20 Landmark Songs Of The 60s

1. The Beatles €“ A Day In The Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPSR9K7tzPc In such an experimental and inventive period of music, technically speaking there isn't a winner per se, but whatever your opinion of them, The Beatles were absolute trailblazers and picking just one song from their back catalogue is an impossible task; do we go for their breakthrough 'She loves you'? where they harnessed Buddy Holly and skiffle, 'Tomorrow Never Knows', where they set new standards for production and defined the standard for guitar tunes to be danced to? The list is endless. They hit their pop peak on the Revolver and Rubber Soul albums, but as this is about landmark songs, it has to be their majestic 'A Day in the Life'. The song tells the story of the trivia of everyday existence, but with an undercurrent of a deep sensuality. The refrain is 'I'd love to turn you on', often interpreted as a drug reference but think of it as describing the small talk that makes up seduction and the song opens up. Musically there were five forces in the Beatles, Lennon, McCartney, Starr, Harrison and their long suffering producer George Martin and this song is where they all truly came together and added their individual footprints to their story. There is the bonkers narrative that Lennon provides, his world weary drawl telling the story of everyday life. McCartney chips in with his jauntiness, whilst also being very annoying in the video by trying to direct the orchestra, laidback Harrison guitar and Starr keeping the beat, he may not have been the best drummer in the world or even the best drummer in The Beatles, but he was perfect for the job. And above it all is George Martin, getting classical musicians to be composed by him wearing all sorts of ridiculous outfits. The great and the good came to the recording of the video, including Mick and Keef, Donovan and Mike Nesmith of the Monkees. The Beatles were unquestionably showing off, because the 60's was a period was indeed a period of construction, and here they're saying to the world 'Look at the house that we've just built and live in, don't you just wish you were here?'