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Post by Joe Karlosi on Mar 13, 2012 6:46:49 GMT -5
Paul McCartney: "The End of the End" (MEMORY ALMOST FULL 2007)
Please comment and VOTE:
4 = Exceptional 3 = Good 2 = Average 1 = Crap
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Mar 13, 2012 7:32:34 GMT -5
My vote: 4 ("Exceptional").
I think THE END OF THE END is a touching song that tugs at the heart and shows Paul at his most mortal and vulnerable. I respect him for writing something so personal and talking about his feelings of dying, which must be in his mind in his late years. I also like that his "old man voice" shows in his singing, which works well for this topic.
I am thinking this song could be controversial because not everyone believes the same things as Paul does. It just so happens that I share Paul's sentiment about "a much better place and The Afterlife"... so this song hits me hard. It also manages to be very comforting and helps us not fear death, if you believe as Paul and I believe. When my young sister died last September, I played this song for my grieving nephew the Beatles Fan... he really liked it.
I think this is one of the greatest songs Paul has ever written and recorded in his entire career.
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Post by coachbk on Mar 13, 2012 8:59:47 GMT -5
A 4 from me no question. I love this song and agree with JoeK that it ranks among the best songs Paul has ever written. I have always said I want my own funeral to be a happy occasion where those who know me gather around and listen to (and hopefully enjoy) my favorite songs. I want "The End Of The End" to be played at my funeral!
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Post by John S. Damm on Mar 13, 2012 9:33:33 GMT -5
I liked "End Of The End" a lot upon release. It may have been my favorite off of MAF at first. Upon release I would have given it a "4" no doubt about it. Now I give it a "3" for "Good." It seems a little calculated or forced to me and the whistling part suggests that it was not quite finished or Paul wasn't sure what to do there. Kind of like the "la la la la's" he sometimes does or the "1,2,3,4,5, let's go for a drive" or even the "1,2,3,4,5,6,7, all good children go to heaven." Still, I like it and I really like Paul's gratitude at how thrilling his life has been and that Heaven must be special if it is to be better than Paul's life. Yet, there is that nagging bit that it is clearly a self-penned musical eulogy and what is sad is that a few hip F.M. radio stations will play this song when Paul passes but the vast majority will get lazy and just play "Yesterday" in tribute. In other words, Paul went to all of this trouble to write a song to be played when he dies and most will still just play one or two of his Beatles' songs. Warren Zevon wrote an amazingly poignant song about his upcoming death from cancer, "Keep Me in Your Heart," that is absolutely beautiful and would make the hardest poster here tear up but after he died all we heard was "Werewolves Of London" or "Excitable Boy." I am afraid that's the fate of "End Of The End." Maybe Paul should have held this for an immediate posthumous release but then that might be deemed even more calculating. It is hard to win on a self-penned eulogy but I still give it a "Good" so I am not throwing it under a bus.
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Post by ReturnToPepperland on Mar 13, 2012 9:43:17 GMT -5
My first thought is that he is singing this in such an f'ing high range. This song sounds as good or better as compared to when I first heard it. I give it a 4.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Mar 13, 2012 9:47:33 GMT -5
Thanks for participating, RTP. I hope you'll also go back to #1 and will play in all of these, not just the ones featuring Paul.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Mar 13, 2012 10:00:44 GMT -5
Paul went to all of this trouble to write a song to be played when he dies and most will still just play one or two of his Beatles' songs. I get no indication that Paul wrote the song with a specific intention for it to be played when he dies. I have no doubts that some TV features on Paul will have clips of this playing in the background or something, but I don't believe it was created specifically for that purpose.
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Post by John S. Damm on Mar 13, 2012 10:02:33 GMT -5
Thanks for participating, RTP. I hope you'll also go back to #1 and will play in all of these, not just the ones featuring Paul. He did Joe! He slammed the lyrics in what I thought was fair. I now try to focus on Ringo's entire songs and not just the lyrics although I am drawn to lyrics of a song.
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Post by mikev on Mar 13, 2012 10:11:11 GMT -5
While it is one of my favorite songs on MAF, I give it a 3 for the clunky lyrics of the first verse. Kind of that typical Paul cringeworthy stuff.
Everything else ran pretty smooth, and all the angels sing...
A real video for this could have been poignant.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Mar 13, 2012 10:26:26 GMT -5
I now try to focus on Ringo's entire songs and not just the lyrics although I am drawn to lyrics of a song. Hold on a minute... you're drawn to lyrics of a song, yet here you are praising Paul's early solo works with your Postulate? Something doesn't add up there! ;D
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Post by John S. Damm on Mar 13, 2012 13:01:13 GMT -5
I now try to focus on Ringo's entire songs and not just the lyrics although I am drawn to lyrics of a song. Hold on a minute... you're drawn to lyrics of a song, yet here you are praising Paul's early solo works with your Postulate? Something doesn't add up there! ;D I love the lyrics to "Mumbo" and "Bip Bop!" ;D I know what Paul meant!
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Post by John S. Damm on Mar 13, 2012 13:09:43 GMT -5
Paul went to all of this trouble to write a song to be played when he dies and most will still just play one or two of his Beatles' songs. I get no indication that Paul wrote the song with a specific intention for it to be played when he dies. I have no doubts that some TV features on Paul will have clips of this playing in the background or something, but I don't believe it was created specifically for that purpose. See, that's where I am cynical again! I think Paul was deliberatly writing his musical eulogy. But the problem is the song we're going to hear is "Yesterday." Not a bad song for that sad moment but if Paul wrote a song that better expresses his feelings on the topic of his death then we should honor it. When, many years from now, that sad day happens, I am rocking out and mark my words the aforementioned "Mumbo" will be the first Paul song I play and I will play it loud enough to get arrested. If the noise doesn't get me arrested, the naked dancing of The Mumbo Stomp will. The second song I play is "Nod Your Head." And yes, I will blast "End Of The End" as Paul would want. That will be my third and final song during my personal tribute. I will stand erect during that one!
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Post by mikev on Mar 13, 2012 14:37:07 GMT -5
I get no indication that Paul wrote the song with a specific intention for it to be played when he dies. I have no doubts that some TV features on Paul will have clips of this playing in the background or something, but I don't believe it was created specifically for that purpose. See, that's where I am cynical again! I think Paul was deliberatly writing his musical eulogy. But the problem is the song we're going to hear is "Yesterday." Not a bad song for that sad moment but if Paul wrote a song that better expresses his feelings on the topic of his death then we should honor it. When, many years from now, that sad day happens, I am rocking out and mark my words the aforementioned "Mumbo" will be the first Paul song I play and I will play it loud enough to get arrested. If the noise doesn't get me arrested, the naked dancing of The Mumbo Stomp will. The second song I play is "Nod Your Head." And yes, I will blast "End Of The End" as Paul would want. That will be my third and final song during my personal tribute. I will stand erect during that one! um...while in Mumbo Stomp mode??
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andyb
Very Clean
Posts: 878
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Post by andyb on Mar 13, 2012 15:48:09 GMT -5
3
Felt like it could have been better somehow. Both lyrics and tune.
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Post by John S. Damm on Mar 13, 2012 16:13:59 GMT -5
See, that's where I am cynical again! I think Paul was deliberatly writing his musical eulogy. But the problem is the song we're going to hear is "Yesterday." Not a bad song for that sad moment but if Paul wrote a song that better expresses his feelings on the topic of his death then we should honor it. When, many years from now, that sad day happens, I am rocking out and mark my words the aforementioned "Mumbo" will be the first Paul song I play and I will play it loud enough to get arrested. If the noise doesn't get me arrested, the naked dancing of The Mumbo Stomp will. The second song I play is "Nod Your Head." And yes, I will blast "End Of The End" as Paul would want. That will be my third and final song during my personal tribute. I will stand erect during that one! um...while in Mumbo Stomp mode?? Busted! ;D I don't like the metaphors about carpets that children play on or lovers lay on. I can't help but think they are dirty.
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kc
Beatle Freak
Posts: 1,085
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Post by kc on Mar 13, 2012 17:44:47 GMT -5
I am not a believer, but I can respect the feelings of others regarding the sentiment of the song. I rate it 3 (good). There is something missing here, although I can't put my finger on exactly what. As often with Paul's writing, it might be that the lyrics are not quite good enough. I can usually put up with that in his songs, but this is presented as a serious piece. Therefore I can't rate it as exceptional.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2012 5:31:03 GMT -5
I thought i'd put the lyrics down first...not much to them really....
At the end of the end It's the start of a journey To a much better place And this wasn't bad So a much better place Would have to be special No need to be sad
On the day that I die I'd like jokes to be told And stories of old to be rolled out like carpets That children have played on And laid on while listening to stories of old
At the end of the end It's the start of a journey To a much better place And a much better place Would have to be special No reason to cry
[Whistling]
On the day that I die I'd like bells to be rung And songs that were sung to be hung out like blankets That lovers have played on And laid on while listening to songs that were sung
At the end of the end It's the start of a journey To a much better place And a much better place Would have to be special No reason to cry No need to be sad At the end of the end
I like the piano and the feel of the song, the singing is quite OK as well so i give it a 4. I nearly subtracted 1 point due to the whistling......
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Post by Zander on Mar 14, 2012 6:04:33 GMT -5
My vote: 4 ("Exceptional"). I think THE END OF THE END is a touching song that tugs at the heart and shows Paul at his most mortal and vulnerable. I respect him for writing something so personal and talking about his feelings of dying, which must be in his mind in his late years. I also like that his "old man voice" shows in his singing, which works well for this topic. I am thinking this song could be controversial because not everyone believes the same things as Paul does. It just so happens that I share Paul's sentiment about "a much better place and The Afterlife"... so this song hits me hard. It also manages to be very comforting and helps us not fear death, if you believe as Paul and I believe. When my young sister died last September, I played this song for my grieving nephew the Beatles Fan... he really liked it. I think this is one of the greatest songs Paul has ever written and recorded in his entire career. You said it all there pal - I liked the "Old Man voice" quote... ;D
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Post by ursamajor on Mar 16, 2012 7:42:51 GMT -5
I like it I give it a 3 because a 4 is reserved for the likes of Let It Be.
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Post by ReturnToPepperland on Mar 16, 2012 9:13:43 GMT -5
I like it I give it a 3 because a 4 is reserved for the likes of Let It Be. "There is a fifth dimension... That is where Let It Be comes from. How about a fifth rating level: "masterpiece" or "classic"? Then a song like this could be called "exceptional" without it being the highest score you can give. Maybe we don't need to cut it that finely.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Mar 16, 2012 9:38:32 GMT -5
I like it I give it a 3 because a 4 is reserved for the likes of Let It Be. "There is a fifth dimension... That is where Let It Be comes from. How about a fifth rating level: "masterpiece" or "classic"? Then a song like this could be called "exceptional" without it being the highest score you can give. Maybe we don't need to cut it that finely. Consider "4" to be the highest rating. If you don't like the word "exceptional", then call it something else. ("Great", "Masterpiece", etc). But '4' is highest. I don't want to get too hung up on the numbers anyway... the main thing ought to be comments and opinions. If it gets too complicated for some, we can always eliminate the voting thing all together.
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Post by stavros on Mar 16, 2012 16:17:11 GMT -5
A rare first person perspective from Paul in his lyrics. It's pretty damned hard thing to discuss your own mortality in song. But I like the way he puts things in perspective and keeps that positive outlook when faced with it. I'll give it 3.
Of course Paul's legacy and his music will live on a lot longer he does and we do.
As a footnote the thing that let's the whole of MAF album down is that the mastering on this album is awful.
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andyb
Very Clean
Posts: 878
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Post by andyb on Mar 17, 2012 6:37:22 GMT -5
As a footnote the thing that let's the whole of MAF album down is that the mastering on this album is awful. Does it suffer from the loudness disease?
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Post by Steve Marinucci on Mar 18, 2012 23:33:59 GMT -5
I'm not a huge MAF fan, but this isn't bad. 3.
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Post by theman on Mar 27, 2012 14:51:23 GMT -5
I would give this one a 4 without a whole lot of thinking as I love the sentiment, but this whole "how does it compare to Let it Be or Strawberry Fields" is making me hesitate.
Then again, I think this song is a perfect example of the many solo Beatles songs that would get more respect if they had been recorded by The Beatles.
Hmmm, give that the title has become a bit of a knowing in-joke reference between my wife and me when the subject of death pops up....."well, I guess it's the "End of the End"......I'll stick with a 4.
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Post by John S. Damm on Mar 27, 2012 15:10:15 GMT -5
I like it I give it a 3 because a 4 is reserved for the likes of Let It Be. But what if one doesn't think........nah, I won't go there. ;D
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Post by ReturnToPepperland on Mar 27, 2012 15:15:25 GMT -5
I like it I give it a 3 because a 4 is reserved for the likes of Let It Be. But what if one doesn't think........nah, I won't go there. ;D I know what you were going to say you rascal. You were going to say Keith Richard's favorite Beatles song, Let It Be, doesn't deserve a 4.
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