I just heard this band...
Sunday, 24 August 2003 03:12...called the Beatles. They were pretty fucking good. In fact, they were so good that I was reminded of something:
All the tight jeans, long hair, caterwauling and 20 minute drum solos cannot possibly compare to the might of the Beatles. A few days ago on this very LJ I went on about how seeing the Doors and Led Zeppelin videos on VH1 makes my heart skip beats.
This is nothing compared to the effect the Beatles have on me.
They make me feel like I am home. They make me feel as if nothing could possibly go wrong in the world as long as they exist. They make me believe that love really is all you need. They make me want to weep with joy that they exist. They make me want to sob that two of them have already been wrenched away from me in two of the cruellest ways possible. They make me want to achieve the same kind of perfection while knowing I never can. At the same time, they make me feel that that's all right.
You see, I've never been able to understand the Beatles Vs. Elvis or Beatles Vs. Rolling Stones questions. I mean, I like the Stones a lot (esp. Keef the great guitar god) and I like Elvis- liked him a lot when I was very small. But there's never been any question for me as to who really rule the world. I love the Doors and I love Led Zep. I love Dean Martin and Thin Lizzy and David Bowie. I love all the people I mention whenever I open my mouth... but there will never be any question as to who rules all. I may take three days to compile a list of my top ten albums, and I still won't be satisfied. But ask me who the greatest band in the history of the universe were/are, ask me who I really couldn't live without and you will have your answer within a Noo Yawk minute.
It sounds terribly corny and trite, but when I was 14, I opened my ears up to the Beatles properly for the first time and I found my destiny. When I found the Beatles, I found a reason to care about the world again, because a world that gave us the Beatles can never totally suck, even if it's the same world that took two of them away and allowed Wings (who I don't hate, btw).
You see, I'll go on and on an on about the wonder that is Robert Plant. I'll talk your ear off about how 'What Is And What Should Never Be' is one of the greatest songs ever and if you're really unlucky you'll get my extended opinion of Jimmy Page bowing his guitar. But my true love was, is and ever will be four blokes from Liverpool and made it very, very big.
I don't listen to them as much as I used to, partly because I played myself out on some of it and partly because I do adore the Doors etc. I don't claim that they were perfect musicians or perfect people. I am not a member of the Church of St. John of Menlove Avenue because I know that he was a human being with a few big flaws. I know that George Harrison spent part of the 80s in a coke haze and I know that he could be a grumpy old sod. Doesn't make me love them any less- it makes me love them all the more for their humanity.
For me, there will only ever be four boys. I believe you know their names.
All the tight jeans, long hair, caterwauling and 20 minute drum solos cannot possibly compare to the might of the Beatles. A few days ago on this very LJ I went on about how seeing the Doors and Led Zeppelin videos on VH1 makes my heart skip beats.
This is nothing compared to the effect the Beatles have on me.
They make me feel like I am home. They make me feel as if nothing could possibly go wrong in the world as long as they exist. They make me believe that love really is all you need. They make me want to weep with joy that they exist. They make me want to sob that two of them have already been wrenched away from me in two of the cruellest ways possible. They make me want to achieve the same kind of perfection while knowing I never can. At the same time, they make me feel that that's all right.
You see, I've never been able to understand the Beatles Vs. Elvis or Beatles Vs. Rolling Stones questions. I mean, I like the Stones a lot (esp. Keef the great guitar god) and I like Elvis- liked him a lot when I was very small. But there's never been any question for me as to who really rule the world. I love the Doors and I love Led Zep. I love Dean Martin and Thin Lizzy and David Bowie. I love all the people I mention whenever I open my mouth... but there will never be any question as to who rules all. I may take three days to compile a list of my top ten albums, and I still won't be satisfied. But ask me who the greatest band in the history of the universe were/are, ask me who I really couldn't live without and you will have your answer within a Noo Yawk minute.
It sounds terribly corny and trite, but when I was 14, I opened my ears up to the Beatles properly for the first time and I found my destiny. When I found the Beatles, I found a reason to care about the world again, because a world that gave us the Beatles can never totally suck, even if it's the same world that took two of them away and allowed Wings (who I don't hate, btw).
You see, I'll go on and on an on about the wonder that is Robert Plant. I'll talk your ear off about how 'What Is And What Should Never Be' is one of the greatest songs ever and if you're really unlucky you'll get my extended opinion of Jimmy Page bowing his guitar. But my true love was, is and ever will be four blokes from Liverpool and made it very, very big.
I don't listen to them as much as I used to, partly because I played myself out on some of it and partly because I do adore the Doors etc. I don't claim that they were perfect musicians or perfect people. I am not a member of the Church of St. John of Menlove Avenue because I know that he was a human being with a few big flaws. I know that George Harrison spent part of the 80s in a coke haze and I know that he could be a grumpy old sod. Doesn't make me love them any less- it makes me love them all the more for their humanity.
For me, there will only ever be four boys. I believe you know their names.
no subject
Date: 2003-08-23 23:44 (UTC)It is enough to make me smile and forget a bad mood ... even though I cannot really share the passion that you have for some of the musical greats you mentioned.
The Beatles?
I cannot really share the passion you have for them, but I will totally agree with you that they should be ranked UP THERE AND ALL ALONE whenever one considers the music of the 20th century and beyond.
I cannot share the passion -- but I will always shake my head on hearing some piece of music that strikes a chord in me, and realize that it is something from the Fab Four.
And, while I cannot share the passion -- I can refer you to some who do. Including my boss, who was in college when the Beatles blew into the scene and who is an ardent, passionately fanatic fan till now. In fact, he even put up a musical group composed of himself, a friend and his two sons who entertained us during office anniversaries and Christmas parties with -- you guessed it -- Beatles renditions and the four of them in complete, classic Beatles regalia from their early days.
And for his birthday last May, the office put together a special gift for him -- a tribute DVD themed "The Fifth Beatle" and the theme song, "When I'm 64."
Thanks for the nostalgia trip, Clare. ;)
no subject
Date: 2003-08-24 07:53 (UTC)