I’m an American, 56 years old. I’ve loved this song since I first heard it at about 8 years old. It’s always been clear to me that it’s a great parody of Chuck Berry and the Beach Boys songs. Paul’s sense of humor is great. The only surprising thing I learned about this song later in life is that it’s not Ringo on the drums. I think it’s the Anthology documentary that taught me that. I think the opening sound is a jet landing, not a take off. Hence the name: “Back” in the U.S.S.R. This is and always will be my favorite song on the White Album.
@@Newfie-zc7ug It was really in the sense of appreciation from Paul to Brian on his song styles and admiration for them and Paul writing his own "version" in Beach Boys style, back in the ussr. One of the Beach Boys was in attendance at the recording session for back in the ussr...
GABE, I feel the SAME WAY you do and have since I was a child. I could never understand countries fighting each other, when it's the leaders in the world that seem to encourage it, but THEY don't go in fight. I have always felt this, PUT the LEADERS in a ring and let THEM fight it out, and leave the rest of us alone!!
So you spotted the reference to The Beach Boys harmonies in the line "Well, the Ukraine girls really knock me out, they leave the West behind" then? Try the live version of this song that McCartney did in Red Square, Moscow which is available in TH-cam. There is even a brief shot of Putin in the crowd!!! 🤣
Big wave. It was a parody. But not any political statement. Just a joke. People were obviously not that lucky in the USSR. Though they did have lives like all people.
Since the early days, Beatles always rejected to play in segragated places when they went to the south in the sixties. Blackbird is a song about civil rights, that´s Paul.
Actually the album is called 'The Beatles' It was named the White album by fans in conversation to identify it. All the other albums had a title by The Beatles. When talking they would ask "Do you like The Beatles Album"?.. "Which one"? .. "The White one".
Great reaction! I've never seen this video and it was cool except for the part where a bell is shown when the lyric is referring to a balalaika...a Russian musical instrument. Close to a mandolin but the body is triangular. Czechoslovakia was annexed (like Hungary) for a time by the USSR but was never part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. But Georgia was and the Beatles gave a cheeky call-out to both the country and Ray Charles' "Georgia on My Mind".
The Beatles also made a stand against playing to a serrated audience. They refused to play to an audience where black and white people were separated. It was the Gator Bowl in Florida. John Lennon said he would rather lose their appearance money. The organisers backed down and people the organisers backed down and the concert was a huge success. The Beatles took a stand against racism and were only in their 20's.
The USSR was definitely controversial in 1968, but Paul really wrote this track as a lighthearted parody of the Beach Boys sound. The Beatles had recently gone to India to study transcendental meditation. A few members of the Beach Boys were there too, and they would play together in the evenings. Jamming with the BBs influenced Paul to use this arrangement.
I’d like to hear your take on one of Joplin’s sadly neglected sleepers from that era: “Farewell Song” on the album “Live at Winterland ‘68” by Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin. - -
The Beatles never went to the USSR. Actually, The Beatles music was forbidden in the USSR. Paul McCartney was the only Beatle to play in the now Russia in 2003. Putin attended the concert
The Beatles were also political in the sense that they refused to play in front of segregated audiences, which unbelievably a big deal at the time. Back In The U.S.S.R. was actually The Beatles doing a song in the style of The Beach Boys, as there was a big rivalry at the time. There is footage of the latter band performing this song in the 80s with Ringo on drums. Ironically, Ringo never played drums on the original track.
When Paul was writing this in India, Mike Love of the Beach Boys suggested to Paul that he should add a verse comparing the different girls in the republics of the USSR, like in California Girls. Paul liked the idea, so he did it.
This was inspired by the beach boys / California girls. Kinda obvious as you listen. Great band. Had to stop touring - what’s the point if kids are only screaming. Keep learning dude. Check - the revolution will not be televised. ❤
The Beatles comparing themselves to the Beach boys. Instead they're not just touring around the USA surfing their world famous musicians and they're going to Russia to play for the people not the first time This is the second time they're going to tour Russia all the parts the Ukraine Moscow Georgia they're talking about the famous places in Russia where they played This is just the life of a Beatle. Their worldwide superstars and everybody loves them. And guess what? They love everybody. They are professional musicians in demand all over the world. Even in Russia the one place you might not expect a band to go and do a tour.
Satirical song full of jokes (“Honey disconnect the phone” - afraid they’re being spied on, throwing up in the plane in the way “on the way the paper bag was on my knee;” Ukraine girls vs. California Girls; Georgia’s always on my mind referring to Georgia On My Mind, Beach Boys-style harmonies…
"Back in the USA" was a Chuck Berry song......But if you didn't grow up here, would you think the USA is the best? "Back in the USSR" is just making the point....
Gabe & Nick are both being a bit dumb that they didn't pick up the fact it's a PARODY !!! [ a total 'send-up !] The song is a joke that's making a fool of pointless patriotism - It's anti-political! It's saying that other countries apart from the US have lots l people who think their country is the best. It totally stupid to think McCartney or Lennon supported the USSR !!
I’m an American, 56 years old. I’ve loved this song since I first heard it at about 8 years old. It’s always been clear to me that it’s a great parody of Chuck Berry and the Beach Boys songs. Paul’s sense of humor is great. The only surprising thing I learned about this song later in life is that it’s not Ringo on the drums. I think it’s the Anthology documentary that taught me that. I think the opening sound is a jet landing, not a take off. Hence the name: “Back” in the U.S.S.R.
This is and always will be my favorite song on the White Album.
It was just a reply to the Beach Boys guys. It wasn't a political statement by the Beatles, just a song, a brilliant one!
In what way was it a reply to the Beach boys ? Just askin' :)
@@Newfie-zc7ug It was really in the sense of appreciation from Paul to Brian on his song styles and admiration for them and Paul writing his own "version" in Beach Boys style, back in the ussr. One of the Beach Boys was in attendance at the recording session for back in the ussr...
@@Newfie-zc7ugit was a response to BB’s California Girls.
Nailed it.
Gabe preaching wisdom there, well done Man. I'm sure The Beatles would have been proud of you. :) Great reaction.
On their White album they gave a nod to several genres, this one of course being the Beach Boys.
GABE, I feel the SAME WAY you do and have since I was a child. I could never understand countries fighting each other, when it's the leaders in the world that seem to encourage it, but THEY don't go in fight. I have always felt this, PUT the LEADERS in a ring and let THEM fight it out, and leave the rest of us alone!!
"That Georgia's always on my.........mind" Their parody is showing!
The Beatles met and took photographs with Mohammed Ali, back when he was still Cassius Clay, during their first American tour.
And it flows perfectly into Dear Prudence…
Yes, perfectly!
Agree completely! Dear Prudence is otherworldly!
So you spotted the reference to The Beach Boys harmonies in the line "Well, the Ukraine girls really knock me out, they leave the West behind" then?
Try the live version of this song that McCartney did in Red Square, Moscow which is available in TH-cam. There is even a brief shot of Putin in the crowd!!! 🤣
A fantastic Rocker from McCartney!
I knew a guy once who ate roast flamingo.
IT WAS BEATLES ANSWER TO CALIFORNIA GIRLS AS A JOKE
Yes, but Americans don't really do satire.....
@@Caambrinus I AGREE THEY WONT HAVE SPITTING IMAGE,
little wave at the beach boys in this.
Big wave. It was a parody. But not any political statement. Just a joke. People were obviously not that lucky in the USSR. Though they did have lives like all people.
Fantastic song and great lyrics. Great info guys.
And lets not overlook the reference to Georgia On My Mind....so much fun...
Since the early days, Beatles always rejected to play in segragated places when they went to the south in the sixties. Blackbird is a song about civil rights, that´s Paul.
Actually the album is called 'The Beatles' It was named the White album by fans in conversation to identify it. All the other albums had a title by The Beatles. When talking they would ask "Do you like The Beatles Album"?.. "Which one"? .. "The White one".
Great reaction! I've never seen this video and it was cool except for the part where a bell is shown when the lyric is referring to a balalaika...a Russian musical instrument. Close to a mandolin but the body is triangular.
Czechoslovakia was annexed (like Hungary) for a time by the USSR but was never part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. But Georgia was and the Beatles gave a cheeky call-out to both the country and Ray Charles' "Georgia on My Mind".
And China was never part of the Warsaw Pact
Ringo didn't actually play drums on this, it was actually Paul because Ringo got hurt. And Paul actually did a couple other songs on drums!
Good reation and commentary. I think that was the general feeling at that time.
Love your Beatles reactions and enthusiasm.
Hi guys. Try the version played in Red Square a few years ago in front of a live Moscow audience.
The Beatles also made a stand against playing to a serrated audience. They refused to play to an audience where black and white people were separated. It was the Gator Bowl in Florida.
John Lennon said he would rather lose their appearance money.
The organisers backed down and people the organisers backed down and the concert was a huge success. The Beatles took a stand against racism and were only in their 20's.
I'm glad the Beatles took at stand against SEGREGATION - don't know about people with weird hairstyles or sharpened borders though ?! 😹
This song COOKS!
It is a take-off on the Beach Boys California Girls. It also mentions Georgia (an area of Russia) On My Mind.
The USSR was definitely controversial in 1968, but Paul really wrote this track as a lighthearted parody of the Beach Boys sound. The Beatles had recently gone to India to study transcendental meditation. A few members of the Beach Boys were there too, and they would play together in the evenings. Jamming with the BBs influenced Paul to use this arrangement.
I’d like to hear your take on one of Joplin’s sadly neglected sleepers from that era: “Farewell Song” on the album “Live at Winterland ‘68” by Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin.
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Clever songwriting, great rocker. My go-to fun Beatles song. Not political.
🌸 Gabe --you were on your soapbox today, brother! 😊
The Beatles never went to the USSR. Actually, The Beatles music was forbidden in the USSR. Paul McCartney was the only Beatle to play in the now Russia in 2003. Putin attended the concert
It's safe to assume, that McCartney would no longer perform in a Russia oppressed by Putin.
@@braudabo his rock n roll album from 1987 was released in the USSR tho
I bought an album in 1987 I Moscow. Titled, ironically, Back in th USSR.
@@mike6174 yes thats what I‘m saying, just written in russian
No Ringo on drums Paul McCartney played drums
I can remember the album being called “The Big Double White Album” in the early 70s
♥ White Album!
you absoutely need to react to Dear Prudence, the next song on the album.
The film is called Bridge of Spies
The odd couple are back!
I believe that the Beatles were banned in the USSR at the time.By the way Paul played drums on this Ringo was on an hiatus.
I always thought it was ironic or sarcastic. It's not like they actually favored the dictatorial U.S.S.R. over the freer West. It was tongue-in-cheek.
The Beatles were also political in the sense that they refused to play in front of segregated audiences, which unbelievably a big deal at the time. Back In The U.S.S.R. was actually The Beatles doing a song in the style of The Beach Boys, as there was a big rivalry at the time. There is footage of the latter band performing this song in the 80s with Ringo on drums. Ironically, Ringo never played drums on the original track.
When Paul was writing this in India, Mike Love of the Beach Boys suggested to Paul that he should add a verse comparing the different girls in the republics of the USSR, like in California Girls. Paul liked the idea, so he did it.
I don't think anybody thought they favoured the USSR. It was sarcastic.
Paul changing things up.
Have you done dear prudence or helter skelter??? Same album!
They did Helter skelter some months before.
It’s a “take off” , hence the plane..
This was inspired by the beach boys / California girls. Kinda obvious as you listen.
Great band. Had to stop touring - what’s the point if kids are only screaming.
Keep learning dude.
Check - the revolution will not be televised. ❤
The Beatles were deliberately doing a parody of the Beach Boys with this tune.
mcCartnet went to red square in russia 2005 and did a concert
The Beatles comparing themselves to the Beach boys. Instead they're not just touring around the USA surfing their world famous musicians and they're going to Russia to play for the people not the first time This is the second time they're going to tour Russia all the parts the Ukraine Moscow Georgia they're talking about the famous places in Russia where they played This is just the life of a Beatle. Their worldwide superstars and everybody loves them. And guess what? They love everybody.
They are professional musicians in demand all over the world. Even in Russia the one place you might not expect a band to go and do a tour.
Satirical song full of jokes (“Honey disconnect the phone” - afraid they’re being spied on, throwing up in the plane in the way “on the way the paper bag was on my knee;” Ukraine girls vs. California Girls; Georgia’s always on my mind referring to Georgia On My Mind, Beach Boys-style harmonies…
Please watch Paul McCartney in Red Square
Great Balls of Fire was Jerry Lee Lewis, not Chuck Berry
China was not part of the Warsaw Pact. Russia and China were somewhat hostile to each other at the time.
The USSR dissolved in 1991
The Beatles were the very first western band to perform behind The Iron Curtain😮😊(USSR)
Er, no
Beach Boys yep but nice bit of Elvis impersonation from Paul too?
Is it that 'girl...' line or where exactly ta ? 😹
"Back in the USA" was a Chuck Berry song......But if you didn't grow up here, would you think the USA is the best? "Back in the USSR" is just making the point....
Yellow Submarine not on Sgt Peppers
The USSR was such a grey, drab place that back in the day this was obviously satire
the USSR excisted until 1991 and Czechoslovakia wasn't part of the USSR, just controlled by it
Gabe & Nick are both being a bit dumb that they didn't pick up the fact it's a PARODY !!! [ a total 'send-up !] The song is a joke that's making a fool of pointless patriotism - It's anti-political! It's saying that other countries apart from the US have lots l people who think their country is the best. It totally stupid to think McCartney or Lennon supported the USSR !!
I love your assessment at the start but this is just a gentle response to the Beach Boys and California Girls.
...as opposed to when it was popular to be pro war?!?
Ahh, do miss them good old times ✌
It's a spoof. Making fun of the Beach Boys Back In The USA. That's all
You gotta react to big Dawgs from Hanumankind.