Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream

Don, whisky in hand, tries to float downstream. Image via AMC

A rare occurence on last night's TV. In fact not just rare but unique.  Reputedly a first.


Series 5, episode 8 (for those who care about such things) of Mad Men saw Don Draper sit back and listen to "Tomorrow never knows", the closing track of Revolver, the album that saw the mop tops begin to transform their output from 'boy band' crowd-pleasers to the more musically challenging stuff of legend.


Apart from the obvious pleasure to be had from such an event (calm down Jo!) this was special because the Beatles estate guards their brand and the rights to its usage ferociously.  We've only been able to buy the stuff on iTunes for two years after all. This was one of the only times, if not THE only time that a Beatles song has ever appeared in a TV show.


One of the many, many marvellous things about Mad Men is its authenticity and absolute attention to detail. Everything from the clothes to the sets, to the storylines and language screams '60s. But the music choices are never simply wallpaper - they always have a deeper rationale and meaning.  So given the Beatles were the soundtrack to the period they really have to be there - but it wasn't just any old track it had to be the right track, carefully chosen to support the storyline of Don's efforts to tune into the new youth culture.  At a reputed cost upwards of $250,000 I wonder how many more times Weiner and his team can afford to repeat such a treat even if Apple allow it.