Dhani Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Joe Walsh Remember George Through ‘Something’
Dhani Harrison joined Jeff Lynne of ELO and Joe Walsh of the Eagles to perform ‘Something’ in honor of George Harrison. Each musician brought a different connection to the song and to the man who wrote it.
The family resemblance is visible as soon as Dhani appears. Listeners also noticed it in the tone and shape of his singing, where echoes of his father come through in a few lines.
Lynne had worked with George in the Traveling Wilburys. Sharing the vocal with Dhani gives that earlier musical partnership a place in the performance.
Walsh takes on the guitar solo with close attention to the original. It becomes a way to recall George’s playing through the shape of a line many listeners already know.
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr watch from the front row and sing along. The camera’s view of them makes their place in the tribute as clear as the parts played onstage.
Watch the performance
‘Something’ is one of George Harrison’s best-known contributions to the Beatles. Its direct melody and language of devotion fit a performance built around remembrance.
Listen to Dhani and Lynne when their voices come together. The blend makes the two generations of musicians easy to hear within the same line.
Walsh follows the established contour of the solo. The restraint gives the audience time to recognize how much of George’s writing is present in the guitar as well as the words.
Comments from listeners often return to the resemblance between father and son. The performance gives that likeness room to register through sound as well as appearance.
Several kinds of musical history meet on the stage. A family member, a longtime collaborator and a fellow guitarist each bring a different form of attention to the same ballad.
Lynne’s contribution is particularly easy to hear in the harmony. The part reflects his familiarity with George’s music while still leaving Dhani’s voice distinct.
Dhani also brings a younger generation of listeners into the performance. His command of the song makes the connection to his father immediate without requiring any knowledge of the musicians’ earlier collaborations.
The guitar solo provides another point of recognition. Walsh gives the original melody enough space to speak within the live arrangement.
Watching Paul and Ringo sing from the audience completes the exchange. The people who once played this music alongside George are hearing it returned to them by another group of musicians.
The performance holds those connections in the length of one song. The related recordings below show two other ways artists have taken Harrison’s writing into a tribute.
Two more performances to explore
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers — I Need You
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers join Dhani Harrison at ‘Concert for George’ for another song from George’s catalog. Dhani’s presence links the two performances even as the musical setting changes.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps — Rock Hall tribute
The 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute gives the guitar a very different role. Prince brings the performance to its close with a solo that takes Harrison’s song in another direction.
