The Beatles Wins 2024 Grammys For ‘I’m Only Sleeping’ – 50 Years After Disbandment
via The Beatles / YouTube
At the 2024 Grammys, The Beatles snagged the Best Music Video award for their song “I’m Only Sleeping,” which dates back to 1966.
Their music video topped competitors like Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For” and Kendrick Lamar’s “Count Me Out,” as noted on the Grammys website.
The video, directed by Em Cooper and released on The Beatles’ YouTube channel in November 2022, is made up of over 1,300 oil paintings, exploring the space between dreaming and wakefulness, according to The Beatles’ website.
This win marks The Beatles’ first Grammy win since 1996, according to the Grammys website. The award, however, will not go to the band members but to the directors and producers of the music video, as reported by Forbes.
Song Origins
John Lennon primarily wrote the song, though both Lennon and Paul McCartney received credit, as stated on the band’s website.
As Rolling Stone recounts, Lennon penned “I’m Only Sleeping” after reportedly being disturbed by McCartney during a songwriting session.
The track appeared on The Beatles’ 1966 albums Revolver and Yesterday and Today.
Making of Cooper’s Music Video
Variety reports that an extended remix of “Revolver,” including a stereo remix of “I’m Only Sleeping,” was released in October 2022, paving the way for the music video.
Cooper, appointed as the director, shared her inspiration for the project with the Grammys, expressing her stance against the commercialization of time and advocating for personal autonomy.
Granted creative freedom by higher-level producers and directors, Cooper utilized oil paintings to convey the video’s imagery, as per the Grammys, expressing her satisfaction with the final product.
Grammy Wins
Despite disbanding in the late 1960s, The Beatles continue to enjoy Grammy success, having won seven awards out of 23 nominations, according to History.
Forbes speculates that their tally might increase next year, with the recent release of “Now and Then,” potentially earning them a nod for the 2025 awards.
