The Beatles Plus 50 It was fifty years ago today…

We are now almost six months past the 50th anniversary of the release of Walls and Bridges, but I promised I was going to write a post on every song, and goddamnit that’s what I’m going to do.

Up to this point, pretty much every song has been one people say is about Yoko somehow or other. After a while you have to think, to paraphrase Mr. Bowie, ain’t there one damn song that isn’t about Yoko?

Well, “Surprise, Surprise” — here’s a tune that everyone seems to agree is about May Pang. If only it was better. Lennon later called it “a piece of garbage,” and while that may be a bit harsh, there is nothing particularly notable about it either musically or lyrically.

Poor May always gets short shrift. By this time 50 years ago, John was already back with Yoko, who was pregnant with Sean (though she may not have known it yet).

May said that John appeared “brainwashed” when he told her he was going back to his wife. There are those who say that Yoko cast some kind of spell on him from the very beginning. I’m not saying that. I’m a little scared of her, to be honest. Forget you ever read this.