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Read the original blog post9.25pm
1 November 2012
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Joe's research yields that Paul got that title from a Nigerian friend and musician in London, who used to say it a lot.
I'm sure that's correct, however I have a nagging memory of my sister's ex-husband, a South African of English ancestry, who was old school about a lot of things, and didn't like the Beatles. One day when I mentioned the song as one I like, he dismissed it: "Oh, the Beatles stole that phrase from the school song of Cambridge". Apparently, there was some school chant at Cambridge (or some other upper crust college in England) that included something very similar to, if not the same as, "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Di".
Sure, it would be tempting to dismiss my ex-brother-in-law's claim just because he was a bloody sod (as you Brits say); but that's not the rational thing to do, is it?
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11.18pm
21 November 2012
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I think I've read somewhere that the line ''Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da '' doesn't even exist.
1.49am
1 November 2012
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Linde said
I think I've read somewhere that the line ''Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da '' doesn't even exist.
Doesn't exist at all...!!??
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10.06pm
21 November 2012
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Or that he misunderstood it or something. Can't remember where I read that. It was long before I joined this forum. If I had joined already when I read it, I certainly would've shared it. Damnit.
9.14pm
1 November 2013
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On Joe's page, he said the Beatles spent 42 hours on this song. Is that normal for Paul or on the long end of things. If it is on the long end of things, what made this song so hard to complete?
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11.43pm
8 January 2015
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If we believe Geoff Emericks somewhat patchy recollections, Paul fell into the habit of coming into Abbey Road when he felt like it because he lived nearby, and working on stuff for hours, so it became an office for him more than the other Beatles. Emerick says Paul spent hours on basslines during Sgt. Peppers and his habit of reworking like this seems to date from around that time. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da was probably average by Paul standards but definitely not for the others who had to be involved. The chief issue however, was that Paul changed his mind several times about the pace and style of the track and according to Lewisohn:
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da ', the song which, in many minds,
was the most fun number on The Beatles was a very
involved recording indeed, spanning the original version
and two re-makes, and recorded virtually every day
from now until mid-July.Not that the re-makes were drastically different from
the song Paul had originally conceived. Just
marginally so, indeed the song took shape on this day in
much the same manner as it ended, though perhaps a
touch more jauntily.
So that would feel longer!
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7.22am
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1 May 2011
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I dont think Paul knew what the song required to make it into a releasable standard (in his opinion) so kept tinkering to find that much desired energy, spontaneity and sense of fun that was missing (take 5 on 'Anthology 3 ' is interesting because its different but its nowhere near as good). It was only when John, thoroughly frustrated at having to keep going over recording the track, thumped down on the piano during the intro that they discovered what it was. John and George proceeded to then add more fun by adding in silly comments (Hand, Arm, Leg, Foot).
Paul could be a perfectionist and wouldn't stop until he achieved it; he therefore needed at times someone to say "Paul, that's enough" or give an idea that Paul couldn't find himself.
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6.21pm
28 March 2014
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Apaul Corps Ltd!
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10.59pm
4 July 2016
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I love the song ob la di ob la da
so much one of my favourite song
listening right now
5.13am
6 April 2016
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It sounds like the kind of song you would hear at a child's birthday party, no? But still, though, it's a very good song
7.52pm
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20 August 2013
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Win Butler saw Paul McCartney perform Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da recently. Here's what he had to say.
...Butler saw The Beatles’ Paul McCartney perform solo for the first time recently. In the Liverpudlian’s three-hour set, one song made Butler jealous: “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da .” All around him, thousands of people started singing its gibberish chorus.
“What a perfect song,” Butler said. “It’s about nothing, and he had 50,000 people singing along. It’s like a (expletive) magic trick.”
Beatle magic.
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