Past Their Time

The recent release of a so called 'new' Beatles single has raised a myriad of issues. How can a song recorded in 1977 by one man, since killed, and embellished by his ex colleagues in a gruesome grave dance be called 'new'?.

All the loathesome Free as a Bird does is demonstrate that all popular music is transitory and its audience fickle.

There is no doubt that the music of Lennon and McCartney will stay in the public domain for a long time, but not necessarily as they performed it. The tunes will become part of the light classical muzak which will accompany travellers to the Moon and the Planets beyond.

But to suggest that some thirty years after their major impact on the world the Beatles are a dominant force in popular music is nonsense. Can we imagine George Best turning out for Manchester United or Dennis Compton being rushed to South Africa to play in the third Test? Either man was a genius on his own field but long ago was reduced to commment and criticism.

My measure in these matters is to take the views of the Doctor, the Archeologist and the Expert on the Premier League and distil the wisdom that drips from them. Being of an age range that covers the pop music market and all being social and alive they have clear ideas on what is good and what is bad.

They and I do not believe that today the Rolling Stones or Status Quo appeal to any audience other than their original one, which like the bands is now grown older and hopefully richer.

In contrast, the strange thing is that some pop music or to be more precise some performers continue to appeal to a massive age range. The recently rewarded Eric Clapton being a case in point. His music is so clear, his playing so fine that he transcends time and age. He has always had a following and has been respected amongst his would be peers as the peerless plucker of the guitar, plugged or unplugged.

THe greatest pop band of all is without doubt the mighty Queen. For sheer style; musical, lyrical and theatrical they are unsurpassed. The voice personality and showmanship of the late lamented Freddie Mercury, still delighting us from beyond the grave in their recently released final CD, providing the cream for the drive and musicianship Brain May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon.

Another who delights all and whose fame has surprisingly come late in life is Van Morrison. Now driven by God, he sings like a man possessed and radiates emotion. But nobody can surpass the style and delivery of Nat King Cole. The clarity of diction married to the timing of the lyrics and the purity of tone presents the listener with unadultered pleasure. No song sung by Nat King Cole can ever be covered by another artist, in fact they would be foolish to try as the unmistakeable minted version would rise to the top of the listener's consciousness and blot out the imposter.

So although the hype machine is working flat out and the media is making use of the 'new' Beatles song to fill up hours of TV and even poor old Pete Best has been dragged out to advertise lager I do not believe that the Beatles will have a second coming as their music and style is not the revolutionary force it once was. It is interesting that Michael Jackson, another spent force, has just sold the library of Lennon/McCartney song titles.

In twenty years time 'We are the Champions' will still reverberate around sports stadia whereas the 'Yellow Submarine' wil have sunk into oblivion.

Back to the London Mall