Paul McCartney Felt “Mr. Blue Sky” By ELO Was Inspired By The Beatles
via @disloque1 / YouTube
The Beatles left a mark on nearly every major act that followed them, but it’s rare to hear a Beatle explicitly point out that influence. Yet Paul McCartney once did exactly that when speaking with Jeff Lynne, the creative force behind Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Specifically, McCartney believed the bright and bouncy “Mr. Blue Sky” owed more than a little to one of The Beatles’ most experimental tracks.
Paul referenced the middle section of “A Day in the Life” as the source of inspiration for ELO’s hit, a moment Lynne himself remembered clearly. The two would eventually become close friends and collaborators, but Paul’s comment highlighted just how deeply The Beatles’ innovations had woven themselves into the fabric of pop music. For McCartney to even bring it up signaled how striking the resemblance must have been.
The moment wasn’t one of bitterness, but of recognition. Lynne didn’t dispute McCartney’s take; instead, he welcomed the comment as an indication that his work had resonated with the masters. And even if he hadn’t consciously borrowed from “A Day in the Life,” the DNA of The Beatles’ sound had clearly made its way into ELO’s music.
The Origin Story of “Mr. Blue Sky”
Despite Paul’s observation, Jeff Lynne had his own version of how “Mr. Blue Sky” came to be. During a creative retreat in a Swiss chalet, Lynne found himself stumped. The weather outside was dreary for weeks, and inspiration was nowhere in sight. For an artist known for his vivid melodies, this was a tough stretch.
Then the skies cleared, quite literally. As the sun broke through the clouds, Lynne found himself suddenly energized. What followed was an explosion of creativity—he wrote “Mr. Blue Sky” along with 13 other songs in rapid succession. These tracks would eventually form the core of Out of the Blue, one of ELO’s most celebrated albums.
In Lynne’s account, there’s no intentional Beatles homage—just the effect of good weather and a locked-in mindset. But when your musical sensibilities are steeped in the sound of The Beatles, even an original idea might end up sounding familiar to someone like Paul McCartney.
View this post on Instagram
John Lennon Also Noticed the Beatles-ELO Connection
While Paul made his observation in person, John Lennon shared his thoughts on ELO in a more reflective setting. During his final major interview, he commented that if anyone was looking for more music in the style of “I Am the Walrus,” they could find it by listening to ELO. It wasn’t criticism, but rather an acknowledgment of artistic lineage.
Lennon’s remarks suggested he saw ELO not as copycats, but as musical descendants. “Different schools of ‘Son of Beatles’ exist continually,” he said, emphasizing the idea that their influence was not only unavoidable but welcome. Lennon recognized that artists would inevitably pick up where The Beatles left off, including their most experimental elements.
In this way, both Paul and John seemed to agree: ELO, and especially “Mr. Blue Sky,” carried echoes of The Beatles’ legacy. Whether through orchestral arrangements, whimsical shifts, or melodic structure, ELO was part of the extended Beatles family tree—even if that connection wasn’t always deliberate.
View this post on Instagram
The Enduring Legacy of “Mr. Blue Sky”
Regardless of its origins, “Mr. Blue Sky” has taken on a life of its own. The song has become a pop culture staple, used memorably in films like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Megamind, as well as in TV shows like American Dad. Its infectious optimism makes it a go-to track for moments of triumph and joy.
The song’s reach didn’t stop at media placements. “Mr. Blue Sky” has been covered by a variety of artists, from the whimsical Muppets to alt-pop bands like Pomplamoose and Weezer. Each version pays tribute to the original while putting its own spin on Lynne’s musical sunshine.
Ultimately, whether it was subconsciously drawn from “A Day in the Life” or born from a burst of good weather, “Mr. Blue Sky” is a song that feels both nostalgic and timeless. And in that sense, Paul McCartney was right—its spirit is unmistakably Beatlesque.
View this post on Instagram
