It seems the Vatican newspaper is bias in its music taste. I’m not sure what age group expresses its musical opinion in the Vatican newspaper, but I’m guessing it is people who were young in the sixties.

In particular the Vatican seems to be pushing the Beatles, the newspaper saying the musical compositions of the Beatles are far more creative than the “standardized and stereotyped” pop music of today.

Apparently 40 years later the Beatles album is “30 songs you can go through and listen to at will, certain of finding some pearls that even today remain unparalleled,”. The newspaper goes on to say the modern pop music industry is too willing to sacrifice originality and fantasy in order to satisfy the consumer models it has adopted and promoted, it said.

I’m not sure if you beg to differ or not… One thing I would say is the words of songs that were once thought shocking or provocative now seem tame to our desensitized ears. You have to be careful what you listen to, because even subconsciously lyrics sink in, and can be quite shocking.

Speaking of music, I went to see the movie “Young at heart” this week. If you want to go to see something that will make you think twice about moaning that you’re getting old, there is nothing better than watching elderly people in their eighties and nineties perform modern rock songs to sell-out crowds.

A documentary film, it is truly uplifting and humorous. It forces the viewer to face the reality that life inevitably brings pain and struggles, and we have the choice to embrace that with grace and optimism or otherwise.

That made me think about attitude to life in general. There is pain and suffering that is hard to understand sometimes. But though it there is growth, a test of faith, and a witness to hope.

Or perhaps if you are struggling with something today listening to old Beatles albums will make you feel better?