All You Need Is The Beatles

The Beatles.

I know what you’re thinking: “Writing about The Beatles for a rock and roll blog? How original.”

Despite this entirely correct train of thought, I would like to argue that my post about The Beatles is original because their music affects us all in different ways.  For me, The Beatles means cooking with my parents and listening to my sorority sisters sing “In My Life” during our new member ceremony.  It also means late night jam sessions in the car and speeches at my cousin’s wedding.  Let’s face it, whatever the situation, The Beatles probably have a kick ass song that would go perfectly with it.  Perhaps it is this ability to connect with us on all these different levels that has made them such a huge success.

Here comes to sun- literally.  

As I sit here attempting to tan on the roof of my sorority, I turn to my iPod and my favorite Beatles album for comfort.  I feel as though I’m literally getting by, “With a Little Help from My Friends.”  You see, I am very bad a girly things, tanning being one of them.  But luckily Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is there to get me through the pain of trying to be a bronzed goddess.  As if that could ever happen.  Curse my light skinned European roots.  I’m just not cut out for this sort of thing.

Abandoning my post on the roof, I decided that this week should be a week to celebrate all the things I don’t know about The Beatles.  After all, how could I possibly embark on a journey of self-discovery with them if I didn’t take any chances?  Try anything new? 

Struggs.

As it turns out, it’s very difficult to access Beatles’ music unless you’re willing to pay quite a bit of money on iTunes.  As a poor college student, I immediately turned to my free month long subscription on Spotify, but that search merely resulted in the discovery of cover bands. And then it hit me- my father.

Oh the joys of technology!  I called up my dad, and he had several Beatles albums at home to send my way.  I started with Abbey Road and then made my way to songs from the Beatles Love Tour that my family saw in Vegas.  I fell head over heals for “I Want You (She’s So Heavy),” “Help!” and “Yesterday.”  Although I had heard several of these songs before in the day to day grind, listening to them alone in my room gave me new feeling for the meaning of the words.      

Then I decided to do a little research on The Beatles and this is what I found:

Emerging in the 60s from across the ocean, these British boys incited “Beatlemania” (an obsession that I think is still happening).  Starting with pop songs like “She Loves You,” their musical style to took a more mature and creative shape with albums like Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.  Though they started off in the mainstream, a few years into their career they began creating a new sound using their skill and their willingness to break the mold.  They were innovative, inspirational, and changed the face of music and entertainment.  Not only did they shape the culture of the 60s, but they continue to influence people of my generation and beyond.

Learning about The Beatles is like learning about life.  Sometimes it’s fun, sometimes it’s solemn, and sometimes it’s a little bit trippy.  It is also a journey.  I can’t be afraid to go where it takes me- even if it isn’t where I thought I wanted to be.    

Perhaps setting out on a mission of self-discovery was a lot to ask from rock and roll blog, but I can tell you now in the midst of midterm season and a debilitating cold, there is nothing like a song by The Beatles to assure you that every little thing will be alright…

Or was that Bob Marley?  

Till next time.  Missy Hendrix.