‘Sing-a-Long Beatlesongs’ tries to rekindle the spirit of the Fab Four

It’s difficult to fathom the purpose behind Synergy Entertainment’s new DVD release, Sing-a-Long Beatlesongs, a collection of 10 tunes from the Fab Four, all presented in karaoke and “follow-the-bouncing-ball” style. Perhaps it’s meant for the kiddies, but I’m not sure how much they will learn from the often deep lyrics behind “Hey Jude” and “Yesterday”. Perhaps it’s meant for nostalgic folks, those people looking to recapture some of the glory days of the late 1960s. Perhaps it’s intended for both segments.

No matter its honest intentions, Sing-a-Long Beatlesongs is a waste of energy and time. The included tunes are not originals, but covers by Bobby Cowsill. He is expert in the art of imitation, but purists will realize within a few seconds that these ditties don’t feature the talents of George, Paul, Ringo and John.

The collected songs include: “Yesterday,” “Penny Lane,” “Good Day Sunshine,” “Help,” “Michelle,” “We Can Work It Out,” “Ticket to Ride,” “Paperback Writer,” “Let It Be” and “Hey Jude”. These are appropriately typical selections and probably make for the best karaoke. But the 60-minute DVD doesn’t dive deep into the anthology. These songs are safe bets and simply skim the surface of The Beatles’ extensive songbook.

Each song can be played with vocals or without (depends on whether you’re throwing a karaoke party). Both renditions feature that annoying bouncing ball, which jumps from word to word. The visuals are somewhat strange. Rather than try to recreate some of the 1960s/1970s scene, the DVD displays classic cartoons behind the lyrics. There’s an effort to have the cartoon action match the personality of each song, but rarely does it work out.

If watching the lyrics of some of the greatest rock songs of all time sounds like a good time — even when a cover singer fills in the vocals and cartoons play in the background — then Sing-a-Long Beatlesongs is a must buy. For all others, both old and young, the DVD release is definitely a confounding experience.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• Sing-a-Long Beatlesongs

• Featuring Bobby Cowsill singing 10 songs from The Beatles

• Songs: “Yesterday,” “Penny Lane,” “Good Day Sunshine,” “Help,” “Michelle,” “We Can Work It Out,” “Ticket to Ride,” “Paperback Writer,” “Let It Be” and “Hey Jude

• Running time: 60 minutes

• Rating: