ELO: What does the distorted eery voice say at the end of ‘Mr. Blue Sky’?
‘Mr. Blue Sky’ became an inexplicable cult classic. Jeff Lynn has tried to explain it himself, with reasons ranging from its Beatles-esque appeal to its sounding close to a nursery rhyme. The truth is, whether or not any of its resurgence has occurred organically or completely artificially, thanks to giants like Marvel, it has come to singlehandedly represent the entire legacy of Electric Light Orchestra.
ELO’s presence has always been much-needed in the music industry, not just because of the great music Lynne seems to churn out constantly but because of what they achieved. After The Beatles disbanded, they left a void that seemed to be completely uninhabitable by any other figure until ELO came along and proved that someone could, in fact, be just as powerful.
This trajectory was something the former members of The Beatles noticed themselves. As John Lennon put it in 1974, ELO seemed like the “Son of Beatles” despite their sound involving various distinguishable elements from their material. “I remember the statement they made when they first formed was to carry on from where The Beatles left off with ‘[I Am the] Walrus,’ and they certainly did,” Lennon said.
Remarkably, Lynne gave rock and pop a new lease of life, making much of it sound and feel like having a nice, cold drink in the height of summer. ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ is perhaps the best example of this, with its joyous beat and rhythmic appeal that immediately draws you in. When listening to the song, you’re guided by the hand into one perfect moment where “there ain’t a cloud in sight”.
The playfulness is difficult to escape as Lynne asks Mr. Blue Sky why he had to hide away for so long, leaving him waiting for such a blissful moment of respite. “Hey, you with the pretty face,” he beckons, “Welcome to the human race”. It is entirely tongue-in-cheek but impossible to resist as a celebration plays out in the form of bouncy piano sounds, percussions, cymbals, and choral arrangements.
Rather strangely, however, the end of the track has been the subject of an important debate for decades. As the final notes fade, a sound appears—a distortion that almost sounds like a voice. And, if you listen closely, it sounds like the voice could actually be saying words. It’s difficult to make out, however, and easy to miss if you’re not paying close attention.
Naturally, the theories as to what the voice is saying have been rife, with some saying it’s just a slowed-down version of the words “Mr. Blue Sky” or a variation of, like “Mr. Blue Sky died”, “Mr. Blue Sky fly”, “Mr. Blue Sky high”, “Mr. Blue Sky yeah”, or something else—something else that could be totally plausible. However, as confirmed by Lynne, the lyrics actually say: “Please turn me over.”
This wouldn’t be so relevant in today’s world where most people consume music in digital formats, but these words were added to suit record players, urging listeners to turn over the vinyl once ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ had finished playing, as the song occurs at the end of side three. This may be obvious to some, but you would be surprised: like the Yanny or Laurel illusion, some listeners claim they cannot hear anything at all at the end of the track for mysterious reasons that have yet to be explained. What do you hear?
