|
The History of Music
"All You Need Is Love" is a song written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon/McCartney. It was first performed by The Beatles on Our World, the first live global television link. Broadcast to 26 countries and watched by 400 million, the program was broadcast via satellite on June 25, 1967. The BBC had commissioned the Beatles to write a song for the UK's contribution. Asked to come up with a song containing a simple message to be understood by all nationalities, Lennon's "All You Need Is Love" extended the message he first tried in "The Word", from The Beatles' 1965 album Rubber Soul. "It was an inspired song and they really wanted to give the world a message," said Brian Epstein. The Beatles decided the song should be their next single the day before the Our World broadcast. Released in the UK on July 7, it went straight to No. 1 and remained there for three weeks. It was similarly successful in the US, reaching No. 1 for a week.
For the broadcast, the Beatles were (except for Ringo) seated on stools, accompanied by a small studio orchestra. They were surrounded by friends and acquaintances seated on the floor, who sang with the refrain during the fade-out, including Mick Jagger and Keith Richard. Lennon, affecting indifference, was said to be nervous about the broadcast, given the potential size of the international TV audience. Dissatisfied with his singing, he re-recorded the solo verses for use on the single. Contrary to belief, McCartney wore a rose in his headset not to go along with the theme of the performance, but to spite Lennon. Lennon insisted McCartney wear green. After getting his way, McCartney went looking around the studio for something red and came across a vase of roses outside George Harrison's dressing room . In watching the tape of the broadcast, one can see some interesting dynamics that occur during the song. First, it appears that both Lennon and McCartney are chewing gum. Second, during a dissolve, McCartney looks surprised that the horns take up the Bach piece. Finally, at the end of the song, both Lennon and McCartney sing "She Loves You," something that has been a topic of debate over the years but is quite clear when one views the video.
All you need is love
~The Beatles~
|
