Beatles “Get Back”: Random Thoughts

The Beatles “Get Back” series released this month provides a remarkable insider’s view to the Fab Four, how they behaved together, and how they made music. Besides showcasing amazing visual clarity from expertly restored video, it allows the viewer to be transported back half a century, live like a fly on the wall, and glean insight into the true brilliance of the band and the conditions that helped foster their success.

The following are random, unprioritized observations about the Beatles in the context of the Get Back documentary:

• Paul was far more dominant than I had ever thought. Before watching the series, I subscribed to the narrative that John was the leader and they both drove the band equally but in separate ways. While some have suggested that John was using heroin during the Get Back period, the visible contrast between John’s lackluster, apathetic behavior and Paul’s dedicated professionalism makes me wonder if the true contribution ratio wasn’t far more heavily weighted towards Paul.
• George lacked confidence (his self-deprecation against Eric Clapton being just one example), and his inability to assert himself against Paul’s leadership in a vacuum led to internal strife, stewed emotions, and his eventual desire to branch out.
• John’s willingness, need, and/or desire to have a silent Yoko by his side during every moment of the day, and Yoko’s decision to chaperone her partner at his work were pathetic and smacked of both egocentrism and a blatant disregard for others.
• The band was incredibly patient with Yoko’s omni-presence, but it was clearly an unsustainable situation in terms of long term band unity and social harmony. Those who poo poo the idea that Yoko was responsible for the band’s break-up can of course point to other issues acting in parallel, but the mere added tension from having to tolerate Yoko — not to mention her distracting influence on John — made disunity inevitable.
• The Beatles benefited greatly from versatility. Every member could play at least two different instruments. This allowed them to switch on and off their normally assigned roles depending on context. Even Ringo was able to play “Octopus’s Garden” on the piano in order to introduce his latest composition.
• Paul’s musical genius was on full display: all the songs that came to him during such a short period, the way they evolved from simple tunes to masterpiece creations, his intuition for appropriate phrasing and accompanying parts, and his unusual talent spanning bass, piano, guitar, drums, and, of course, vocals.
• Contributing a comparatively small number of songs in this forum, John’s musical genius was not as evident, although he played well “live” and was called upon frequently to enhance lyrics and encourage others in the band to reach their true potential.
• John’s behavior was frequently disruptive. He was unreliable — showing up late if at all. Most of the time he was either high on drugs, smoking cigarettes, or both. He chewed gum while singing. His goofing around felt excessive, and without Paul it’s doubtful the band would have gotten anywhere.
• Ringo was the poster child of a complacent, easy-going drummer. To sit by quietly while his colleagues fussed over song melodies, harmonies, and lyrics and discussed grandiose concert plans showed incredible restraint, composure, and flexibility. He never quibbled when the others insisted on rehearsing the same tune ad nauseum. He was along for the ride, and his attitude was certainly a key to their productivity.
• Ringo got a great sound by using towels on his snare and toms. Who knew?
• The fact that Ringo excelled in his craft despite the physical limitation of toweled drum heads (e.g. limited rebounds, impossible rolls) shed additional light on his appeal as a drummer, the sound that worked so well for Beatles music, and the relative value of drumming fundamentals in real life. It’s as if a guitarist played without a pick, a pianist was deprived of his pedals, or a horn player was forbidden to hit falsetto.
• The amount of smoking done by the Beatles was astounding. John, in particular, was a noticeable chain-smoker. Not surprisingly, Paul showed the greatest restraint. It’s a wonder that more of them didn’t get lung cancer.
• While the British police hurried to respond to neighborhood complaints about music from the rooftops, the hidden cameras did an excellent job at capturing how startlingly polite and good-natured they were towards those harboring if not directly responsible for those causing the disturbance. It was a classic contrast to police thuggery on display in other venues.
• Linda Eastman used a Nikon camera, not a Kodak.
• Ringo’s wardrobe of oversized collars was hilarious, as were all the ostentatious fur coats, pink jackets, and flamboyant slacks that were evidently commonplace at the time.
• There was an overwhelming sense of comradery in the band despite periodic scuffles. The boys genuinely liked each other. They seemed to be playing (aka fooling around) most of the time, and yet it seems like this amusement was a prerequisite to the production-quality songs they eventually recorded, not to mention the countless musical creations and the tenacity of the band for nearly a decade.
• Funniest line in the entire series was Ringo’s public service announcement after farting.
• The hidden microphone in the flower pot scene, in which John confronts Paul about his attitude vis-à-vis George and the two strategize on how to woo their friend back into the band was revealing from a number of perspectives. John was comfortable confronting Paul about his domineering presence and George’s need for independence. Paul was sufficiently mature and humble to accept the criticism without becoming overly defensive. Their relationship allowed for this type of productive dialogue and conflict resolution in spite of their young age. Other bands might have broken up over issues like this.
• Few things in this world are as disturbing as Yoko’s screeching. Isn’t it a pity this was captured on tape?
• George was a genius in his own right. It was fascinating to see the birth of so many songs that would later comprise his stand-alone album.
• Watching Paul put together “Get Back”, “The Long and Winding Road”, and “Let it Be” from scratch was truly awesome. For a Beatles fan, or any serious music buff, it was like watching history.
• One would have thought that there might be a tiny bit more enthusiasm in the streets of London for an impromptu live performance by the world’s most popular rock band which hadn’t played out in years.
• Billy Preston was literally gifted a dream gig. Talk about being in the right place at the right time! Not only did his keyboards complement the late Beatles rock feel perfectly, it also allowed the band to focus on their core instruments for the live recording without the usual overdubs.
• Scenes with Heather Eastman were quite touching, especially those involving Paul who ended up adopting her. It solidified my perception of Paul being not only the most influential Beatle but also the most socially mature.
• Even from the standards of 2021, Paul was a very handsome man. He dressed smartly as well. Looking back at the others, however, not so much. While they all definitely had distinctive appearances, it’s more difficult to imagine their physical attraction by so many screaming fans.
• Even though Billy Preston was not a member of the Beatles, the fact that he had helped the band gel so effectively yet was visibly absent from the majority of the rooftop concert film felt odd.
• By the end of the film, it occurred to me that there may have been a connection between the Beatles and the four sons of Passover. Paul was the wise son whom everyone had to emulate; he was brimming with intellectual curiosity but followed the rules. John was the wicked son, fraught with smug cynicism. George was the simple son, rather unsophisticated, with a child-like attitude and a kind, generous heart. And Ringo was the silent one, who chose not (or didn’t even know how) to ask a question.
• In the rooftop concert, the Beatles played “Get Back” not once, not twice, but three times. Did they know there would be a documentary with this title 52 years later? :-)