Listen, the Snow Is Falling

Last updated
"Listen, the Snow Is Falling"
Listen the Snow Is Falling sleeve.jpg
UK sleeve
Single by Yoko Ono and the Plastic Ono Band
A-side "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" (John and Yoko and the Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir)
Released1 December 1971 (1971-12-01) (US)
24 November 1972 (1972-11-24) (UK)
Recorded30 October 1971, Record Plant East, New York City
Genre Pop
Length3:10
Label Apple
Songwriter(s) Yoko Ono
Producer(s)

"Listen, the Snow Is Falling" is a song written by Yoko Ono and recorded by Ono and the Plastic Ono Band that was first released as the B-side of John Lennon's 1971 single "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)." A version of the song was later released on a reissue of Lennon and Ono's Wedding Album and was covered by Galaxie 500.

Contents

The song was released on digital and streaming services in 2021 via Secretly Canadian. [1]

Origin

Ono had written and recorded an early version of "Listen, the Snow Is Falling" in November 1968 under the title "Snow Is Falling All the Time" as part of the "Song for John" medley during the sessions for Unfinished Music No. 2: Life with the Lions . [2] "Song for John" was not released on the original version of Life with the Lions but was eventually released as a bonus track on a CD reissue of the album. [2]

Ono stated of the song:

The first pop song — if you can say pop song — I ever wrote was "Listen, the Snow Is Falling." I did that before [Lennon and I] got together. Then, when we got together, I made it into a real pop song. When you see the original, you couldn't pick out why it was a pop song. [3]

Recording

"Listen, the Snow Is Falling" was recorded on October 30, 1971, during the sessions for "Happy Xmas (Was Is Over)." [4] Ono sings the lead vocals, Lennon and Hugh McCracken play guitar, Klaus Voormann plays bass, Nicky Hopkins plays organ and chimes, and Jim Keltner plays drums and sleigh bells. [4] The recording sessions were tense. There was difficulty settling on a tempo, with the band originally playing it fast and as a rock song, which was not how Ono wanted it. [5] Ono also disagreed with some of the riffs that McCracken and Voormann were developing. [5] And she criticized some of Hopkins' playing, wanting him to play as if "snow is melting from your fingertips, not that banging." [5] [6] But the ultimate recording turned out serene, despite the studio tension. [5]

Music and lyrics

The song begins with sounds of the wind blowing and people walking through the snow. [4] [6] [7] According to music critic Johnny Rogan, these came from sound effects recordings entitled "Strong Wind" and "Feet in the Snow." [6] The lyrics speak of snow falling in actual places, such as Trafalgar Square, the Empire State Building, Tokyo, Paris and Dallas, as well as "between your head and my mind," a metaphor for the love between Ono and Lennon. [6] [7] Some of the instruments play a descending melody, which music lecturers Ben Urish and Ken Bielen regard as invoking the sound of falling snow, while a guitar plays a gentle ascending riff. [7] Late in the song, Urish and Bielen hear a few measures that they feel sound similar to the Beatles' "Sun King," written by Lennon. [7] The song ends with a return to the sounds of wind and people walking in the snow, and Ono finally whispers to "listen!" [4] [7]

Music journalist Peter Doggett describes Ono's vocals as "fragile" and "gentile" and describes Lennon's playing as supporting Ono's vocals with "melodic reverb guitar." [2]

Ono often used snow imagery in her songs, including "Snow Piece for Solo" and "Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow)." [6] More generally she sees natural elements, such as wind and snow, as having the power to connect people ("Who Has Seen the Wind?" is an example where she uses wind rather than snow). [5] According to Beatle biographer John Blaney, "Listen, the Snow Is Falling" "combines her fascination with natural elements such as wind and water, with her desire for global harmony and unity." [5]

Reception

According to Rogan "Yoko's voice has never been this attractive or radio-friendly before or since and it is regrettable that the song failed to secure airplay or sympathetic comment from her former critics." [6] Blaney says that "the recording sounded as relaxed and graceful as [Ono's] earlier recordings had sounded tense and feral." [5] Urish and Bielen say that "it is one of [Ono's] best conventional recordings and indicates her early abilities to skillfully fuse her poetic and conceptual imagery with the format of mainstream pop songs, a talent she would continue to develop with increasing success." [7] Music journalist John Kruth states that "[John Lennon's] sweet-soul guitar riffs perfectly frame Yoko's heartfelt vocal. [8] Allmusic critic Stewart Mason calls it "the most conventionally pretty song Ono ever wrote, with an expressive, albeit limited, melody and simple, graceful words far removed from Ono's howling banshee image." [9] The Santa Fe New Mexican critic Steve Terrell described the song as "bland." [10]

"Listen, the Snow Is Falling" was released as a bonus track the 2007 CD release of the Wedding Album . [2] [11] This version incorporates "Yoko's soft, breathy" vocal at the beginning and ending of the song that was removed from the single release in hopes of achieving more radio air play for the song. [8]

Cover versions

Galaxie 500 covered "Listen, the Snow is Falling" on their 1990 album This Is Our Music , with bassist Naomi Yang providing the lead vocal. [8] [9] [12] Mason describes this version as beginning with guitarist Dean Wareham playing "a choppy, echoing electric guitar riff." [9] Then the arrangement builds up slowly with acoustic guitars, sleigh bells and "minimalist drumming from Damon Krukowski. [9] Eventually Wareham breaks into a five minute guitar solo as Yang's bass playing and Kurowski's drumming become more intense. [9]

John Kruth describes this version as evoking "the early Velvet Underground with Nico, as the gentle atmosphere of the song explodes into a charging rhythm, driven by the drums and a two-chord repetitive guitar vamp, building into a wailing coda by guitarist Dean Wareham." [8] Allmusic critic Ned Raggett praises this version praising "Yang singing beautifully over, initially, Wareham's echoed guitar strums, and Krukowski's barely-there percussion cascade." Raggett also remarks that this full-band arrangement makes the song "even more intense and gripping" without ruining the "song's spell." [12] Mason claims that Galaxie 500's version "both transforms the song into something recognizably their own and tops the original." [9] Calgary Herald critic Daniel Ash says that it "captures the fragile rock edge of the Velvet Underground without sounding derivative." [13] The San Francisco Examiner critic Aidin Vaziri described the Galaxie 500 version as a "palatable take" on Ono's song. [14] Philadelphia Inquirer critic Tom Moon felt that the ending of this version was "long and indulgent and full of haywire guitar spew." [15]

Thea Gilmore covered "Listen, the Snow Is Falling" on her 2009 album Strange Communion. The Independent critic Andy Gill called this "the album's most magical moment," calling Gilmore's vocal a "hushed murmur over a shimmering synth-pad sparsely illuminated by the occasional chime." [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiss Kiss Kiss (Yoko Ono song)</span> 1980 single

"Kiss Kiss Kiss" is a song by Japanese singer Yoko Ono. It was originally released on Double Fantasy, her joint album with John Lennon, as well as on the B-side of his "(Just Like) Starting Over" single. The disco and new wave-influenced song features Ono gasping heavily and appearing to reach orgasm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him</span> 1980 song by Yoko Ono

"Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him" is a song by Yoko Ono from the album Double Fantasy with John Lennon. Other versions were released, including one released as a single where Ono's voice was removed, leaving what had been Lennon's backing vocal as the primary vocal.

"Well Well Well" is a song by English musician John Lennon from his 1970 album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. The eighth and longest track on the album, "Well Well Well" features an aggressive guitar sound, screaming vocals and a pounding backing track.

"Old Dirt Road" is a song written by John Lennon and Harry Nilsson, first released on Lennon's 1974 album Walls and Bridges. Nilsson later recorded the song on his 1980 album Flash Harry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Losing You (John Lennon song)</span> 1980 song by John Lennon

"I'm Losing You" is a song written by John Lennon and released on his 1980 album Double Fantasy. It was written in Bermuda in June 1980, after several attempts by Lennon to call his wife, Yoko Ono, who remained in New York. The song is also available on the 1982 compilation The John Lennon Collection, the 1998 boxset John Lennon Anthology, the one disc compilation Wonsaponatime, the 2005 two disc compilation Working Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon and in 2010 for the Gimme Some Truth album. The song was also featured in the 2005 musical Lennon.

"Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" is a song written by John Lennon released on his 1973 album Mind Games. The song is included on the 1990 box set Lennon.

"I Know (I Know)" is a song written by John Lennon released on his 1973 album Mind Games. The song is included on the 1998 box set John Lennon Anthology and the 2020 compilation album Gimme Some Truth. The Ultimate Mixes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sisters, O Sisters</span> 1972 single by Yoko Ono

"Sisters, O Sisters", also known as "Sisters O Sisters", is a song written by Yoko Ono that first appeared on John Lennon's and Yoko Ono's 1972 Plastic Ono Band album Some Time in New York City, backed by Elephant's Memory. It was also released as the b-side to the couple's "Woman Is the Nigger of the World" single. It has been covered by a number of artists, including Le Tigre and Tater Totz.

"Born in a Prison" is a song written by Yoko Ono and first released on her 1972 album with John Lennon Some Time in New York City as part of their Plastic Ono Band project.

"New York City" is a song written by John Lennon that was first released on Lennon's and Yoko Ono's 1972 Plastic Ono Band album Some Time in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What You Got (John Lennon song)</span> 1974 single by John Lennon

"What You Got" is a song written by John Lennon that was first released on his 1974 album Walls and Bridges. It was later released as the B-side to his top 10 #9 Dream single.

"Bless You" is a song written by John Lennon that was first released on his 1974 album Walls and Bridges. It is a ballad expressing his love for his wife Yoko Ono, even though they were separated at the time. Alternative versions appeared on the compilation albums Menlove Ave. and John Lennon Anthology

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why (Yoko Ono song)</span> Song by Yoko Ono

"Why" is a song written by Yoko Ono that was first released on her 1970 Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band album. In the U.S. it was also released as the B-side of John Lennon's "Mother" single, taken from his John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Touch Me (Yoko Ono song)</span> Song by Yoko Ono

"Touch Me" is a song written by Yoko Ono that was first released on her 1970 album Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band. An edited version was later released in the U.S. as the b-side to John Lennon's single "Power to the People."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midsummer New York</span> 1971 single by Yoko Ono

"Midsummer New York" is a song written by Yoko Ono that was released as the opening song of her 1971 album Fly and also as the b-side of the single "Mrs. Lennon."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow)</span> 1969 single by Yoko Ono and Plastic Ono Band

"Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow)" (also known as "Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for a Hand in the Snow)") is a song by Yoko Ono that was originally released by Plastic Ono Band in October 1969 as the B-side of John Lennon's single "Cold Turkey" and was later released on Ono's 1971 album Fly. Several live versions have been released, including on Live Peace in Toronto 1969 and Some Time in New York City in 1972. An early version was titled "Mum's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow". It has been covered by several other artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Now or Never (Yoko Ono song)</span> 1972 single by Yoko Ono

"Now or Never" is a song written by Yoko Ono that was first released on her 1973 album Approximately Infinite Universe. It was also the lead single off the album, backed by "Move on Fast." A remixed version of "Move on Fast" was later released as a single and reached #1 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remember Love (Yoko Ono song)</span> Song by Yoko Ono

"Remember Love" is a song written by Yoko Ono and initially released as the B-side of John Lennon's and Ono's 1969 single "Give Peace a Chance."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Who Has Seen the Wind? (song)</span> Song by Yoko Ono

"Who Has Seen the Wind?" is a song written by Yoko Ono that first appeared as the B-side of John Lennon's single "Instant Karma!" It was later issued as a bonus track on a compact disc version of the Wedding Album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Move Over Ms. L</span> Song by John Lennon

"Move Over Ms. L" is a song written by John Lennon. It was originally intended to be released on his 1974 album Walls and Bridges but was left off shortly before the album release, and was eventually released as the b-side to Lennon's "Stand by Me" single. In the interim it was released by Keith Moon on his album Two Sides of the Moon. Moon also released it as the B-side of his "Solid Gold" single.

References

  1. ↑ "Yoko Ono & The Plastic Ono Band - Listen, The Snow Is Falling - Single". Apple Music. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Doggett, Peter (2009). The Art And Music Of John Lennon. Omnibus Press. ISBN   9780857121264.
  3. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (May 13, 1993). "Yoko Ono on the art of John Lennon". The Tennessean. pp. 1D–2D. Retrieved 2021-08-05– via newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Spizer, Bruce (2005). The Beatles Solo on Apple Records. 498 Productions. pp. 61–62. ISBN   0966264959.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Blaney, John (2007). Lennon and McCartney: together alone: a critical discography of their solo work. Jawbone Press. pp. 71–72. ISBN   978-1-906002-02-2.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rogan, Johnny (2010). Lennon: the Albums. Calidore. ISBN   9780857124388.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Urish, Ben; Bielen, Ken (2007). The Words and Music of John Lennon. Praeger. p. 34. ISBN   9780275991807.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Kruth, John (2021). Hold On World: The Lasting Impact of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Plastic Ono Band, Fifty Years On. Backbeat. p. 214. ISBN   9781493052363.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mason, Stewart. "Listen, the Snow Is Falling". Allmusic. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  10. ↑ Terrell, Steve (December 16, 2005). "Terrell's Tune-up". The Santa Fe New Mexican. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-08-05– via newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Wedding Album". Allmusic. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  12. 1 2 Raggett, Ned. "This Is Our Music". Allmusic. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  13. ↑ Ash, Daniel (March 17, 1991). "Selected Cuts". Calgary Herald. p. A14. Retrieved 2021-08-05– via newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Vaziri, Aidin (December 13, 1998). "On Johnson's Intavenshan". The San Francisco Examiner. p. 50. Retrieved 2021-08-05– via newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Moon, Tom (December 2, 1990). "New Recordings". The Philadelphia Inquirer . p. 14-G. Retrieved 2021-08-05– via newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ Gill, Andy (December 11, 2009). "New Released". The Independent. p. 32. Retrieved 2021-08-05– via newspapers.com.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.