The Beatles (part II)

Francisco Anjo

Let´s be realistic. One post is not enough to talk about one of the most successful and iconic bands of all time. However, in this post, my intention is not to describe their entire history but to mention some interesting facts about the band.

Penny Lane, Liverpool

In the first years of composing songs, the band had as inspiration the city of Liverpool. Many songs back then were related to what the band members were in touch daily, especially Paul MacCartney and John Lennon. Near Paul's house, there was a street where he spent some time, for example, going to the barbershop and attending the church. A couple of weeks later, a new song arises with that street as an inspiration: Penny Lane.

An interesting fact about this topic is that Penny Lane experienced countless disappearances of its street sign ever since the 1967 hit of the same name.

Just let it be

Beatle's music is so full of positivity, joy, and a message of love and togetherness that was first brought to the band by MacCartney. Paul had a dream in the 60s where his mother came to him and was reassuring him and saying that everything was going to be alright, just let it be. He felt so relieved because his mother gave him positive words. After never hearing that expression ever before, it sounded kind of good, and Let it be was born.

Hey Jude

John Lennon and his wife had a separation somewhere in 1968. A few weeks later, Paul visited Chyntia and Julian (her son) to see how they were both handling the separation. Concerned about the welfare of both Cynthia and little Julian, Paul MacCartney wrote Hey Jude in his car as he left her home. For example, the line Don’t make it bad, take a bad song and make it better is an encouragement to little Julian to pull through the tribulation of his parent's divorce.

It seems like the Beatles music is more relevant today than it is probably ever been and it is going to remain in our society for a very long time.

"We didn't expect it to last ten years but it keeps going on and on and it keeps being relevant"- Paul MacCartney