The first time a sitar was used in a rock song, as always pioneers - "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" - 1965

Good morning, dear Hive platform! I hope you're all well. I send you my warmest greetings, which I also extend to the wonderful project at https://scrobble.life/, on this beautiful start to the week. Welcome to my review.

Sourse 1.1

Today I'm sharing a beautiful ballad, also from the extraordinary album "Rubber Soul," specifically the second song on that LP. This song is considered a milestone in the transition from one stage to another, and I'll explain why in the following lines. The song is titled "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)." Just yesterday I talked to you about "Drive My Car," and it seems that both songs are related or interconnected, because the LP begins with "Drive My Car" and then immediately the second song is "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)," and coincidentally (I think very intentionally on McCartney's part), both songs talk about a girl, and a boy as well, and a certain complicity between them. There's also a contrast in rhythms between the two tracks, but with the same story. The first song ("Drive My Car") is about a girl who wants to be famous and meets a boy who proposes that he will be her driver when she becomes famous. Then, in the second song ("Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)"), the couple already communicates and establishes a relationship, which could be one of friendship, acquaintance, or something more. The song leaves the listener's imagination open to any scenario; lines like "and when I woke up I was alone, this bird has flown" leave that door open to the imagination. It somewhat completes the first song (Drive My Car).

Sourse 2

On the other hand, George Harrison plays a sitar solo, marking the first time an Indian instrument appeared in a rock song. Playing the sitar is very complicated and complex, and Harrison, at 22 years old (when they recorded this track in 1965), played it almost as if he had been practicing for years. Harrison later showed great interest in Indian culture in general, so much so that he wrote other songs in which he played the sitar.

Sourse 3

This wonderful song was written by Lennon and McCartney and recorded in mid-October 1965 at EMI Studios in London, produced by George Martin and released on the Parlophone label. It's framed within a ballad style, though some scholars place it in raga rock or folk. We can enjoy John on lead vocals, doubled on two tracks, along with acoustic guitar, and Paul on... The bass and backing vocals were provided by George on 12-string acoustic guitar and sitar (the sitar is a stringed musical instrument originating in India and parts of Pakistan, similar to a guitar but with a larger neck and a metallic, bright, and delicate sound; it has between 18 and 21 strings in total, some steel and others brass, and requires a lot of practice and experience to play—in other words, being a virtuoso on the instrument), and Ringo on drums, tambourine, maracas, and bass drum.

Sourse 4

Several takes of this song were recorded; however, there is one very particular take that they worked on during the recording sessions, which included a somewhat unusual sitar ending and a more basic and elemental sound. However, the band didn't like this take, and it was discarded to continue working on it, finally arriving at the take that was released on the album "Rubber Soul."

Sourse 5

This discarded take of the song "Norwegian Wood" was released over Thirty years later, it appeared on the legendary 1996 compilation Anthology 2, along with other versions and outtakes, incomplete tracks, or discarded recordings from various albums between 1965 and 1967. The prestigious Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Norwegian Wood" at number 83 on its 2004 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. I find it extraordinary and wonderful.

Sourse 6

Well, my dear friends, this concludes this review. I hope you enjoyed it. We'll see you again soon, read each other's posts, and discuss them... Blessings...!!!