Page 2 | Would this surprise you?

HmmNot · 2025-05-16T06:57:20+00:00

My 50yo husband (lived in the UK all his life) has never heard- or even heard of- the Beatles’ song Blackbird. YABU- yeah it’s not that well known. YANBU- has he been living under a rock?

Birch101 · 16/05/2025 08:44

I'm from the 80s and know it....blackbirds singing in the dead of night.....

ApricotFlan · 16/05/2025 08:45

Never heard of it. I don’t know why you’re so shocked - it’s not like he’s never heard of The Beatles full stop.

DrinkReprehensibly · 16/05/2025 08:46

I like the song but know it more from the fact that it's always been a favourite for amateur musicians to cover at open mic nights than from hearing the original Beatles song being played. I don't know why it's such a popular choice but it's a nice song, maybe with a bit of challenge vocally for people to show their skills.

LieutenantJumboJr · 16/05/2025 08:48

I just heard it for the first time on Gavin and Stacey

whynotmereally · 16/05/2025 08:49

Off the top of my head I don’t know it maybe I have heard it but I don’t remember. I’m 46. We are not Beatles era. My era was oasis, blue, pulp etc

Bubobubo · 16/05/2025 08:49

Kittyfur · 16/05/2025 08:14

I’m 60 and could sing the whole of blackbird 🐦‍⬛

I'm 42 and could sing it too.

My parents didn't really listen to music apart from in the car.

Rubber Soul is probably in my top 10 albums of all time.

ConnieHeart · 16/05/2025 08:49

I may have heard it once or twice bit it wasn't released as a single so I'm not surprised many people don't know it

Fatrosrhun · 16/05/2025 08:50

WinterStar1 · 16/05/2025 08:10

I'm 52 and only heard it for the first time on Gavin and Stacey at Christmas and even then I didn't know it was a Beatles song

Same for me

BetterWithPockets · 16/05/2025 08:57

I’m 53 and hadn’t heard of it until reading your post, OP!

Apocalypselastyear · 16/05/2025 09:01

EBearhug · 16/05/2025 08:04

I was amazed when a colleague in his 50s, who is really into prog rock, had never heard Sergeant Pepper.

(I told him he wasn't allowed to talk to me about the history of prog rock again until he had. I was quite surprised he did listen to it.)

I don't think Blackbird is their most well-known song, and after experience with colleague, I wouldn't make assumptions, although I probably would have previous to that. And it's 55 years since the Beatles broke up, so unless people's parents listened, it's probable people will not know their full oeuvre.

if he hadn’t heard of that I assume he hadn’t listened to the White Album either how on earth did he get into prog rock?

Berlinlover · 16/05/2025 09:05

I’m 48, Irish and am astonished at the amount of people on this thread that haven’t heard of Blackbird.

ComtesseDeSpair · 16/05/2025 09:11

I just searched it on iTunes - I’ve heard it on soundtracks a couple of times and can recognise it as Beatles song by the vocals, but prior to searching for it I didn’t know that’s what it was called. I had a very brief period in my mid teens where I tried to get into the Beatles because, you know, so cool and vintage, but just couldn’t find anything to really like, so I wouldn’t sit down and listen to an album of theirs actively to know all the tracks and their names.

Genevieva · 16/05/2025 09:28

EBearhug · 16/05/2025 08:04

I was amazed when a colleague in his 50s, who is really into prog rock, had never heard Sergeant Pepper.

(I told him he wasn't allowed to talk to me about the history of prog rock again until he had. I was quite surprised he did listen to it.)

I don't think Blackbird is their most well-known song, and after experience with colleague, I wouldn't make assumptions, although I probably would have previous to that. And it's 55 years since the Beatles broke up, so unless people's parents listened, it's probable people will not know their full oeuvre.

Sergeant Pepper was digitally remastered for CDs in the 90s and very widely advertised, so he really must have been living under a rock.

Tortielady · 16/05/2025 09:42

Given the size of the Beatles' back catalogue, Blackbird is an easy one for casual listeners to miss. It's not as vibrant as Back In The USSR and it doesn't tell a story, eg, Eleanor Rigby. It has the quality of an old English folk song, likeable and easy on the ear, at least if you like the Beatles. So I'm not surprised it passes some people by and there are loads of things I miss that are absolute stand-outs to others. eg, I've listened to Def Leppard and been a fan for years, so how did I miss Hysteria - the track, rather than the album - till a couple of years ago? I'd heard it, but not actually listened to those gorgeous harmonies.

RatOfTheHighway · 16/05/2025 09:44

30 and I’ve heard it, dh is 38 and it’s not his style of music but he’s heard it.

flutterby1 · 16/05/2025 09:47

a year older, I know it but can understand why u wouldn’t have. It’s boring and twee. Even if it was composed by the Beatles! Easily missed.

ExquisiteSocialSkills · 16/05/2025 09:47

My mum listened to the Beatles a lot when I was little so I know it really well. It’s beautiful.

greenglasslight · 16/05/2025 09:49

I'm 47 and have known that song my whole life, I'd think most people my age would know it but my parents where big music fans with a huge record collection while my partner was brought up in a house with two cassette tapes, Lynn Anderson and the Nolan sisters so perhaps it depends on your parents listening habits?

I am surprised by the amount of people who don't know it. I could sing it in my sleep.

EBearhug · 16/05/2025 12:39

Apocalypselastyear · 16/05/2025 09:01

if he hadn’t heard of that I assume he hadn’t listened to the White Album either how on earth did he get into prog rock?

Show quote history

Because an older brother was really into early Genesis.

I'd just like it to be known today's earworm is Blackbird...

SalfordQuays · 16/05/2025 20:08

I’m 57, so bit too young for the Beatles, but I had a huge crush on Paul McCartney in my early teens, and bought loads of Beatles records. Watched the films. Read everything I could about them. I honestly thought I knew all their hits. But I hadn’t heard of Blackbird until it was in the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special!

stayathomer · 16/05/2025 20:10

I wouldn’t have known it if I hadn’t lived in a house in college where everyone learned how to play it on guitar. Outside of our house that year Id never heard it and don’t think I’ve heard it since!!

Redpeach · 16/05/2025 20:14

Hasn't beyonce covered it recently? Anyway, i know and love loads of music from before i was born

Icanttakethisanymore · 16/05/2025 21:43

Wow - I’m so surprised by these responses. I’d have thought most people his age would know it too OP

RuthW · 16/05/2025 22:42

I’m 57 and have just looked it up on You Tube. I have heard it before but not much and would never name it if I was asked about beetles songs

JohnTheRevelator · 16/05/2025 22:48

I'm a big Beatles fan, and it wouldn't really surprise me if someone hadn't heard of the song 'Blackbird'. It's not one of their better known songs. Mind you,if you think it's surprising that your husband had never never heard of a Beatles song,I have a friend,who when I said I shared my birthday with John Lennon said 'Who's John Lennon?'. 😱