A song from The Beatles‘ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is so old-fashioned it could have come out during the Victorian era. One of The Beatles’ rock ‘n’ roll peers said that he couldn’t have written the song because he had no sense of time. Regardless, that singer’s tunes have lasted over the course of generations.
Donovan on why Paul McCartney wrote a song from The Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’
One of The Beatles’ fellow British Invasion stars was Donovan. He contributed to psychedelia as much as they did with hits such as “Sunshine Superman,” “Atlantis, and “Hurdy Gurdy Man.” Donovan also accompanied the Fab Four on their fateful trip to India to meet the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and learn about Transcendental Meditation.
During a 2013 interview with BusinessLive, Donovan discussed his own sense of time. “One couldn’t remember last Tuesday or think about next Tuesday,” he said,...
Donovan on why Paul McCartney wrote a song from The Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’
One of The Beatles’ fellow British Invasion stars was Donovan. He contributed to psychedelia as much as they did with hits such as “Sunshine Superman,” “Atlantis, and “Hurdy Gurdy Man.” Donovan also accompanied the Fab Four on their fateful trip to India to meet the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and learn about Transcendental Meditation.
During a 2013 interview with BusinessLive, Donovan discussed his own sense of time. “One couldn’t remember last Tuesday or think about next Tuesday,” he said,...
- 4/4/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney is known for bringing a bit of inspired silliness to his songwriting — after all, one of his most famous his is called “Silly Love Songs!” Paul said he added a joke to The Beatles’ “When I’m Sixty-Four” to make it “funnier.” He said “When I’m Sixty-Four” was inspired by old-school songs he and John Lennon appreciated so much. On the other hand, John said he never could have written “When I’m Sixty-Four.”
Paul McCartney added a line about starving to The Beatles’ ‘When I’m Sixty-Four’ as a joke
During a 2012 interview with The Independent, Paul discussed the concept behind “When I’m Sixty-Four.” “It was about myself, looking to the future,” he recalled. “Retirement age of 65 felt too obvious, so I made it a year earlier.”
One of the tune’s most famous lines could have been very different. “‘Will you still need me, will you still feed me...
Paul McCartney added a line about starving to The Beatles’ ‘When I’m Sixty-Four’ as a joke
During a 2012 interview with The Independent, Paul discussed the concept behind “When I’m Sixty-Four.” “It was about myself, looking to the future,” he recalled. “Retirement age of 65 felt too obvious, so I made it a year earlier.”
One of the tune’s most famous lines could have been very different. “‘Will you still need me, will you still feed me...
- 3/15/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Taylor Swift and Paul McCartney interviewed each other. Swift was shocked to learn Paul wrote a Beatles song from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band when he was a teenager. Despite her comments, the track in question feels like it could have come from a teenage mind.
Taylor Swift and Paul McCartney discussed The Beatles’ song ‘When I’m Sixty-Four’
In a 2020 Rolling Stone article, Swift reacted to Paul’s record McCartney III. “I listened to your new record,” she said. “And I loved a lot of things about it, but it really did feel like kind of a flex to write, produce, and play every instrument on every track. To me, that’s like flexing a muscle and saying, ‘I can do all this on my own if I have to.'”
Paul responded with some insight into his creative process. “Well, I don’t think like that, I must admit,...
Taylor Swift and Paul McCartney discussed The Beatles’ song ‘When I’m Sixty-Four’
In a 2020 Rolling Stone article, Swift reacted to Paul’s record McCartney III. “I listened to your new record,” she said. “And I loved a lot of things about it, but it really did feel like kind of a flex to write, produce, and play every instrument on every track. To me, that’s like flexing a muscle and saying, ‘I can do all this on my own if I have to.'”
Paul responded with some insight into his creative process. “Well, I don’t think like that, I must admit,...
- 2/19/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles‘ “Let It Be” has inspired a huge number of covers, including a rendition by Woody Harrelson at a party. Paul McCartney himself happened to be there and so was Taylor Swift. Paul told Swift what he thought when Harrelson played the track. Notably, “Let It Be” is not the only classic rock song the movie star covered.
Paul McCartney was unimpressed when Woody Harrelson played The Beatles’ ‘Let It Be’
In a 2020 Rolling Stone article, Paul and Swift recalled bumping into each other at a party. Swift had fond memories of that time. Paul, on the other hand, was not the biggest fan of the music he heard there.
“I seem to remember Woody Harrelson got on the piano, and he starts playing ‘Let It Be,” and I’m thinking, ‘I can do that better,'” he said. “So I said, ‘Come on, move over, Woody.’ So we’re both playing it.
Paul McCartney was unimpressed when Woody Harrelson played The Beatles’ ‘Let It Be’
In a 2020 Rolling Stone article, Paul and Swift recalled bumping into each other at a party. Swift had fond memories of that time. Paul, on the other hand, was not the biggest fan of the music he heard there.
“I seem to remember Woody Harrelson got on the piano, and he starts playing ‘Let It Be,” and I’m thinking, ‘I can do that better,'” he said. “So I said, ‘Come on, move over, Woody.’ So we’re both playing it.
- 2/16/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Beatles‘ “Yellow Submarine” was unquestionably a highlight of Ringo Starr’s career but he said it wouldn’t have been as popular if its lyrics were slightly different. He thought fans would have been put off if the submarine was “deep purple.” Interestingly, The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” originally started with a 30-second intro that was very different from anything in the final version of the song. Ringo said the tune came from a period in the Fab Four’s career where they were heavily influenced by a very 1960s muse: drugs.
Paul McCartney decided The Beatles’ ‘Yellow Submarine’ should focus on the color yellow
During a 2022 interview with USA Today, Ringo discussed his recollections of The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” from 1966. “The boys used to write a song for me and they’d present whatever they thought would be good for me,” he said. “They had this song and they decided to liven it up.
Paul McCartney decided The Beatles’ ‘Yellow Submarine’ should focus on the color yellow
During a 2022 interview with USA Today, Ringo discussed his recollections of The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” from 1966. “The boys used to write a song for me and they’d present whatever they thought would be good for me,” he said. “They had this song and they decided to liven it up.
- 10/16/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
George Harrison was the most spiritually-minded of The Beatles, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t indulge himself by showing off. He once said he wrote the solo from The Beatles’ “Within You Without You” to draw attention to himself. George revealed what he thought of “Within You Without You” in hindsight and contrasted it with the other songs from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
George Harrison explained the time signature of The Beatles’ ‘Within You Without You’
The book George Harrison on George Harrison: Interviews and Encounters features an interview from 1993. During it, George discussed the difference between Western and Indian musical composition. “In Western music, basically the tempo goes 4/4 or 3/4, and that’s it,” he said. “In Indian music, they have a hundred-and-eight rhythm cycles, and they can even play in things like 7½.
“It’s quite complex, but I did learn this little piece, one...
George Harrison explained the time signature of The Beatles’ ‘Within You Without You’
The book George Harrison on George Harrison: Interviews and Encounters features an interview from 1993. During it, George discussed the difference between Western and Indian musical composition. “In Western music, basically the tempo goes 4/4 or 3/4, and that’s it,” he said. “In Indian music, they have a hundred-and-eight rhythm cycles, and they can even play in things like 7½.
“It’s quite complex, but I did learn this little piece, one...
- 10/6/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
By 1967, The Beatles had released so many No. 1 singles that it seemed impossible that one of their songs wouldn’t take the top spot. That year, they released “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane” together. Both songs were so strong on their own that it felt like another slam dunk for the band. Ultimately, though, another artist got the top spot on the U.K. charts. John Lennon was not a fan of this musician.
The Beatles consistently had No. 1 singles until 1967
The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein wanted the band to release a single in early 1967. They gave him three songs: “Strawberry Fields Forever,” “Penny Lane,” and “When I’m Sixty-four.” While “When I’m Sixty-four” was a solid song, “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane” were seen as unbeatable.
“I decided to give [Brian] a super-strong combination,” producer George Martin said, per the book The Beatles: The Biography by Bob Spitz, “a double-punch that could not fail,...
The Beatles consistently had No. 1 singles until 1967
The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein wanted the band to release a single in early 1967. They gave him three songs: “Strawberry Fields Forever,” “Penny Lane,” and “When I’m Sixty-four.” While “When I’m Sixty-four” was a solid song, “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane” were seen as unbeatable.
“I decided to give [Brian] a super-strong combination,” producer George Martin said, per the book The Beatles: The Biography by Bob Spitz, “a double-punch that could not fail,...
- 8/4/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
Lana Del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful” is like a more serious version of one of The Beatles’ songs. Del Rey’s tune is a lot better than the Fab Four’s tune. Del Rey’s track was one of her biggest hits in the United States while The Beatles’ track didn’t chart there.
Lana Del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful” is one of her best songs. It’s lyrically similar to a tune from The Beatles‘ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Despite this, The Beatles’ track has a typically cute Paul McCartney tone.
Why Lana Del Rey’s ‘Young and Beautiful’ is similar to The Beatles’ ‘When I’m Sixty-Four’
In “Young and Beautiful,” Del Rey asks her lover if he will continue to love her as she ages. It’s a deeply emotional tune and one of the most iconic ballads of the 2010s.
Lana Del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful” is like a more serious version of one of The Beatles’ songs. Del Rey’s tune is a lot better than the Fab Four’s tune. Del Rey’s track was one of her biggest hits in the United States while The Beatles’ track didn’t chart there.
Lana Del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful” is one of her best songs. It’s lyrically similar to a tune from The Beatles‘ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Despite this, The Beatles’ track has a typically cute Paul McCartney tone.
Why Lana Del Rey’s ‘Young and Beautiful’ is similar to The Beatles’ ‘When I’m Sixty-Four’
In “Young and Beautiful,” Del Rey asks her lover if he will continue to love her as she ages. It’s a deeply emotional tune and one of the most iconic ballads of the 2010s.
- 7/12/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney said The Beatles’ “When I’m Sixty-Four” was meant to be a joke. In addition, he explained how The Beatles’ producer changed the song to give it some vitality. Notably, the tune was the Fab Four’s best foray into a certain genre.
Paul McCartney | Mike Coppola / Staff Paul McCartney said The Beatles’ ‘When I’m Sixty-Four’ was a joke and a love song
In the 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Paul recalled adding “When I’m Sixty-Four” to the tracklist of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. “‘ When I’m Sixty-Four’ was a case of me looking for stuff to do for Pepper,” he said.
“I thought it was a good little tune but it was too vaudevillian, so I had to get some codlines to take the sting out of it, and put the tongue very firmly in cheek,” Paul added. “‘Will you still need me?’ is still a love song.
Paul McCartney | Mike Coppola / Staff Paul McCartney said The Beatles’ ‘When I’m Sixty-Four’ was a joke and a love song
In the 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Paul recalled adding “When I’m Sixty-Four” to the tracklist of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. “‘ When I’m Sixty-Four’ was a case of me looking for stuff to do for Pepper,” he said.
“I thought it was a good little tune but it was too vaudevillian, so I had to get some codlines to take the sting out of it, and put the tongue very firmly in cheek,” Paul added. “‘Will you still need me?’ is still a love song.
- 6/12/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Lennon felt The Beatles‘ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band didn’t “go anywhere.” He felt only a few tunes on the album connected to each other. Today, Sgt. Pepper looks like a scattershot concept album, especially compared to the work of other artists like David Bowie.
Artwork based on The Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’ | NurPhoto / Contributor What Paul McCartney was trying to accomplish with The Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’
The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features a 1980 interview. In it, John discussed what Paul McCartney said about Sgt. Pepper. “As I read the other day, he said in one of his ‘fanzine’ interviews that he was trying to put some distance between The Beatles and the public — and so there was this identity of Sgt. Pepper,” John said.
“Intellectually, that’s the same thing he did by writing ‘He...
Artwork based on The Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’ | NurPhoto / Contributor What Paul McCartney was trying to accomplish with The Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’
The book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono features a 1980 interview. In it, John discussed what Paul McCartney said about Sgt. Pepper. “As I read the other day, he said in one of his ‘fanzine’ interviews that he was trying to put some distance between The Beatles and the public — and so there was this identity of Sgt. Pepper,” John said.
“Intellectually, that’s the same thing he did by writing ‘He...
- 6/10/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
There are many Beatles songs that John Lennon hated. Out of all The Beatles, John was the most critical of his and the band’s work. He didn’t give his praise lightly. Here are 10 songs John disliked. Some may surprise fans.
John Lennon | Harry Benson/Getty Images 10. ‘Run for Your Life’
It’s surprising if anyone likes “Run for Your Life.” It’s one of the most disturbing Beatles songs and one John hated. All you need to hear is the first verse to get that impression: “Well, I’d rather see you dead, little girl/ Than to be with another man/ You better keep your head, little girl/ Or I won’t know where I am.” According to Ultimate Classic Rock, John often said it was his least favorite Beatles song. He also called it a “throwaway.”
9. ‘Paperback Writer’
“Paperback Writer” is one of the best Beatles songs from the mid-1960s.
John Lennon | Harry Benson/Getty Images 10. ‘Run for Your Life’
It’s surprising if anyone likes “Run for Your Life.” It’s one of the most disturbing Beatles songs and one John hated. All you need to hear is the first verse to get that impression: “Well, I’d rather see you dead, little girl/ Than to be with another man/ You better keep your head, little girl/ Or I won’t know where I am.” According to Ultimate Classic Rock, John often said it was his least favorite Beatles song. He also called it a “throwaway.”
9. ‘Paperback Writer’
“Paperback Writer” is one of the best Beatles songs from the mid-1960s.
- 3/20/2023
- by Hannah Wigandt
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
There are classic rock songs about every topic under the sun. For example, some great classic rock songs deal with getting older. Notably, Paul McCartney once produced such a song for another singer.
The Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ | Science & Society Picture Library / Contributor 5. The Beatles’ ‘When I’m Sixty-Four’
Getting older can be difficult, but The Beatles’ “When I’m Sixty-Four” makes it seem fun. Paul had a thing for vaudeville music, and this is probably his best stab at the genre. It’s not one of the more experimental classic rock songs on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, but it’s still a lot of fun.
Paul turned 64 in 2006. During that year, he told the Los Angeles Times he had a regret about the song: it should’ve been “When I’m Ninety-Four.” He said some listeners don’t even think “When I’m Sixty-Four” is about old age.
The Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ | Science & Society Picture Library / Contributor 5. The Beatles’ ‘When I’m Sixty-Four’
Getting older can be difficult, but The Beatles’ “When I’m Sixty-Four” makes it seem fun. Paul had a thing for vaudeville music, and this is probably his best stab at the genre. It’s not one of the more experimental classic rock songs on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, but it’s still a lot of fun.
Paul turned 64 in 2006. During that year, he told the Los Angeles Times he had a regret about the song: it should’ve been “When I’m Ninety-Four.” He said some listeners don’t even think “When I’m Sixty-Four” is about old age.
- 2/18/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney always seemed to be able to create a song from thin air. Anyone who watched The Beatles: Get Back saw Macca pull the song “Get Back” out of thin air. He proved his genius as a songwriter when he wrote “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da,” based solely on a slang phrase one of his friends uttered. When inspiration struck, Paul arranged one gentle Sgt. Pepper song without producer George Martin.
George Martin (left) and Paul McCartney | Kevin Mazur/WireImage Paul McCartney could write songs quickly
Paul once said writing songs with John Lennon was easy because they had a pleasabt back and forth relationship (at least for a while). That allowed them to work quickly. Yet Paul also wrote rapidly on his own. The supposedly wistful Get Back sessions and “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da” weren’t the only examples of his songwriting prowess.
Macca wrote Let It Be opener “Two of Us” while on a date with Linda.
George Martin (left) and Paul McCartney | Kevin Mazur/WireImage Paul McCartney could write songs quickly
Paul once said writing songs with John Lennon was easy because they had a pleasabt back and forth relationship (at least for a while). That allowed them to work quickly. Yet Paul also wrote rapidly on his own. The supposedly wistful Get Back sessions and “Ob-la-Di, Ob-la-Da” weren’t the only examples of his songwriting prowess.
Macca wrote Let It Be opener “Two of Us” while on a date with Linda.
- 2/5/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
John Lennon wasn’t a fan of The Beatles’ “Honey Pie” and he didn’t want to think about it.“Honey Pie” is an example of a genre that Paul McCartney dabbled in repeatedly.Paul compared songs in that genre to furniture. John Lennon | Max Scheler – K & K/Redferns
Paul McCartney designed The Beatles‘ “Honey Pie” as an homage to a genre he loved. Subsequently, John Lennon said he didn’t want to think about the song. He laughed at the mention of it.
2 of The Beatles loved vaudeville/music hall songs when they were young
In the 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Paul discussed his musical taste. “Both John and I had a great love for music hall, what the Americans call ‘vaudeville,'” he said. “I’d heard a lot of that kind of music growing up with the Billy Cotton Band Show...
John Lennon wasn’t a fan of The Beatles’ “Honey Pie” and he didn’t want to think about it.“Honey Pie” is an example of a genre that Paul McCartney dabbled in repeatedly.Paul compared songs in that genre to furniture. John Lennon | Max Scheler – K & K/Redferns
Paul McCartney designed The Beatles‘ “Honey Pie” as an homage to a genre he loved. Subsequently, John Lennon said he didn’t want to think about the song. He laughed at the mention of it.
2 of The Beatles loved vaudeville/music hall songs when they were young
In the 1997 book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Paul discussed his musical taste. “Both John and I had a great love for music hall, what the Americans call ‘vaudeville,'” he said. “I’d heard a lot of that kind of music growing up with the Billy Cotton Band Show...
- 1/25/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Paul McCartney will tell the stories behind 154 songs he wrote throughout his career in his upcoming book, The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, due out November 2nd. The tunes (detailed below) include titles from his work with the Beatles, Wings, and his own solo recordings. It also includes the words to an unrecorded Beatles song, “Tell Me Who He Is,” from the early Sixties; McCartney discovered the handwritten lyrics in a notebook while researching the book.
The anthology features McCartney’s handwritten lyrics, previously unpublished photos, drafts, and drawings. He accompanies...
The anthology features McCartney’s handwritten lyrics, previously unpublished photos, drafts, and drawings. He accompanies...
- 8/23/2021
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Taylor Swift arrived early to Paul McCartney’s London office in October, “mask on, brimming with excitement.” “I mostly work from home these days,” she writes about that day, “and today feels like a rare school field trip that you actually want to go on.”
Swift showed up without a team, doing her own hair and makeup. In addition to being two of the most famous pop songwriters in the world, Swift and McCartney have spent the past year on similar journeys. McCartney, isolated at home in the U.K.
Swift showed up without a team, doing her own hair and makeup. In addition to being two of the most famous pop songwriters in the world, Swift and McCartney have spent the past year on similar journeys. McCartney, isolated at home in the U.K.
- 11/13/2020
- by Patrick Doyle
- Rollingstone.com
The death of producer Sir George Martin - dubbed the "fifth Beatle" - has fans reflecting on his contribution to music as one of the masters of mixing classic and modern sound. "He was a very generous, helpful and educated man, musically," Beatles expert and friend Ray Connolly tells People of the legendary producer. Writer Connolly worked with Martin on a TV series about music and for decades has chronicled the story of the iconic band, which included John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. (McCartney, 73, and Starr, 75, are the only original members who are still living.) "He...
- 3/9/2016
- by Simon Perry, @SPerryPeoplemag
- PEOPLE.com
The death of producer Sir George Martin - dubbed the "fifth Beatle" - has fans reflecting on his contribution to music as one of the masters of mixing classic and modern sound. "He was a very generous, helpful and educated man, musically," Beatles expert and friend Ray Connolly tells People of the legendary producer. Writer Connolly worked with Martin on a TV series about music and for decades has chronicled the story of the iconic band, which included John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. (McCartney, 73, and Starr, 75, are the only original members who are still living.) "He...
- 3/9/2016
- by Simon Perry, @SPerryPeoplemag
- PEOPLE.com
Based on a novel published in 1978, "The World According To Garp" was released in 1982, and yet watching the film on the recently-released Blu-ray from Warner Archive, I was struck by how timely and even urgent the material felt, and how much more adult and daring it is than most of the movies released by studios today. Not only do they not make them like this anymore, but I'd offer the opinion that they never really did. How can a film from 1978 have a better handle on the times we're living in right now than most of the films coming out this year? After all, much of John Irving's novel is a direct reaction to the late '70s and what Irving thought of the social landscape at that particular moment. How relevant could it be today, since we've obviously progressed so much since then? You'd be surprised. For those...
- 9/30/2015
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
Paul McCartney will do anything for his fans!The 72-year-old singer, who returned to the stage on Saturday after being hospitalized in May, played cupid during his show in Albany, New York.The famous crooner pulled 64-year-old John Dann onstage to help him propose to his girlfriend, Claudia Rodgers.The rocker spotted the pair holding up two neon signs in the audience – hers read, "He won't marry me 'til he meets you," and his read, "I have the ring & I'm 64."Once onstage in front of 13,000 cheering fans, Paul asked him, "Are you gonna actually do this John?” "Oh yeah. I've come too far to back out now," he replied. After John lead the audience in a verse of The Beatles's "When I'm 64," he got down on one knee and popped the question."You hear about things going viral, but when it happens with something you're connected to it's really unbelievable,...
- 7/7/2014
- by tooFab Staff
- TooFab
Paul McCartney returned to a concert stage Saturday in Albany, New York, after being sidelined for two months because of a virus, spinning out songs from the Beatles, Wings and a solo career that has spanned more than 50 years of rock 'n' roll. "It's great to be back," said McCartney, who turned 72 two weeks ago. He looked none the worse for wear, putting on a show of just under three hours with 38 songs before finishing with the three-song medley that ends the Abbey Road album. McCartney was briefly hospitalized in Tokyo in May because of the viral infection. The illness...
- 7/6/2014
- by Associated Press
- PEOPLE.com
Shrek, Futurama, and Marge and Homer would not have come into being without the Beatles' subversive masterpiece, says Simpsons writer Josh Weinstein
Going to see Yellow Submarine is my first memory ever. And it's a doozy. A world-shaking, world-shaping event. It was the early 1970s and I was taken to see the movie on a big screen. It blew my young, impressionable six-year-old mind and I'm pretty sure it's what sent me on a career path in animation. I'm just glad my parents took me to see that and not A Clockwork Orange.
There have been some excellent books about the making of the film (I highly recommend Inside the Yellow Submarine by Dr Robert Hieronimus), so rather than blab on about the back story, I would rather talk about what happened after the yellow sub surfaced in 1968 and shot its torpedoes through traditional animation. Because in my opinion, Yellow Submarine...
Going to see Yellow Submarine is my first memory ever. And it's a doozy. A world-shaking, world-shaping event. It was the early 1970s and I was taken to see the movie on a big screen. It blew my young, impressionable six-year-old mind and I'm pretty sure it's what sent me on a career path in animation. I'm just glad my parents took me to see that and not A Clockwork Orange.
There have been some excellent books about the making of the film (I highly recommend Inside the Yellow Submarine by Dr Robert Hieronimus), so rather than blab on about the back story, I would rather talk about what happened after the yellow sub surfaced in 1968 and shot its torpedoes through traditional animation. Because in my opinion, Yellow Submarine...
- 11/20/2012
- The Guardian - Film News
Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, celebrated his 64th birthday in New Zealand on Wednesday (Nov. 14). In addition to a birthday party, His Royal Highness also got to meet a dwarf from "The Hobbit."
Sounds like a pretty good birthday.
Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, have been touring New Zealand and Australia officially over the past several days. The birthday party, described in the Royal's official travel blog, was merely a highlight.
Celebrated as an official event, Charles' party included 64 guests -- New Zealanders between the ages of 18 and 101 who share the Prince's Nov. 14 birthday -- 64 cakes, and the playing of the Beatles' "When I'm Sixty-Four."
On that same day, Charles and Camilla took a tour of the Wellington-area studio responsible for much of the costuming and makeup for "The Lord of the Rings" movies. The prince got a sneak preview of...
Sounds like a pretty good birthday.
Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, have been touring New Zealand and Australia officially over the past several days. The birthday party, described in the Royal's official travel blog, was merely a highlight.
Celebrated as an official event, Charles' party included 64 guests -- New Zealanders between the ages of 18 and 101 who share the Prince's Nov. 14 birthday -- 64 cakes, and the playing of the Beatles' "When I'm Sixty-Four."
On that same day, Charles and Camilla took a tour of the Wellington-area studio responsible for much of the costuming and makeup for "The Lord of the Rings" movies. The prince got a sneak preview of...
- 11/14/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Sir Paul McCartney will have a low-key 70th birthday celebration. The Beatles legend reaches the milestone age next Monday (18.06.12) but insists he doesn't want a big party and will instead mark the occasion with his closest friends, family, and wife Nancy Shevell. He said: ''A big do isn't really me.'' And though he is close to 70, the 'When I'm 64' hitmaker insists he has no plans to tone down his career, though he and Nancy find some potential visions for his showbiz future quite funny. He told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: ''I must say Nancy and I did have some fun moments...
- 6/14/2012
- Virgin Media - Celebrity
Sir Paul McCartney will have a low-key 70th birthday celebration. The Beatles legend reaches the milestone age next Monday (18.06.12) but insists he doesn't want a big party and will instead mark the occasion with his closest friends, family, and wife Nancy Shevell. He said: 'A big do isn't really me.' And though he is close to 70, the 'When I'm 64' hitmaker insists he has no plans to tone down his career, though he and Nancy find some potential visions for his showbiz future quite funny. He told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: 'I must say Nancy and I did have some fun moments imagining me with a little pinky ring, in rhinestone, with a little glass of whisky and...
- 6/14/2012
- Monsters and Critics
London — The animated Beatles movie "Yellow Submarine" has been carefully restored frame-by-frame for DVD release this year.
Specialists worked for four months to individually clean each frame of the 1968 surreal tale by hand, the Beatles' holding company Apple Corps Ltd. said Tuesday.
The specialists chose not to use automated software because of the delicate nature of the hand-drawn artwork, the company added.
The colorful movie, a fantasy that features cartoon versions of the Beatles and images from some of their psychedelic songs, is currently out of print. It features some of the band's greatest hits including "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," `'Eleanor Rigby" and "When I'm Sixty-Four."
"As a fan of animation and as a film-maker, I tip my hat to the artists of `Yellow Submarine', whose revolutionary work helped pave the way for the fantastically diverse world of animation that we all enjoy today," said Pixar studios...
Specialists worked for four months to individually clean each frame of the 1968 surreal tale by hand, the Beatles' holding company Apple Corps Ltd. said Tuesday.
The specialists chose not to use automated software because of the delicate nature of the hand-drawn artwork, the company added.
The colorful movie, a fantasy that features cartoon versions of the Beatles and images from some of their psychedelic songs, is currently out of print. It features some of the band's greatest hits including "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," `'Eleanor Rigby" and "When I'm Sixty-Four."
"As a fan of animation and as a film-maker, I tip my hat to the artists of `Yellow Submarine', whose revolutionary work helped pave the way for the fantastically diverse world of animation that we all enjoy today," said Pixar studios...
- 3/20/2012
- by AP
- Huffington Post
The sight of Fred Astaire in tails crooning "Cheek to Cheek" is hardly the first image that pops to mind when you think of the Beatles. But Paul McCartney's new album, "Kisses on the Bottom" will pay tribute to childhood songs that influenced him -- and the Beatles -- including music by Astaire.
"My dad was the piano player at the New Years Eve dinner," McCartney said. "So he played these songs at home."
At an online press conference, McCartney reminisced about his early memories listening to songs like "It's Only a Paper Moon" and "Bye Bye Blackbird." His love of the standards was shared by another Beatle: John Lennon. McCartney says that when he and Lennon first got together, they bonded over their shared taste.
"Those kinds of things drew us together," McCartney said. "And we'd be referencing those songs as we wrote the new songs."
The new...
"My dad was the piano player at the New Years Eve dinner," McCartney said. "So he played these songs at home."
At an online press conference, McCartney reminisced about his early memories listening to songs like "It's Only a Paper Moon" and "Bye Bye Blackbird." His love of the standards was shared by another Beatle: John Lennon. McCartney says that when he and Lennon first got together, they bonded over their shared taste.
"Those kinds of things drew us together," McCartney said. "And we'd be referencing those songs as we wrote the new songs."
The new...
- 1/19/2012
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
Emmerdale star Adele Silva has confessed that she doesn't think she is sexy. The actress, who returns to her role as Kelly Windsor in the soap later this month, admitted that while featuring in photoshoots for men's magazines such as FHM is flattering, she doesn't take it too seriously. "When I'm 64 and I've had eight children, I'll be able to say: 'See, kids, that's what Mummy used to be like!'" (more)...
- 2/5/2011
- by By Colin Daniels
- Digital Spy
Photo/Cylla von Tiedemann Joey Curatolo, who plays Paul McCartney in the new Broadway revue Rain: A Tribute to The Beatles, pointed out moments before belting "When I'm 64" how the audience that evening consisted of three generations of Beatles fans. A large round of applause followed that statement, and almost immediately the all-ages group either shook in their seats or stood up, and sang the songs gloriously off key and out loud. Imagine that scenario for two hours, and you've got Rain. The Beatles' music is timeless, and Rain celebrates that. Don't dismiss this as a tribute band, the entire production skillfully recaptures the band's magic with faithful, spot-on live recordings of some of the band's best songs (each Rain member is a skilled musician in their own right), and add to the nostalgic trip by recapturing their mannerisms and showmanship on...
- 10/29/2010
- by Jon Chattman
- Huffington Post
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton was treated to a musical surprise on his 64th birthday - Sir Paul McCartney called him up to serenade him. The Democrat was delighted after picking up the phone to hear The Beatles legend on the line after reaching the age on Thursday, August 19.
And he was stunned when McCartney began an impromptu rendition of the Beatles' 1967 love song, "When I'm Sixty-Four". source tells Britain's Daily Mirror, "Sir Paul knows Bill is a huge fan of the Fab Four and instantly agreed to ring him. Well, it's not every day you can get on the line to a former President."
"But Bill was even more over the moon when he heard him - and couldn't believe it when he started singing When I'm Sixty-Four. Bill's been a fan his whole life. He loves Macca's solo stuff, too. So they chatted for ages."
It's not...
And he was stunned when McCartney began an impromptu rendition of the Beatles' 1967 love song, "When I'm Sixty-Four". source tells Britain's Daily Mirror, "Sir Paul knows Bill is a huge fan of the Fab Four and instantly agreed to ring him. Well, it's not every day you can get on the line to a former President."
"But Bill was even more over the moon when he heard him - and couldn't believe it when he started singing When I'm Sixty-Four. Bill's been a fan his whole life. He loves Macca's solo stuff, too. So they chatted for ages."
It's not...
- 8/23/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Fresh from her Broadway run of Hair, Annaleigh Ashford returned to the Broadway at Birdland concert series with the musical magic of James Sampliner, on Monday, July 12. Annaleigh dazzled the packed house with popular classics by everyone from Doris Day to Janis Joplin. With an emphasis on the sounds of the 60's and 70's, Ashford and Sampliner performed "It's Magic," "Mona Lisa's and Mad Hatters," "Beautiful," "When I'm 64," and many more. BroadwayWorld brings you coverage of her performance, and backstage prep, below.
- 7/13/2010
- BroadwayWorld.com
Sir Paul McCartney doesn't feel his age. The 68-year-old singer, who penned a track called "When I'm Sixty-Four" with his former band The Beatles, still loves performing and claims music feels as fresh to him as it did when he was first starting out.
"Do I feel my age? No. It feels weird to say 68. It's funny, I wrote the song 'When I'm Sixty-Four' when I was in my twenties. I was thinking, 'That age will never arrive'," he said. "Now I'm four years after it. It was always my ambition to plug in my electric guitar, play with some people and write songs and that hasn't left me. I play the first chord, turn it up loud and it still feels like a rebellious thing to do, playing a bit louder than you should."
The veteran rocker also admits he no longer tours as much as he...
"Do I feel my age? No. It feels weird to say 68. It's funny, I wrote the song 'When I'm Sixty-Four' when I was in my twenties. I was thinking, 'That age will never arrive'," he said. "Now I'm four years after it. It was always my ambition to plug in my electric guitar, play with some people and write songs and that hasn't left me. I play the first chord, turn it up loud and it still feels like a rebellious thing to do, playing a bit louder than you should."
The veteran rocker also admits he no longer tours as much as he...
- 6/28/2010
- by celebrity-mania.com
- Celebrity Mania
Sir Paul McCartney doesn't feel his age. The 68-year-old singer - who penned a track called 'When I'm Sixty-Four' with his former band The Beatles - still loves performing and claims music feels as fresh to him as it did when he was first starting out. He said: "Do I feel my age? No. It feels weird to say 68. It's funny, I wrote the song 'When I'm Sixty-Four' when I was in my twenties. I was thinking, 'That age will never arrive.' "Now I'm four years after it. "It was always my ambition to plug in my electric guitar, play with some people and write songs and that hasn't left me. I play the first chord, turn it up...
- 6/27/2010
- Monsters and Critics
So I had an awesome weekend, how about you guys? We ate a gigantic lunch at Chuy's with margaritas included, then walked over to the Starbucks and bought some iced lattes like the most perfect hipsters. It ended with a trip to the grocery store where I bought a lot of things I didn't need. And it was really really hot and I complained about the heat a lot before coming back to my lovely A/C'd apartment. They should just make me an American already.
Speaking of too hot outside, I hadn't even left the damn apartment in a week. I mean, I would, but I have no car and I'm a complete wuss when it comes to walking in the heat (born in the tropics, my ass) and besides Dallas is really big and you need a car to get anywhere. And it's only May, for crying out loud.
Speaking of too hot outside, I hadn't even left the damn apartment in a week. I mean, I would, but I have no car and I'm a complete wuss when it comes to walking in the heat (born in the tropics, my ass) and besides Dallas is really big and you need a car to get anywhere. And it's only May, for crying out loud.
- 5/17/2010
- by Dustin Rowles
Robert Zemeckis (Beowulf) is in negotiations with Disney to direct a remake of "Yellow Submarine," which is a 1968 animated feature based on music by the Beatles. The studio is currently trying to acquire the rights to the music to the film, which included the title track as well as classics such as "Eleanor Rigby," "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," "When I'm Sixty-Four" and "With a Little Help From My Friends." Like all latest Zemeckis productions, "Submarine" would be done in performance capture and would also be a digital 3D endeavor. The movie, a hit when it was released, is about a soldier called Old Fred who meets up with the Beatles and travels in a yellow submarine to Pepperland. Among the group's encounters are the Blue Meanies, music-hating creatures.
- 8/20/2009
- WorstPreviews.com
I've said it before and I'll say it again... Robert Zemeckis really needs to give this motion capture stuff a rest. I have no problem with trying to push technology forward, and heck I even liked his take on Beowulf quite a bit, but now it's really starting to feel like he's putting the tech ahead of making decent and interesting movies. His upcoming version of A Christmas Carol looks impressive yes, but is it needed? No. Now this week comes news of another ill-advised Zemeckis remake: the Beatles 1968 animated classic Yellow Submarine. According to The Hollywood Reporter [1], Zemeckis will direct the movie for Disney, who are planning it as a big digital 3-D release. They are currently negotiating the rights for the songs in the film, which will include the title track plus "Eleanor Rigby," "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," "When I'm Sixty-Four" and "With a Little Help From My Friends.
- 8/20/2009
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
Robert Zemeckis is in talks to direct a remake of animated Beatles movie Yellow Submarine. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney is close to making a deal to pick up the music rights for the film, which includes songs such as 'Eleanor Rigby', 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds', 'When I'm Sixty-Four' and 'With A Little Help From My Friends'. Released in 1968 at the height of The (more)...
- 8/20/2009
- by By Simon Reynolds
- Digital Spy
Robert Zemeckis is in talks to direct a remake of animated Beatles movie Yellow Submarine. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney is close to making a deal to pick up the music rights for the film, which includes songs such as 'Eleanor Rigby', 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds', 'When I'm Sixty-Four' and 'With A Little Help From My Friends'. Released in 1968 at the height of The (more)...
- 8/20/2009
- by By Simon Reynolds
- Digital Spy
Robert Zemeckis and Walt Disney Pictures are working through a legal maze to see if they can do a motion capture remake of Yellow Submarine, the trippy 1968 animated film that featured songs by The Beatles. Zemeckis and Disney have been negotiating with the lawyers representing the songs of the artist, the rights holders to the original movie and anyone else who has a vested interest in seeing some bucks come from this.
The story broke in Variety and Disney didn't want to confirm or deny their story. According to the trade Zemeckis wants to use 16 classic Beatles songs like "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", "When I'm 64" and "All Together Now". There's no indication yet as to what the storyline would be in the new Yellow Submarine; the original had the Beatles (voiced by sound-alike actors and not the original band members) venturing to a psychadelic fantasy place called Pepperland threatened by Blue Meanies.
The story broke in Variety and Disney didn't want to confirm or deny their story. According to the trade Zemeckis wants to use 16 classic Beatles songs like "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", "When I'm 64" and "All Together Now". There's no indication yet as to what the storyline would be in the new Yellow Submarine; the original had the Beatles (voiced by sound-alike actors and not the original band members) venturing to a psychadelic fantasy place called Pepperland threatened by Blue Meanies.
- 8/20/2009
- by Patrick Sauriol
- Corona's Coming Attractions
I'm not sure which one of the follow techniques annoys me more when it comes to movies: performance capture or 3-D. Sure, I'll give both of them a chance at every turn, but both seem so pointless. I have a hard time looking at one or the other as anything more than a gimmick to distract me from other areas in which the films are lacking. Had Polar Express used traditional animation it could have been far more magical with more time spent on story and less time spent on supposedly bleeding-edge technology. Had Beowulf been made as a live-action feature instead of a lame-duck attempt at creating an edgy performance capture piece it could have been great. How will A Christmas Carol turn out on November 6? Who knows? I'm hoping for the best, but I can't say I am personally all that excited about what Zemeckis is cooking up next.
- 8/20/2009
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Robert Zemeckis is negotiations to direct a remake of "Yellow Submarine" for Disney.
"Submarine" was a 1968 animated feature based on music by the Beatles. It was produced by United Artists and King Features Syndicate.
Disney had no comment on the dealmaking, which is in the thick of trying to acquire the rights to the music to the film, which included the title track as well as classics such as "Eleanor Rigby," "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," "When I'm Sixty-Four" and "With a Little Help From My Friends."
Like all Zemeckis productions, "Submarine" would be done in performance capture and would also be a digital 3D endeavor.
The movie, a hit when it was released, is about a soldier called Old Fred who meets up with the Beatles and travels in a yellow submersible to Pepperland. Among the group's encounters are the Blue Meanies, music-hating creatures.
Zemeckis is repped by CAA.
"Submarine" was a 1968 animated feature based on music by the Beatles. It was produced by United Artists and King Features Syndicate.
Disney had no comment on the dealmaking, which is in the thick of trying to acquire the rights to the music to the film, which included the title track as well as classics such as "Eleanor Rigby," "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds," "When I'm Sixty-Four" and "With a Little Help From My Friends."
Like all Zemeckis productions, "Submarine" would be done in performance capture and would also be a digital 3D endeavor.
The movie, a hit when it was released, is about a soldier called Old Fred who meets up with the Beatles and travels in a yellow submersible to Pepperland. Among the group's encounters are the Blue Meanies, music-hating creatures.
Zemeckis is repped by CAA.
- 8/19/2009
- by By Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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