#music evolution

In his TED Talk, Jorge Drexler explains how complex identity is by sharing the very entangled story behind his song “La Milonga del Moro Judío.”

The song began with a challenge from Joaquín Sabina to use this chorus, “I am a Moorish Jew who lives with Christians, I don’t know which God is mine, nor who my brothers are,” and to write the verses in the ancient décima poetic form, consisting of 10 lines.

Drexler details the décima’s journey from 16th-century Spain to Latin American music, where it adopted local styles while preserving its structure. He then explains how combining these décimas with a milonga, a genre he linked to his Uruguayan roots, revealed its rhythmic origins actually spanned to Africa, Persia, and Spain, influencing music from Klezmer to Tango.

He concludes by reflecting on how this exploration of poetic form, musical history, and his family’s Jewish and Christian heritage led him to see identity as blended rather than “pure.” He emphasizes that the more closely one examines a culture, song, or person, the less “pure” it reveals to be. In that way, one can recognizes identity’s infinite complexity and beautiful blend of many roots and places.

"Tomorrow Never Knows" is a triumph of technical innovation. Recorded in an era when studio technology was rudimentary, The Beatles, alongside producer George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick, pushed the limits of what a recording studio could achieve. The song’s hypnotic texture is built on groundbreaking techniques: tape loops, audio sampling, and reversed solos. Paul McCartney’s laughter, sped up to mimic a seagull’s cry, and fragments of a solo from Revolver’s "Taxman" played backward, create an otherworldly soundscape. John Lennon’s vocals, filtered through a Leslie speaker originally designed for Hammond organs, evoke a distant, almost divine presence. These innovations—executed with analog equipment and sheer ingenuity—laid the groundwork for genres like electronic music, trip-hop, and drum and bass, predating them by decades. The track’s pioneering use of a drum loop, driven by Ringo Starr’s relentless, trance-like beat, feels like a precursor to modern dance music, a feat unimaginable in the mid-1960s.

The song’s futuristic sound amplifies its revolutionary impact. From the opening drone of a tambura to the swirling cacophony of tape loops, "Tomorrow Never Knows" feels untethered from its era. It could seamlessly fit into a Radiohead album from the 1990s or a Chemical Brothers track from the 2000s, yet it never sounds like a retro artifact. Its single-chord structure, anchored by Starr’s drumming and McCartney’s pulsating bass, creates a hypnotic groove that defies conventional songwriting. This sonic architecture, paired with George Harrison’s sitar flourishes, evokes an alien landscape—both ancient and avant-garde. The track’s ability to sound perpetually ahead of its time underscores The Beatles’ role as trendsetters, inspiring countless artists to explore new sonic frontiers.

Beyond its technical and aesthetic brilliance, "Tomorrow Never Knows" carries profound spiritual depth. Drawing from The Tibetan Book of the Dead, the lyrics—penned by Lennon—offer a meditative guide to transcendence. Lines like "Turn off your mind, relax, and float downstream / It is not dying" and "Lay down all thoughts, surrender to the void / It is shining" invite listeners to release ego and embrace pure consciousness. Harrison, whose exploration of Eastern spirituality shaped the song’s ethos, described it as an encapsulation of meditation’s goal: to transcend the clutter of thought and connect with the eternal. The refrain "Love is all and love is everyone" distills a universal truth, while the closing mantra, "Of the beginning," suggests a cyclical, timeless existence. These themes resonated deeply with the 1960s counterculture, offering a sonic and philosophical blueprint for a generation seeking meaning beyond materialism.

The cultural significance of "Tomorrow Never Knows" cannot be overstated. Released at the height of The Beatles’ global fame, it marked a bold departure from their earlier pop hits like "She Loves You." In just three years, the band evolved from crafting infectious love songs to delivering a track that challenged listeners to rethink music’s possibilities. This leap, fueled by their experimentation with LSD and exposure to avant-garde influences, galvanized the psychedelic movement and inspired bands like Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd, and The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The song’s appearance in cultural touchstones, such as the television series Mad Men, where it underscores a moment of societal upheaval, highlights its role as a symbol of transformation. It spoke to a world on the cusp of change, cementing music as a powerful force for social and personal awakening.

"Tomorrow Never Knows" is more than a song; it is a cultural artifact, a technical milestone, and a spiritual odyssey. Its influence reverberates through decades, from the studios of 1966 to the digital soundscapes of today. The Beatles’ ability to blend innovation with accessibility—creating a track that is both experimental and universally compelling—sets them apart as the greatest band in history. As we listen to its droning pulse and swirling textures, we are reminded that true genius knows no bounds. In a world where music often feels ephemeral, "Tomorrow Never Knows" endures as a beacon of creativity, inviting us to surrender to the void and embrace the infinite.

Year: 1966

Composition/Lyrics: John Lennon, Paul McCartney

Producer: George Martin