Rocktails Blog > Beatles Love documentary on BBC

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> Beatles Love documentary on BBC

Richard Jones, CEO // 27 December 2006

Caught the BBC Love documentary tonight, showcasing the amazing work of Cirque du Soleil. I had read a lot about them - they are frequently picked out by people like Tom Peters as one of those funky businesses that have reinvented themselves far beyond any drab "trapeze and trampoline" clichés. This docu showcased the amazing vision and sheer brass balls of Guy Laliberté and his team. The storyboard concepts, funky "skater" segues and jaw dropping visuals were stunning and inspiring.

Also really great to see a genuine empathy with the Beatles music and their history - including effortless symbolism from the Beatles personal lives (such as the death of Lennon's mother in a road accident and Paul's midwife mother characterised as Lady Madonna).

I was a hungry convert to the album anyway, but now I have to see the Vegas show. (Hmmm, how the hell do I do that having just burnt up cash, ecological carbon credits and holiday entitlements zooming off to NYC before Christmas?)

I was less overwhelmed by those on the Beatles side of the relationship. McCartney was his usual charming, knockabout self (presumably all filmed before he turned into mr-celebrity-deep-pockets-soon-to-be-divorcee). But as ever he was obsessed with taking the credit (admittedly due credit) for putting the stuff together in the first place. Honestly Paul, you are a genius. No need to keep reminding us. I did like his perceptive insight that the Beatles music, rather than getting dusty on a shelf after 40 odd years, is actually getting shinier with time thanks to ongoing interest and the digital options to enhance and utilise the Beatles back catalogue. Timeless, literally.

Giles Martin, who it appears did the majority of the knob twiddling to remix affairs for the Love album, appeared something of a humourless sod. Jeez, man, if George Martin is there good naturedly throwing in some gags about the Fab Four you could at least crack your face even if laughing is apparently beyond you. He also presumed to know all about Lennon & McCartney whilst dad sat listening on in dutiful silence. That said the results he has conjured are wonderful - brilliantly innovative. His enthusiasm and depth of knowledge about the music and all the secrets in the Abbey Road vaults was pretty infectious. Maybe we might see more of this in future, and you would not bet against McCartney getting his hands dirty with some of this to reinforce his reputation as the avant garde Beatle. In fact we can only presume conflicting commitments stopped him in the first place.

For those wanting a taster of the Love album here's the official Tomorrow Never Knows promo released by Capitol Records, courtesy of YouTube: