Homer's Barbershop Quartet - Cultural References

Cultural References

The episode makes several references to The Beatles. Moe's Tavern changes its name to Moe's Cavern, a reference to the Cavern Club in Liverpool where The Beatles frequently performed in the early 1960s. Chief Wiggum, thrown out of the band because he was "too Village People", mirrors Pete Best. Best was an early member of The Beatles but was replaced by Ringo Starr. The cover of Bigger Than Jesus, The Be Sharps' second album, features the group walking on water, which is a direct parody of the art on The Beatles' album Abbey Road. The name is a reference to a controversial quote made by John Lennon in 1966. Bart references this by asking, "What did you do ? Screw up like The Beatles and say you were bigger than Jesus?", to which Homer replies "All the time. That was the title of our second album." At the end of the episode, the album's back cover is revealed, on which Homer is seen turned away from the camera, as opposed to the rest of the band. This is a parody of the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band LP reverse, in which Paul McCartney is in the same position. Barney's Japanese conceptual artist girlfriend is a parody of Yoko Ono. Their song repeats the phrase "Number 8" and a burp by Barney, a reference to The Beatles' "Revolution 9". The group performing atop Moe's Tavern at the end of the episode is a parody of The Beatles' impromptu concert on the Apple Corps rooftop during their Get Back recording sessions in 1969, hence George Harrison's line, "It's been done." In addition, The Be Sharps are wearing the same outfits as The Beatles during the rooftop concert scene: Barney in a brown fur coat (John), Homer in a bright red coat (Ringo), Skinner in a black suit (Paul), and Apu in a black coat with green trousers (George). After the performance, Homer says, "I'd like to thank you on behalf of the group and I hope we passed the audition." The same quote was said by John Lennon at the end of The Beatles rooftop performance.

At the swap meet, Mayor Quimby says "Ich bin ein Springfield Swap Meet Shopper", a parody of John F. Kennedy's famous Cold War quote. Homer browses through a box with items that cost five cents each. These include the United States Declaration of Independence, a copy of Action Comics #1, a complete block of Inverted Jenny misprint postal stamps, and a Stradivarius violin. Principal Skinner tries on a prison mask with the number 24601, notable as Jean Valjean's prison number in Les Misérables. Homer buys Grampa a pink Cadillac, just as Elvis Presley did for his mother. One of the late night television shows Chief Wiggum watches is Johnny Carson doing his Carnac the Magnificent routine. Homer mentions that 1985 was the year that Joe Piscopo left the NBC sketch show Saturday Night Live. Moe sells oyster shells at the swap meet that resemble Lucille Ball. Homer begins telling the story of The Be Sharps by saying, "Rock and roll had become stagnant. 'Achy Breaky Heart' was seven years away; something had to fill the void. That something was barbershop." At the Grammy ceremony, Spinal Tap is at the post awards reception and MC Hammer in the audience. While Bart and Lisa browse through LP albums at the swap meet, they find a recording of "Yankee Doodle" by Melvin and the Squirrels, a band that spoofs Alvin and the Chipmunks.