The Beatles are joyous, pure, agents of good. Even when they were free and young, they were wise. Early Beatles period will always be my favorite because they were new and the world got to fall in love with them for the first time. Oh, I'd kill to have been 12 then!
“I declare that the Beatles are mutants. Prototypes of evolutionary agents sent by God, endowed with a mysterious power to create a new human species, a young race of laughing freemen.” -Timothy Leary
The whole film, A Hard Day's Night is really funny, but this scene, the most beloved moment of all, is especially heartening. Roger Ebert once commented that "it is possible that scene (during "Can't Buy Me Love'') snowballed into all the love-ins, be-ins and happenings in the park of the later '60s." It seems outlandish to suggest such a thing, but loosing yourself in this moment really is a powerful thing. The film itself is as graceful a transition for the Beatles onto the big screen as anyone could've hoped for. It is an absurdest romp, a day in the life of the Beatles.
The Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein later revealed that John Lennon's remark about cheering at the Royal Command Performance was rehearsed, but with more colourful language. Naturally, he was horrified and in fear that Lennon, who was already a bit of a free-spirit, would follow through.
Even the stodgiest Fleet Street newspapers noted at the time that although Lennon's comment was somewhat daring, the royals in attendance were amused.
In the end, the remark, which seems innocent to-day, was a bit of a rebuke at the upper-crust of British society of the 1960s, but delivered with the taste, elegance, and sharpness that was almost Churchillian.
This is a blog dedicated to Emily who doesn't like the Beatles.
I'm making my appeal to her in blog form so I can make a multi-media case for the fab. The Beatles' appeal is multi-mediated after all. That they were a great music group is just one part of their kaleidoscopic accomplishments. I will keep this brief (I promise) and personal to you, my dear roommate-- limiting myself to 10 entires!
I'm a difficult position, you see. The Beatle's prolific output is in part celebrated for its diversity. The sheer range of Beatles music makes it a frightening prospect to make only a handful of selections, for if I think you might like, say folky Beatles, and limit myself to that, but really you would've liked punk or psychedelic Beatles, then you may still think you don't like them as a whole, and I will be agonized.
However, this is a risk I'm willing to take. Please read what I write if you can! It will give you a sense of Beatles-discourse that could help you fine-tune a Beatle-aesthetic.
In any case, whatevs. This is fun to make and if you don't like it still, I forgive you.
1 comment:
The Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein later revealed that John Lennon's remark about cheering at the Royal Command Performance was rehearsed, but with more colourful language. Naturally, he was horrified and in fear that Lennon, who was already a bit of a free-spirit, would follow through.
Even the stodgiest Fleet Street newspapers noted at the time that although Lennon's comment was somewhat daring, the royals in attendance were amused.
In the end, the remark, which seems innocent to-day, was a bit of a rebuke at the upper-crust of British society of the 1960s, but delivered with the taste, elegance, and sharpness that was almost Churchillian.
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