Seems like some people are split on “Get Back,” the six-hour documentary on The Beatles.
However, it doesn’t matter if you found it boring or fascinating. Whether you watched all six hours or barely made it past the first episode, I’m here to tell you it’s a masterclass on the creative process.
If you aren’t a Beatles fan, you might need a little context. Most of the songs the lads are fiddling with on “Get Back” were recorded specifically for the album “Let It Be,” but you get to hear nuggets of songs that ended up on the seminal “Abbey Road” album as well.
I would recommend taking some time to listen to those albums in their entirety before sitting down to watch the documentary. It’s important to get a sense of how complete and beautiful many of those songs are before you see these musicians picking and plonking their way through the melodies.
And while I loved to see the myths of the band’s demise dispelled — particularly the notion that it was all Yoko’s fault — the absolute best part of this documentary is what we can learn about the creative process from these master musicians.
I don’t know about you, but I struggle with process as a writer. I’m either avoiding it, struggling to get words on the page, or just moving at a snail’s pace because I’m second-guessing every sentence (which is why I’ve rewritten this post twice already).
No matter if you create music or write or create content, here are some priceless takeaways from these six hours of Beatles footage.
First drafts ALWAYS suck. Always.
In Part 1, we learn the group has the better part of two weeks to come up with songs for a live album that will also be a television special, presumably to be played in Libya. No pressure, right?
They jump straight away to sharing songs with one another. Paul shares the core of “I’ve Got A Feeling,” as well as “Two of Us.” John shares some ideas for “Don’t Let Me Down.” At times they’re just playing and shouting chords at each other. John is just kind of testing melodies and harmonies or making up words. The rest of the band is just kind of strumming through. Ringo is playing a straight beat just to get a feel for where the changes are. In short, it’s trash. They sound like amateurs.
This is where people on Twitter have said things like, “this is so boring,” and “who would want to watch people doing this?”
Just stick around, Karen. They figure it out. But first, they have to just get a sense of what it is. And to do that, they have to just get it down, trash and all.
So do you. Get it on paper. Record it on your phone. Do what you have to to get the nucleus of the idea, and accept that it’s going to suck.
Don’t forget to PLAY.
As I watched footage of the most legendary band in history, I was struck by how much they would just aimlessly jam. John or Paul would just launch into a song like “Blue Suede Shoes,” and everyone would join in. They’d start singing it in Scottish accents. John and Paul did a full take of “Two of Us” clenching their teeth like ventriloquists and not moving their mouths.
It seemed like absolute chaos at times. But in that play, they were learning to trust each other, tighten up as a band, get a different perspective on melodies or harmonies.
As creatives, we can often approach our work as drudgery, especially if we’re stuck or don’t know where to go next. Authors, play a “What if?” game with your characters, and come up with wild ways you could advance the story. Songwriters, try your song as a rap, or play the entire song on a kazoo.
Play around, let your mind run wild, and see what you come up with.
Turn off your INNER EDITOR!
In six hours of footage, I can’t recall one time that anyone said, “That’s not a good idea for a song.” In Part 3, Ringo is playing around on the piano with the melody for “Octopus Garden,” one of his sillier contributions to “Abbey Road.” George hears him messing around and immediately picks up his guitar to start making suggestions about how the melody could go.
He doesn’t discourage him. He doesn’t say, “This sounds like a kiddie song!” He just jumps in.
All of them have turned their editors off in the early sessions. They’re feeling their way through songs, and they know that editing isn’t needed yet.
One of my biggest weaknesses as a writer is that I can be a horrible perfectionist, which keeps me from writing at all. Killing that editor is a must if we’re going to make creative work.
Don’t be afraid of FEEDBACK
One of the highlights of “Get Back” is to watch as keyboard player Billy Preston visited Apple Studios to see his friend George Harrison. They ask him to jam with them on a couple of songs, and his input changes everything. He jams on “Get Back” and adds piano flourishes that take the song light-years beyond what it was. As he plays, you can see The Beatles’ faces light up and literally watch their enthusiasm ignite.
Sometimes, as creatives, we’re too precious about our work. We’re afraid of collaborating or getting feedback because we’re afraid someone won’t like what we’ve done, or maybe we’re afraid of changing the work.
Being open to feedback, having other eyes and ideas on our work could be the thing to make it truly great.
Whether you’re a Beatles fan or not (and why aren’t you?), the documentary is absolutely worth the watch. It’s beautiful and sad and instructive and life-affirming.
And it made me want to break out the laptop and start getting words on paper.
I hope it does the same for you.
