Everyone seems to have a favorite Beatle. For me, it’s George Harrison.
My mom always said he was the weird one; she prefers Paul McCartney. As for my dad, he’s partial to Ringo Starr.
Obviously, as a Beatles fan, I’m crazy about them all. But Lennon, while undeniably a genius, was a bit too cantankerous for my taste. McCartney was a melodious miracle, but he was also kind of a ham. And Starr, well, we all like “Octopus’s Garden,” but that’s about all there is to say.
In my mind, Harrison is an underdog; Lennon and McCartney songs outnumber his on every album. Sure, that might be because they were better songwriters, but Harrison’s music is beautiful in its own right. “Something,” “Here Comes the Sun” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” are some of my favorites.
February 25 would have been Harrison’s 70th birthday. He died in 2001 from cancer at the age of 58.
Around the world, fans have been commemorating his life and contributions, because as it turns out, George Harrison is many people’s favorite Beatle.
Two years ago, renowned director Martin Scorsese made an HBO documentary called George Harrison: Living in the Material World. A book by the same name was also released, compiled in part by Harrison’s widow, Olivia. It includes a fantastic collection of images and anecdotes.
Way back when, they called Harrison the “quiet” Beatle, and I think that’s part of his appeal. While not exactly shy, he wasn’t in the limelight as much as the others. Yet his influence as an artist and cultural figure is paramount.
Harrison was very interested in spirituality, especially Hinduism and Indian mysticism. He and the rest of the Beatles travelled to India in 1968 to study meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. This blossomed into a broader interest in Indian culture. Harrison learned the sitar from virtuoso Ravi Shankar and incorporated the instrument into Beatles songs like “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” and “Across the Universe.” The result was a kind of sitar frenzy in Western popular music in the mid to late 60s.
The Beatles broke up in 1970. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for Harrison to live up to that kind of legacy, but I think he did all right. While he never reached the post-Beatles success of McCartney, that’s at least in part because he never wanted to. After all the hype in the sixties, he spent his later years avoiding fame and publicity, preferring instead to meditate, garden and spend time with his family.
However, his 1970 triple album, All Things Must Pass, was a multi-colored creative explosion. Its triumph is likely due to all the energy Harrison kept pent-up during his Beatle days. (While in Lennon and McCartney’s shadow, he wrote many more songs than the Beatles would ever release.)
Perhaps because of this bursting back-catalogue, All Things Must Pass is brilliant. In fact, it’s one of the best records I’ve ever heard. Harrison’s signature themes of religion and reincarnation appear in songs like “Awaiting on You All” and “Hear Me Lord.” Then there’s the sentimental plea he wrote for his friend Bob Dylan called “Behind that Locked Door.” Harrison also presents a more melodic take on the Dylan-penned “If Not for You.” Another gem, “Wah-Wah,” likely expresses his frustration with the Beatles’ tense final days. “What is Life” is the catchiest of the bunch, a commercial love song with a great opening.
But Harrison’s most famous solo composition, “My Sweet Lord,” is the highlight of All Things Must Pass. Listening to this song is a near transcendental experience. It epitomizes the best of the “quiet” one: his soothing voice, his seeking spirit and the distinctive sound of his guitar.
The lyrics are simple; they trace Harrison’s efforts to forge a personal relationship with God: “I really want to see you/Really want to be with you/Really want to see you lord/But it takes so long, my lord.”
Then there’s the chorus in the background which subtly progresses from singing “Halleluiah” to chanting “Hare Krishna.” The song is a glorious tribute to religious unity.
I listen to “My Sweet Lord” when I can’t sleep. Since I’m an insomniac, its iTunes play count is unsurprisingly high.
But I don’t mind; Harrison’s music makes everything alright.
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