The Beatles+Circle De Soleil "LOVE"

I went to Las Vegas with my beatlemaniac friend only to see the show "LOVE". It is Circle de Soleil's show featuring the Beatles music. I didn't like the CD of "LOVE", but all my beatlemanic friends who had seen the show praised it very much, so I decided to take a trip to see the show including an over 12-hour flight.


Before the Show

The Mirage, the hotel which held the theater that showed "LOVE"

Many signboards throughout the casinos.

The ticket office

The entrance featured the image of 60s

The symbols of Circle de Soleil and Apple Corps.

Near the ticket office, there is the bar "Revolution", which features many Beatles designs (but no Beatles cocktails)

The wall of "Revolution". Beatles songs.

The song names are seethrough, so we could see past the wall to see the next wall with more Beatles song titles including some rare songs – which they played before their record debut or wrote for other musicians.

The Souvenir shop.

A Real Hofner bass with all Four autographs.

The Concessions in the theater serves cocktails featuring the names of Beatles songs.


Before the show, I went to seat No.O7 in section 208, and sat in that seat even though it wasn't my seat. It was the seat in which Paul McCartney sat at the premiere of the show. Of course, after one-minute of sitting, I went back to my seat.
* you cannot move throughout each section in the theater. So if you want to sit in Paul or other member's seat, you have to purchase a ticket in section 107 to 208. See seat map (PDF).



The show had begun.

Having expected a quality show, nevertheless it exceeded my expectations.

Circle de Soleil performance was really great but the Beatles' was even better. The main character of the show, in fact, is the Beatles, not the Circus. This was the Beatles' show. It was totally contrary to my expectations. I had thought it would be the Circus's show featuring the Beatles' music.

How did I feel about the music? I hadn't like the"LOVE"CD because it was a mash-up of previous tunes like a result of children playing with Beatles music. If I had accepted it as an ordinary mash-up of any other artist's music, it would be OK for me. I could accept it as Giles Martin the producer, but not as the Beatles' music.

However, when I listened to the music at the show, I was impressed by it as if the fabulous four were there, performing their music with playful smiles, as Beatles' music. It was dramatically changed from what I considered "not-like music" to "a real Beatles' performance". I was deeply convinced that the reason why Paul and Ringo had permitted the show. I now think the "LOVE"CD must be released only for the audience of the show.

In addition, the sound quality was so high, like a real live performance. In particular, Ringo's drumming sound was most vivid. The special sound system of the theater, in which many speakers are equipped within each seat, each with their own tuning, worked so effectively.

Circle de Soleil's work was also excellent. I understood that they studied the Beatles in depth. Their performance featured proper understanding and interpretation of the lyrics of the Beatles songs. Of course, the music was played with their famous acrobatic (sometimes calmly and simply) juggling acts. I was surprised by the acts, especially "Walrus", "Lucy", "Help!", "Mr.Kite" and "Revolution".

I realized the reason why the DVD of this show will never be released. Any packaged media can't bring the reality of the show to a TV screen. The various spectacles and performances occurring simultaneously anywhere in my eyesight cannot be packaged into any disc. Even for the simple and calm stage performances, their subtlety cannot be packaged.

It was my first experience to shed tears at a live performance. I am rarely in tears in any situation, including movies and dramas, but the show got to me at the scene of "Get Back". I was really able to feel that the Beatles had come back from their last "rooftop" performance in London 1969 to Las Vegas in the 21st century, the middle of the show. I was thankful for "how lucky we are to experience these great performances and music together at one time" and for "The existence of the Beatles, who could perform even better than the great Circle de Soleil performance".

I was pleased with my choice to travel abroad from Japan to Las Vegas only for the show "LOVE". I am thankful for friends of mine who told me the show was great, for the co-operation of my family and co-workers, and for my friend who traveled there with me.

Geoff Emerick "Here, There and Everywhere"

The Japanese version of this book is "The Last truth of the Beatles Sound", it is a good selection, I think. This is an excellent documentary, biography, and growing-up story of a young sound engineer. The original title "Here, There and Everywhere" is also good for its contents, whose author is one of the few people who can talk about the Beatles' history because he worked with them.

In short, I would like to say that this is one of the best books about the Beatles history. In particular, I strongly believe that people who have listened to their music enthusiastically will enjoy this book. A friend of mine who loves the Beatles said, "I think that this is the book that gives answers to the questions of the world's beatlemaniacs" I agree with this.

For me, the biggest question was about the sound of "Abbey Road". Each of the Beatles' albums were recorded with a unique sound, this was because of changes in musicianship and recording technology. I feel "Rubber Soul" and "Abbey Road" have totally different sounds. I'm disappointed the former, the author Geoff didn't participated in this album, so the question still remains, but for the later, Geoff wrote the answer clearly. I was so impressed (he seems not to like the sound of "Abbey Road", I love it). about their sound and songs were answered by this book.

The value of this book is high because for the documentary of the Beatles' sound making aspect, in addition to this, the aspect about the describing of the people including four beatles is also distinguishing. The important factor for biographies are love and objectivity, are apparent in this book throughly. For instance, about George Harrison, the author didn't hesitate to write about George's poor techniques and ignorable atmosphere in the early days of the band. But on the other hand, he also didn't hesitate to give applause for George's great works in the later days of the band. And about George Martin, the producer of the Beatles, Geoff wrote the truth - there are many great work by Geoff but people have always thought they were George Martin's - without selfish pride. On the other hand, he wrote clearly about George Martin's prominent works, but he also wrote about how the Beatles sometimes alienated Martin in the later days of the band. This book has good balance of "love" and "objectivity" as above examples.

You can also read this book as the story of Geoff Emerick's growth: just after his high school graduation. He was hired by EMI, he met the Beatles, especially after the "Revolver" album, he developed as a professional sound engineer with the Beatles' music development. This point also impressed me. He responded to the Beatles demand as a professional, sometimes produce results that surpassing the Beatles' expectation under heavy pressure. Reading this book, I asked myself how I do my business with eagerness and innovation like Geoff. It is nonsense comparing genius Geoff to me, anyway, this book encouraged me by Geoff's attitude.

I've read many books about the Beatles, this book is the most intriguing and full of good things, I think. I feel that maybe no other book about the Beatles could surpass this book never be written.

At the end, I felt the following point again: the Beatles' magic. As many fans know, the Beatles didn't have unity as a band when they recorded "White Album" and their teamwork was at a peak when "Sgt. Pepper" was recorded collapsed. Of course this book described that situation without allowance. However, for me, "White Album" is one of the masterpieces of the Beatles. Why? After reading this book, the big riddle still remains.

Paul McCartney / Memory Almost Full

(For Macca maniacs)
Since Paul McCartney's newest album "Memory Almost Full" was released on June 6th , I have soaked in his music everyday. I feel happy not only for the short interval from the former album - only two years - but also for the fulfilling and fascinating contents.

1. Dance Tonight
First, my feelings about this song are "weak" and "not suitable for the first single". This tune needs more gimmicks. It is too simple, but iPod + iTunes video featuring Paul and this tune changed my impression. This song transformed from a simple and somewhat boring song to a flowering and cute pop tune. The power of the video to my mind was strong.

2. Ever Present Past
Needless to say, the unique sound (like 80's?) and free melody lines are the characteristic of this song. My favorite point of this song is Paul's double track vocals. They show the wellness of Paul's vocals even though he is over sixty.

3. See Your Sunshine
Bass lines are remarkably charming. This song has high quality as a whole, but my ears want to chase only the bass line.

4. Only Mama Knows
I suppose that many Macca maniacs have longed for a song like this. I also have. This song has many characters of "Paul's rock music" - apparently straight and simple, but in fact having many gimmicks, what's more, so awesome! This song is one of my most favorite since I have listen to this album.

5. You Tell Me
Sorry Paul, this tune counted the lowest times played by my iPod and iTunes at the present time. I feel this song also has high quality, but I am too busy listening to the other delicious dishes.

6. Mr. Bellamy
Interesting. Paul showed us a new face of his talent. In addition to this, he composed and sang several unforgettable melodies.

7. Gratitude
Strong positive power flows from this song and its lyrics. Great. However, I feel that Paul strained to sing his high pitch vocal line. A great song but strained vocals. Whenever I listen to this song, I have complicated feelings.

8. Vintage Clothes
I love some of this song's faces - melody, lyrics, and sound composition. In particular, Paul's whistle, which reminded me of his another excellent song "Little Lamb Dragonfly"

9. That was Me
The lyrics are interesting, but the music isn't, I feel.

10. Feet in the clouds
I can't help loving this tune. Normal cutting guitar chords, simple rhymes such "-ed" and "-er", childish lyric like "very very very very very...", Paul's multi chorus changed by a vocoder: above all points fascinated me.

11. House of Wax
Personally, this song is the best for its respects of music completion degree and Paul's new frontier of music. Some of the sublimity and fear were born from this tune. Poetic deep lyrics and spirited and powerful guitar solo make the song more splendid. Paul and his band members are so great.

By the way, I have a question about this song's title for English native readers. What is "House of Wax"- Japanese translated lyrics says that it is "the house made by wax". When I googled this title, I find a horror movie "House of Wax", its Japanese title is "The house of wax figures". Which is true? or isn't the meaning clear even for English native reader?

12. The end of the End
I can't listen to this song with calm. Can Paul's other fans feel this song as an ordinarily good ballad, even though the lyrics describe Paul's life ending?

13. Nod Your Head
Yes, welcome such a "hard" rocking by Paul. Sorry for his vocals... not so strained like "Gratitude" His vocal is so strong and high even though he is over sixty years old, it's unbelievable, just not enough for this song.
On the other hand, I want Paul to write and sing hard songs. Contradiction.

Bonus Track: Why so Blue
Why is this deep song out of the album's normal tracks- I like, especially, the last half of this song, positive lyrics on minor chords. It convinced me that as Paul has gotten older he has acquired a deeper character.

Bonus Tracks: "In Private" and "222"
Both songs are boring for me. I can't find any interesting points in these tunes.

Comprehensive impression
Personally, "Memory Almost Full" is Paul's greatest album since "Flaming Pie". The former album "Chaos and the Creation in the Backyard" is also good because it showed us Paul's new music world. But I feel "monochrome" from the album. The newest album is "colorful". Paul is cheerful, deep and awesome. Only additional one would want is for Paul to do a world tour with the songs of this album.