The Beatles Carry That Weight

Were you a fan of Peter Jackson's epic Get Back? I was! There has probably never been as successful a songwriting duo as Paul McCartney and John Lennon nor a pop group as beloved. After all these years, The Beatles still rock. Here's another documentary that might be worth your time, The Beatles: Carry That Weight. 

The Beatles' epic Carry That Weight holds some harrowing lyrics-

"Boy, you're gonna carry that weight

Carry that weight a long time

Boy, you're gonna carry that weight"

The ups and downs up the group are an epic story with a rather tragic ending. Our own stories carry that same potential. The burden of life's difficulties and our shortcoming weigh heavily. I know they do on me when I fall flat on my face or think backwards about how I've fallen short. But there's hope. When the weight of sin is too hard to bear, Jesus alone offers the solution to the problem. His words echo in my ears, 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

These words found in the Bible's book of Matthew give me hope and an invitation to find lasting peace as I look to Jesus, God in the flesh whose sacrifice of death on the cross and resurrection from the dead bring me life as I accept Him as the payment due for my sin and turn away from it. The offer still stands two thousand years later. In this Christmas season, it's the gift of eternal life that is offered to you. Do you need it? Absolutely. Do you want it? The choice is yours.

I Believe in Yesterday

While enjoying the Lufthansa film festival during a flight for work, I made the decision to watch Yesterday, a fantasy tribute to the Beatles. If you're a lover of the Fab Four or of music in general, this is truly worth your time.

Jack Malik is a hardworking but overlooked performer who discovers that the entire world has no idea who the Beatles are- except him. In a moment of weakness, he decides to further his career by performing their songs and claiming them as his own. As you'd imagine, this catapults him to fame and brings with it a host of problems.

Himesh Patel is perfectly cast with a pleasing voice and engaging presence, and Lily James is every bit as lovely as when she donned Cinderella's slippers. Don't be fooled by the ads- Ed Sheehan plays himself in more than a cameo, showing his fans he really can take himself with a grain of salt- and the film gives him some of the best one liners ever.

Paul McCartney must be pleased with this work of love, and so will you.

Yesterday: The Beatles Invasion- 50 Years

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Beatles invasion, here are just a few of my favorite tunes by the group that changed musical history:

• "I Saw Here Standing There"- I grew up on Motown, so unbelievably, I did not know the Beatles music as theirs until after 1970. This song, among the first I'd heard with knowledge, stands out for its playful, youthful vibe- the power of boy sees girl. And isn't that the fun part of Rock and Roll?
• "Day Tripper" - The opening notes are instantly recognizable, the melody sinks into your brain and never leaves. 
• "The Long and Winding Road" - Sentimental and symphonic, the pure emotion of the piece overwhelms me at times. If there was any doubt Paul McCartney and John Lennon would be legends, this puts the argument to rest.
• "Back in the USSR" - I just love to listen to this as I run! With its lyrical tongue in cheek tribute to the Beach Boys, the song is just Fun, Fun, Fun.
• "Yesterday" - no explanation needed, is there?