Sunday evening marked the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," and as such, The Grammy’s hosted a show in honor of the infamous band. Artists ranging from Katy Perry to Gary Clark Jr. spent the evening performing their own renditions of classic Beatles tracks, interspersed with interviews with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and CBS associates who attended the fateful show back in 1964. The 90-minute long special paid warm homage to the most important band in history.
The Beatles’ initial performance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" was a pivotal moment in history where seven million Americans gathered around their televisions and watched the world change. The “British Invasion” was born—Beatlemania dominated pop culture for the next six years and a path was carved for innumerable artists. Not a single crime was reported in New York City during its airtime and rock 'n' roll was finally made into a mainstream commodity, brought into the living rooms of millions of American families.
Now, 50 years later, some of the biggest acts in music came together in the name of celebration, paying thanks with their talent through modern interpretations of Beatles classics such as a funky “We Can Work It Out” performed by Stevie Wonder, and a touching “Something” performed with George Harrison’s son, Dhani. Dave Grohl’s performance of “Hey, Bulldog!” was nothing short of electric, while the reunited Eurythmic’s rendition of “The Fool On The Hill” earned its haunting ovation. Remarkably, each performance did its respective song justice—a pleasant surprise, as taking on the biggest band in the world is no easy task. But as Yoko Ono’s dancing in the aisle proved, a splendid time was guaranteed for all.
The show closed with a rare reunion by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr with energy so alive it was palpable through the television. Billy Shears himself was revived for one night only, and it was an event not to miss. Had this been filmed elsewhere than The Grammy’s, it would have lost its grace, it would have lost the very gratitude deserved by The Beatles for their massive contribution to not only rock 'n' roll music, but also to pop culture as a phenomenon. With that being said, it is with high hopes that a new generation of artists will be born through inspiration from this timeless band. This special provided a mere glimpse into that possibility.
