In June 1967, The Beatles performed to more than 400 million people when they played “All You Need Is Love” over the first live satellite broadcast. The Our World program was broadcast multinationally at the height of the Vietnam War, drawing huge viewership.
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The Beatles performed “All You Need Is Love” during the broadcast, representing the U.K. Additionally, 18 countries participated with their own representatives. The program was ideally a demonstration of the potential of satellite communications.
First thought of by the BBC, Our World was officially launched by the European Broadcasting Union. In the U.K. alone the program was watched by 23 million people, reaching 140 televisions around the world, according to a report from the BBC.
Our World featured different cultural demonstrations from multiple countries and nations. Opening with a look at newborn babies from around the world, the program shifted to traditional dancing from Mexico, space rockets from the U.S., and contemporary dance from France. The goal was to show similarities between people while also demonstrating differences of culture. Celebrating uniqueness but also shared humanity.
The Beatles Demonstrated Their Musical Impact in the U.K. With a Performance During Groundbreaking Satellite Program
“All You Need Is Love” was released on The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour album in December 1967. It was originally released as a single in July 1967, following the performance during Our World.
Written by John Lennon, the lyrics were intentionally simplistic, aiming for international appeal. It focused on a universal concept, love, in the hopes of capturing that shared humanity. Additionally, it also focused on the utopian idea of the Summer of Love, which was kicking off that year in San Francisco.
The Beatles were the ideal choice for Britain’s contribution to Our World. The program occurred at the height of the band’s popularity, following the release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in May.
The performance itself was later described by The Beatles manager, Brian Epstein, as the band’s “finest moment.” Performing at EMI Studios, they sang over a pre-recorded backing track, foregoing a live demonstration. Still, the visual and musical impact was evident.
Beginning with a sample of the French national anthem, “La Marseillaise,” and ends with cuts of Glenn Miller’s “In The Mood,” traditional folk song “Greensleeves,” a section of Bach’s Invention No. 8 in F Major, and The Beatles’ own 1963 hit “She Loves You.”
Combining all of these elements with the universal idea of “love is all you need” worked perfectly for what Our World was attempting to demonstrate. Additionally, the studio was festooned with streamers, signs, and other psychedelic decorations. Guests included members of The Rolling Stones, The Who, and Small Faces.
Photo by John Downing/Getty Images
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