Since the 1960’s, The Beatles have been known as one of the best musical collaborations of all time. Along with topping the record charts both in Britain and the United States, The Beatles have had a great influence on American culture. Their music has not only been recognized for its revolutionary sound, but for its insight and ability to speak to many people through its lyrics. It has also given drive both a musical and cultural revolution known as the 60’s.Even though The Beatles’ music was essentially created and popularized in the 1960’s, it still lives on today. Not only do many people still enjoy listening to the original Beatles songs, but cover songs made by various artists can also be heard on a regular basis. No generation since the 1960’s has found itself deprived of Beatles music; in fact, groups even made covers of Beatles music in the 80’s. Cheap Trick’s rendition of “Day Tripper” and The Rolling Stones’ version of “I Wanna be Your Man,” are only a couple of the covers that have been made. There have even been covers by artists like Elvis Costello, who sang “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away,” and Ray Charles, who produced his own rendition of “Eleanor Rigby.”
Although groups have provided many versions of The Beatles songs since the time they were around, no one had yet gone so far as to make an entire movie that focuses on the musical and cultural influence of The Beatles. Across the Universe does just this. A band of little-known actors and singers make up the talented cast of Across the Universe, a movie which captures the true ambiance of the 60’s using both song and image. With songs performed by Jim Sturgess, Evan Rachel Wood, Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs, Martin Luther, and many more, the Across the Universe soundtrack is a talented combination of modern-day Broadway sound with the musical talent of The Beatles. You can buy both the extended edition and the regular edition in stores now.
“The music definitely made the movie,” says Sarah Slemons, a senior at Worthington Christian High School. She owns the soundtrack and has it both on CD and in her iPod. She also says she is planning on camping out in front of the store to wait for the release of Across the Universe on DVD. According to Amber Pope, another senior at WC, the soundtrack is “absolutely amazing!” She also owns her own copy of
the Across the Universe soundtrack. However, Cody Irwin has other things to say about this soundtrack. According to him it is, “Very good, but does not compare to the I Am Sam soundtrack.”I Am Sam is another movie soundtrack where songs from The Beatles can be heard in a new and modern way. Some of the songs from that soundtrack include “Golden Slumbers,” preformed by Ben Folds; and “Across the Universe,” preformed by Rufus Wainwright. So if you’re interested in the new versions of songs by The Beatles, check out these soundtracks!
