Yes, I would think that a fan's choice could be Something. Its bass counter-melodies match George's melody perfectly. But I can also understand why Paul's choice is Mr Kite. As Paul's haunting bass melodies are played throughout. Always complimenting both John's melody and those of the interleaving circus soundbites.
I don't really have a favorite Beatle song, however THIS song is SO amazing in so many ways. Not just melody, but lyrically too! I have loved this song forever. And what's not to love about it? It takes you on a journey. I had heard basically for the carnival type music they cut up sections of tape randomly, and put them back together? I tell ya, this bass line is so melodic! Thanks for doing a video about it! It's a song that I always point out to my musician friends, as having a really cool bass line. It really is that cool...
I always considered it his most melodic, just how it keeps climbing as the vocals descend, then just hangs around in the high notes while the vocals are doing something else. A true counter-melody to the melody.
Even within the same song he'd switch the line up between verses. He really goes for it on I Want You (She's So Heavy). I don't think I can pick a favorite of his. Hey Bulldog is really trippy too.
McCartney pulled many songs from the depths of mediocrity and turned them into masterpieces with his inspired bass lines. If he had done nothing in his life but played bass he would still be a genius among geniuses.
My favourite Beatles song of all is with a little help and even when I was 12 in 1967 I was fascinated by the bass line. The mr. kite bass line is truly awesome…as are many other Beatles songs where the bass takes centre stage and with the head phones on you can fully appreciate the quality of that sound. A former friend of mine back in the 1970s, who was heavily into the likes of Led zep, deep purple and some of the progressive bands told me his favourite bassist was…yes…Paul McCartney,!,
Cool, quirky song with a splash of that Lennon/McCartney genius. Great job in presenting this and well played by yourself as well Andrew. Highly enjoyable.
NO. WAY!! I have told people for decades that if/when I ever learn bass, my goal song is Benefit of Mr. Kite. Which is always responded to with crickets. People either don’t know the song, or sort of know it, and don’t notice the bass line. How do you not notice this freakin’ amazing bass line?!
The Beatles were so good and ahead of their time that they could just write a song off a poster on the wall and it still doesn't fall off on a legendary record such as Sgt. Pepper.
Thanks!! I don’t use flats ;) I just make it sound like that with the combo of my muting and I get more of a “digging” sound with up-picking a lot. I sacrifice what’s considered “good technique” to be able to do this!
Ok, I never would have guessed it. If anything because I never paid attention to the bass line in there and I just straight up don’t like the song, but now that I heard what the bass sounds like… yeah, I see it. I mean, there are still bass lines by Paul I prefer, but this one’s really cool too.
I never heard this song because back when we had to buy cds, a regular group was $16.99 but a beatles album was $22.99. Consequently I could only afford to save up and buy the blue and red greatest hits compilation on cassette tape. Maybe all the greedy music owners will shoot themselves in the foot buy pricing themselves out of popularity. Just like Jimi, his heirs are so concerned about their ownership rights that he has become irrelevant.
