Like millions of people, I sat spellbound in front of my screen for Peter Jackson’s nearly nine-hour three-part documentary The Beatles: Get Back. The series consists of more than 60 hours of video and 156 hours of audio, originally recorded by director Michael Lindsay-Hogg.
The team behind the Disney + show spent years editing the original archive footage to create the 2021 version of what Jackson referred to as “a documentary about a documentary.” For a Beatles fan – or any fan of the creative process – Hogg caught creative gold.
I grew up with the Beatles. Even in elementary school I began to listen to my pop record collection on my record player “The Fonz”. Eventually the Beatles catalog became the songbook of my life, even during my rebellious, long haired, early tattoos and grunge rock years. I stood in line at my college record store to buy Pearl Jam Vitalogy and The Beatles Live on the BBC at the same time.
For me, watching the documentary felt like a gift. I want to share with you a few creative ideas that came to mind while watching. Whether you’re a longtime Beatles fan, a casual listener, or just curious about the creative process, you will find something to apply in your own endeavors.
Watching The Beatles: Get Back from @DisneyStudios felt like a gift for @JKKalinowski. He gives back five creativity takeaways for all #content creators (via @CMIcontent). Click to tweet
Me, me, mine doesn’t work for collaboration
The partnership between John Lennon and Paul McCartney earned the most songwriting credits in the Beatles’ catalog. And the documentary shows the duo’s creative dominance for the better – you see the affection and connectedness that fuel their collaboration – and for the worse – you see them ignore or downplay George Harrison’s suggestions and songs (including I Me Mine initially).
What the Beatles did: The group greatly underestimated George as a songwriter and producer. His creative frustration led him to leave the band during the sessions. When he returned, he played an early version of his song All Things Must Pass for John and Paul. You passed it on. George later released the song on his solo triple album All Things Must Pass, which was critically acclaimed and sold millions of copies.
What you can do: Don’t underestimate the people on your team. Encourage everyone to have creative ideas, regardless of role or title. Anyone can come up with ideas that deserve consideration (even Ringo Starr, who gets help from George in Octopus’s Garden during the documentary)
Don’t be like McCartney and Lennon. Give your George Harrison the chance to contribute great ideas to your #ContentMarketing, @JKKalinowski says (via @CMIcontent) Click to tweet
If you got a feeling, watch out (it usually won’t let you down)
During rehearsals for their upcoming recording, the band members agreed that there was something missing from many of the songs, but they couldn’t pinpoint exactly what. They quarreled over the compositions and played the music over and over, but they couldn’t solve the problem.
One day, renowned session keyboardist Billy Preston went to Apple Studios to say hello. The artists knew each other from previous stays in Hamburg. (The Beatles opened for Little Richards touring band, in which Billy played.)
What the Beatles did: The boys from Liverpool invited Billy to sit down with them – and found their missing piece. Billy’s contributions to the electric organ served as a catalyst that started the process and helped the Beatles complete the compositions. Billy is featured as a featured actor on the single Get Back, which marks the only time any other artist has been named as a co-performer on a Beatles song.
What you can do: Sometimes fresh voices can breathe new life and energy into an idea. If you get stuck, bring in a new employee – a colleague from another department or a member of your audience – into the process. A new ingredient can change the whole flavor of your project.
Back to old ideas
The documentary shows Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison adding a new twist to songs they wrote years ago. The song One After 909, for example, was written back in 1957 but wasn’t recorded until 1969.
What the Beatles did: Throughout the series, Paul sings songs that never made it onto the group’s albums. But he kept working on them, and they eventually found their way onto his post-Beatles solo albums. John demonstrated a song called Child of Nature that eventually became his hit Jealous Guy on Imagine.
What you can do: Never throw your ideas away – just put them on a figurative shelf. If you have an idea that just doesn’t work today, put it aside and come back to it later.
Go over once
The Beatles initially planned to shoot the documentary about creating an album from scratch at Twickenham Film Studios in 14 days. But the set lacked the right acoustics, and the cold temperatures in the mostly empty room made the band miserable.
What the Beatles did: They changed location. After George left the band, a condition for his return was a move from Twickenham. After the band settled in their more intimate (and specially built) space at Apple Studios, the energies among the four changed for the better.
What you can do: If you feel choked by the parameters you are working with, change them. If you can’t completely change them, then you should break away from them. (I think there’s a cliché about a box and the thinking that applies).
Move over twice
Changing the location wasn’t the only (or biggest) adjustment in the original vision. The original plan was for the Beatles to perform in front of a live audience, which they hadn’t done in years. But they hadn’t agreed on a location.
What the Beatles did: Eventually the band agreed to perform live on the roof of their studio building (and record some of the songs on the album). It wasn’t the originally scheduled concert, but they got great performances (and great footage) off the counter.
What you can do: Stay open. If circumstances change, don’t fight them right away. Let it be – and see if you can work with the new restrictions or requirements. You might find it is a breath of fresh air.
Be like the Beatles. No live concert or conference? Take a creative approach to working within your #ContentMarketing constraints (rooftop meeting, anyone?), @JKKalinowski says of @CMIcontent. Click to tweet
Let your mind wander
The main memories I took away from the hours I spent watching are:
- Keep your eyes, ears and mind open – creative ideas can come from anywhere and from anyone.
- Noodle on your ideas over time.
- Let yourself be amused and enjoy the process.
Before long, you will be creating something that you are proud to broadcast across the universe.
Have you seen The Beatles: Get Back? I would like to hear your thoughts on this or creativity. Leave me a note in the comments.
Cover photo by Joseph Kalinowski / Content Marketing Institute
.
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
WPAP (697)
