Good Night (Beatles song) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "Good Night" |
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Cover of the song's sheet music
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| Song by the Beatles | |
| from the album The Beatles | |
| Released | 22 November 1968 |
| Recorded | 28 June, 2, 22 July 1968 |
| Studio | EMI, London |
| Genre | Orchestral pop, lullaby |
| Length | 3:11 |
| Label | Apple |
| Songwriter(s) | Lennon–McCartney |
| Producer(s) | George Martin |
"Good Night" is a song by the famous English rock band the Beatles. It was written by John Lennon, but like many Beatles songs, it's credited to both Lennon–McCartney. This special song is sung by Ringo Starr, who was the only Beatle to perform on the track. An orchestra provided the music, arranged by George Martin. "Good Night" is the very last song on their 1968 double album, The Beatles, often called the "White Album".
Contents
How the Song Was Made
Writing the Song
John Lennon wrote "Good Night" as a lullaby for his son, Julian, who was five years old at the time. A lullaby is a soft, gentle song sung to help a child fall asleep.
Recording the Music
The first version of "Good Night" included George Harrison and John Lennon playing guitars. Paul McCartney sang harmony, and Ringo Starr sang the main part. This early version can be heard on The Beatles 50th Anniversary Box Set.
Later, the song was recorded with a large orchestra. George Martin arranged the music for the orchestra. John Lennon wanted the song to sound very grand, almost like an old movie musical. The orchestra had 26 musicians playing many instruments. These included 12 violins, three violas, three cellos, and different wind instruments.
The Mike Sammes Singers also joined in. They provided the soft backing vocals. Ringo Starr was the only Beatle who performed on the final version of the song. This was special because it was one of the few times a Beatle recorded a song for the group without the others. The song ends with Ringo softly whispering: "Good night... Good night, everybody... Everybody, everywhere... Good night."
Other Versions of the Song
Many other artists have recorded "Good Night." Some of these include the Carpenters, Kenny Loggins, and Linda Ronstadt. Barbra Streisand recorded it in 1969 for her album What About Today?. In 2006, Cirque du Soleil used a version of the song in their show called Love.
Who Played on the Song
- Ringo Starr – lead vocals
- George Martin – celesta, orchestral arrangements
- The Mike Sammes Singers – backing vocals
- Orchestra – 12 violins, three violas, three cellos, three flutes, clarinet, horn, vibraphone, double bass, harp
See also
In Spanish: Good Night (canción) para niños
