Analysis Of The Beatles’ Album A Hard Day’S Night
Beatlemania became a prominent force throughout the UK and the US in the 1960s. In January 1964, the Beatles took the world by storm with the band’s first number 1 hit song, “I Want to Hold Your Hand. ” On July 10, 1964, the Beatles released what is now considered to be one of their greatest albums, A Hard Day’s Night. This album became the driving force for the success of the Beatles, propelling them to become well-renowned throughout the world. However, what made this album stand out from others in the 1960s? Through careful analysis of its song structures, historical background, and social context of the 1960s, one can better understand what made A Hard Day’s Night so captivating.
An Overall Analysis of the Album
The album provides a barbershop-style of rock with frequent use of singing in unison. A good example of this is in the song “If I Fell” where Paul and John consistently harmonize together. What differentiates barbershop-type songs and the songs on the album, however, is that the songs on A Hard Day’s Night are more fiery and have a fast-paced tempo. With the increased tempo, listeners gain feelings of exhilaration and anticipation, leaving them craving for more. Throughout the album, the songs last a short duration and make constant use of repetition. By keeping the songs relatively short, they are a lot easier to remember than longer playing songs (e. g. “Like A Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan). What keeps the songs replaying in your head is the utilization of repetition throughout the album. Repetition allows the listener to easily grasp the music and have an easier time remembering it. This is a frequently used technique still used in songs today.
Many of the songs revolve around the theme of love and heartbreak. Love is an emotion everyone can relate to, which is why so many people identify with them. A lot of the Beatles’ early songs, specifically on this album, had target demographics of teens and those in their early 20s. During this time in a person’s life, emotions are usually felt more passionately and a lot of people may experience heartbreak. What I also noticed was the myriad of instruments they used and the talent they possessed to write songs that seemed so effortless. For example, in the song “I Should Have Known Better”, there is prominent use of the harmonica, while in “A Hard Day’s Night” there is the rhythmic ringing of cowbells in the background. George Harrison really amplifies his presence with his twelve-string Rickenbacker. While the songs on the album still use frequent guitar riffs, the guitar is not as prominent as the vocals compared to rock bands in the ‘70s and ‘80s. During those later years, longer guitar solos were a lot more commonplace.
Understanding the Deeper Details of the Songs
A deeper look into the structures of various songs in the album makes it easier to understand why this album skyrocketed in popularity. In the song “A Hard Day’s Night”, I noticed that the lyrics use phrases such as “I should be sleeping like a log” in order to invoke imagery and paint a better picture for the listener. In verse 1, the first and third lines are repeated, and lines 5 through 7 are a lot more dynamic and energetic, thus engaging the listener. The song ends with a coda as there is a little guitar solo that fades out at the end. The lyrics also depict a man who understands that no matter what adversity he faces, he will always have his lover by his side. I believe this enables the listener to relate to the story simply because people tend to seek comfort from loved ones in difficult times. As for relating to The Beatles themselves, many of the lyrics derive from Lennon’s personal life, as he was most likely referencing his wife at the time, Cynthia Lennon. The sexual references within “A Hard Day’s Night” also demonstrate the appeal sex has upon the general listener of the song.
“I Should Have Known Better” reveals the Beatles’s, specifically John’s, admiration for Bob Dylan, who used the harmonica for a variety of his songs. This song prominently uses the harmonica and blends it seamlessly with the guitar solo in the middle of the song. At the beginning, he keeps the melody on the same note and eventually uses falsettos in order to increase the excitement of the song. The song also uses a sixteen-measure-long bridge to transition the song between different types of verses, which initiates a different melodic tone in order to catch the listener’s attention and balance out the song. At the end of the song, the phrase “you love me too” is repeated as it fades out in the background, adding a dramatic effect. When analyzing the lyrics, the song expresses the feeling of falling in love with a girl and John indulges in the reciprocated emotions by saying “you’re gonna say you love me too. ” Although the lyrics are relatively simple, the Beatles displays a charisma that is fundamental in attracting the opposite sex, correlating with the original appeal of the song.
“Any Time At All” is a unique song that displays a lot more aggression in terms of guitar and vocals. In the beginning song, John repeats the line “any time at all” three times, the second time sounding emphatic. In the verses, John then tones his pitch down a full octave, switching up the tone for the later lyrics. What makes this song interesting compared to others is its increased prominence of the instrument. Towards the end of the song, we enter a bridge which consists of George on the guitar and Paul playing the piano. This song demonstrates just how technically skilled the band really is, with Paul demonstrating his knowledge of both the bass and the piano, while George adapts to the lead guitarist role. The lyrics have parallels with other songs on the album as the protagonist attempts to comfort a girl and show that he will always be there for her. While there is nothing truly significant about the lyrics behind this song, it follows the general pattern of love and responsiveness for someone.
The Historical Background Behind the Album
What makes this album even more prominent is the fact that it came at the perfect time in history. With the women’s rights movement at the forefront along with the birth of the contraceptive pill, people became more autonomous and open to the idea of sex; thus, the “Sex Revolution” was born. With sex and love being closely interrelated, it was easy to see why people easily related to the songs on this album. More importantly, it took people’s minds off the pain and disarray of President Kennedy’s assassination in November 1963. When Americans were unsure about the future of the country, the album provided a feeling of stability during precarious times.
Through promotion by media outlets, TV, and news, it’s no wonder that that the album received massive attention all over the globe. The band quickly won the hearts of many early adults and teens. A Hard Day’s Night symbolized a spirit of fiery youth and fun. When analyzing several of the songs throughout the album, the listener recognizes the constant theme of love and reliability when they are experiencing feelings of heartbreak and difficult times. Because love is a perpetual theme within humanity, their music remains timeless and steadfast in its message. A listener in 2019 may not be as convinced as to why the Beatles are one of the greatest bands of all times. But many bands and pop singers have used several of the techniques that the Beatles originated, making their sound a lot more commonplace. In comparison, if I were a listener in the 1960s, I would be much more astounded because they were creating music that had never been heard before. Overall, the album had an everlasting effect back then as it does now through various innovative music techniques and its time and place in history.
