I just heard this band...

[apolla]

...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.

Comments

Getting all weepy

[annearchy.livejournal.com]

Ah, what a wonderful exposition of everything *I've* felt about the Beatles since *I* was 14 (and that was extremely back in the day). Did I tell you that, at Lee's and my wedding in September 1986, we had only 3 pieces of recorded music. The entrance song was "Try to Remember" from The Fantastics; the exiting song was the Spring movement from Vivaldi's The Four Seaons; and the musical interlude in the middle was In My Life. I couldn't get married without having that song played. Tomorrow (8/24) someone is presenting a program about the Beatles at my Unitarian church, and *I* am presiding over the service (w00t!!!). Would you mind if I printed out your post and read it to the congregation (minus the swear words;-)? Pretty please???

BTW I *AM* going to finish LITTB/02 tonight. Look for it in your email box on Sunday.

[ashleigh713.livejournal.com]

Filled again with great love for the way you think, the way you feel and write about music, and grateful that I get an occaisional peek. I don't tell you nearly often enough how just utterly cool I think you aare, and how many times you've brought smiles back to my face.

You know the Beatles will keep on because they affect people who are talented enough, and kind enough to put their essence into words. You're definitely one of those. me, I just have tantrums and insist people play Beatles music until they get it.

Great and t00by hugs to go with the great and t00by love!

[1anonymous1.livejournal.com]

Your passion for music leaves me in awe.

Im serious.

Word, sister, word...

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I first heard the Beatles when I was a baby. My first ever harmony was Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, that my sister taught me when I was 3. I learnt all my guitar chords from a Beatles songbook. My best friend in high school used to sit with me in the courtyard and we sung Beatles songs in harmony together. I bought all the Beatles stuff I could, and although I'm over the wild fangirling, I *still* can't bring myself to take down the poster of them in my room. Because I still love them, they're still the best, and their music brings new understanding in me every time I hear it.

[photosinensis.livejournal.com]

I really don't think "fab" was the right word to describe the Four. It doesn't completly cover it. There are no words, really, to describe their greatness.

I grew up listening to the oldies station in town, and have always liked the Beatles. However, after a few years of doing country and then returning to them, I realized the true greatness. I came to the realization that there never will be another band that is half of what the Beatles were.

However, I'm still scratching my head at two things:
1. The Sgt. Pepper's movie
2. Richard Starkey as the Pope.

I'm wondering if one of my co-workers is indeed related to Ringo. The name is right, and he's silly enough to be the cousin of one of the greatest drummers of all time.

And then there's Yoko *spits on Yoko*. She committed the greatest sin possible in breaking up the Beatles.

[galigad.livejournal.com]

Ahhh ... Clare and her music. :D

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. ;)

[apolla.livejournal.com]

You're welcome, but I think I should curb my 3am journal posting habits.... *snickers*

[apolla.livejournal.com]

OK...

1: The Sgt Pepper movie should only be used if you've run out of toilet paper... and anything else that could be used. It has Peter fucking Frampton and the Bee Gees in it and is just wrong. WRONG I TELL YOU!

*sighs*

2. Richie as the Pope? You mean in Lisztomania? Who else? *grins* He was pretty cool, you know. Was weird, but probably the least weird part of the whole picture.

3. Yoko's not the whore of satan you think she is. Nobody but the Beatles could have ever broken the Beatles up. They had been together for ten years give or take and the time was right for change- as evidenced by the fact that the first solo albums by George, Paul and John are all excellent. John loved Yoko, and that's good enough for me.

Re: Word, sister, word...

[apolla.livejournal.com]

Absolutely!

My wild fangirling days- when all my wallspace was taken up only by them- has been over a long time. I used to make my guitar and keyboard teachers do Beatles songs with me- I do a mean, very cool arrangement of Norwegian Wood on guitar, man!

New understanding? And how.

[apolla.livejournal.com]

Sometimes, it surprises even me.

Hello, my name is Barry and I'm from High Fidelity.

[apolla.livejournal.com]

me, I just have tantrums and insist people play Beatles music until they get it.

Oh, I do that too. I still can't get over the fact that I'm best friends with a girl who doesn't like them much!

And as for you: *smoooooooooches* I don't tell you nearly often enough how cool I think you are.

Hugs, love and rooftop concerts to you,

Clare

Re: Getting all weepy

[apolla.livejournal.com]

Damn straight you can have it!

*flushes with pride*

The rocker in me says to damn the man and leave the swear words in, but the rational side says: cool.

Love to you!

Clare

PS. Got it. Will read today.

[mmichelle.livejournal.com]

Word.

Of course, I haven't been listening to the Beatles for many years (too young!), but to me, NO ONE will EVER compare to them.

[1anonymous1.livejournal.com]

lol, good movie.:D

Re: Getting all weepy

[annearchy.livejournal.com]

Got your response *after* I got back from church. The service was beyond awesome. It was literally a religious experience for me (and being an agnostic, that's really saying something). I'm glad I didn't wear any eye makeup today because I sat there with tears rolling out of my eyes during half the service. I'll tell you all about it on Y!M sometime. I did tell mention you to the two women who presented the service and I will email them a link to your LJ. So don't be surprised if they fangirl you :-) - Hugs, Anne

[marquiserachel.livejournal.com]

The Beatles are indeed truly fab. Please tell me they have wax work models of them that we can go see on Saturday!!

[apolla.livejournal.com]

Yes, Tussaud's does. But they're not great likenesses.

Can't wait though!!

Re: Getting all weepy

[apolla.livejournal.com]

Sounds great! So was it just a church service for/about the Beatles? Cos if so, I think I'd like that church!

Loff to you my dear!

Re: Getting all weepy

[annearchy.livejournal.com]

It was a church service about the Beatles. One of the things I love about being a Unitarian Universalist (no we're not related to Rev. Moon) -is that we celebrate life in all of its forms, including wonderful music that makes you feel so alive that all your cells are buzzing :-) (I think in Britain it's just called Unitarian - UU is the North American name). You can find out more here. Hugs, Anne (not really proselytizing, just recognizing a kindred spirit:-)

[mangosong.livejournal.com]

Am just now reading this. ;) Forgive me spamming your LJ!

All I can say is: your first paragraph about how the Beatles make you feel is EXACTLY how I feel. I have loved them since I was born. I can remember stealing my parents' copy of Sgt.Pepper and playing it on my kiddie record player while drawing with crayons in my room... I was probably 4 or 5. Thank you for expressing this so eloquently. I am just thrilled that someone else feels the same way, because I live in fear that people will forget where all of today's music really came from.

[apolla.livejournal.com]

I live in fear that people will forget where all of today's music really came from.

Not while I have breath left in my body, my friend!

And you can spam away!