The Night That Honored The Beatles: A Grammy Salute
On February 9, 2014, CBS aired The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to The Beatles, an unforgettable tribute celebrating the legendary band. The special featured an array of star-studded performances, with artists such as Stevie Wonder delivering «We Can Work It Out,» Eurythmics reviving «The Fool on the Hill,» Ed Sheeran offering a heartfelt rendition of «In My Life,» and Katy Perry moving the audience with «Yesterday.» Adding to the magic of the evening, Beatles icons Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were in attendance, making the tribute even more significant.
Originally recorded on January 27, 2014—just one day after the 56th Annual Grammy Awards—the event took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The night saw incredible collaborations, including John Mayer and Keith Urban teaming up for «Don’t Let Me Down,» Brad Paisley and Pharrell Williams performing «Here Comes the Sun,» and Jeff Lynne joining Dave Grohl for «Hey Bulldog.»
One of the most touching moments came when Jeff Lynne took the stage alongside Joe Walsh and Dhani Harrison—son of the late George Harrison—to perform «Something.» This Beatles classic, penned by Harrison for their 1969 album Abbey Road, was originally released as a double A-side single with «Come Together.» Both songs soared to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, holding the No. 1 spot for a week.
Jeff Lynne’s Connection to Abbey Road
Before performing, Lynne reflected on his personal connection to The Beatles. “They changed my life,” he shared. He recounted a life-changing moment in 1968 when he was invited to watch the band record at Abbey Road Studios. “I couldn’t believe it. I don’t even know how I got in there. I couldn’t sleep for days afterward. They had this incredible aura about them.”
Lynne went on to say, “I never imagined that one day I’d work with them, let alone produce them. It’s the greatest thrill of my career.”
The Story Behind «Something»
Following the powerful opening track «Come Together» on Abbey Road, «Something» seamlessly takes its place—a song inspired by Harrison’s then-wife Pattie Boyd and his growing spiritual connection to Krishna consciousness. As one of two tracks written solely by Harrison for Abbey Road—alongside «Here Comes the Sun»—«Something» remains one of his most celebrated compositions.
Harrison first recorded a demo of the song on his 26th birthday, February 25, 1969. Its opening line was reportedly influenced by James Taylor’s 1968 song «Something in the Way She Moves.» Initially, Harrison had planned for Apple Records artist Jackie Lomax to record the track for his album Is This What You Want?, which Harrison co-produced. However, Joe Cocker was the first to record the song, though his version wasn’t released until a month after Abbey Road debuted.
Among all the songs on Abbey Road, John Lennon himself once admitted that «Something» was his favorite track.
Reflecting on the song’s impact in 1969, Harrison humbly stated, “The words are nothing, really. There are so many songs like that in my head—I just need to get them down. Some people tell me ‘Something’ is one of the best things I’ve ever written. Maybe they’re right, maybe they’re wrong. But it’s flattering to hear. I think it’s the nicest melody I’ve ever written.”
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