The Beatles Are Back in The Beatles: Get Back


 

     I’ve finally finished watching The Beatles: Get Back, a three-part (and eight-hour long) documentary about the Beatles (shot around 1969) that showed them brainstorming, writing songs, trading jokes, clowning, showing their genius, and recording their final album Let It Be, and if you’re an avid fan like me, the experience of watching it would certainly be heavenly. Some of my favorite parts of the documentary include (1) Paul mimicking Elvis Presley (2) the band playfully singing other artists’ songs; (3) George Harrison asking John and Paul for some help for his would-be-classic love song, “Something,” (…”attracts me like a cauliflower,” John suggesting some temporary lyrics); (4) Ringo Starr being helped by George Harrison in writing Octopus’s Garden,” (5) the group polishing some of the songs (which include “Something,” “Octopus’s Garden” and “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” (an upbeat song about a serial killer who uses a hammer) for Abbey Road; and of course, (6) the concert at the rooftop.

     Telling moments of the documentary: (1) Yoko One acting like John’s shadow and never leaving his side (John was obviously head-over-heels in love with her; Paul McCartney, many years late, revealed that Yoko’s presence in the studio totally annoyed him); (2) George Harrison feeling insecure and inferior in the presence of John and Paul (it’s quite sad to see John and Paul being dismissive sometimes of his songs and of his guitar playing; the guitar on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” is considered the best guitar among the Beatles songs and it’s played by Eric Clapton, not George), (3) Ringo Starr almost having no contribution to the creative moments of the band (he always looked bored behind his drum set), and (4) George Harrison, finally getting fed up and saying goodbye to the band and actually walking out of the building with John Lennon suggesting that they get Eric Clapton as a replacement (the rest of the band successfully convinced him to return in the next few days, with John and Paul realizing the shabby treatment they had been giving George).

     I am now wishing for a similar documentary about my other favorite band: Pink Floyd.


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