Beatles News
The Beatles’ John Lennon started writing songs about and for Yoko Ono a couple of years after they met in 1966. She was his muse, the object of his affection, and a frequent collaborator during his solo career. Most people know about the heavy-hitters that Lennon wrote about Ono during his time in The Beatles, but there are a few underrated deep cuts from his solo career that not every fan may be aware of. Let’s look at one of his most famous odes to Ono, as well as a few solo deep cuts.
1. “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”
A standout track from the 1969 album Abbey Road, “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” is one of several odes to Yoko Ono that don’t directly name-drop her. Rather, Lennon wails about his adoration for the woman in question (Ono), referencing how “heavy” she is. For those who weren’t around in the 1960s, that was a slang term for someone with heavy emotional weight and intelligence.
2. “Oh Yoko!”
John Lennon penned this tune about Yoko Ono back in 1971 for his album Imagine. Obviously, this is a song about Ono, but it gets buried under other heavy-hitters on that album, such as the title track and “How Do You Sleep?”
Nicky Hopkins contributed his piano talents to the track, and Phil Spector sang harmony. Fun fact: This song would mark the last time Lennon would play the harmonica on a formally released recording.
3. “God”
“God” appears on Lennon’s first post-Beatles album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, from 1970. This tune references quite a few themes, from The Beatles to the concept of God. In the song, Lennon states that he does not believe in many things (magic, yoga, kings, Bob Dylan, Jesus, and others), but he believes in himself and his wife, Yoko Ono.
Source: americansongwriter.com/Em Casalena
John Lennon’s “Imagine” is one of the most popular songs of all time. However, popularity typically comes with a price, and Lennon is no stranger to that paradigm. Released in 1971, Lennon’s subversively inspiring song became an anthem for the dreamers, for the rebels, and for really anyone and everyone who had a bone to pick with the systemic issues of society. Though, evidently, that entailed a lot of trouble. A lot of trouble that lasted for quite a long time.
The lyrics of Lennon’s “Imagine” will likely remain relevant for as long as anyone can guess. That is how he designed it, as the themes the lyrics articulate are not specific to a time or place. Rather, they are specific to the human, spiritual, and governmental phenomena that have transpired throughout history. That being so, the contents of the song are timeless and will seemingly always remain relevant.
While John Lennon strives for peace, understanding, and mutuality in the song, he does so in a fairly divisive way. In the song, he denounces religion, government, and personal possession. Thus, it comes as no surprise that people and companies took issue with the song. Though surprisingly, these parties took issue with the song far after it was released.
Of course, John Lennon’s song was polarizing upon its release. However, it was so idealistically potent that people and companies took issue with it more than 20 years after its release as well. Specifically, the two major radio stations that banned the song from the airwaves were Clear Channel Communications (now iHeart Media) and the BBC.
Clear Channel Communications banned the song after 9/11. The company included the song on their “do not play” list along with several other politically subversive singles. Given the political climate of the United States post 9/11, the CCC banned this song due to the fact that it contrasted the national ideals of the United States during wartime. In essence, it was seemingly viewed as anti-American.
As a matter of fact, the BBC banned the song for the exact same reason, as they banned the song in 1991 during England’s participation in the Persian Gulf War. Like the CCC, the BBC banned the song given that it juxtaposed the patriotic ideals the country was trying to uphold during the time of war.
Source: americansongwriter.com
It appears as if another Beatles reunion is in the works, as Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr have been revealed as part of the star-studded cast of a 3D CG-animated adaption of a children’s adventure book penned in part by McCartney himself, according to Forbes.
Inspired by 2005’s “High in the Clouds,” written by McCartney, Geoff Dunbar and Philip Ardagh, the film’s roster features a who’s who from the worlds of film, television and music, including: Himesh Patel, Celine Dion, Hannah Waddingham, Idris Elba, Lionel Richie, Jimmy Fallon, Clemence Posey, Pom Klementieff and Alain Chabat.
Described as “a tale about the power of family and freedom of expression through music,” the story follows Wirral, a teenage squirrel, “who embarks on an extraordinary journey to set music free, after accidentally sparking a revolution against Gretsch, the bossy diva-owl who has banned all music from his town,” as reported in Variety.
The film is co-produced by McCartney, who will also be aboard to write and compose several of the film’s original songs, the report said.
The last time McCartney and Starr worked together was on 2023’s “Now and Then,” bitter sweetly billed as the Beatles’ final single.
The track included fresh material from both surviving members, and featured archival recordings of John Lennon and George Harrison, recorded before their deaths.
The song earned the pair a Grammy for “Best Rock Performance” and was nominated for “Record of the Year.”
A release date for “High in the Clouds” has yet to be revealed.
Source: silive.com/Scott R. Axelrod
It wasn’t often The Beatles took formal votes on decisions, as most things were discussed and agreed upon as a group. But in 1969, during a recording session that should have been routine, Paul McCartney found himself on the receiving end of something that hadn’t happened before: all three of his bandmates siding against him, and the issue was Allen Klein.
After the death of manager Brian Epstein, the band was left with a gap in leadership. Soon, John Lennon was quickly won over by Klein’s pitch, and George Harrison and Ringo Starr agreed.
But McCartney remained unconvinced. He wanted the band to be represented by Lee Eastman, his future father-in-law and a respected entertainment lawyer. The moment came when Klein turned up at Apple and asked the band to sign his contract on the spot. He said he had a board meeting the following morning and Paul asked to wait until Monday.
“I said, ‘Well I’m not going to [sign it now]. I demand at least the weekend. I’ll look at it, and on Monday. This is supposed to be a recording session, after all,’” McCartney later recalled in All You Need Is Love: The Beatles in Their Own Words.
But the other three pushed back, and then someone suggested a vote.
McCartney didn’t think it would be unanimous: “I said, ‘No, you’ll never get Ringo to’. I looked at Ringo, and he gave me this sick look like, Yeah, I’m going with them.” The vote went three to one, which meant Lennon, Harrison and Starr signed with Klein, while McCartney didn’t. “That was the first time”, he said. “And they all signed it. They didn’t need my signature.”
It wouldn’t be the last time he felt sidelined. Months later, after finishing his debut solo album McCartney, he was visited at home by Ringo Starr, who wanted them to delay the release of the album so that 'Let It Be' could come out first.
“They eventually sent Ringo round my house at Cavendish with a message: ‘We want you to put your release date back, it’s for the good of the group’”, McCartney said in Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now. “And he was giving me the party line - they just made him come round”.
Source: express.co.uk/Maria Leticia Gomes
Barry Keoghan is preparing to play Ringo Starr in Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopics, but he’s not quite ready to show off his drumming skills.
In an interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” Wednesday night, Keoghan shared that he’s finally met the music legend face to face. “I met him at his house and he played the drums for me,” he said, adding: “He asked me to play, but I wasn’t playing the drums for Ringo.”
The “Saltburn” actor reminded Kimmel that Starr was in fact the one to leak his casting to the press back in November. “He let the news out,” Keoghan said. “He was like, ‘Barry is somewhere doing drums. I think he should stop and not do anymore.'”
Keoghan said meeting Starr was “one of those moments when you’re just in awe” and he “just froze.”
“When I was talking to him, I couldn’t look at him. I was nervous,” Keoghan said. “But he’s like, ‘You can look at me.’ And again, you’re playing Ringo Starr. My job is to observe and take in the mannerisms and study.”
Keoghan will be playing Starr across four separate Beatles biopics directed by Mendes, which are set for theatrical release in April 2028. Alongside Keoghan, Paul Mescal is playing Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson will star as John Lennon and Joseph Quinn is portraying George Harrison.
Of embodying Starr, Keoghan said he wants “to humanize and bring feelings to it and not just sort of imitate,” adding that their interaction “was absolutely lovely” and they “just sat in the garden chatting away.”
Source: variety.com/Ellise Shafer
Unless you’re a Beatles aficionado (and/or saw Peter Jackson’s revealing documentary miniseries, The Beatles: Get Back), you would never be able to pick up on the deep tensions between John Lennon and Paul McCartney that were reaching a fever pitch during the Let It Be and Abbey Road sessions, which would make up the two final Beatles albums. On either record, from a surface-level vantage point, the band was as cohesive and creative as ever.
But dig a little deeper, and the fractures breaking the Fab Four apart become more apparent. The band’s reactions and recollections in later interviews shone a light on the dissonance that was slowly increasing in volume as they barrelled toward their final goodbye as one of the world’s most pervasive and influential rock bands.
Two songs on Let It Be, the final album the band released despite starting its sessions prior to Abbey Road, highlight the mounting conflict between the band’s primary songwriters.
John Lennon Had Harsh Words For These Beatles Songs Off Their Final Album
Generally speaking, the songwriting partnership of John Lennon and Paul McCartney is what made the Beatles so prolific and unique. When their relationship began faltering, so did everything else. The final recording sessions were full of fights, clashing egos, and the occasional walkout. Even years after Let It Be came out, the musicians could recall with cutting clarity the parts they did and didn’t like about the recording process (and the songs themselves).
For example, in one of his final interviews before his death, Lennon told David Sheff that he never thought the title track to Let It Be sounded like a true Beatles song. Despite the songwriting credit going to Lennon and McCartney, the former Beatle said the song was the latter’s. “What can you say?” Lennon mused to Sheff. “Nothing to do with the Beatles. It could’ve been Wings. I think it was inspired by “Bridge Over Troubled Waters.” That’s my feeling, although I have nothing to go on.”
Source: americansongwriter.com/Melanie Davis
Had The Beatles been able to successfully fulfill the vision they originally conceived for the album that was released over a half-century ago as Let It Be, we might not have seen that LP as we now know it.
Fresh off the recording and release of The White Album (a/k/a The Beatles) in late 1968, the foursome reconvened early in the new year to work together in a more straightforward fashion than on that double set and Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band of 1967.
Notwithstanding the production of a feature length film (or the idea of a live performance bandied about at various points), the emphasis was on simplicity, the goal to capture the quartet as they played and sang together, without much, if any, subsequent elaboration via overdubbing or effects.
Hindsight of fifty-five years suggests the Beatles would most likely have achieved this goal with the astute guidance of manager Brian Epstein and/or long-time studio producer George Martin. But the former had passed suddenly in August of 1967, leaving the group essentially rudderless, while the latter had been shunted aside during the recording sessions of the previous year, an oversight that unfortunately continued here in favor of then-young engineer Glyn Johns.
Source: glidemagazine.com/By Doug Collette
The Beatles were at the peak of their powers in 1967. The album 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' had been released that May and spent 27 weeks at the top of the British charts, defining the 'summer of love' and changing popular music forever.
During that summer, the band had signed up for a huge television event. Conceived by the BBC, 'Our World' was the first ever live multi-satellite, global television event and it would include the band playing at EMI Studios on Abbey Road in London during its broadcast on June 25. The Beatles would represent Britain and they needed to write a new track for the show. After signing a contract in May, they had a month to prepare, but left it late.
Recording engineer Geoff Emerick recalled in the book 'The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions': "I don’t know if they had prepared any ideas but they left it very late to write the song. John said, ‘Oh God, is it that close? I suppose we’d better write something.’"
The song they wrote was 'All You Need Is Love'. Mainly John Lennon's work, it had a simple message. About that, manager Brian Epstein said: "It was an inspired song and they really wanted to give the world a message. "The nice thing about it is that it cannot be misinterpreted. It is a clear message saying that love is everything."
For their TV appearance, The Beatles would play over a backing track. That was recorded earlier in June and the band decided the night before the show that they would release 'All You Need Is Love' as their next single.
About putting it together, John said: "We just put a track down. Because I knew the chords I played it on whatever it was, harpsichord.
"George played a violin because we felt like doing it like that and Paul played a double bass. And they can’t play them, so we got some nice little noises coming out.
Source: liverpoolecho.co.uk/Dan Haygarth
Yoko Ono has long been associated with The Beatles through her marriage to and creative collaboration with John Lennon. Even decades later, there are still people who believe she was solely responsible for breaking up the Fab Four. This theory completely ignores the group’s own interpersonal problems at the very least, but at its worst, it paints Ono in a negative light that she didn’t deserve.
Lennon once called Ono “the world’s most famous unknown artist.” He added that “everyone knows her name but no one knows what she actually does,” according to a post from online gallery Arthive. This remains true to this day, despite Ono’s far-reaching and prolific influence.
Overall, she’s more known for being married to a Beatle than for her own artistic endeavors. These, as a whole, are varied and many. It could be argued that, for the uninitiated, her legacy has been boiled down to being John Lennon’s wife. However, Yoko Ono is far more influential in the music and art worlds than just that. Yoko Ono Did Not Exist in a John Lennon Vacuum
Yoko Ono has always been avant-garde. Her entire art and music career has been about pushing boundaries of what’s ugly, unlistenable, and interpretive. She did this long before she met John Lennon, and she continued to do it after he died.
In the early 1960s, Ono worked her way into the international avant-garde art scene. She lived between New York, Tokyo, and London at the time, helping to initiate the Fluxus and Conceptual Art movements abroad.
Source: Lauren Boisvert/American Songwriter
It has taken fans over six decades to actually realize how The Beatles ended up being called what they are today and it turns out the name has a dual meaning too
The Beatles were initally called The Beetles and The Silver Beatles. Founded in 1960, everyone now knows The Beatles as The Beatles, but they initially had several other names until John Lennon had his say.
The story behind The Beatles' naming has gone down many routes before, and this is believed to be because of the band’s famously mischievous nature. Throughout their time together, they offered a mix of stories about the origin of the name, including accounts of dreams involving flaming pies, floating buns, and mysterious men visiting them on flying carpets.
These bold explanations are likely because they found the real, much more straightforward origin of the name was not as 'out-there' enough for their standards.
Looking back to where it all began in 1960, the band, then just a trio consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, was still undecided on a band name, though they had recently performed as Johnny and the Moondogs.
Lennon’s friend from art school, Stuart Sutcliffe, joined the band after his pals convinced him to invest £65 ($86) he earned from selling a painting into a bass guitar. At the time, the band also did not have a permanent drummer; instead, they rotated through a stream of drummers, with Tommy Moore appearing most frequently.
Lennon and Sutcliffe eventually came up with the name The Beatles during one of their late-night sessions. They brought it to the rest of the band on an April evening in 1960 while walking along Gambier Terrace by Liverpool Cathedral.
Initially, McCartney wasn't won over by the name as he thought it sounded a bit creepy, but he changed his mind after learning about its clever double meaning.
Source: themirror.com/Ellie Hook
