utilized.
Roughly a third of the songs, 21 in total, are cover songs — taking into account that “Shake, Rattle and Roll” was part of a medley, and “My Bonnie ” was sung by Tony Sheridan (only later was it officially credited to the Beatles). For the record, that’s two Elvis, three Carl Perkins, four Chuck Berry, and four Buddy Holly (who had nearly a dozen hits in the exact same key).
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Beatlebug, pepperland, ewe21.20pm
Moderators
15 February 2015
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COOL!!!!!!!!!!
I enjoyed that very much. I always love the second part of I’ve Got A Feeling where they sing what are technically two different songs together and they mesh so well.
Although I would like to note that Things We Said Today and I’ll Be Back are technically in A minor for the most part, with sections in the major.
And didn’t you have to lower the pitch of Here Comes The Sun a tiny bit, as it was sped up ever-so-slightly?
([{BRACKETS!}])
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1.31pm
3 August 2012
Offline Ticket To Ride is sped up a bit too on the record.
I don’t know if you made that or not @jakepride (I assume you did), but thanks for showing it to us. It was very entertaining to watch 
Times I find it hard to say / With useless words getting in my way
4.25pm
3 November 2015
Offline A is a good key for A7 harmonies, is my guess. It’s not an extremely popular key, so that’s interesting. I honestly don’t even pay attention to keys when I’m just listening or singing along. Wish I could tell just by listening. Is it just me or is the pitch slightly sharp on some of these songs?
God . John’s voice on the covers and early songs. If I was there, Beatlemania would’ve started a few years early.
Only music can save us.
7.35pm
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline jakepride said
The list encompasses Beatles tracks in the officially released and currently available canon — including the Anthology and Live At The BBC releases. Plus four bonus Threetles tracks from the Anthology DVD.
Here we go again…
But seriously folks…great video!
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Beatlebug, Necko, Ahhh GirlTo the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
9.55pm
11 November 2010
Offline Zig said
jakepride said
The list encompasses Beatles tracks in the officially released and currently available canon — including the Anthology and Live At The BBC releases. Plus four bonus Threetles tracks from the Anthology DVD.Here we go again…
Free As A Bird counts, dammit!
*lights Molotov Cocktail*
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I'm also ewe2 on weekends.
Most likely to post things that make you go hmm... 2015, 2016, 2017. 
7.34am
25 January 2016
Offline What if, in an alternate universe, The Wonders were the backup band for The Beatles? It would look something like this.
The video is a mashup of the films A Hard Day’s Night (1964) and That Thing You Do (1996). The audio is a mashup of The Wonders “That Thing You Do” and The Beatles “Hold Me Tight ,” which was on their previous album (With the Beatles) but is the most fitting match for the fictional Wonders tune.
It’s important to note that the many similarities between the films and the songs do not imply that one is an unwarranted ripoff of the other. Just like the A Hard Day’s Night filmmakers, Tom Hanks (a sincere 60s music afficionado) was telling a fictional story using the real world as a template. Most Beatles fans would agree That Thing You Do is a fantastic homage.
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The Hippie Chick6.14pm
22 September 2014
Offline Nice post, @jakepride, and welcome to the Forum! I always thought That Thing You Do was underrated. It could get a little goofy with the Spartacus references and that smarmy bellman at the hotel, but I really enjoyed the band Genesis exposition and the county fair tour. How about the recording scene when Liv Tyler and Uncle Bob were supplying the hand clap rhythm section? Charming.
I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did'.
Kurt Vonnegut, Timequake, 1997
4.32pm
17 January 2016
Offline I love “That Thing You Do!”, it’s one of my “feel good” films to put on when I want to smile. So is AHDN , and they really do go hand in hand. Tom Everett Scott was a cutie pie.
“She wasn't doing a thing that I could see, except standing there leaning on the balcony railing, holding the universe together.” - J.D. Salinger
1.47pm
Moderators
15 February 2015
Offline Another thing about the Beatles’ fondness for this key: it suited their vocal ranges. I won’t go into technicalities but as a general thing, it was not too high and not too low.
([{BRACKETS!}])
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7.18am
24 March 2014
Offline Happiness Is A Warm Gun is not in A major. I’d say it’s in C major which is quite far from A Major.
They start moving around A minor , and the final section is in the root key C major
"I Need You by George Harrison"
10.06am
8 April 2016
Offline Shamrock Womlbs said
Happiness Is A Warm Gun is not in A major. I’d say it’s in C major which is quite far from A Major.They start moving around A minor , and the final section is in the root key C major
Although it feels more like a minor key, I guess it could be considered A major, since it has a pentatonic scale in A minor sung/played over an A major chord. You can hear the C sharp (major third) for 21 beats. Then there is a C major chord for 6 beats followed by an A minor chord.
12.28pm
24 March 2014
Offline Skelter said
Shamrock Womlbs said
Happiness Is A Warm Gun is not in A major. I’d say it’s in C major which is quite far from A Major.They start moving around A minor , and the final section is in the root key C major
Although it feels more like a minor key, I guess it could be considered A major, since it has a pentatonic scale in A minor sung/played over an A major chord. You can hear the C sharp (major third) for 21 beats. Then there is a C major chord for 6 beats followed by an A minor chord.
You mean in the middle section, the “mother superior jumped the gun” thing?
"I Need You by George Harrison"
4.04pm
8 April 2016
Offline Shamrock Womlbs said
Skelter said
Shamrock Womlbs said
Happiness Is A Warm Gun is not in A major. I’d say it’s in C major which is quite far from A Major.They start moving around A minor , and the final section is in the root key C major
Although it feels more like a minor key, I guess it could be considered A major, since it has a pentatonic scale in A minor sung/played over an A major chord. You can hear the C sharp (major third) for 21 beats. Then there is a C major chord for 6 beats followed by an A minor chord.
You mean in the middle section, the “mother superior jumped the gun” thing?
I mean the “I need a fix” part and the part with the guitar riff sampled in the video above. The line “I need a fix ’cause I’m going down, down to the bits that I left uptown” is sung over an A major chord for 21 beats. In the riff the guitar plays the same melody over an A major chord for 21 beats.
6.42pm
24 March 2014
Offline Skelter said
Shamrock Womlbs said
Skelter said
Shamrock Womlbs said
Happiness Is A Warm Gun is not in A major. I’d say it’s in C major which is quite far from A Major.They start moving around A minor , and the final section is in the root key C major
Although it feels more like a minor key, I guess it could be considered A major, since it has a pentatonic scale in A minor sung/played over an A major chord. You can hear the C sharp (major third) for 21 beats. Then there is a C major chord for 6 beats followed by an A minor chord.
You mean in the middle section, the “mother superior jumped the gun” thing?
I mean the “I need a fix” part and the part with the guitar riff sampled in the video above. The line “I need a fix ’cause I’m going down, down to the bits that I left uptown” is sung over an A major chord for 21 beats. In the riff the guitar plays the same melody over an A major chord for 21 beats.
Yup, that’s right that’s an A7 chord. But my initial comment was based on this subject “…as part of this 7-minute mega medley comprising all 65 Beatles songs in the key of A major” so i understood that Happiness… is included in that video because it’s tonality is A major which is wrong. If it’s included because there is a bit in the middle of the song that uses an A7 chord then it’s fine and i misunderstood the whole point.
When i said “Happiness Is A Warm Gun is not in A major. I’d say it’s in C major which is quite far from A Major” i meant the whole song, not that bit in the video.
Also I feel fine is not in A major but G major.
"I Need You by George Harrison"
3.10am
8 April 2016
Offline Shamrock Womlbs said
Skelter said
Shamrock Womlbs said
Skelter said
Shamrock Womlbs said
Happiness Is A Warm Gun is not in A major. I’d say it’s in C major which is quite far from A Major.They start moving around A minor , and the final section is in the root key C major
Although it feels more like a minor key, I guess it could be considered A major, since it has a pentatonic scale in A minor sung/played over an A major chord. You can hear the C sharp (major third) for 21 beats. Then there is a C major chord for 6 beats followed by an A minor chord.
You mean in the middle section, the “mother superior jumped the gun” thing?
I mean the “I need a fix” part and the part with the guitar riff sampled in the video above. The line “I need a fix ’cause I’m going down, down to the bits that I left uptown” is sung over an A major chord for 21 beats. In the riff the guitar plays the same melody over an A major chord for 21 beats.
Yup, that’s right that’s an A7 chord. But my initial comment was based on this subject “…as part of this 7-minute mega medley comprising all 65 Beatles songs in the key of A major” so i understood that Happiness… is included in that video because it’s tonality is A major which is wrong. If it’s included because there is a bit in the middle of the song that uses an A7 chord then it’s fine and i misunderstood the whole point.
When i said “Happiness Is A Warm Gun is not in A major. I’d say it’s in C major which is quite far from A Major” i meant the whole song, not that bit in the video.
Also I feel fine is not in A major but G major.
The video description (on Vimeo) says: “Plus “I Feel Fine ” because, c’mon, that feedback”. So, despite the song being in G major, the person who made the video just thought it would make a good intro.
I too would not consider Happiness Is A Warm Gun a song in A major. Even the “I need a fix” part does not feel like A major, despite the major chord.
3.45am
24 March 2014
Offline Skelter said
Shamrock Womlbs said
Skelter said
Shamrock Womlbs said
Skelter said
Shamrock Womlbs said
Happiness Is A Warm Gun is not in A major. I’d say it’s in C major which is quite far from A Major.They start moving around A minor , and the final section is in the root key C major
Although it feels more like a minor key, I guess it could be considered A major, since it has a pentatonic scale in A minor sung/played over an A major chord. You can hear the C sharp (major third) for 21 beats. Then there is a C major chord for 6 beats followed by an A minor chord.
You mean in the middle section, the “mother superior jumped the gun” thing?
I mean the “I need a fix” part and the part with the guitar riff sampled in the video above. The line “I need a fix ’cause I’m going down, down to the bits that I left uptown” is sung over an A major chord for 21 beats. In the riff the guitar plays the same melody over an A major chord for 21 beats.
Yup, that’s right that’s an A7 chord. But my initial comment was based on this subject “…as part of this 7-minute mega medley comprising all 65 Beatles songs in the key of A major” so i understood that Happiness… is included in that video because it’s tonality is A major which is wrong. If it’s included because there is a bit in the middle of the song that uses an A7 chord then it’s fine and i misunderstood the whole point.
When i said “Happiness Is A Warm Gun is not in A major. I’d say it’s in C major which is quite far from A Major” i meant the whole song, not that bit in the video.
Also I feel fine is not in A major but G major.
The video description (on Vimeo) says: “Plus “I Feel Fine ” because, c’mon, that feedback”. So, despite the song being in G major, the person who made the video just thought it would make a good intro.
I too would not consider Happiness Is A Warm Gun a song in A major. Even the “I need a fix” part does not feel like A major, despite the major chord.
Thx for the clarification! i guess i should have known better and watched the Vimeo thing before saying anything… 
"I Need You by George Harrison"
8.41am
25 January 2016
Offline3.39pm
25 January 2016
Offline For the first time ever, a comprehensive list of all Beatles songs with harmonica. They are:
There’s a Place
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite
Fool on the Hill
Clarabella
I Got to Find My Baby
Beatle geeks who have read this far: John can also be heard playing harmonica on I Remember You from the Star Club; briefly in the 1964 Christmas message; and in the Ode to Joy scene from the movie Help !
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15 May 2015
Offline Cool! Thanks for that. It would be nice to have a comprehensive list of all instruments — including unusual ones like cowbell, clarinet, etc.
I was surprised by the inclusion of Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite on the list. Then when I checked Joe’s listing, I was blown away by the fact that there are FOUR harmonicas in that song —
George Harrison: harmonica
Ringo Starr: drums, harmonica, shaker bells
Mal Evans: bass harmonica
Neil Aspinall: harmonica.
They must be all very subtly deployed for me to have missed them the last 387 times I’ve listened to the song over the years…!
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