“Norwegian Wood” - The Beatles
By Marvin Marks on May 9, 2008 in Song Reviews
“Norwegian Wood” is the second track from The Beatles 1965 album Rubber Soul.
It was their first song that made use of a sitar. Sitar, which is an Indian instrument that George Harrison had become fascinated with in ‘65, would also be featured on 1966’s Revolver and 1967’s Sgt. Pepper. The song has a mature sound & lyrical theme with poetic lyrics which depict a male/female relationship in a more mature way than their previous lyrics had. It’s a far cry from the songs that were hits for The Beatles in 1964. In fact considering that The Beatles had just burst onto the scene in American in 1964 with songs like “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” the overall feeling of “Norwegian Wood” is really quite a remarkable advance forward in such a short amount of time.
As with many of the Beatles earliest stereo mixes, the stereo mix is quite strange by today’s standards. The extreme stereo separation is particularly noticeable while listening to the song on headphones. The lead vocals are in the right ear and the sitar and bass in the left ear. There seem to be two different acoustic guitars, one that is being rhythmically strummed in the right and another that is being gently picked & strummed on the left. Interestingly the only thing that seems to be mixed more towards the center (although it’s still mostly towards the right) is Paul McCartney’s harmony vocal.
The song has no drums or percussion, all of the rhythm being generated by the guitars & bass.
Listen to “Norwegian Wood” below:
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This is one of the few cuts on “Rubber Soul” that I actually dig real horrorshow, and “Rubber Soul” being one of the best album titles I can think of…fucks yes. “Fucks”, I tells ya. I also like “Nowhere Man” and that other one…”In My Life?” It has been used in films that have truly reduced it in a great many respects, but it has a strong Buddy Holly vibe for sure. Some stuff on “Rubber Soul” is just embarrasing…like Paul singing in French on that “Michelle?” song…man alive (I tells ya).
Mozziekins | May 9, 2008 | Reply
Ha! I dig Michelle. Yes the lyrics/French thing are kinda lame in a way - but - I think the music is rather beatific. With Paul it’s all about the sound.
Also I think “Girl” is an awesome song from Rubber Soul. I agree about the title. Great album title.
As far as shit songs on Rubber Soul - I could never get down with “What Goes On?”
Marvin Marks | May 12, 2008 | Reply
Actually, “Think for Yourself” has a real cool bass line. The whole thing is on YouTube, thank goodness. I guess it is more cool musically rather than lyrically…which is ultimately more important, at least in my musical mind.
Mozart Breath | May 12, 2008 | Reply