"Yesterday" the Movie - A Reminder about Rejection
When I first saw the trailer for the movie “Yesterday”, I immediately knew it was going to hit home for me. It’s easy to watch, but unfortunately won’t reach as many people as it should, because we now live in a world filled with huge movie franchises, which mirrors in a way what’s going on in music too. Even though it doesn’t accurately portray life, I was reminded about some important points about music, finding an audience and learning from rejection, which I’d like to share here.
*Spoiler Alert*
It’s unavoidable that I will have to discuss about some events that happen in the film. So for those that have been intending to watch this movie, please stop here and go watch it first!
Don’t Set Yourself Up to Fail
What struck a chord personally was of course, the protagonist’s struggle to get his music heard, which I’m sure that many independent musicians / songwriters out there can relate to. It was heartbreaking to see him constantly getting ignored and rejected. Yet at the same time, I saw that more often than not, he performed in places which weren’t suitable. We need to always bear it in mind, to pick the right venues for our sound / performances.
Another point to take note is that, because he was so obsessed with “making it”, it was near impossible for him to look at his no.1 hit “the summer song” objectively, which needed either a serious revamp or to go straight into the bin. So if you know that your songs are better than his, you’re already doing something right =)
“Gatekeepers” & Regular Folks
Even after our protagonist began performing the Beatles’ numbers as his own, he was still being overlooked. In fact, only two people could see that these were great songs, they being the recording engineer, who could see their potential and helped him to record them and through that, Ed Sheeran, who gave him the support slot on his tour. This is because, they were people who spoke the same language.
What I’m about to say might hit a nerve with some people, but I think it’s important that it be mentioned. I firmly believe that the majority of people can’t recognise a great song even if it’s being performed right in front of them. They only know it’s good because it’s been marketed to them as so, which is where the music industry professionals come in to bridge that gap. There’s nothing wrong if one doesn’t like a song. After all, it’s their personal right to do so. The common listener simply doesn’t hear a song in the same way that a musician does, therefore it is imperative, that one keeps that perspective in mind when writing songs.
One important thing to take note of is that not all “Gatekeepers” are the same. Some are more philanthropic, while others are more business minded. It doesn’t mean that one is bad and the other good but rather, simply be aware of who you’re working with and what they want at the end of the day. I would only recommend to give a wide berth to the type, who only serve those in their “clique”, even though you’ve given them exactly what they’re looking for. There’s simply no point in wasting your time on these people! With experience and time, you’ll be able to discern which of the types you’re in talks with.
Rejection is Necessary
It was important that our protagonist did those less than favourable shows. If he didn’t experience all of that rejection, he would never have met those people who would come to help him. We need to learn not to take rejection personally, be it from an audience or otherwise, and focus rather on what needs to be done in that moment while performing, which is simply presenting the best version of ourselves and the songs. So stay focused on your definition of success and continue to work on becoming the best songwriter in any room you’re in.
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