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Look at Me (John Lennon song)

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"Look at Me"
Cover of the 2021 remix
Song by John Lennon
from the album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
Released11 December 1970
Recorded26 September – 23 October 1970
GenreFolk
Length2:54
LabelApple Records
Songwriter(s)John Lennon
Producer(s)John Lennon
Yoko Ono
Phil Spector
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band track listing

"Look at Me" is a song written and performed by John Lennon, from his debut solo album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.

Writing

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Lennon began writing "Look at Me" in India in 1968, during the extended sessions for the Beatles' self-titled double album, also known as "the White Album". He then shelved the song until 1970, when he recorded it for his debut solo album.[1] A different recording of the song was later released on the John Lennon Anthology and the compilation album Acoustic.[1]

The pattern of the song is fairly prominent throughout the track. It was built from a finger-picking technique that Lennon used on songs such as "Dear Prudence", "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" and "Julia", all of which appear on the White Album.[1] Lennon learned this finger-picking guitar style (known as Travis-picking) from the Scottish musician Donovan, who was with the Beatles at the time at Rishikesh, India.[2]

Recording

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Recorded at EMI Studios on 7 October 1970,[3] the album version of "Look at Me" features double-tracked vocals by Lennon.[1]

Personnel

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  • The version from the John Lennon Anthology was featured in the movie The Royal Tenenbaums and its soundtrack.
  • The Canadian punk-rock band Sum 41 released a song titled "Look At Me" from their LP Underclass Hero. The beginning verse also started with the lines "Look at me; who am I supposed to be?" The album title itself is a reference to another Lennon song, "Working Class Hero".
  • Joseph Arthur recorded a version for the Lennon Covered #2 CD issued by Q Magazine.
  • Orenda Fink covered "Look at me" as an extra-song on the download-only single "Ace Of Cups" (2014)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Look At Me". The Beatles Bible. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  2. ^ Interview with Donovan (2004), John Lennon's Jukebox
  3. ^ Madinger, Chip; Raile, Scott (2015). LENNONOLOGY Strange Days Indeed - A Scrapbook Of Madness. Chesterfield, MO: Open Your Books, LLC. p. 211. ISBN 978-1-63110-175-5.
  4. ^ Blaney, John (2005). John Lennon: Listen To This Book. Guildford, Great Britain: Biddles Ltd. p. 273. ISBN 0-9544528-1-X.