A Beatles Kid's Song to Sell Beer?

I'll admit it I like it. Inititially I thought I was going to ask for a ban on Bud Beer due to the beer companies use of the Fab Four's All Together Now in a beer commercial. But, after watching the advertisment, I actually like the remake and the ad.

See the Beatles Budweiser Ad here...
Beatles Budweiser Beer Commercial Ad

Maybe it's OK to keep the Beatlessongs in the public eye so it will live forever. Or, does it devalue the music to use what McCartney says was written as a kids song to promote beer? Leave your thoughts in a comment.

Budweiser had the ad shot during 5 days on a Chicago commutor train. The beggining scene of the Chicago skyline appears a lot like the starting scene of Liverpool in the Yellow Submarine movie. The budweiser spot shows marching band bass drummers, a giant inflateable panda bear, football players, a bride and groom and other people all over the city acting out the song lyrics.

Budweiser does not have the rights to the Beatles recording of All Together Now, so they enlisted a group named The Hours to rerecord a very similar carbon copy. The Hours version of All Together Now is similar all the way to the party sounds and ending toy bicycle horn. I suppose the song would not end properly without the beep beep. The major difference is that the singer is a female, but with extremely Beatle sounding voices singing background vocals.

Eleadgidly the Hours recorded their version in a hotel room using a fire extinguisher hitting a metal radiator as percussion. Sounds extremely influenced by Lennon's Give Peace a Chance Bed-In recording session. I quesion if it actually was recorded in the band's hotel. But apparently there is footage of them creating it. So I'm probably mistaken.

The Hours have performed with Robbie Williams, Joe Strummer, Elastica, Black Grape & Pulp. They are currently opening for U2 on tour.

The ad agency behind the ad say they spent 50 hours during a work week shooting the 300 people from the metro train attempting to hold everything in syncronization with the song lyrics. Looks like the film makers had to edit to make it work in the end. Certainly not a single shot, which would've been remarkable but hardly possible.

The spot took a crew of 125 crew members and an extra thirty five sets in addition to the scenic Chicago backdrop and train.

The advertisment will be televised in England on July 4th. I suppose as revenge for the US declaring independence from England, we won't be able to see the advertisment in the United States.

Leave a comment and let everyone know what you think of the Beatles Budweiser commercial…

- Pete the Beatle Geek
Beatles Gifts .com

Think back to the stories last year that Michael Jackson was to will his ownership the Beatle's Publishing Catalog back to Paul McCartney? Is it possble that Paul will gain control of his own songs

McCartney's website says...

"It's so sad and shocking. I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael. His music will be remembered forever and my memories of our time together will be happy ones. I send my deepest sympathy to his mother and the whole family and to his countless fans all around the world."

It's Especially conciderate of Sir Paul considering that his former friend and musical collaborator later stabbed him in his Back-in-the-USSR. The Beatle was sure his buddy and one-time singing partner was kididng after Michael said, "One day I'm going to buy your songs Paul".

Only Jackson wasn't kidding. In the mid eighties, Michael outbid McCartney and shelled out 47.5 Million for the Beatle's publishing rights

Now, the future of the Beatles Publishing is unclear after Jackson's passing.

Last January, a reputable British newspaper reported that someone in Jackson's circle had stated, "Michael told his lawyers he was sad he no longer talks to Sir Paul and said he wanted to make things right." Is it possible Michael foresaw his premature death later the same year and wished to correct his previous error?

But now who has the rights to the Beatle's songs? Was M.J. able to hold onto his investment despite his poor finaical condition? Jackson sold 50% to Sony but kept the other fifty percent of the song catalog.

But, reportedly 7 years ago a lawsuit filed by a creditor, Michael later used his music shares to secure a 270 Million Dollar loan. Just 4 years ago, The Wall Street Journal reported Michael was up to 500 Million in debt.

So will the Beatles song publishing go to a Jackson creditor? Or, maybe willed to his onetime friend and collaborator Paul McCartney. We can only hope.

McCartney and Jackson's brief musical partnership started after Paul wrote "Girlfriend" from McCartney's London Town album with Michael in mind. Jackson's producer Quincy Jones suggested to Jackson that he record the song for his first album "Off the Wall". Michael didn't use the song, but thought of Paul for his next project "Thriller".

They worked together again in 1983, this time for McCartney's "Say Say Say" from the Pipes of Peace Album.

Even post death, Michael still dishes up the oddest stories.

- Pete the Beatle Geek
Visit... Beatles Gifts .com