(no subject)
This is the short one.
They were the only band I liked from age 7 to 14 and so on, stuff like that. They were my first favorite band. I’m watching the anthology, slowly making my way through. I guess I’m rediscovering them. It’s strange to say that now because even though I haven’t listened to that much of the music in the last 8 years, it’s still stuff I know really well. But the context is different. Musically, I’ve always operated under this impression that The Beatles were the rock ‘n roll equivalent of the Big Bang theory. I know it’s not true, because I also grew up listening to a really great oldies station. Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, Elvis, etc.-I had a working knowledge of all that kind of roots stuff. But I never really thought about it in terms of stuff that influenced The Beatles. Sure, they covered Chuck Berry songs. But they existed on a completely different plane as far as I was concerned as a kid. Knowing more music in general now, it’s strange I still think that way. I look at pictures, hear the music, and see my perception of the band from my 8 year old perspective. Then it’s like, hey, wait a minute…1964, Paul McCartney was all of 22 years old. Holy crap, I’m that age now. And I look a bit closer, watch the interview and performance clips in the anthology, and yeah. They were just kids. John Lennon said something about them being just a band that made it very, very big. All my life I’ve elevated The Beatles to something greater than that. But they were just guys who made really great music and had a huge impact on rock music. Mythology, be damned. And you know what? They’re still the best band ever.
Musically, I think the early stuff is great. First, you’ve got all this rock ‘n roll influence stuff. Then you’ve got just great pop music. It’s simple, songs are short, lyrics are fairly straightforward-nothing deep-and it’s so damn good. George Harrison’s guitar work is excellent. My mom said there’s a thing on NPR.org, a tribute, talking about how great a guitarist he was. I haven’t read it, but here’s what I think: early Beatles, George played “note perfect” (McCartney used that to describe the way he nailed some song when he and John first tried George out on guitar) all the licks and riffs just like his influences dictated. All the notes, solos, everything was in the perfect place but not extremely flashy about it. All those years, I hardly noticed it. “I Feel Fine” is probably the only song I can think of where I specifically took note of the lead guitar. Yet in every single early song, it’s there. I can’t really explain. Ok, then middle-Beatles, you have the introduction of the sitar on “Norweigan Wood,” and you’ve got George writing songs like “Taxman.” Historically he gets overlooked in the songwriting department because 1) he was in the band with Lennon/McCartney, and that would put God to shame and 2) he didn’t really seek the spotlight. You know, the “quiet Beatle.” All reports, with the exception of some things on Let It Be, but they were all ready to kill each other then, apparently, point to that quiet thing. A sense of humor, but happy living a private life. Late-Beatles, white album and India. And really, that was at the center of the hippy stuff and psychedelic sounds in the last third of the band’s span. And after all that? “Here Comes the Sun.” That’s one of the best songs ever in the history of music.
Solo, well, I suck. I admit I don’t even own a copy of All Things Must Pass. I don’t know why, I just never bought it. And really, out of all 4 of the guys in the band, I know McCartney’s solo stuff best. Sure, I named my plant in 5th grade math class George after George Harrison, but Paul McCartney was my idol as a kid. “What is Life” is a great song, though. I fucking love that song. I don’t know what it is, the chord progression? I lack the musical terminology to tell you why I like it so much, I just do. And Brainwashed had some truly beautiful stuff on it. I’m a bit wary of posthumous releases, but I remember reading something the time it came out about that calmed all fears that the songs were tweaked too much in post-production after his death. “Any Road” kills me, as a lead track, it’s perfect.
So I was wrong when I was younger about The Beatles being the only band worth listening to. But I’m so glad I heard them when I did. The way I listen to music now, I go through bands’ catalogues and even entire genres or sub-genres of rock music, trying to get a sense of how certain bands influenced others, acquiring knowledge I think as a music fan I should just know. It’s fun on an academic level, and when I listen to “Torn and Frayed” I think the Rolling Stones are awesome as all hell. I aspire to be as much of an encyclopedia as I can, and I know there’s always more to hear. I’ve still got massive amounts of catching up to do. Bob Dylan? But I’m never going to know every song like I do with The Beatles’ catalogue. Sure, I can sing along to probably 90% of Springsteen’s songs, humming guitar parts, whistling sax solos and everything. But The Beatles? That’s my youth.
Which reminds me: whoever is doing those awful covers of "From Me to You" in those Macy's commercials should be shot. They all suck.
LOOKIT.
Go on, laugh all you want. I hit 50,000 words. Story isn't quite done, and I left my main character bleeding on the steps of a personal injury law agency. He's decided he doesn't want to die.