The Beatles' "All You Need is Love"

With the violence in the world of late, I thought that this song would be the most fitting response. The Beatles' song "All You Need is Love" made its debut on Our World, the first live, world-wide, satellite television programme. Our World featured segments from nineteen different countries. The Beatles were chosen to represent the United Kingdom. Also appearing on the programme were soprano Maria Callas, painter Pablo Picasso, and Italian horseman Colonel Piero d'Inzeo.

The Beatles were asked to contribute a song whose message could be easily understood by all nationalities. That having been said, today it is unclear whether "All You Need is Love" was composed for Our World or whether it had existed in some form prior to the request to appear on the programme was made to The Beatles. In the documentary The Beatles Anthology Sir Paul McCartney and George Harrison were not sure that the song was written for Our World; however, both Ringo Starr and producer George Martin insist that it was. Regardless, there is no argument that the song did not fit the occasion. "All You Need is Love" is a rather sophisticated song. Not only does it start off with "La Marseillaise", but it also contains snatches of Wayne Shanklin's hit "Chanson D'Amour" (the horn section in the chorus), Glenn Miller's "In the Mood" (in the closing), "Greensleeves" (in the closing), Johann Sebastian Bach's "Invention No. 8 in F major" (in the closing), and The Beatles' own "She Loves You" (in the closing). 

It was "All You Need is Love" that closed Our World. Here I must point out that the programme, including the "All You Need is Love" segment, was broadcast and filmed in black and white. This footage was later colourised for the documentary The Beatles Anthology.



the beatles "all you need is love" by miklo