Paul McCartney‘s “Hi, Hi, Hi” and The Beatles‘ “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” have something in common. The “Yesterday” singer used the same inspiration for aspects of each song.
Paul McCartney and his wife Linda | Keystone/Getty Images Alfred Jarry was a huge influence on the ‘Let It Be’ singer
In his book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that the absurdist and dramatist Alfred Jarry “figures” in a couple of his songs, both in and out of The Beatles. Paul called Jarry a playful character.
The “Let It Be” singer first came across the dramatist when he heard a BBC Radio 3 production of his play Ubu Cocu, the sequel to the well-known Ubu Roi, around the time The Beatles were making Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967. Paul heard the radio production while driving down the highway one day, and a couple of aspects intrigued him.
Paul McCartney and his wife Linda | Keystone/Getty Images Alfred Jarry was a huge influence on the ‘Let It Be’ singer
In his book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that the absurdist and dramatist Alfred Jarry “figures” in a couple of his songs, both in and out of The Beatles. Paul called Jarry a playful character.
The “Let It Be” singer first came across the dramatist when he heard a BBC Radio 3 production of his play Ubu Cocu, the sequel to the well-known Ubu Roi, around the time The Beatles were making Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967. Paul heard the radio production while driving down the highway one day, and a couple of aspects intrigued him.
- 4/4/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Many things have influenced Paul McCartney‘s songs over the years. Sometimes a single tune had multiple inspirations, including The Beatles‘ “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.” Here are all the references in the Abbey Road song.
The Beatles’ Paul McCartney | McCarthy/Getty Images Alfred Jarry inspired Paul McCartney to write an obscure lyric in The Beatles’ ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’
In his book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul explained that while he was driving down the highway one day, he heard a broadcast of Ubu Cocu on BBC Radio 3.
Ubu Cocu is one of three plays, including the better-known Ubu Roi, by the French dramatist Alfred Jarry. It’s subtitled “a pataphysical extravaganza.” Paul said “pataphysical” is a word Jarry made up to “poke fun at toffee-nosed academics.”
Paul liked the word and decided to add it to The Beatles’ “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.” He was thrilled when he could rhyme “quizzical” with “pataphysical.
The Beatles’ Paul McCartney | McCarthy/Getty Images Alfred Jarry inspired Paul McCartney to write an obscure lyric in The Beatles’ ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’
In his book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul explained that while he was driving down the highway one day, he heard a broadcast of Ubu Cocu on BBC Radio 3.
Ubu Cocu is one of three plays, including the better-known Ubu Roi, by the French dramatist Alfred Jarry. It’s subtitled “a pataphysical extravaganza.” Paul said “pataphysical” is a word Jarry made up to “poke fun at toffee-nosed academics.”
Paul liked the word and decided to add it to The Beatles’ “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.” He was thrilled when he could rhyme “quizzical” with “pataphysical.
- 3/31/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney said he was trying to be obscure with one lyric in The Beatles‘ “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.” The rest of the band didn’t like the song, but Paul was proud of it.
Paul McCartney | Express/Getty Images A French dramatist inspired Paul McCartney to write an obscure lyric in ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’
In his book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul explained that he tried to be obscure with one lyric in The Beatles’ “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.”
He was zooming up the highway, traveling from London to Liverpool, in his Aston Martin one day when he heard something on BBC Radio 3. It was a production of Ubu Cocu, which was first broadcast in December 1965 and repeated in January 1966.
Ubu Cocu is one of three plays, including the better-known Ubu Roi, by the French dramatist Alfred Jarry. It’s subtitled “a pataphysical extravaganza.” Paul said...
Paul McCartney | Express/Getty Images A French dramatist inspired Paul McCartney to write an obscure lyric in ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’
In his book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul explained that he tried to be obscure with one lyric in The Beatles’ “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.”
He was zooming up the highway, traveling from London to Liverpool, in his Aston Martin one day when he heard something on BBC Radio 3. It was a production of Ubu Cocu, which was first broadcast in December 1965 and repeated in January 1966.
Ubu Cocu is one of three plays, including the better-known Ubu Roi, by the French dramatist Alfred Jarry. It’s subtitled “a pataphysical extravaganza.” Paul said...
- 3/26/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
There are many songs that Paul McCartney based on things he read in literature. His parents instilled a love of knowledge and learning in him when he was a kid, and his English teacher at school fostered that love. Paul developed an admiration for writers like Lewis Carroll and Shakespeare. However, many authors and writers’ work ended up in Paul’s songs.
Paul McCartney and his family | Ron Galella/Getty Images 5. ‘The End’
In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul spoke many times about his literary heroes, which included Dylan Thomas, Oscar Wilde, Allen Ginsberg, French symbolist writer Alfred Jarry, Eugene O’Neill, and Henrik Ibsen. However, a couple of his songs wouldn’t have shaped up the same way without the influence of Shakespeare.
Paul wrote that he’s “fascinated by the couplet as a form in poetry,” particularly how Shakespeare used the couplet to close out a scene or an entire play.
Paul McCartney and his family | Ron Galella/Getty Images 5. ‘The End’
In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul spoke many times about his literary heroes, which included Dylan Thomas, Oscar Wilde, Allen Ginsberg, French symbolist writer Alfred Jarry, Eugene O’Neill, and Henrik Ibsen. However, a couple of his songs wouldn’t have shaped up the same way without the influence of Shakespeare.
Paul wrote that he’s “fascinated by the couplet as a form in poetry,” particularly how Shakespeare used the couplet to close out a scene or an entire play.
- 3/5/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 and an Irish song tradition inspired Paul McCartney on The Beatles‘ “I Saw Her Standing There.” Paul used many of his literary and musical favorites in his songs.
The Beatles, who released ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ in 1963 | Mark and Colleen Hayward/Getty Images Paul McCartney said ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ had rough beginnings
In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that he loves The Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing” and considers it one of the best songs he’s ever written. However, it had challenging beginnings. Paul played the song for John Lennon as they smoked tea in Paul’s father’s pipe.
There was an issue with one of the lyrics. Paul wrote, “I said, ‘She was just seventeen. She’d never been a beauty queen.’ And John said, ‘I’m not sure about that.’ So our main task was to get rid of the beauty queen.
The Beatles, who released ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ in 1963 | Mark and Colleen Hayward/Getty Images Paul McCartney said ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ had rough beginnings
In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that he loves The Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing” and considers it one of the best songs he’s ever written. However, it had challenging beginnings. Paul played the song for John Lennon as they smoked tea in Paul’s father’s pipe.
There was an issue with one of the lyrics. Paul wrote, “I said, ‘She was just seventeen. She’d never been a beauty queen.’ And John said, ‘I’m not sure about that.’ So our main task was to get rid of the beauty queen.
- 2/26/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
There’s a lyric in “Hi, Hi, Hi” that Paul McCartney admits is “cheeky.” The BBC banned the song for a different reason than the bold line. The former Beatle didn’t care either way.
Paul McCartney | Gijsbert Hanekroot/Getty Images The BBC banned ‘Hi, Hi, Hi,’ because they thought Paul McCartney was talking about sex
In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that the absurdist and dramatist Alfred Jarry “figures” in a couple of his songs. Paul called Jarry a playful character. The Beatle first came across the dramatist in a radio production of his play Ubu Cocu, the sequel to the well-known Ubu Roi, around the time The Beatles were making Sgt. Pepper.
One of the main characters in Ubu Cocu is called Achras. He is a breeder of “polyhedra.” That’s why Paul used the term “polygon” in “Hi, Hi, Hi.” The BBC didn’t understand...
Paul McCartney | Gijsbert Hanekroot/Getty Images The BBC banned ‘Hi, Hi, Hi,’ because they thought Paul McCartney was talking about sex
In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul wrote that the absurdist and dramatist Alfred Jarry “figures” in a couple of his songs. Paul called Jarry a playful character. The Beatle first came across the dramatist in a radio production of his play Ubu Cocu, the sequel to the well-known Ubu Roi, around the time The Beatles were making Sgt. Pepper.
One of the main characters in Ubu Cocu is called Achras. He is a breeder of “polyhedra.” That’s why Paul used the term “polygon” in “Hi, Hi, Hi.” The BBC didn’t understand...
- 2/18/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney used his extensive knowledge of literature, specifically William Shakespeare, to help him write the last lyric of The Beatles‘ “The End.” He wanted the final lyrics of the song to be poetic. Something memorable had to sign The Beatles off just as Shakespeare’s lines closed out his epic plays.
Paul McCartney | Tony Evans/Timelapse Library Ltd./Getty Images The Beatle loves literature because of his English teacher
In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul speaks about every song he’s ever written. Those songs might not have come as easily or creatively if not for Paul’s literary heroes. In his book, Paul speaks of Dylan Thomas, Oscar Wilde, Allen Ginsberg, French symbolist writer Alfred Jarry, Eugene O’Neill, and Henrik Ibsen.
The book’s editor, Paul Muldoon, wrote in his introduction that Paul’s “capacity for textual analysis” comes from having a curious mind. “A young...
Paul McCartney | Tony Evans/Timelapse Library Ltd./Getty Images The Beatle loves literature because of his English teacher
In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul speaks about every song he’s ever written. Those songs might not have come as easily or creatively if not for Paul’s literary heroes. In his book, Paul speaks of Dylan Thomas, Oscar Wilde, Allen Ginsberg, French symbolist writer Alfred Jarry, Eugene O’Neill, and Henrik Ibsen.
The book’s editor, Paul Muldoon, wrote in his introduction that Paul’s “capacity for textual analysis” comes from having a curious mind. “A young...
- 1/25/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Grr, argh. Sit, Ubu, sit. I made this! What’s the story behind the production company tags added onto our favourite TV shows?
Closing logos have evolved into a TV production company’s tiny stamp of individuality. They’re a single snippet of screen time not at the mercy of network notes, audience feedback or sponsorship concerns.
A closing tag doesn’t need to sell a show, tell a story, or lasso an audience back for the next episode. It’s simply a signature, a few seconds entirely belonging to the creatives, to do with what they will.
As such, closing logos are as self-indulgent or esoteric as the production company wills them. They’re perhaps the only place in television production where in-jokes, family photos, personal homages (or extended rants in the case of one comedy producer) and kid-drawn scribbles usually found taped to the fridge door are entirely welcome.
Closing logos have evolved into a TV production company’s tiny stamp of individuality. They’re a single snippet of screen time not at the mercy of network notes, audience feedback or sponsorship concerns.
A closing tag doesn’t need to sell a show, tell a story, or lasso an audience back for the next episode. It’s simply a signature, a few seconds entirely belonging to the creatives, to do with what they will.
As such, closing logos are as self-indulgent or esoteric as the production company wills them. They’re perhaps the only place in television production where in-jokes, family photos, personal homages (or extended rants in the case of one comedy producer) and kid-drawn scribbles usually found taped to the fridge door are entirely welcome.
- 8/10/2015
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
The 21st annual Chicago Underground Film Festival, which will run April 2-6 at the Logan Theater, will be extra special this year. Why? Because Mike Everleth, the Executive Editor of the Underground Film Journal, is sitting on this year’s festival jury! And looking over the fest lineup below, he is incredibly excited to witness this visual extravaganza of revolutionary cinematic madness. (Other jurors are Brian Chankin, Therese Grisham and Alison Cuddy.)
Opening Night Film: What I Love About Concrete is the debut feature by the directing team of Katherine Dohan and Alanna Stewart and is a surreal suburban tale about a teenage girl who believes she is transforming into a swan.
Closing Night Film: Usama Alshaibi will be making his triumphant return to Chicago with his latest documentary, American Arab, a personal and sociological examination of what it means to be an Arab in a post-9/11 United States. This...
Opening Night Film: What I Love About Concrete is the debut feature by the directing team of Katherine Dohan and Alanna Stewart and is a surreal suburban tale about a teenage girl who believes she is transforming into a swan.
Closing Night Film: Usama Alshaibi will be making his triumphant return to Chicago with his latest documentary, American Arab, a personal and sociological examination of what it means to be an Arab in a post-9/11 United States. This...
- 3/28/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Once was a time, Brooklyn was a bit exotic. When iconic sites (Coney Island, Red Hook, Brighton Beach) showed up in movies, they usually symbolized the borough’s ethnic vigor and a kind of throwback authenticity signifying the "real" New York, as opposed to the churning glass-and-steel Moloch of Manhattan just across the bridges. The proliferation of microbudget features set in Brooklyn has changed that, much as Brooklyn itself has rapidly changed, conveniently in step with the advance of viral media, cheap digital photography and post-mumblecore masses of young filmmakers hoping to ride a film festival premiere to success. And they would seem to be achieving that goal, if the volume of debuts at Sundance and SXSW set in "hipster Brooklyn" are a valid indication. What hath "Girls" wrought? To paraphrase Alfred Jarry, "After us, the savage latte." Of course, to complain that there are too many low-budget movies made...
- 3/20/2014
- by Steve Dollar
- Indiewire
The footballer gave Julian Coman some of his happiest memories at Manchester United but left him devastated when he abruptly retired at 30. Over coffee in a Paris cafe, the enigmatic star explains why he broke football fans' hearts to pursue a career as an action hero
As the minutes tick by towards the appointed hour of the interview, memories come thick and fast. The Saturdays spent singing Eric's name to the tune of "La Marseillaise" in the halcyon days of the mid-1990s; standing behind the goal as he produced an exquisitely calibrated chip against Sunderland, before striking an emperor's pose, collar upturned, to accept the crowd's acclaim; the time I almost lost my job as a night news editor, after talking half the night to my brother about the ramifications of the infamous assault on a Crystal Palace fan in 1995 – I forgot that it might be an idea to put something in the paper.
As the minutes tick by towards the appointed hour of the interview, memories come thick and fast. The Saturdays spent singing Eric's name to the tune of "La Marseillaise" in the halcyon days of the mid-1990s; standing behind the goal as he produced an exquisitely calibrated chip against Sunderland, before striking an emperor's pose, collar upturned, to accept the crowd's acclaim; the time I almost lost my job as a night news editor, after talking half the night to my brother about the ramifications of the infamous assault on a Crystal Palace fan in 1995 – I forgot that it might be an idea to put something in the paper.
- 3/25/2012
- by Julian Coman
- The Guardian - Film News
We at Mubi think that celebrating the films of 2010 should be a celebration of film viewing in 2010. Since all film and video is "old" one way or another, we present Out of a Past, a small (re-) collection of some of our favorite of 2010's retrospective viewings.
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Always on Sunday (Ken Russell, 1965), pictured above
Always on Sunday is one of Ken Russell's early British television films, most of which were portraits of artists. It was customary for years for Russell's haters to praise these unavailable films and bemoan the director's decline into heavy-handed vulgarity. It turns out that they were half right: the TV work is excellent, and tends to be more muted than the gaudy features that followed, no doubt in part due to BBC censorship. But the critics were wrong to miss the nuances, and genius, of Russell's blockbuster marathons of bad taste and joyous camp, and...
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Always on Sunday (Ken Russell, 1965), pictured above
Always on Sunday is one of Ken Russell's early British television films, most of which were portraits of artists. It was customary for years for Russell's haters to praise these unavailable films and bemoan the director's decline into heavy-handed vulgarity. It turns out that they were half right: the TV work is excellent, and tends to be more muted than the gaudy features that followed, no doubt in part due to BBC censorship. But the critics were wrong to miss the nuances, and genius, of Russell's blockbuster marathons of bad taste and joyous camp, and...
- 1/10/2011
- MUBI
Twilight star Peter Facinelli has become an Italian citizen for a film role.
The movie hunk was born in America to Italian immigrants and admits he can't even speak the language, but that hasn't stopped him from acquiring dual nationality.
The citizenship was a requirement for him to lead the cast of new period movie The Absinthe Drinkers, in which he plays a character based on 19th century writer Alfred Jarry.
Financing for the movie is based upon European Union laws, which requires all principal cast members to be European.
Facinelli confirmed he has become an Italian citizen during a TV interview with chat show host Chelsey Handler on Wednesday.
The movie hunk was born in America to Italian immigrants and admits he can't even speak the language, but that hasn't stopped him from acquiring dual nationality.
The citizenship was a requirement for him to lead the cast of new period movie The Absinthe Drinkers, in which he plays a character based on 19th century writer Alfred Jarry.
Financing for the movie is based upon European Union laws, which requires all principal cast members to be European.
Facinelli confirmed he has become an Italian citizen during a TV interview with chat show host Chelsey Handler on Wednesday.
- 6/4/2009
- WENN
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