Steely Dan wrote this song as a rebuttal to John Lennon's "Imagine". Paul McCartney had met Becker and Fagan and liked their music. John Lennon didn't think much of Steely Dan's music. When Lennon released "Imagine" Becker and Fagan thought Lennon was singing about something that was impossible. That he was arrogant to be thinking like this when he was viewing from his eyes and didn't understand what was really happening in the World. So in the lyrics for "Only a Fool Would say That", John Lennon was the fool and other lyrics apply to him also.
FYI You can’t even imagine how much better it would sound if you two wore headphones or at least earbuds! Only until then will you appreciate the complexities of all the music you listen to. You will hear instrumentals sometimes that are inaudible without them. Then your reactions will be true reactions! Great job anyway!
Go to swap meet and find two older monitor speakers and a nice old reciever. Then get speaker wire and a aux to rca connector and you got yourself a 100 dollar or less hifi setup. Skip headphones since this is a social venture between you two and the viewer. Headphones ruin that. What the fuck (lol) am i hearing fucking computer speakers?
There is reason to believe this song is a critique of John Lennon's Imagine. It was released a year after Imagine, and tells the man with a plan to "imagine" having to work hard just to survive, and then seeing some rich rock star on the TV, selling a song about giving everything away. There's also the reference to Old Brown Shoe, a Beatles song, and a man with a dream ("you may say I'm a dreamer"). Major cojones on those guys, telling John Lennon what to imagine. 😎 Don't get me wrong--I love Lennon's music. And I think Don and Walt had a point. 😁 Ah Steely Dan, the gift that keeps on giving! Thanks Sifa and Dan! ✌🤙
Another smart band I'm fond of is XTC. They were a post-punk band that was too clever, evolved into a new wave/pop band, released my excellent albums. You should check them out.
Steely Dan was a great band and wrote a lot of great, timeless songs. Sadly, Walter Becker has passed, but his legacy lives on (along with Donald Fagan).
@@danl.909 Do not think is bad spanish (I am Spaniard) It is kind of sarcastic: only a fool would say that; no doubt a fool said that. Indeed, you are the fool!!!! No ofense.
Nice critique. I too like the tunnelling under at the end of the chorus…Fagen’s voice goes low. And the whole idea of the song…great things to speculate but only a fool would say that. I gave it a go and my recording is on my TH-cam channel 😊🎶✌🏻
Can u imagine being me? My first 2 albums purchased are Can’t Buy a Thrill & the Doobies ‘the Captain & Me’. That’s one of the top ten debut albums in history... and a tremendous pop americana album, which set a super high standard. But it also freed my mind to explore all genres, because I understood, even at 15, that SD was the shit. They included everything in their compositions. So, they get me listening to jazz... and my musical life got much broader!
Great comments on this track. I don't believe that SD was ever trying to appeal to the masses. They wrote from experience and observation. We are lucky enough that they decided to put it on paper and then to music.
The whole song is about a naive idealist who can’t imagine what it’s like to be in the working class. I thought the part “anybody on the street has murder in their eyes” was a reference to protests often having just plain trouble makers, instead of representing the actual working class. Either way great review!
If you enjoyed this, check out our podcast on Steely Dan!
th-cam.com/video/2tNasxBrqnM/w-d-xo.html
Steely Dan wrote this song as a rebuttal to John Lennon's "Imagine". Paul McCartney had met Becker and Fagan and liked their music. John Lennon didn't think much of Steely Dan's music. When Lennon released "Imagine" Becker and Fagan thought Lennon was singing about something that was impossible. That he was arrogant to be thinking like this when he was viewing from his eyes and didn't understand what was really happening in the World. So in the lyrics for "Only a Fool Would say That", John Lennon was the fool and other lyrics apply to him also.
Wow, that is awesome 😆. Thanks Dan!
Word
That Spanish at the end was spoken by guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter. He was with Steely Dan early on but left in 1974 and joined The Doobie Brothers.
I believe he says tonto, and that is Spanish for fool.
Nice that you guys are going through their music chronologically. Perfect way to gauge and feel their development.
FYI You can’t even imagine how much better it would sound if you two wore headphones or at least earbuds! Only until then will you appreciate the complexities of all the music you listen to. You will hear instrumentals sometimes that are inaudible without them. Then your reactions will be true reactions! Great job anyway!
Your right! We had bought a headphone splitter right before this reaction, but it broke :(
Anyway, thanks for watching!
Go to swap meet and find two older monitor speakers and a nice old reciever. Then get speaker wire and a aux to rca connector and you got yourself a 100 dollar or less hifi setup. Skip headphones since this is a social venture between you two and the viewer. Headphones ruin that. What the fuck (lol) am i hearing fucking computer speakers?
There is reason to believe this song is a critique of John Lennon's Imagine. It was released a year after Imagine, and tells the man with a plan to "imagine" having to work hard just to survive, and then seeing some rich rock star on the TV, selling a song about giving everything away. There's also the reference to Old Brown Shoe, a Beatles song, and a man with a dream ("you may say I'm a dreamer"). Major cojones on those guys, telling John Lennon what to imagine. 😎
Don't get me wrong--I love Lennon's music. And I think Don and Walt had a point. 😁
Ah Steely Dan, the gift that keeps on giving! Thanks Sifa and Dan! ✌🤙
Thanks for sharing George!
Amazing song in response to Imagine and it being out of touch with the common man in the street
Quote of the reaction: "too smart to be happy"
Thanks for watching!
Another smart band I'm fond of is XTC. They were a post-punk band that was too clever, evolved into a new wave/pop band, released my excellent albums. You should check them out.
Thanks for the suggestion!
XTC was a great band. Andy Partridge is a great songwriter. Very original/unique.
@@SightAfterDark I second this. Start with the song, “Senses Working Overtime” and go from there :)
Steely Dan was a great band and wrote a lot of great, timeless songs. Sadly, Walter Becker has passed, but his legacy lives on (along with Donald Fagan).
RIP WB
I think this song is a response to John Lennon’s “Imagne”
Love it
Short but totally sweet, you guys should check out any major dude another short but sweet one by steely Dan
Wow -- Animal Collective! I never would have thought of that, but you're spot on!
Glad you agree!
El trabajo de jeff baxter es sencillamente sensacional.
Esos acordes convierten este tema en algo realmente MARAVILLOSO.
This is actually a diss track to a John Lennon - Imagine
Lol this makes us like it even more
Sight After Dark Hahahaha YES🙌🏽 love from the UK guys
WhatchaGunnaDooo thanks for watching! Cheers!
It's amazing watching younger people getting this when at the time it did not even exist
This was "Steely Dan's" reaction to John Lennon and the song "Imagine."
This is one of my favorite ❤🎵🎶
It’s great!
Si,si,sin duda una enorme canción.
Fantástica voz y muy buena la letra .
El ritmo y la melodía hacen el resto.
The ANCO comparison was pretty good and definitely surprised me lol
Haha it caught Dan by surprise too. Thanks for watching Isaac!
My favorite song from this album. I"ve never heard of Animal Collective, will have to check they out.
Thanks for watching Christine!
Indudablemente, un tonto decía esto. Meaning: no doubt, a fool said that.
Remembers me of Rubén Blades.
A fantastic song.
❤️❤️❤️
“Solamente un tonto diría eso.” Is what Skunk said. It’s bad Spanish for the song title.
@@danl.909 Do not think is bad spanish (I am Spaniard) It is kind of sarcastic: only a fool would say that; no doubt a fool said that. Indeed, you are the fool!!!! No ofense.
Cool perspective, SAD. Great cadences and melodic choices, always surprising.
Nice critique. I too like the tunnelling under at the end of the chorus…Fagen’s voice goes low. And the whole idea of the song…great things to speculate but only a fool would say that. I gave it a go and my recording is on my TH-cam channel 😊🎶✌🏻
Can u imagine being me?
My first 2 albums purchased are Can’t Buy a Thrill & the Doobies ‘the Captain & Me’.
That’s one of the top ten debut albums in history... and a tremendous pop americana album, which set a super high standard. But it also freed my mind to explore all genres, because I understood, even at 15, that SD was the shit. They included everything in their compositions.
So, they get me listening to jazz... and my musical life got much broader!
Amazing!
Great comments on this track. I don't believe that SD was ever trying to appeal to the masses. They wrote from experience and observation. We are lucky enough that they decided to put it on paper and then to music.
Great lyrics👏
Gun B' Gone 😂😂😂. This song is a response to John Lennon's naiveté with Imagine.
Wow! That makes so much sense! Kinda makes the Gun B Gone thing a little sad :(............ Anyway, thanks for watching!
i wore this album out in 1990 (by myself ;;) finally some friends? to bond with ? ps i’m a musician too !
It’s an easy album to wear out!
Check your settings , the sound is very poor. I know this song wll and here its like a pocket transistor.
We’re working on it. Thanks for stopping by Stuart!
That fool was john lennon
Reminds me!!! Maldito corrector!!!!
Thanks for watching!
They were hitting back at lennons imagine
This song is dissing John Lennon Imagine
Love it
Great ist album but need to get on to pretzel logic katie lied to get the best stuff !!!!
We’ll definitely get to it eventually! Thanks for the suggestion!
They might be too smart, but you'll never know if they care. Actually, you will. They don't!
Lol truth
This is damn fine music and the perfect answer to Lennon's privileged bullshit anthem.
The whole song is about a naive idealist who can’t imagine what it’s like to be in the working class. I thought the part “anybody on the street has murder in their eyes” was a reference to protests often having just plain trouble makers, instead of representing the actual working class. Either way great review!
Thanks for watching!
This is the anti-"Imagine."
no no no IF ANYONE has murder in their eyes, hum chield like believing, do have lots of angels ya know, I know you have heard one,