Beatles News
An Indian American composer in Seattle, Washington, has won the top award in the World Music category in the 2020 John Lennon Songwriting Contest. The award, announced in May, is the first time an Indian song has won the award.
The winning song, "Akhiyaan," was written and composed by Indian American Rohit Batra of ‘Sur in Seattle’, produced by George Varghese of Verge Studios, and sung by “Indian Idol” alum Geetesh Iyer, according to a press release. "Akhiyaan" was also the Session 1 Grand Prize winner in 2019.
"This is a big moment for independent Indian musicians. We are breaking a mold as non-Bollywood music is being recognized on the world stage,” said Batra.
Source: indiawest.com
The Beatles breakup has to be the most discussed breakup in the entire music industry. Even after 50 years, fans still debate and argue about what caused the fab four to go their separate ways. But, that raises another question – what could have kept the Beatles together?
What would have kept the Beatles together?
Before diving into that, we first have to see what caused the Beatles to break up in the first place. We discussed that before, so if you want to jog your memory, give it a little read. So, here are the steps that could have prevented the Beatles breakup:
1. The Beatles should have been a professional band
Ringo Starr has announced a livestream benefit concert to mark his 80th birthday next week.
The star-studded event will consist of exclusive new at-home performances and previously unseen concert footage from former Beatles-bandmate Paul McCartney, Sheryl Crow, Joe Walsh, Ben Harper, Gary Clark Jr and more.
Donations during the event will be split between the Black Lives Matter Global Network, MusiCares, The David Lynch Foundation, and WaterAid. Ringo’s Big Birthday Show will air on the day of his birthday, July 7, from 5pm PST, on his YouTube channel.
Starr has long held concerts to mark his birthday in his adopted home of the United States. For the past 12 years, he’s hosted the ‘Peace and Love’ celebration event in Los Angeles on the date. Last year, David Lynch, Peter Jackson, Nils Lofgren, Sheila E., Benmont Tench, Ed Begley, Jr. and more joined him.
Source: nme.com
After The Beatles went their separate ways, some bad blood lingered among the former bandmates. And you saw it quickly get heated between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. On top of trading barbs in the music press, the old pals took some cracks at one another on their solo albums.
Paul took the first shot in his Ram (1971) album with a track titled “Too Many People.” With the line, “You took your lucky break and broke it in too,” he was making a clear reference to John’s relationship with Yoko Ono. And Paul did the same with the line “too many people preaching practices.”
John wasn’t going to let those statements go unanswered. And when writing songs for Imagine (1971) he saved a few haymakers for his lifelong friend. John put them all into “How Do You Sleep?,” a track which featured none other than George Harrison on slide guitar.
Source: cheatsheet.com
Ringo Starr’s 80th birthday is coming up on July 7th, and we’re celebrating with an in-depth conversation on the latest episode of the Rolling Stone Interview: Special Edition video series. “Man, I’m only 24 in here,” Starr says, pointing to his head. “And I’m still doing what I love to do. I’m still in the music business.”
In the interview, Starr talks about his longevity (one secret: “broccoli with everything and blueberries in the morning”); life in isolation (“I haven’t left the house in 11 weeks now”); hanging out with Keith Moon and John Bonham (“that’s two handfuls”); the early years of his solo career; Peter Jackson’s upcoming Let It Be-era Beatles documentary; missing George Harrison and John Lennon; and playing “Helter Skelter” on stage with Paul McCartney last year for the first time since he recorded it.
Starr also discussed Ringo’s Big Birthday Show, a virtual charity concert that will hit YouTube at 8 p.m. EST July 7th. The show will include a mix of at-home performances and unseen concert footage from Paul McCartney,
Source: Brian Hiatt/rollingstone.com
In our recent Happy Birthday Paul McCartney series, we did a story on his song “Two Of Us,” which is not celebrated as much as many of his songs. Despite its greatness.
So we posed the question: Do you have a favorite McCartney song you feel has been uncelebrated compared to the rest? What follows are answers we received. A wide and wonderful selection. Thank you.
But first my personal nomination to start this, “Save Us,” produced by Paul Epworth from New, 2013. Is this not great?
Paul McCartney, “Save Us”
Earl Grey
Favorite non-celebrated Macca song has to be “Beware My Love.”
“Beware My Love.”
Rich Ulloa
My favorite Paul song is “Two of Us” and my favorite “non-celebrated song would be “Goodbye,” recorded by Mary Hopkin.
Source: Paul Zollo/americansongwriter.com
Sir Paul McCartney’s first wife Linda was one who joined him in a huge number of endeavours. She was a member of the band Wings, and also joined him in his vegetarianism. Beatles fans were united against John Lennon’s partner, Yoko Ono – but did Linda get the same treatment?
Sir Paul met Linda Eastman, a music photographer, in 1967 at a Georgie Fame concert, where her “pushiness” worked a treat.
In Harry’s book, Linda was quoted as saying: “I was quite shameless really. I was with somebody else... and I saw Paul at the other side of the room.
“He looked so beautiful that I made up my mind I would have to pick him up.”
The pair were married in 1969, but the wedding was almost derailed according to Sir Paul.
Source: Jenny Desborough/express.co.uk
When you wade into debates pitting The Beatles against The Rolling Stones, the first order of business isn’t usually the guitar players. Though both Keith Richards and George Harrison rank among the best on their instrument, they worked perfectly within the confines of their respective bands.
In other words, you didn’t listen to The Beatles just to hear George play guitar, and the same went for Richards and the Stones. But it’s hard to imagine either band without these essential players on lead guitar.
Looking back on the work of George in The Beatles (and beyond), Richards spoke of how George’s style differed from that of guitar gods like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. Richards loved George’s understated, exacting approach most of all.
Source: cheatsheet.com
While some athletes and other celebrities have decided that they will "take a knee" while the national anthem is played at various events, now other activists, historians and journalists have actually suggested that the Star Spangled Banner be permanently replaced. The above is a copy of sheet music of :The Star-Spangled Banner" printed in 1815. Photo Credit: Library of Congress
It seems that the counter culturalists have now revved up their anti-American agenda but this time it takes a way different form than calling for the toppling of monuments and statues that offend certain folks.
While some athletes and other celebrities have decided that they will “take a knee” while the national anthem is played at various events, now other activists, historians and journalists have actually suggested that the Star Spangled Banner be permanently replaced. The reason, you ask? Because they claim that the author of the iconic anthem, Francis Scott Key was a slave owner. And therefore, the further assert, such an anthem will not resonate with black Americans and other minorities.
Source: thejewishvoice.com
If you hoped The Beatles would maintain the optimism and love songs approaching Revolver (1966), you may need felt reassured by a couple of music titles. With “Good Day Sunshine,” you’d rightfully anticipate some old style Paul McCartney optimism. And “Love You To” needed to sound promising.
But there was one other title towards the tip that certainly would have caught your eye: “Got to Get You Into My Life.” That needed to be a love music, didn’t it?Well, it was, solely Paul was singing about marijuana, not a residing particular person. In reality, Paul later referred to the monitor as “an ode to pot.”
The odes to pot didn’t finish with Revolver. When followers picked up Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band the next yr, they heard Paul sing of getting “a smoke” earlier than he “went into a dream” (in “A Day in the Life“). And “I love to turn you on” sounded drug-inspired to these within the know.
Source: Jeremy Spirogis/sahiwal.tv
