Posted February 10, 200817 yr 'Ultimate Pop Star' Cliff Richard launches astonishing attack on 'horrific, out of tune' Beatles Daily Mail.co.uk Sir Cliff Richard has launched an astonishing attack on The Beatles, claiming some of their music was "horrific" because it was "out of tune". Sir Cliff, who has a reputation as pop's Mr Nice, maintained some was so off-tune it was "unbelievable" – and "unforgivable". His criticism of the pop icons concentrated on the guitar solos, often played by George Harrison, who died of cancer in 2001. The 67-year-old singer said he could not believe these were not re-recorded. He insisted: "The Beatles were an incredible force. Of course they had their own sound, style and wrote their own songs. "But, yes, even now, when I listen to them, some of the guitar is so out of tune, it's unbelievable. "I couldn't believe that here they were in this high-tech age, with four-track recording machines, and they couldn't go back and do it with a tuned guitar. "Being out of tune – I find it unforgivable.' Sir Cliff said he could not remember which songs offended him the most. "It's mostly their guitar solos, which can be fairly horrific," he added. Later, in the interview with Q Magazine, he was quick to point out he had achieved things that The Beatles had not. The man dubbed the Peter Pan of Pop said: "My only gripe is when critics writing the history of rock'n'roll leave me out altogether." Speaking of his emergence in British pop half a decade before The Beatles, he went on: "All I'm asking is that [the critics] recognise that I did something that no one else had done before, and five years before The Beatles. "I am the UPS – Ultimate Pop Star – and no one can take that away from me. "A few years ago, Channel 4 did a programme called The Ultimate Pop Star – and it turns out I have sold more singles than not just Elvis, but everybody. "That's my big claim to fame." The Beatles biographer Hunter Davies said: "It doesn't sound like Cliff Richard. He's usually banal in his comments. "I've never heard the guitar-playing being attacked before. I'm surprised. "George is someone everyone thought was one of the best guitarists ever. "Historically, Cliff's nose was put out of joint when The Beatles came along. "He was a total pinch from Elvis Presley, with the same gyrating hips. "The Beatles looked totally different. They sang in Liverpool accents, whereas Cliff affected a mid-Atlantic accent. They wrote their own songs, while he sang other people's." Do you think Cliff has some validity with his comments or is he just becoming a grumpy old man?
February 10, 200817 yr Author Now, could any of this nonsense have its roots in the outspoken animosity the Beatles expressed toward Cliff Richard and the Shadows back in the day, do you? Consider these comments made late in 1963 to a British reporter, quoted by Michael Braun in his excellent 1964 book "Love Me Do": Paul: “Cliff and the Shadows invited us to this great kind of party. I mean all I could say was, 'Oh, wait till I tell the girls back home.' Mind you, I knew it was a soft thing to say." John: “Yeah, you're supposed to make things up, like, uh, 'What a great job you're doing in the industry...'" Paul: "Because we've never been fans of Cliff's..." John: "We've always hated him. He was everything we hated in pop. But when we met him we didn’t mind him at all. He was very nice. We still hate his records, but he's really very nice."
February 10, 200817 yr Grumpy old man, no doubt about it. He still probably feels annoyed he hasn't had the same affection by not only the Uk public but worldwide. Cliff only had success in UK and never in USA for example.
February 10, 200817 yr Grumpy old man, no doubt about it. He still probably feels annoyed he hasn't had the same affection by not only the Uk public but worldwide. Cliff only had success in UK and never in USA for example. I agree Brian. Lately he's also be making sly criticisms of Elvis too even though he always said that it was Elvis who inspired him to become a singer. I think he's desperate for some publicity as he needs another #1 before this decade ends :lol:
February 11, 200817 yr Author maybe he should colloborate with Timbaland :lol: Well Timbaland has collaborated with 1980s UK Pop legends Duran Duran, and he has just produced Madonna and is supposed to be working with Aerosmith so ...... ....... However, I think a duet with Westlife to be released late November with promo on X-Factor, as both acts will be desperate for another UK#1 is 100 times more likely.
February 11, 200817 yr John: "We've always hated him. He was everything we hated in pop. But when we met him we didn’t mind him at all. He was very nice. We still hate his records, but he's really very nice." :lol: :lol: :lol: I love John's comment - its exactly how I feel about Cliff - I actually think he's a nice bloke - its just his music that's cr*p! Normakath Edited February 11, 200817 yr by Norma_Snockers
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