Walking the Wall

I heard that on February 4th the song Across the Universe by the Beatles was being beamed into space on its 40th anniversary. The next day the movie came out on DVD and it was a long awaited release by my husband who is a huge Beatles fan. I have to confess that I never really appreciated the Beatles until I fell in love with the I Am Sam soundtrack (I love “Two of Us” with Aimee Mann, “Across the Universe” with Rufus Wainright, and “Black Bird” with Sarah McLachlan–all gorgeous) Anyway, I’ve already mentioned before that I have a weakness for musicals that ties back to growing up without a television, rented movie reels from the library, and hours spent with a record player. Combine all this with an obsession geared at the Vietnam war and the fate of POWs during junior high and highschool which resulted in a scrapbook full of war poetry–and it all balls up together and makes me a perfect target for the Across the Universe movie.

I’ve watched it twice and I think it is gorgeous and sad and, yes, a bit corny–most importantly, I love the music. I know it recieved mixed reviews coming out and I guess I understand that, Beatles or not, a musical is a musical is a musical. But did I mention the music? The whole soundtrack is great (there are two [technically three] one with only 16 songs, I think the deluxe is well worth the download) but a couple favorites:

• Let it Be with Carol Woods, Timothy T. Mitchum and church choir, sung in context of Vietnam and the Detroit riots, absolutely beautifully rendered (youtube version with no video clip spoiler)
  • “And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
    there will be an answer, let it be.
    For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,
    there will be an answer. let it be.”
• If I Fell with Evan Rachel Wood, lovely
• While My Guitar Gently Weeps with Martin Luther McCoy, simply gorgeous–I’ve never heard the original
• Hey Jude with Joe Anderson, simple and real, love it
• All You Need is Love with Jim Sturgess, really, I liked everything he sang, he was very believable

There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done.
Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It’s easy.
There’s nothing you can make that can’t be made.
No one you can save that can’t be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be in time
It’s easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
There’s nothing you can know that isn’t known.
Nothing you can see that isn’t shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.
It’s easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
All you need is love (all together now)
All you need is love (everybody)
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

by John Lennon