Tag: the Beatles

Spotify Listeners Are Getting Nostalgic: Behavioral Science Writer David DiSalvo and Cyndi Lauper Share Why

April 14, 2020

Photo credit: Helen Maybanks

With all the uncertainties of our current climate, music from decades past is striking a particularly strong chord. From April 1–7, we saw a 54% increase in listeners making nostalgic-themed playlists, as well as an uptick in the share of listening to music from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s (with ’50s music listening increasing the most). But what exactly is driving this interest?

For the Record spoke with David DiSalvo, a behavioral science writer and author of What Makes Your Brain Happy and Why You Should Do the Opposite, to get his take. “Nostalgia is an extremely powerful force linked to memory,” he noted. “But it has a way of putting a rosier view on our memory. When we smell those chocolate chip cookies, it’s a link to memory that brings us back to a more stable, comfortable place in our lives. We can inhabit it in our minds and feel a level of support that most of us aren’t feeling right now because there is so much instability.”

DiSalvo also explained the powerful role music specifically plays. “Music, like smell, is one of those things with immediate access to that direct, nostalgic memory. It takes you back to that place. For example, everyone can remember the specific song they were listening to during their first kiss.”

Perhaps Spotify listeners are trying to recreate moments from their past to find comfort, calm, and a break from the day-to-day. When making or updating playlists, listeners have been adding plenty of throwbacks—just take a look at the most-added tracks to playlists from each decade:

And they aren’t the only ones feeling the nostalgic vibes. Artists, too, are thinking of days long gone.

We asked Cyndi Lauper, whose upbeat hit “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” is one of the most-streamed songs from the ’80s in the past week, for her thoughts on what’s driving folks down memory lane. “Music marks time for me. So when I hear a song, it brings me back to that exact moment in time. It also helps that I have a really good memory, but music has always been such an important part of my life. Like most, I have a soundtrack. Broadway cast recordings of The King & I and Funny Girl bring me back to when I was 5 and just discovering my voice and love for music.”

Cyndi is also featured prominently on All Out 80s, Spotify’s popular throwback playlist with over 7.1 million followers. She thinks there’s a good reason why the playlist is so popular.

“The music of the ’80s was melodic. That was the common thread and why music from the ’80s is so good. I know for me, my intention was to make music that people would want to listen to for years and years, for decades and decades, long after I was gone.” 

Though many listeners have taken to more “chill” music in the past few weeks, there is also something to be said for pausing on the present and getting down with your favorite oldies. According to DiSalvo, “There is a good part of ‘distraction.’ It plays a healthy role in giving us a break, a reset point when we are in deep anxiety and stress.”

Also looking for a break from the moment? Take a listen to some of the most popular tracks streamed by decade April 1–7:

’50s:

“Put Your Head on My Shoulder” – Paul Anka

“Johnny B. Goode” – Chuck Berry

“I Walk the Line” – Johnny Cash

“Dream A Little Dream Of Me” – Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong

’60s:

“Here Comes the Sun” – The Beatles

“Feeling Good” – Nina Simone

“(What A) Wonderful World” – Sam Cooke

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell

“Fortunate Son” – Creedence Clearwater Revival

“Brown Eyed Girl” – Van Morrison

“Son Of A Preacher Man” – Dusty Springfield

’70s:

“Don’t Stop Me Now” – Queen

“Hotel California – 2013 Remaster” – Eagles

 “Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynyrd Skynyrd

“Dreams – 2004 Remaster” – Fleetwood Mac

’80s:

“Back in Black” – AC/DC

“Under Pressure – Remastered” – David Bowie, Queen

“Livin’ On A Prayer” – Bon Jovi

“Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Remastered” – Eurythmics

“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) – Whitney Houston

“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” – Cyndi Lauper

’90s:

“Wonderwall – Remastered” – Oasis

“I Want It That Way” – Backstreet Boys

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana

“Wannabe” – Spice Girls

“…Baby One More Time” – Britney Spears

“No Scrubs” – TLC

 2000s:

“Lose Yourself” – Eminem

“Hey, Soul Sister” – Train

“Mr. Brightside” – The Killers

“Hips Don’t Lie (feat. Wyclef Jean)” – Shakira, Wyclef Jean

“Halo” – Beyoncé 

Podcasts more your thing? Get hooked on a ’90s earworm in the popular Reply All episode “The Case of the Missing Hit.”

Here’s What Parents Around the World Have Been Playing for Their Kids at Home

March 27, 2020

With schools and workplaces closed around the world, parents are facing a new challenge: getting work done while keeping their kids safe and entertained—and maybe even helping them learn something. Many are turning to Spotify for all things audio, whether that be soothing songs or suspenseful stories to stream for their little ones.

We took a look at music and podcasts streaming around the world for the week of March 17–23, when many adults and children stayed home. We found that parents have been playing everything from lullabies to help their children sleep to podcasts that spark curiosity.

Read on for audio inspiration—as well as some of our own recommendations for out-of-the-[boom]-box entertainment ideas.

Music for every moment

For the most part, parents have been turning to music to help keep their children calm and put them to sleep—and maybe even get themselves down for a nap as well! Rest-related playlists like Baby Sleep, Music Box Lullabies, and Baby Sleep Aid: Rain Sounds are some of the top-streamed Kids & Family playlists globally. In Germany, Disney zum Mitsingen is high in the rankings, and in France, Comptines & Chansons scores as well. Additionally, Disney Favorites, universal to families around the world, is a top choice.

It’s clear that soothing sounds for sleep win among parents, but families are filling waking hours with plenty of music too. Soundtracks like High School Musical and Frozen 2, as well as Disney Sing-Alongs, have seen an increase in streams compared to a week prior. Older kids are likely enjoying Kidz Bop’s takes on recent pop songs, with “Old Town Road,” “Señorita,” and “Dance Monkey” being streamed the most. 

Of course, your children may also enjoy non-kid-specific playlists—we know, it’s a surprise to us too. Take this opportunity to have them experience the magic (and sometimes silliness) that are The Beatles and Queen with our This Is The Beatles and This Is Queen playlists.

If excess screen time is something you’re trying to avoid, introduce kids to the best music from beloved shows, including Peppa Pig and Sesame Street. Or, play some of the best Movie Theme Songs for Kids and ask them to act out the action and adventure themselves. Finally, if they need to blow off some steam, try Hip-Hopscotch and Reggae Recess on for size.

Podcasts for playtime

Podcasts aren’t just for parents—there are plenty of specially made shows for kids, with storytelling and child-like curiosity in mind. Looking for an age-appropriate podcast for your child? Below are a few recommendations for shows for kids, arranged by age.

Story Pirates (Ages 3+)

The Story Pirates—an especially popular pick for listeners in the past week—aren’t your typical swashbuckling sailors. They don’t steal gold, pillage villages, or claim land; they’re searching for a different kind of treasure: kids’ wildest, most imaginative stories. Each week, the crew aboard the Story Pirates’ ship—including world-class actors, comedians, improvisers, and musicians—takes original stories from real kids around the country and turns them into a wildly funny comedy podcast for kids.

Chompers (Ages 3-7)

Make tooth time easy with this morning and night tooth-brushing show for kids. Kids will hear jokes, riddles, stories, fun facts, silly songs, and more that’ll keep them giggling while they brush for the full two minutes that dentists recommend. To help your family build good brushing habits—something that is especially important as dentist trips in the near future may be limited—Chompers counts the times you brush and celebrates your streaks.

Every Little Thing (Ranges by episode, 7+)

Who invented pants? How did “pink for girls” and “blue for boys” happen? What do dogs say when they bark? Every Little Thing is here to answer your kids’ (and your own) burning questions. Recent episodes include “Is It Weird to Be Nice to Alexa?,” “Symphony Secrets: Dirt from the Pit,” and “Anesthesia and a Mysterious Chili Cheese Fry Craving.”

The Two Princes (Preteens and teens)

Another top podcast from the past week: The Two Princes. When Prince Rupert sets out to break the mysterious curse that’s destroying his kingdom, he’s ready to face whatever dastardly villain or vile monster stands in his way. What he isn’t prepared for are the bewildering new emotions he feels when he meets the handsome Amir, a rival prince on a quest to save his own realm. Forced to team up, the two princes soon discover that the only thing more difficult than saving their kingdoms is following their hearts. Plus, there are even more adventures in Season 2.

For more content for kids, head to the Kids & Family hub.

A Guide to Kids’ Music Made by Grown-up Stars

June 13, 2019

Even for rock stars, having a child changes things. Suddenly, everything’s all about shaping a tiny human’s future. Certainly that was the case for Walter Martin, who, after his wife became pregnant, went from one of the most respected indie bands in New York City, The Walkmen, to a solo album of all-ages songs with names like “If I Were a Tiger.”

We typically think of “dad rock” as the tragically unhip music our fathers love, but what happens when the artists themselves become fathers or mothers, or start making songs meant for toddlers to hear? Do they lose their edge, or just find new angles for innovation? After giving Martin’s an album a listen and scouring our catalog for other albums of kids’ songs by musicians not known for family fare, we’re certain it’s the latter.

For one, sociopolitical uncertainty can be a serious motivator when it comes to passing values to the next generation. That was as true in 1959—when Pete Seeger released Folk Songs for Young People, full of lovely proletariat ditties like “The Farmer Is the Man (Who Feeds Us All)”—as it is in 2019. On July 12, Backstreet Boy Howie D drops Which One Am I?, a family album with songs (“No Hablo Español”) inspired by the identity politics of growing up mixed race in America. Of course, self-acceptance and love for humankind aren’t unusual themes in grown-up music either. You could easily mistake Ziggy Marley’s 2007 album Family Time, with social justice-minded songs featuring Paul Simon and Willie Nelson, for just another solid reggae release—except it’s set to kid-friendly melodies.

Far less likely to appear on an album meant for adults? A guide to the alphabet. Marley has one of those songs on his album too, but in 2009, They Might Be Giants raised the stakes by making an entire LP called Here Come the ABCs—complete with a cut called “Flying V”—devoted to the subject. The annals of kids’ tunes made by major musicians are full of educational anthems. For arithmetic, consider the eerie rasp of Johnny Cash, whose “One and One Make Two” (on 1975’s The Johnny Cash Children’s Album) offers double entendre for parents. For more fundamentals, 2012’s OzoKidz by Ozomatli packs mini lessons on subjects like “Germs,” “Trees,” and “Water” into nutritious Latin rock-rap nuggets.

But no childhood is complete without a healthy dose of absurdity. Enter Kimya Dawson (of Juno soundtrack fame), whose penchant for primitive folk jams and scatalogical humor makes her exactly the right artist to deliver a family album all about farts and poop—2008’s Alphabutt. A year prior, Barenaked Ladies covered the other end of that equation with Snacktime!, which includes a high-concept song trilogy where Canadian celebrities like Jason Priestley list their favorite munchies. Meanwhile, The Presidents of the United States of America front man Chris Ballew built a post-grunge career as Caspar Babypants, author of such silliness as “Bubble Rap,” where he voices a rapping bubble on his 15th kids’ LP Keep It Real! (2018).

Story songs are common too, especially from stars already known for spinning yarns, like Jerry Garcia, who teamed with bluegrass guru David Grisman to record a bunch of ancient hillbilly tales (like “A Horse Named Bill”) for 1993’s Not for Kids Only. Or Jewel, who sings about characters like “Bucky the Bull” and “Sara Swan Sleepy Head” on 2011’s The Merry Goes ’Round. Concept albums aren’t off-limits either. In 2008, hip-hop legend Prince Paul assembled The Dino-5—members of Jurassic 5, The Roots, and Digable Planets—for a song cycle about creative struggle and a misunderstood T. rex whose best friend is a bunny.

Plenty of familiar artists use the medium to foster appreciation for music that’s come before. In 1996, Linda Ronstadt recast hits by Queen and The Beach Boys as lullabies on Dedicated To The One I Love. In 2009, Los Lobos totally remade the Disney songbook (their “Heigh-Ho” is a Tex-Mex cowpunk riot). And 2016’s Beat Bugs soundtrack is hardly the first compilation to feature youthful takes on The Beatles—in this case by Eddie Vedder, The Shins, P!nk, and more. Walter Martin took a different tack on his folky 2014 all-ages debut, We’re All Young Together. His song “The Beatles (When Ringo Shook His Mop)” offers a lovely primer on the Fab Four: “John’s songs are dark and pretty, Paul’s songs are sweet little ditties,” he sings.

Finally, there’s the lullaby, the most vital piece of music in a parent’s arsenal. With his mellow vibe, Jack Johnson was a perfect fit to oversee 2006’s Curious George soundtrack, and his duet with Ben Harper, “With My Own Two Hands,” is a soothing way to end any day. Fittingly, dream-pop band The Innocence Mission released a mighty sleep aid in 2004, Now the Day Is Over—gossamer original “My Love Goes With You” ought to be canonized alongside “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” as an essential inclusion in the lullaby oeuvre. But Lisa Loeb’s Catch the Moon (2007) might be the tenderest of all. Her rendition of “Fais Do Do” is sweet, heartfelt, and evocative enough to send even stress-ridden adults into blissful slumber. Forget the kids—add this to your personal sleep playlist now.

For more family-friendly jams, stream Spotify’s Toddler Tunes now.

Five Ways Music Can Help You Keep the Kids Entertained this Winter

January 15, 2019

If you’re a parent in the grips of cold winter weather, you may be feeling the strain of keeping kids happy, especially when they’re forced to be inside. But there’s no need to pull your hair out just yet—here are five ideas for using music to keep kids entertained when they’re feeling cooped up:

Make a Playlist (or ten)!

From as young as age one, kids tend to be exposed to popular music in some form or another, whether through lively Kidz Bop covers, TV shows, viral videos, or what their parents are listening to. And it doesn’t take long for your little ones to figure out—and express—what they like and don’t like. Building a playlist with your kids is not only a great way to keep up with what they’re into, but it also lets them know that their preferences count. Make an afternoon of creating multiple playlists to suit different occasions—commuting to school, baking, tidying up, dancing, homework—and let your kids drive the song choices.

You may need to dip into various playlists to throw out recommendations and help guide them, and be sure to include your own song picks, especially if the playlist will be streamed for everyone in the household. This is a great way to subtly teach your kids about songs or artists that are iconic or matter to you. Don’t underestimate even the youngest of kids; The Beatles’ “Blackbird” can be interesting to a four-year-old.

Make a Musical

Bring out the budding Andrew Lloyd Webbers and Lin-Manuel Mirandas in your household by having the kids come up with their own musical. Select a group of songs the kids can link together by acting out a scene or two in between tracks.

If your kids have seen Moana twenty-eight times and love it, maybe they’d love to recreate the movie by following the film’s soundtrack (incidentally, the most-streamed songs in Spotify’s popular Disney Hits playlist are Moana songs “You’re Welcome” and “How Far I’ll Go.”) (Tip: Dining chairs pushed together make a great boat.) But it doesn’t have to be a familiar plot; you can also choose four to five random, unrelated songs and challenge them to stitch the tracks together.

Raid the Kitchen; Make Some Noise

We admit this is a noisy one, but it’s fun. Dig out kitchen objects that could work as percussive instruments: pots and pans and wooden spoons, a sealed container filled with rice … you get the idea. Have the kids play around with the different sounds they can make— beating an overturned wooden salad bowl like a bongo is a good one—and when they have the idea, encourage them to play their kitchen instruments along to music. Lean on instrumental pieces for this one: There’s some great African drum music for inspiration, and a track like “Sing, Sing, Sing” from legendary bandleader Benny Goodman is on point. Not only does this (sometimes deafening!) activity help kids identify rhythm and beat, it gives them a sense of what it’s like to actually make music rather than just listen to it.

Paint by Music

Music gets the creative juices flowing, as does painting. So why not pair the two art forms together? Set up a dedicated area and have the kids expressively paint to music. Whether finger painting, splattering Jackson Pollock-style or using a good, old-fashioned paintbrush, let the tunes act as a guide to inform and inspire your kids’ artwork. And if your place winds up looking like a musical festival rolled into town, turn to the “Cleanup Song” to encourage the kids to help tidy up. (Good luck!)   

Throw a Dance Party

Little kids love to dance, so get them to work off some energy or get “the sillies” out with a dance party at home. Start by setting up: move the coffee table out of the way for more space, and set up a snack area. Maybe the kids could even make posters revealing the name or theme of the party, as well as invitations for friends and neighbors. Dress up! Work together on what music everyone will boogie to by making a dance-themed playlist, then crank it. For inspo: The most popular Kidz Bop songs on Spotify are “Shake It Off,” “Uptown Funk,” and “Havana”—all good songs to move to. Playing freeze dance is always a great way to keep kids on their toes. You could also deejay and take song requests from everyone to keep them engaged.

Ready to get started? Check out Spotify’s Sing Along playlist for some kid-friendly tunes that’ll have your little ones belting out in no time.

The Sounds of UNICEF’s Giving Tuesday Snowflake Ball

November 27, 2018

For many, the holiday season can be a time of abundance. As we gather with family and friends to reflect on the past year, it’s also a great opportunity to give back to our communities. That’s why Spotify is teaming up with UNICEF USA to highlight Giving Tuesday and the annual Snowflake Ball, UNICEF’s largest event of the year. UNICEF is the world’s leading humanitarian organization for children, working in more than 190 countries and territories to help save and protect the world’s most vulnerable youth.

This has been a hard year for many children around the world. With a famine looming in Yemen, disasters crippling places like Indonesia, and a global refugee crisis sending millions on the move, UNICEF’s work has never been more important.

The Snowflake Ball, tonight in New York City, celebrates the humanitarian and charity efforts that UNICEF and its partners accomplish throughout the year by bringing together philanthropists and supporters from near and far. The gala coincides with Giving Tuesday, a national awareness day that encourages all Americans to give to charity at the start of the holiday season.

This year marks the 14th annual Snowflake Ball, which will be hosted by attorney and journalist Sunny Hostin. The event will feature a headline performance by Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow and a special performance by triple threat actor-comedian-singer Wayne Brady.

2018’s gala will honor drummer and former Beatle Ringo Starr with the George Harrison Humanitarian Award for his longtime commitment to humanitarian and environmental causes.

UNICEF USA supports UNICEF’s work through fundraising, advocacy, and education. This year’s goal is to raise $4 million, adding to the $34 million raised over the past 13 years.

To highlight UNICEF’s event and initiatives, we created a Giving Tuesday playlist, complete with plenty of Sheryl and Ringo, as well as other feel-good songs from the Beatles, P!nk, Bob Marley, and Sarah Bareilles. So as the holidays pick up and the year winds down, hit shuffle and take time to celebrate the season of giving.

Feeling moved? You can be a part of the cause and donate here.

Experience The Beatles’ White Album Like Never Before With Spotify’s Enhanced Album Playlist

November 21, 2018

Despite what its minimalist, monochromatic cover art suggests, The Beatles’ 1968 self-titled release—aka the “White Album”—is anything but basic. Decades later, the sprawling double album is celebrated for its epic diversity, from tender pop ballads like “My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Blackbird” to dark, surreal experiments like “Helter Skelter” and the rambling “Revolution 9.” At 30 tracks, it’s one of the most complex and memorable releases in rock and roll history. But while there was no one sonic influence that defined the “White Album,” there was a singular experience: The Beatles’ time at a meditation retreat in India.

The White Album-Era Beatles

Mexico City Is Now the World’s Music-Streaming Mecca

November 19, 2018

Chilangos (people who live in Mexico City) have an insatiable appetite for things that taste, look and sound cool from around the globe—and music is certainly no exception. In fact, Mexico City has the most listeners on Spotify globally, ahead of Santiago, Chile, and New York City.

You might think New York City, London, and Paris are the cities setting style, culture, and music trends, but Mexico City is right there with them at the top of the pack. A multicultural mecca of nearly 22 million residents, the greater Mexico City metropolitan area is more populous than both the greater Los Angeles and greater New York City areas, respectively. And, it’s now a top-streaming destination for musicians like Adele, Diplo, Metallica, Harry Styles, Radiohead, New Order, Bruno Mars, Madonna, the late Michael Jackson, and many more.

As a result, artists from all over the world are hitting home with audiences there. Let’s dig into our streaming data numbers for a closer look at Mexico City’s impressive streaming stronghold—and the music makers benefiting from it.

From first to fastest-growing

Mexico City has evolved in a few short years from being Spotify’s first-ever Latin American market, in 2013, to our largest listener base worldwide today. Since we launched in Mexico City, Spotify has opened international artists’ eyes to this global music epicenter as a place to expand their reach and connect with new audiences.

The city’s increasing gravitational pull for artists is particularly evident ahead of the annual Corona Capital music festival on November 17 and 18. According to our data, Mexico City is the No. 1 city in the world for the festival’s headliners. Among them are Imagine Dragons (995,940 monthly listeners), Robbie Williams (322,851 monthly listeners), The Chemical Brothers (117,190 monthly listeners), and Nine Inch Nails (75,142 monthly listeners).

Drawn in by the power of streaming

Lured by the popularity of streaming in the city, aspiring and rising singers and songwriters are in on the trend, too. We’re seeing a wave of touring artists, like genre-bending singer-songwriter Mon Laferte from Chile and alt rock band Diamante Eléctrico from Colombia, flock to Mexico City to connect with fans and make their mark.

As Mexico City’s growing streaming numbers surface through Spotify data, the city is becoming a magnet for major live acts. Take seasoned alt rockers the Pixies, for example. The iconic Boston band’s streams spiked 346 percent in Mexico just one week before a series of performances in Mexico City. With 145,995 monthly Spotify listeners, Mexico City may hold their biggest fan base. Flush with numbers like that, it’s no wonder the Frank Black-led group played last weekend to a crowd of 100,000 in Zócalo, central Mexico City’s main square.

Gorillaz, a popular virtual hip-hop act, is also riding Mexico City’s streaming dominance. The quirky fictional character-based group has 434,023 monthly Spotify listeners in Mexico City. Not surprisingly, they played the final shows of their last tour there. But the Mexico City magic applies to indie artists, too. Hippo Campus, a Minnesota-based band, discovered in 2017 that Mexico City was their top city for Spotify plays as well. This led the group to play there live for the first time in May 2018. Fueled by Mexico City’s music magic, their popularity continues to soar in the area—and beyond—with 1.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify to date.

Rock on, Mexico City

Alt rock is a hit in Mexico City, but so is guitar-driven classic rock. A large cluster of the genre’s most loyal fans can’t seem to get enough of classic rock’s biggest bands, including the Beatles (506,714 monthly listeners). And in no other city is the revival of Queen so evident. On the heels of the recent theatrical release of the Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” streaming activity for Queen in Mexico City rocketed past a million (1,278,133) monthly listeners in all.

The city has evolved into one of the most sophisticated digital music markets in the last five years—and we don’t see its music magnet slowing down anytime soon.

From Abbey Road to ‘Under the Staircase’ With Paul McCartney

September 13, 2018

Outside Abbey Road Studios in northwest London, it’s one of the hottest days of the UK’s record-breaking summer of 2018. The baking sunshine is one reason the customary clusters of fans and tourists thronging the gates—and traversing the planet’s only celebrity zebra crossing—are even giddier than normal.

The other reason? A visit from Paul McCartney, the man who helped make Abbey Road Studios the most iconic recording studios in the world.

Here he comes, crossing the road in an image captured by his photographer daughter, Mary. He pauses in front of the doors and turns to wave to the bigger-than-normal crowd, its numbers swollen by social media buzz of something special afoot. Then he enters Abbey Road and heads under the staircase.

The former Beatle has, of course, been here before. But not like this. He’s here to help launch his new solo album, Egypt Station, playing an exclusive Spotify concert in the compact environment of Studio 2. It’s just him, his crack live band, his intimate memories of creating musical history in this very spot in the ’60s, and two dozen of the greatest songs of all time.

If you weren’t in the audience, fear not: all of these moments and more are now available in Paul McCartney & Spotify Singles: Under The Staircase, a first-of-its-kind audio and video playlist comprising 17 audio tracks and a feature-length concert film. Included in the playlist are 34 videos* highlighting the most special moments of the Abbey Road Session.

As is obvious in that film, as soon as he takes to the small Abbey Road stage with his four-piece band, McCartney is, as ever, down-to-earth, disarming and chatty.

“The very first time we came, we were kids,” the musician says by way of introduction. Over half a century ago, McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr were fresh down in London from Liverpool. They were all in their early twenties, studio innocents, and they were treated like youngsters.

“We weren’t allowed in through there, the staircase,” he says, pointing to the steps down from the studio control room—a room occupied this afternoon, in another nice circular touch, by Giles Martin, producer and son of “the fifth Beatle,” George Martin.

“That was for the grown-ups and we had to come in this entrance,” McCartney continues, pointing to the back, “which was the tradesmen’s entrance. And we had to bring all our stuff in. It was really very exciting, you can imagine, getting our first record session. For me, it’s very easy to go right back there and remember us walking in here, us four little Beatles. George had a black eye because some guy in The Cavern got jealous and had hit him. We were doing photos, so in early photos, you’ll see George with a nice little black eye.”

Most of the 150-strong audience have gained entrance today by submitting a short video pleading their case. One young Australian won her ticket by explaining how she’d once travelled from Sydney to Japan to see McCartney, only to discover that the concert was cancelled. In a very nice way, Macca owed her.

Other audience members, meanwhile, have nabbed a golden ticket by being either a friend of the McCartney family—his wife Nancy Shevell is here alongside his musician son James, daughter Mary and her fashion designer sister Stella—and/or A-list fans. Step forward Stormzy, Kylie Minogue, Johnny Depp, Amy Schumer, Nile Rodgers, Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler and J.J. Abrams—even celebrities aren’t immune to the appeal of an audience with the most famous musician in the world. If the release of “Star Wars: Episode IX” is delayed, now you’ll know why. Its director bunked off work for a private gig by his hero.

“We’re going to just do various songs, some new ones off our new album and some old ones,” says a clearly buzzed McCartney, concluding his introduction. “We’re just going to keep it loose.” Then, acknowledging the cameras dotting the room and Martin up in the control room, he smiles. “If they need us to do it a second time … we won’t,” he twinkled. “No, we will …”

And with that they’re off, a band of musical brothers blasting brilliantly through some of the best of the Beatles, Wings and McCartney solos.

Paul McCartney performing for his fans at Abbey Road Studios

Here are songs that are the bedrock of pop, the cornerstones of culture. Here are the anthems usually heard live in arenas, as the never-ending Paul McCartney tour experience continues to pack them in around the world—all this, but performed sensationally up close and personal.

Now McCartney is hopping offstage, bashing out “Lady Madonna” on the studio’s battered but trusty Steinway—the piano on which he actually wrote the song. Now he’s telling us that the chorus to “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” with its line “life goes on” actually concludes with “bra,” a nod to the Liverpudlian-African musician who inspired it. Now he’s teeing up a performance of early Lennon/McCartney belter “I Wanna Be Your Man” by telling the story of the actual day he and Lennon saw Mick Jagger and Keith Richards passing in a taxi, jumped in and offered them the song—thereby providing the Rolling Stones their second single and first Top 20 hit.

Stories like that, about songs like those. And songs like these: “Confidante,” “Fuh You” and “Come On To Me,” standouts from Egypt Station that slot in very nicely alongside a catalogue of compositions that changed the world. Compositions that, according to their self-effacing co-creator, burst to life, here at Abbey Road, in the humblest of ways: “We got in at 10, then you had a half-hour to tune up, have a ciggie, have a cup of tea.

“Then, 10:30, a producer would arrive and come down the staircase and say, ‘OK, chaps. What are we going to do?’ And whoever wrote the song would show the others—nobody knew the song except me and John. Even George and Ringo hadn’t heard it because we’d written it the week before and this was, like, Monday morning.

“We’d show the guys the song and that would take about 10 minutes or something, do it a few times. Then we’d go to our instruments and start recording. And you had an hour and a half from that point to finish the song completely. Then it was like, ‘OK, on to the next one.’

Did he and his band have to do any songs a second time? Of course they didn’t. He’s Paul McCartney and by now he kinda knows what he’s doing. But Spotify users, of course, can listen to them as many times as they like. Welcome to Under The Staircase. You might find it difficult to leave …

*The 34 videos are only available in the following markets: UK, US, SE, CA, AU, NZ, LATAM

Moms Listen to Top Artists, Too—Just Ask Latham Thomas and Her Teen DJ Son

May 11, 2018

Wondering what to add to your mom’s breakfast-in-bed Spotify playlist this Mother’s Day? It might not be so different from what you’d add to your own. Spotify’s latest data on the top artists for women between the ages of 20 and 70-plus show that hits are hits—no matter what your age.

In a list of top listened-to artists by gender and age group, Post Malone and Ed Sheeran take the top two slots for women ages 30 through 59, with Drake, Avicii, and Adele also scoring high. For women 60 and up, it’s all about Ed Sheeran and perennial favorite The Beatles.

Parents have a big opportunity to influence what their kids listen to, and based on the data, it looks like the next generation is repaying the favor by keeping Mom in the musical know.

Take the musical preferences of Latham Thomas, wellness and lifestyle specialist and founder of Mama Glow. Latham and her 14-year-old son, Fulano Librizzi—an accomplished DJ and musician who has spun for everyone from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to the New York Knicks—both get down to Stevie Wonder, but also thrive on sharing everything from jazz to J. Cole.

We spoke to Latham about what her family is listening to now, and how to bridge the generation gap with the right tunes.

What are your early memories of music?

My mom was always playing music; she would throw on a record and make pancakes in the morning. Especially on weekends, it was Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross. I went to my first Prince concert when I was 3, and Sheila E threw her drumsticks in the audience and my aunt caught them. My whole childhood was always punctuated with music.

How did you begin sharing your love of music with your son, Fulano?

When I was pregnant with my son, his father had a radio show on WKCR [in New York City] called “Jazz Alternatives.” We would hang out in the studio and pull records that looked interesting­­. We had Sicilian tarantellas, blues like Lead Belly, Sun Ra, Funkadelic, and Parliament—which my son loves now. He would actually kick to the rhythm of certain things. I think playing a lot of different music for him definitely helped with shaping his aptitude. Not only is he a DJ, he arranges music; he plays guitar and bass, ukulele. I think all those instruments also help him with understanding how to create a song. It’s nice to be able to know that just our passion and love for music helped to shape him to be very musical.

Does Fulano now introduce you to new music?

Yes. All the music that is current, I only know because of my son. He’s the one who’s like, “Oh, you’ve got to listen to J. Cole, you’ve got to listen to Migos.” I find out about a lot of indie or underground artists. He’ll play me a list of stuff and say, “This is really big right now” or, “This person’s on the come up.” I don’t know all the names, but I stay in the pulse that way.

What songs are at the top of both of your playlists right now?

We both maintain a lot of the same soul classics, like Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. As far as the more current music, we both have been listening to J. Cole. We both like Cardi B.

How can parents better get along musically with their kids?

If you have a different musical style than your kids, spend some time and get to know who the artists are that they’re listening to, because those people are definitely influencing them. It’s a point of entry for conversation and connection, and it’s a point of coolness for you. Every generation has music that the previous generation just doesn’t get. But if you can gather around what matters to kids, you can ride the soundtrack of their lives and get to know better what’s happening in their own world. Music just has that ability to make people come together.

Happy Mother’s Day!