Sunday, February 09, 2014

My Favorite Musicians......

played fifty years ago today on The Ed Sullivan Show, and I was watching! Their mop-top hair and skinny pants were enticing to teenagers everywhere, and although I was already 23 when I heard them the first time, I was entranced. Prior to that time, I was wedded to rhythm and blues music and singers, but the Beatles changed all that - for a time. 

I have loved The Beatles since I first heard "I Want to Hold Your Hand" on my roommate's car radio in 1964. I am pretty sure I've written about it before, but it bears repeating. When the song came on, she immediately changed the station, and I asked her to turn it back because I wanted to hear the song. When it finished, she remarked "They are terrible.....no one wants to hear that song....they will go nowhere in the USA."  I sure do wish I knew how to contact her now, since I'd really love to point out how wrong she was!!

My mother was of the same opinion and I couldn't seem to get her to understand how good the music was - even if you didn't like the way they sang it. Sometime in the 70's, I found an album of Beatle's music played by a symphony orchestra. I put the album on one evening when mom and dad were visiting, and didn't say anything to preface it. After 2-3 songs were played, my mom mentioned how much she liked that kind of music, and much preferred it to the "screamers" of the day. I took great glee in pointing out the album cover to her and explaining that this music she liked was actually written by the Beatles. She looked sort of sheepish and grinned.......having to admit that I was right from the start. I loved being able to point that out....LOL

My favorite, from the start, was Paul. I do have to admit, however, that after seeing Paul and Ringo playing together on the Grammy Awards recently, Paul looks like he was "used hard and put away wet"  (as mom would say) and Ringo looks about 40, despite his 70+ years. He also turned out to be a much smarter man that he was thought to be when the group first appeared on the scene. It goes to show that first impressions don't always hang true....lol

I still lament that they broke up, do you? 

14 comments:

Star said...

It was one of those watershed moments for me when they were on the Ed Sullivan show. I was nine, and instantly in love . With all if them. But mostly Paul. My first celebrity crush. As many of their songs that I love, I Wanna Hold Your Hand is the one I sing along to the loudest. I will be watching tonight . You ?

kenju said...

Oh, yes, I will be watching!! even if skating is on the Olympics, I will....LOL

Celia said...

I was 21 then and enthralled as well, so was my 12 year old sister. Ringo is amazing, I always wondered if they'd stayed together if John would still be with us.

Mamacita (The REAL one) said...

George was my favorite, with Ringo coming in second. I still love listening to the Beatles - their songs have an enduring quality to them that most pop songs don't have. Perhaps that's because Beatle songs are actual music.

Mamacita (The REAL one) said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Gilly said...

Wasn't really into the Beatles, owing to Mr.G very definitely not being into him. Though I remember hearing 'Eleanor Rigby' and loving it! I did hear a lot of their music eventually, you couldn't miss it over here, and basically liked it, though wouldn't admit it to Mr.G. (I was a very anxious-to-please little wife then!!! Perhaps not a good way to start.)

Granny Annie said...

I do not know what is wrong with me. Never a Beatles fan though I was a high school senior in 1964. The Ed Sullivan highlight for me was Elvis Presley and I can remember sitting in front of the TV screaming and crying for him on his first appearance there. Went off to college with an attachment to folk singers and coffee houses.

Ginnie said...

They sure did "invade" us, as the reporters say ! About six years after they arrived here my 8 year old son played "Yellow Submarine" over and over. I have never figured out his fascination with that song but I loved their music too.

rosemary said...

I was never a huge Beatles fan....I know, un-American. Probably the only album I liked was Rubber Soul. I have been a huge Jackson Browne and Joni Mitchell fan forever but my tastes have become pretty eclectic....classical, Kings of Leon, Keene...lots of sounds to hear and love.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Well....I didn't like them at all, at first. But, "Yesterdays" won me over completely and I became a BIG Fan! I do remember that first year they came to the U.S.--1964---when they played the Hollywood Bowl, people were literally crawling up my Hill somehow hoping they could get to The Bowl---It was incredible!!! They all looked like HUGE Ants crawling through the overgrown Brush I'd never seen anything like that before---OR since, I might add. It was my first year here in my house and in the fifty years I've been here, no one has crawled up my Hill hoping to get to The Hollywood Bowl, except for that first summer of The Beatles....! The Power of Those Four Boys! INCREDIBLE!

oklhdan said...

Ahh yes we watched the show Sunday night and we were watching in 1964. Ron and I were 14 years old and the Beatles were a huge part of our teen years. I mentioned to Ron that I wonder if we would still be so interested in the remaining Beatles if it were Ringo and George.

Anonymous said...

I was big Beatle fan from the first time I heard them. I was particularly fond of George and wrote him love letters. I still remember the address I sent those letters to… I wonder who actually received them. There's nothing like love letters from a 12 year old!

Pat said...

I love your mother's expression. Another favourite is 'He doesn't suit daylight.
I loved their music back in the day. My favourites are Ringo and George. I think John and Paul have a lot to answer for re drug
culture. At least John had a ready wit. I think Paul shoud hang up his clogs.

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

HI! Thanks so much for your visit! I saw your profile and I, too, am a floral designer! Yes, I do rememebr when the Beatles were on Ed. S. What a night!!!!