Taking a break from the muckraking to honor a true milestone, the 40th anniversary release of the Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Usually music doesn't change the world. John Lennon would compose Imagine and Happy Xmas (War is over) and well, there are still wars. And to be sure it changed more the music world. With the exception of Within You Without You, there's no philosophical statement on the album. And yet Within You Without You-which I think is the best song on there and changed my whole outlook on life. I'm an atheist because I listened to that song (as well as Imagine). I loathe Christianity and yet I was fed the Bible with the lyric "we were talking about the people who gain the world but lose their soul;in the book of Matthew. Ghandi is there, "try to realize its all within yourself no one else can make you change and it only goes to show life flows within you and without you." That song had the sitar. I had never heard of a sitar or its sound before, and that song was unlike the others on the album or I think it was bongos. Its a very mind opening song.
Take our state, the United States' reputation, and how the people now view us and tell me you don't see the "love that has grown so cold." I think that's what makes the album the quintisential album. But really the crow of a rooster on Good Morning, Good Morning. I think only Jane's Addiction responds to that with the dogs barking on Been Caught Stealing. Again who would've thought that an animal would make a great recording partner? A Day In the Life, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. I think Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds and Lovely Rita are good too. The Beatles are the redefining of music. Before them there was Splish, Splash, My Boyfriend's back, after them there's Dark Side of the Moon Led Zeppelin IV, Tommy,Born In the USA. This is not to say groups like the Beach Boys were of the before. Sgt. Pepper is a responce to Pet Sounds. But by in large, with some exceptions, it was bland. Songs were given to people, not written by them, There wasn't the political statement. The idea of concept album was introduced by the Beatles.
I'm 32, when I was 18 and the youthful idealist, I really idolized the John Lennon Imagine/All We Need is Love schtick. That type of music was all I listened too. I departed from that scene, got MidNight Oil,U2, Jane's Addiction and other stuff in my catalog. Lately,including right now, I've come back to Lennon. While Imagine is a great song and it is nice that it is the peace anthem ,I think because of that,it is an overhyped song. There are lots of great songs on Imagine, the Album, How, How Do You Sleep, It's so Hard, Crippled Inside. Then there's other albums and songs, Number 9 Dream, Instant Karma,Whatever Gets You Through the Night (Just Like) Starting over, hell half of what makes Lennon Lennon is Double Fantasy. When I listen to these songs, I become mad as hell and though I'm an atheist, I really hope Mark David Chapmen burns in hell if there is such a place. Let's face it, assassins are parasites. They failed in life so the kill someone famous in the hope that they'll be remembered. But let's not kid ourselves. The Texas School Book Depository and Ford's Theatre are not monuments to Booth and Oswald. They're celebrating the lives of Kennedy and Lincoln. Although, Booth was an actor, Lincoln loved the theatre. It's still a working theatre for him. And that's when I think 40 is such a young age to go. Now that I'm almost there, I think the creativity that was snuffed out...it makes you angry that a person would take someone's life like that.
My favorite Beatle though is George Harrison. His two songs, Within You and Without You, and While My Guitar Gently Weeps, have influenced me since I was 15. The guitar on "Weeps", that's the best guitar solo ever as far as I'm concerned, because you really don't expect it. You're listening to Harrison give his speech and then you hear the crying of the guitar n sync with that. I also recommend the acoutic version of while My Guitar Gently Weeps. Available on Beatles Anthology 3.
Any rate, Happy Birthday you fab four.
I've heard Imagine and All We Need is Love one too many times. But if you venture beyond what was played relentlessly on the radio, he said much more.
Power to the People. Power to the people, right on ;-) I enjoy the "Working Class Hero" CD.
And some how he got away with saying the N word = "Woman is the 'N' of the World". Good song that made a strong point during its time. Of course Emimem also uses it in his lyrics, but I don't think he is trying to make a political or moral point. I'm not sure he has a point.
And let's not forget to George Martin. As their producer, he was very important in the sound of the Beatles, making a lot of what we think today as their trademark sound.