By: Chiara, Madeleine, Salma, Amelie. the beatles By: Chiara, Madeleine, Salma, Amelie.

Listen and look carefully

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey) became regarded as the most influential music band in history. The group were integral to pop music’s evolution into an art form. They often incorporated classical elements and later experimented with several music styles. Their musical and lyrical sophistication grew, and they were seen as an embodiment of the era’s sociocultural movements.

Led by Lennon and McCartney, the Beatles built their reputation playing clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg over a three-year period in 1960. The core trio of Lennon, McCartney and Harrison went through a succession of drummers before asking Ringo Starr to join them in 1962. Manager Brian Epstein created them into a professional act, greatly expanding the group’s homeland success after their first hit, “Love Me Do”, in late 1962. They acquired the nickname “the Fab Four”, with Brian Epstein, George Martin, and other members of the band’s entourage sometimes given the informal title of “The Fifth Beatle”.

john lennon by Madeleine Lunn-Bond John Winston Ono Lennon was born on the 9th of October 1914. His parents were Julia Stanley and Alfred Lennon. John Lennon married Cynthia Powell and they had Lennon’s first son, Julian. John and Julian were very distant until John moved to Los Angeles with Yoko Ono. The Beatles broke up in 1970 officially, but John had already told the band separately that he was leaving the band to start a different band called “The Plastic Ono Band”.

Ringo Starr by Chiara Dunphy Sir Richard Starkey was born on 7th July 1940. He is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor. He occasionally sang lead vocals usually for one song on an album. He also wrote the Beatles songs “don’t pass me by” and “octopus's garden”. Starr was afflicted by life threatening illnesses during childhood. He briefly held a position with British rail. He became interested in the UK skiffle craze and developed a fervent admiration for the genre. In 1957, he co-founded his first band. When the Beatles formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band. After achieving moderate success in the UK and Hamburg, he qui the hurricanes and joined the Beatles in 1962.

Paul McCartney by Salma Ouadria Sir James Paul McCartney, was born 18th June 1942. He is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer. He gained worldwide fame as bass guitarist and singer for the Beatles. His songwriting partnership with John Lennon remains the most successful in history. After the group disbanded, he pursued a solo career and formed the band “Wings”. McCartney has released an extensive catalogue of songs as a solo artist and has composed classical and electronic music. He has taken part in projects to promote international charities related to such subjects as animal rights,  seal hunting, land mines, vegetarianism, poverty, and music education. He has married three times and is the father of five children.

George Harrison by Amelie Campbell George Harrison was born on the 25th February 1943. He was an English musician and film producer. Harrison embraced Indian culture and helped broaden the scop of popular music. Most of the Beatles albums from 1965 onwards, contained at least two of George Harrison’s compositions. George Harrison died on 29th of November 2001, and is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Los Angeles in the US.

Yellow submarine by Madeleine Lunn-Bond Paul McCartney wrote most of the “Yellow Submarine”. He explained soon after, that the song was a children’s song. He used small words so it would be easy to sing and remember for a child. He also said he wanted it to be a ‘sparky’ children’s record. The Beatles were used to people reading too much into the lyrics of their songs, so it came as no surprise that people did for Yellow Submarine too. People thought that the Yellow Submarine was about drugs and war but it wasn’t. Yellow Submarine was on the “White Album”.

Drive my car by Chiara Dunphy “Drive My Car” is a song written primarily by Paul McCartney. It was first released on the British version of the band’s 1965 album ‘Rubber Soul’. The upbeat, light hearted “Drive My Car” was used as the opening track for both albums. Over the years the song has been covered by many artist such as former Spice Girls members Melanie C and Lulu. When McCartney arrived at Lennon’s Weybridge home for a writing session, he had the tune in his head, but he said that the lyrics were disastrous. The chorus began with “You can buy me diamond rings”, a cliché they had used twice before in “Can’t Buy Love” and “I Feel Fine”. Lennon described the lyrics as “bad” and “too soft”. They decided to rewrite the lyrics and after some difficulty they settled on the “drive my car” theme and the rest of the lyrics flowed easily from that.

Ob-la-di ob-la-da by Amelie Campbell The song “Ob-la-di Ob-la-da” was written by Paul McCartney around the time that highlighted and reggae were beginning to become popular in Britain. The starting line “Desmond has a barrow in the market place” was a reference to the first internationally renowned Jamaican Ska and reggae performer Desmond Dekker who had just finished a successful tour of the UK. The tag-line “Ob-la-di Ob-la-da, life goes on brah” was an expression used by a Nigerian conga player (Jimmy Scott- emulator). Another example of the tern in pop culture is the 1945 song “In The Land of Oo-bla-dee”. The formal recording of “Ob-la-di Ob-la-da” involved several days of work which the Beatles experimented with different styles and tempos.

Yesterday by Salma Oudria Yesterday is a song by the Beatles, written by Paul McCartney. Yesterday with the B-side was released in 1965. While it topped the American chart in October the song also hit the British top 10. McCartney’s vocals and acoustic guitar, essentially made for his first solo performance of the band . Yesterday is one of the most covered songs. It remains popular today with more than 2,200 covers. Yesterday was voted the best song of the 20th century

Question time (we will be giving sweets!)

What was the name of one of John Lennon's parents?

Julia Stanley or Alfred lennon.

When was Ringo Starr born?

7th July 1940.

How many times has Paul McCartney been married?

Three times

Where is George Harrison buried?

Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Los Angeles, US.

Which song was a children’s song?

Yellow submarine

What slide was this picture on?

The “yesterday” slide.

What did the chorus of Drive My Car start with?

“You can buy me diamond rings”

True or false

Yesterday hit the British top 3.

False it was top 10