The Culture of Peace, The Beatles III

Imagine all the people living life in peace.

John Lennon

As we have commented in our two previous installments, the influence of The Beatles, which would change the history of music and impact the social, political and cultural world,

it is absolutely supported.

At first they attracted the youth with their new musical style, totally different from the other groups of that time and they had the talent and inspiration to make it evolve.

Undoubtedly The Beatles were a watershed in the history of culture and the new generations continue to recognize the weight of the band and worship it. For millions of people they remain, despite their dissolution in 1970, the most important band in the world.

As we have mentioned, one of the aspects of the influence of the members of the Liverpool quartet was the promotion of the culture of peace. Without a doubt the most significant song is “Imagine” by John Lennon, recorded already in his solo career 50 years ago, it is a piano ballad of the soft-rock genre whose lyrics are impregnated with pacifist concepts in which he proposes the ideal that the world was a single nation. Summons to imagine all people living life in peace; that only heaven is above us and hell does not exist below; a world without religion, without countries, without possessions; nothing to kill or die for, no greed or hunger.

All the lyrics of the song propose an ideal world with more equality in which there are no factors that generate controversies or conflicts. It is a hymn to peace. Sadly, John Lennon, despite being a great pacifist, was assassinated in December 1980.

For his part, George Harrison organized and held a momentous event that was the first benefit concert in rock history at New York’s “Madison Square Garden”, in two functions that took place in August 1971, in support of the people of Bangladesh that had been devastated by war and a subsequent natural disaster in the form of a cyclone. Harrison showed his solidarity, social and political conscience, in favor of peace. Among others, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston and Ringo Starr participated. The theme Bangladesh, written and composed by George Harrison, deals with the tragedy that occurred in that country, where people were dying and invited to reach out to help them to save lives and regain peace. In this way, it promoted a positive contagion of solidarity with the affected peoples. It is worth mentioning that at that time George Harrison was the most productive and successful soloist of The Beatles, due to his triple album “All Thing Must Pass” with songs like “My Sweet Lord” and “What Is Life” confirmed his great quality and creative ability.

The Concert for Bangladesh served as a model for other similar events such as “Live Aid”, organized 14 years later for the benefit of the inhabitants of Ethiopia and Somalia, which took place in July 1985, simultaneously in London and Philadelphia, in which they participated. as well as Paul McCartney, stars of the stature of Queen, David Bowie, Madonna, Phil Collins and Elton John.

It should be clarified that Paul McCartney has not reduced his solidarity activity only in his participation in charity concerts, he has also organized them. A month after the attack on the “Twin Towers” of September 11, 2001, he organized the charity concert in tribute to the fatalities, as well as to the firefighters and policemen who served in the affected areas putting their own lives at risk. In that concert participated, in addition to McCartney himself who closed the evening, great artists such as David Bowie, The Who, Elton John and Billy Joel. Shortly after, he gave a concert, in two functions, for charity purposes in the historic area of Rome in May 2003, the first in the emblematic monument of the Colosseum in Rome, with the main purpose of raising funds to eliminate antipersonnel mines, the second had place in the avenue of the Imperial Forums, next to the Colosseum, which the public enjoyed for free.

Another concert organized by Paul McCartney took place in April 2009 at the “Radio City Music Hall” in New York, with the aim of raising funds for a program that would encourage children with problems to meditate, in that way also the culture of peace in childhood. Ringo Starr also participated in that event.

Another legacy of George Harrison should be brought to mind, which is the show “LOVE” designed by the “Cirque du Soleil” that combines the music of The Beatles with a theatrical performance of the circus. This show is presented in a specially built and equipped Las Vegas theater. The project was devised by George Harrison with his friend Guy Laliberté, one of the founders of “Cirque du Soleil”, in 2000, which has been a success since 2006. The plot consists of an imaginary biography of The Beatles since the bombings during World War II, the emergence of the quartet, their resounding success, their main works and their separation in 1970. It is a celebration around The Beatles that confirms that they are a timeless reference by being permanently present. “LOVE” takes this journey with fictional characters taken from songs by the Liverpool quartet. In the scene set to music with “Here Comes The Sun” appears a character similar to Krishna, the god of Hinduism who declares “Whenever righteousness declines and injustice increases, I manifest myself.”

As we have commented, the influence of The Beatles is worldwide and Mexico could not be the exception. In our country it is very wide; They exist from radio programs specialized in the group’s music, to projects that recreate or analyze and study everything done by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. In this last aspect, several musical groups that pay tribute to the quartet stand out, notably the group “Morsa”.

In conclusion, let us not forget that hatred, resentment and prejudice are concepts opposed to the culture of peace. A fundamental challenge for 2022 is to address such delicate issues and insist on the danger involved in promoting them and the need to mitigate them.

* The author is a lawyer and professional mediator.

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Twitter: @Phmergoldd