#music

The Beatles.

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Here in the UK tonight, The Beatles are on the television for New Year’s Eve. ‘The Beatles and the BBC’. I feel so emotional. The Beatles were my essential youth. At an early age ‘She Loves You’ was first heard, by myself , back in 1964. I was 8 years old. Something inside went ‘click’. I had heard the music my parents played by Elvis, Gene Vincent, Maureen Evans, Billy Fury, Mario Lanza and so much more. On the Dansette record player was a plethora of songs played on vinyl. But then? Something went ‘Ping’. I heard ‘She Loves You’.

It was as if a source of outside identity suddenly self identified. It wasn’t that I could now find great music. I had already listened to great music. My parents were avid music fans. They played phenomenal music in our house. But this was suddenly ‘My’ music. The fact was, that The Beatles spoke directly to my soul. I can’t put my finger on why. It just happened. To many millions out there too.

I have loved The Beatles ever since. Timeless songs. I have never thought any different. They, and as solo artists too, are consistent in my life’s journey. Programmes were/are broadcast over the decades and watched on TV. Beatles major released cinema films were/are also watched. The magical songs? They are always there in presentation. From putting on vinyl or CD to listen to day to day for a week or two….on end. Or a few weeks to months in a year. Played and enjoyed beyond enjoyment. With reverence. The songs are embedded. You are settled in life and then arrives a simple TV advert, new rendition taken on a new journey or an ode of respect, from another artist, who has taken one of their songs and made it into a heartfelt moment in ‘new’ time, which is witnessed and tweaks the senses. And the songs are once again sought and played.

After a few days to weeks of listening I then go back to day to day normality or months’ long existence after a revisit to those times back when. Yet! Always they seem to arrive once again, maybe a few times a year, and life resets to Beatles love.

New Year’s Eve, and The Beatles are once again here.

Have you guessed? Yeh, yeh, yeh. I love The Beatles.

25 thoughts on “The Beatles.”

    1. So you had those melodies inherent in your early life too. Brilliant. The best of songwriters. Happy New Year to you too Sheila. ‘Let’s hope it’s a good one, without any fear’. Good fortune with this year’s projects and blogging contributions. All the best.

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    1. Hela, heba-helloa……..😊 Nearly finished Utopia Avenue again. I always struggle with finishing the last 1/4 of any book. I open a book and it says ‘Hello’. And near the end I don’t want it to say ‘Goodbye’. Happy New Year to you too Shep. All the best with your projects.

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  3. Happy new year, Gray. I missed the Beatles last night, as we’re up in Scotland visiting relatives.
    I completely agree with you about the music of the Beatles. I’ve loved their songs since I was a teen. Despite being a punk/goth/indy type of guy, I’d always come back to the Beatles, as a kind of cornerstone or hearth that brings comfort and joy.
    Mabon is now 14 going on 15 and as well as his bass guitar, his other Christmas gift was a vinyl record player, one that is very similar to the old Dansette. He also loves the Beatles and has already taught himself the bassline to ‘Come Together’ and ‘Day Tripper’. No Beatles LP’s yet, but plenty of Floyd, a King Crimson and some jazz – he’s as eclectic as his dad!
    I hope that both you and Angie have a wonderful new year and I also hope that our schedules synchronise a bit more this year – it’ll be great to see you again soon. Hope the bass is going well. Much love to you both xxxx

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    1. Hi ianto. Scotland for the New Year has got to be the best place on Earth to celebrate. I celebrated all music as experienced going through the decades. But you always remember the first impact years. The time you realise that music was suddenly for your generation. Even when as young as seven or eight. I used to play mum and Dad’s G I Blues and Blue Hawaii by Elvis, over and over. Soon as The Beatles came on the scene it meant more. Dad loved The Stones though. I did listen, but my heart was set. It’s a bit like Bolan and Bowie, Oasis and Blur. I chose who I did, Bolan and Blur, but still listened to both.

      Really pleased Mabon has found bass a worthwhile interest and found a natural affinity. Those are not easy songs he has chosen. And nice he’s joined The Court of the Crimson King too. I have bought various thickness felt plectrums for playing. They say that they are ideal for jazz. Paul McCartney has been known to love felt plectrums. No string sounding clicks. He may be playing without plectrums though.

      You’ll have to visit the house and bring your own Fender bass. Plug it in to this Rumble amp.
      Definitely will catch up properly this year. I don’t do resolutions at all. But the VeeDub is being used as from tomorrow. Seriously. Come rain or rain! Hope you too have an amazing year ahead. Angie has been working for long hours for months now due to Christmas lead up. As you may have guessed if you’ve popped in, the shop is going very well. The community and tourist visitors have nothing but praise for the choices and atmosphere it gives.

      Much love to the family. Speak and meet up soon. Xx

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  5. my grandfather used to say something about them I never forgot: the mania part won’t last, it isn’t meant to. but they will be great forever. that’s a very different thing, he said. he was right. but I like to believe that whenever one of those early tunes comes on, many people still shout out loud in their hearts. x

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    1. Hi cookie. They switched their whole music into an experimental situation. Eclectic song writing brought a whole interesting listening experience. The melodies have always been there. It was the groundbreaking way they went through the Beatles being a visionary band that truly marked them out as unique. But they also nodded at their own influences too. The Beach Boys, Harry Nilsson, etc. So humbleness was a huge part of their mentality too. As should be the case. George in the Travelling Wilburys with those amazing musicians, who were already stars, around him for example. All the best cookie.

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  7. First and foremost, my best wishes for a brilliant 2024! When I started taking piano lessons about 4 years ago, the teacher asked me which songs I could already play. I happened to play two songs by The Beatles: one was ‘Hey Jude’, the other song I don’t remember. The teacher looked at me and said with a big smile: you are a fan of the Beatles. The real glory days of the Beatles are actually just before my time, but their song sticks and will be a source of inspiration for many, timeless!

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    1. Best wishes to you too. Good to know you also play music. The Beatles are, as you say, indeed timeless. I have written songs from a teenager. Still write. Their songs have always been an inspiration. Along with other subsequent influences. I used to play from time to time in the hospital ‘Day Hospital’ set up. One of my nurse colleagues ran it once a week for inviting discharged patients to attend for the day and socialise with others. She could monitor their discharge successes and general vital signs. She asked me to bring my guitar in and play to the group a fair few times. Needless to say, Beatles songs were included in the mix of choices. They loved a sing-a-long. Some had dementia, and yet they still related to the tunes and words. Music is a fantastic therapy. Thank you for your thoughtful reply and all the best. Good fortune with your piano lessons too.

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    1. I really followed Paul after they split. John too. But Paul’s solo first albums and then Wings were more often played. Disney has ‘Get Back’. The film by Peter Jackson when they recorded the Let it be album. A very long film in 3 parts I believe. But it was fascinating to see them recording and how they interacted. And those new remastered recordings? Not sure really if I want to get them. My vinyl is the way I remember listening. I do have some CDs that my son bought me too. And true….It was a good way to end the year. Cheers Danny.

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      1. What was your impression of ‘Get Back?’ It was Peter Jackson, nothing is short. I was very surprised at how much of an outsider Harrison was or maybe that was my impression.

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      2. It was always John and Oaul really for the song writing element. They were really close in friendship. Sat for hours and hours together in their youth just playing and writing. But George was vital for both his way of introducing new musical ideas to the sound. He wrote some timeless classics in The Beatles years too. I loved Get Back because I could relate to how group dynamics work. That’s why I am not bothered about the quality of my upload song ideas here on WP. It shows how music is always a work in progress. Once it all gels it is satisfying. That roof top gig of the Beatles was amazing to watch. How it all just happened and the result of sheer genius. When you see the ups and downs of their rehearsals. Fascinating insight. With George and his contribution to the three newer songs they have put out after John Lennon died is insightful. Using John’s singing voice to write three amazing songs never heard before. Very emotional. They had all gone through so much in the Beatles. Coped with so much pressure through their successful worldwide popularity. Something had to give I suppose. Cheers Danny.

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      4. I was flabbergasted when I saw the first episode. The banter and complete lack of seriousness blow my mind. I always imagine some kind of process and what was filmed was simply not it. When Yoko was screeching (I cannot call it singing) during that one song, now I understand why she was a point of contention.

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      5. I recognise a lot of similarities with our own writing and exchanges. When you are so familiar with each other and have created the songs you have from the past, you know there is no need to panic and focus. That roof top gig of theirs was a million miles away from the studio efforts from a very short while before they stood and played up there. I love the Chuck Berry/John Lennon playing live video on YouTube where they turned Yoko’s microphone off. Chuck Berry’s face is priceless! Cheers Danny.

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