The Beatles
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

THE REVIEW

I have read so many things about the Beatles on this site; I've read that they were four mediocre musicians, and that their success came from their publicity; I've even read that they never composed a real masterpiece: "A Day In The Life" is the masterpiece above another 4-5 masterpieces, I seriously wouldn't know how to define it. What is that song? Boh. However, many on this site believe they were important, yes, but more as a cultural phenomenon (damned Scaraffone); but thanks to George Harrison's Eastern openness, didn't they anticipate by how many, 20, 30 years, the discovery of India and Asia in general, now also from a cinematic point of view; many think they are just Pop; there's even someone who says they didn't influence anyone, which is also more than debatable. Or rather, a colossal nonsense. It's enough for me to say that songs like "Arnold Layne" or "Ruby Tuesday" have something Beatlesque about them. I could also say that from their psychedelic intuitions, which is NOT pure psychedelia, they started the prog-rock movement, because many songs are polished with that dreamy arrangement and satisfaction, just like "I Talk To The Wind". That's saying something.

And indeed, you can say anything about the Beatles, because it's very easy, more than for other bands, to speak ill of them, for the simple reason that everyone talks about them. And, be careful, it's the fact that you CAN say anything that is dangerous, because it gives rise to unmotivated and uncontrollable chain reactions, sometimes making you want to cut your veins. But what really pisses me off is that a sort of revisionism has been set in motion about the Beatles; they who incubated and nurtured every possible musical genre embryo, rendered in a catchy song form, and for this reason even more to be esteemed. Even Pink Floyd were terribly catchy; even "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn," an album I adore, is terribly catchy, but no one speaks ill of that. And don't tell me "No, The Piper is another thing..." and nonsense like that. I don't believe it.

But what is Sgt. Pepper? A concept album, I don't think so. A rock opera? Maybe something more. It's an opera because it's the most varied album I've ever heard. It's like going to the theater and seeing 4 strangely dressed guys doing strange things singing natural, human music. The problem is that it's not rock. Except in the two tracks "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band" and the subsequent reprise. The first track is a warning: "Attention, you are about to listen to and see the adventures that happen to Sergeant Pepper and his lonely hearts club band". And you can expect, must expect anything. The eclecticism of the Beatles is something unassailable. "She's Leaving Home" sounds like a piece of classical music adapted to the 19th century: silence, the music is talking, the lyrics add details, nothing more. The next song could be anything: it goes from melancholy to mockery, to vaudeville music (listen to "The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society") with "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite", sure, not a masterpiece, but it’s a sweet surprise. The fact is that in Beatles' music I see everything, going from the proto-psychedelic lull of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" to the strong cadences of "Getting Better" has something magical.

There is something magical in the interval in the pause between songs, there is something magical in the attack between the first and second track (mumble mumble, what does it remind me of? Oh yes, the continuity of Pink Floyd's albums). A little note, Paul turned 64 this year, and he seriously looks insane seeing him, strange that it's him who created a little second-hand masterpiece like "Lovely Rita", walking almost on tiptoe. And then, to conclude, "A Day In The Life". There's nothing to say about this song, every time I hear it it's a strange sensation. The only note I want to make is that the 4 decided to have about a hundred strings play from the highest note to the lowest, quite crazy stuff.

Boh. You decide.