Since the opening of the Cirque du Soleil show Love in 2006, the band has been much more mainstream. Unfortunately, that is not always success (Paul McCartney's divorce), but I don't want to talk about that aspect. With the show came a corresponding soundtrack album and the beginning of serious rumors that The Beatles would be available digitally. Though the rumors started earlier this year, nothing has happened and signs point to 2008 for a digital Beatles release. But 2007 has still been very good for The Beatles and related products. June saw the release of three albums, new and reissues, which charted high in the Billboard 200 while selling very well. The summer also saw the addition of post-Beatles solo catalogs online for McCartney, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon. Rumors abounded that the catalogs are paving the way for digital release of The Beatles in the future.
But as successful as those items have been, and don't let me minimize that, the marketing for Across the Universe has been everywhere. While critics may "do their thing" in analyzing the film, as fans we can enjoy the seeming uniqueness of the project and the scope in which it occupies. Because the film is not released yet, and I haven't seen it, I won't offer any kind of assessment, but the soundtrack is available.
The soundtrack is very enjoyable, especially if you listen to the "deluxe edition," but the CD is only available from Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: BBY) stores. While I can only vouch for that version, the soundtrack does offer interesting arrangements for the classic songs. It also lends some entertaining and funny clues about the direction the film may take, but if you have seen the trailer that does not seem so hard to decipher. For me, though, the new arrangements are at times too far from the sources. That probably makes me some kind of "traditionalist" in terms of Beatles arrangements, but I like to sing along to the songs and I am programmed to the rhythms The Beatles performed (Yes I sing along, but I bet you do too!).
It is also a coup for Universal Music Group since Sony Corporation (NYSE: SNE)'s Columbia Pictures is distributing the film and SonyATV manages the rights to The Beatles songs (at least the Lennon/McCartney ones). If you didn't catch my meaning, Universal competes with Sony on a number of fronts, including film and music. This might not seem like a big issue, but this year The Beatles are selling!
Whether the film is successful upon release tomorrow matters on how much the general public thinks about The Beatles. The demand is there or the film would not have gone into production. The film will not affect the discussions of the current success for The Beatles though. Ultimately, Beatles songs may sell the soundtrack and the idea, but fans and moviegoers sell the picture. Moviegoers not interested in the music of The Beatles are obviously going to be turned off, but some fans may be too. That's the film game of course, but a market for The Beatles continues to thrive... Across the Universe.
If not, Help! will be available in October and you can enjoy The Beatles in film.
For a quick-read on the U.S. economy, check the price of gasoline
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