Thursday, March 21, 2013

"I Believe You", Peter as George Harrison

If you are in the mood to hear how Peter's music has developed, listen to this LIVE recording of "I Believe You" from some point during the "Justus" tour.   It's one of his best pieces from the Monkees piece of his work.

Compare it with the best from the movie, Head.  "Do I Have to Do This All Over Again?", which is a frenetic composition, but rich with overlapping instruments and ideas.  It sounds (and probably was) influenced by George Harrison, whom he had known and worked with.  Peter plays bass on George's "Wonderwall" album.  (Wikipedia claims it was banjo).

"I believe you on a rainy day, I believe you chase the sun away"

(in the original recording, it's "chase the clouds away")

"I Believe You" is a more dramatic and mature, yet simpler lyric and sound.  It has a consistent driving force beneath the words, crescendos like waves on a beach.  There's a lingering Minor chord that haunts the work; you know this relationship is doomed, yet one has to trust in belief.  Especially when things are contradictory. Focus on this acceptance, "What else can I do?"

Played at a slightly slower tempo, it could easily slide into dreariness, but every time I hear it, there is a Zen force about it.  A meditation.

When I began learning guitar, I played a few simple notes over and over again.  I wonder if this is how he got the musical idea.  Maybe even from teaching someone?

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