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Beatles - Back In The U.S.S.R. Song Meanings

This song was supposedly written as a tribute to the Beach Boys, hence the style.

Submitted by: anonymous
Added: 2006-01-04 03:16:52     Rating:

This was not so much a tribute - it was taking the piss! For some time the Beach Boys, or at least Brian Wilson, thought they could match the Beatles artistically.
In this song the Beatles were mocking the BB's surfing records which suggested that USA girls were superior.

Submitted by: anonymous
Added: 2006-03-03 22:24:10     Rating:

Actually, in terms of style the song took after the Beach Boys because Mike Love from the Beach Boys and Paul Mccartney were chatting, and Mike suggested they use some Beach Boys Style. The lyrics and title were inspired by a Chuck Berry song "Back in the USA".

Submitted by: CroftD1
Added: 2006-03-14 14:11:44     Rating:

You're all a little right. I'll just add something...It was the HEAT of the COLD War and the US and GB were against the USSR so the Beatles thought it would be funny to tease the gov'ts and right a song Pro-Russia. And of course it struck a HUGE contraversy. It was written in the same vein as California Girls by the Beach Boys following even closely the lyrics just flipping them to fit the USSR provinances. And by the way Brian Wilson is VERY tallented and I don't consider him inferrior just a lot different from say John or Paul. Not trying to argue, just trying to stick up for him!

Submitted by: anonymous
Added: 2006-07-01 10:27:22     Rating:

The song was written for a concert in the U.S.S.R. when the Iron Curtain was about to fall. It was their last tribute, so to speak for the U.S.S.R. now becoming the country known as Russia.

Submitted by: anonymous
Added: 2007-02-01 10:40:32     Rating:

"The song was written for a concert in the U.S.S.R. when the Iron Curtain was about to fall. It was their last tribute, so to speak for the U.S.S.R. now becoming the country known as Russia."

Now this is stupid. This was written twenty years before the end of the Iron Curtain and in the middle of the Cold War. read a history.


"

Submitted by: anonymous
Added: 2007-06-09 06:10:05     Rating:

To the person who said the Beach Boys were seen as inferior by the Beatles I would suggest reading the anthology book in which McCartney states that he thinks Pet Sounds is a record which any music lover must listen. Furthermore he regularly mentions in interviews how Pet Sounds influenced the Beatles to do Sgt Peppers. Clearly he has/had a lot of respect for the Beach Boys.

Submitted by: anonymous
Added: 2007-09-27 13:43:33     Rating:

In 1968, the Beach Boys became the first rock group to play
behind the Iron Curtain when they performed in Prague, Czechoslovakia. This event inspired the Beach Boys pastiche
"Back in the USSR". Since the Beach Boys were (successfully) sued by the publishers of Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen" for plagiarizing that song with "Surfing USA", the Beatles based their pastiche on Chuck's "Back in the USA" as a further joke. "California Girls" is also (obviously) a lyrical influence. The result is a masterpiece, which stands up to the Beach Boys classics, while thoroughly in their style.

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