The Beatles: Helter Skelter (1968) - Song Review

The Beatles... A truly amazing band that was defining of it;s generation!

In life there are some songs that just scream some element in history... I mean you could almost say that these songs are an authority for a certain time, or situation that has made it's mark in history!

A great example of this is: Steppenwolf's, 'Magic Carpet Ride' (1968)... This song... When you see movies or what not, a lot of the time this song is playing in those movies, and could be said to be almost like, 'the theme song' to the Vietnam War (considering how often this song is associated with that war!)

Another example is: The Eurythmics, 'Sweet Dreams' (1983)... Now I doubt that a lot of people would tend to put two and two together about this one, but think about it... The look and feel of this song almost certainly encompasses the more corporate hard nose lifestyle with a lot of hidden decadence... Along with a sort of (Science Fictionish) feel that would encompass the 80s (and if you switch out the Science Fictionish and replace it with a more darker, 'horrorish', you could say that about the, '90s' as well!)

Annie Lennox as seen in the music video: 'Sweet Dreams'... A song I would say by and large captured alot of the aspects of the 80s and some in the 90s as well!

Now you might be wondering why I am mentioning this... Because this song is one of the, 'Beatles' more infamous songs... And well unfortunately, it was made infamous for completely wrong reasons... But still became one of the more famous songs that they made... This song being: 'Helter Skelter' from their 1968 album, 'The White Album'!

A great album, with some fantastic music on it!

Now before I go in to the reason why this song has become one of the more infamous songs out there... Let me say this... This song fucking rocks!

This song rocks for it's different nature... It rocks because this song is not like there usually more subtler (or in some cases, more, 'psychedelic') music... And what I mean by this, is that this song is hard rock (boarding on, 'metal' music!) After listening to this song, I could definitely see where people like, 'Metallica' and a lot of other future metal heads would get there inspiration from the work that the Beatles did!

I mean this song is just brilliant;y well made... George, Ringo Paul & John... These guys were an amazing and talented group of guys who truly were able to show their versatility... And it really showed in this album!

The Beatles doing, 'Helter Skelter' live!

Now on to the reason why this song was made more infamous then it would have been on it's own... Well to be honest with you, I hate to say it... But back in the late 60s, Charles Manson used this song as a pre-text to have his cult kill about 6 pretty famous/wealthy people... Including: Roman Polanski's wife, 'Sharon Tate' (The Fearless Vampire Killers)...

Well despite the darker aspects... This song is pretty awesome, and if you haven't checked it out yet, then do so... I think that you are going to really like it... I did, and I think you might as well!

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Counter Culture Songs Of The 60s And 70s, Possible Themes For Writing Modern Horror Movies

This guy is a real killer musician!

Rather or not you are a writer, have you ever listened to a song that inspires you to write script of some sort? Rather it be a movie script or a manuscript (book)?  If so, you rock!

Being a professional writer for more then a few years now, I have found inspiration in all sorts and kind of ways! Some times when it comes to something as simple as thinking up a fun title, and then crafting a story around it! But there is a way to do so that just dawned on me recently... That being using songs to write movies! Or, well in the context of this blog, using music to inspire one to write a horror movie!

An unfortunate, yet valid example of this is, 'Charles Manson'... Ok so maybe Charles Manson never got published... He may not have ever even written anything (I suspect that if he has written a biography, that it was probably actually ghost written...) But the reason why I use this as an example is because unfortunately he found inspiration from The Beatles song, 'Helter Skelter', and where as I do find all of that to be absolutely disgusting... A great song, I think can truly inspire some one to write a great movie!

The right song can inspire some one to write a great horror movie!

In my opinion, a great place to start would be to listen to some of the awesome counter-culture music of the 60s and 70s, such bands as: Iron Butterfly, or Led Zepplin, or Black Sabbath, and that is just to name a few!

I mean have you ever sat and watched one of the older horror movies, (like, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974),) and just thought that this movie thematically seems kind of similar to say: 'The psychedelic nature of Iron Butterfly's (In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida)', or say: 'Black Sabbath's (Iron Man) or maybe it is just something as simple as wondering if perhaps this movie was inspired by a particular song...

If you haven't thought with that concept in mind, check out one of these older horror movies and really look at it from the musical concept, I think you will find it to be most illuminating, and may actually be a source of inspiration for your next project!