Ladies and Gentlemen..THE BEATLES!

I was just over 3 months old when The Beatles appeared in America for the first time on The Ed Sullivan show on February 9, 1964. I only remember seeing The Beatles once on TV. It was The Smothers Brothers Show in 1968, and for years I thought it was "Let It Be", but apparently it was "Hey Jude" What can I say? I was only 4. I can't say I was a gaga Beatles fan. They broke up when I was only 7, but I did grow to love so many of their songs when I was growing up. Whether you loved them or hated them, you cannot deny the impact they had on music and the world. It would take me forever to list the hits they turned out. They were so versatile. Their music ranged from classics like "Till There Was You" to the hard rock of "Revolution" "Yesterday" is one of the most covered songs in history with over 2200 recordings. They proved themselves to not just be a flash in the pan. They are one of the first groups I remember hearing that used classical instruments in their songs, the gorgeous string quartet in "Yesterday," the chorus of french horns in "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." the percussive cellos in "Eleanor Rigby," one of my personal favorites. They were innovative and cutting edge, but above all, they were true musicians, writing their own music. It has been 50 years since they were introduced to America, but their music is just as popular with today's generation. Both my girls, 18 and 21, love their music.
I was fortunate to catch the Grammy's tribute special to the Fab Four. It was filled with rock legends old and new to perform their own versions of some of the most beloved songs, but the part that absolutely blew me away were the performances of Ringo Starr (73) and Paul McCartney (71) as the show's finale. They both rocked the house, but Paul McCartney in particular was unbelievable! He didn't shy away from the high notes, and he wailed on the guitar like he was 20. He closed with "Hey Jude," and my youngest remarked that it sounded like she was listening to he iPod. What a gift they gave the world. I feel so lucky to have enjoyed their music through my life, and look forward to enjoying it for many years to come!

41? Really?

Even when I was a wee tot, you could always find me in front of the TV, nite-nite (the name for my blanket) in hand and thumb in my mouth, intently watching whatever was on the screen. Later, I can remember my mom laying my clothes out on the living room couch so I could watch TV while I was getting ready for school in my early elementary years. Now, before there is a huge uproar of how awful that was, I was watching public television. I was a TV kid, and still am, and it didn't rot my brain. My IQ is above 120, and I graduated in the top 15% of my class with a 4.0.
I did not begin this post to write about the measure of my intelligence. I wrote to celebrate a wonderful institution that turns 41 today, Sesame Street. Kermit, Oscar the Grouch, Grover, Big Bird and countless others made their debut on November 10, 1969. I had just turned 6 and my favorite character was Ernie. I loved his laugh and the way he was the slightest bit irritating to his best friend, Bert. I also adored Grover in his furry blueness and sweet naive ways. I knew all the songs like Ladybug Picnic and the King of Eight. The Children's Television Workshop knew how to make learning fun, and they also knew how to make it entertaining. Having the help of Jim Henson and his amazing creations, The Muppets, helped the entertainment factor greatly. Sesame Street was a program that parents could watch with their kids and not be bored out of their minds. I can say that because I am a parent, and I watched it with my 2 year old. When my oldest turned 2 in 1994, Sesame Street collections were on video. She watched one video over and over again called "Count It Higher" It used the premise of an "MTV" type countdown music video show. At two, she was dancing and singing with each video. I, as mom, knew all the words too. Some of the music video titles introduced by Veejay Count von Count were "Letter 'B'", complete with four "Beetles" in Nehru jackets and bowl haircuts, and "ZZ Blues" starring two long-bearded muppets playing guitar donning dark shades and trucker caps and a drummer. Now, my two year old had no idea of the resemblance to "The Beatles" or "ZZ Top", but I thought it was a hoot! The videos were fun and funny, and the characters on Sesame Street are real and unique and have personalities, and the biggest thing, in my opinion, that Sesame Street does right is the fact that they don't condescend to children. They interact with them. I cant' think of a better way to learn. Happy Birthday, Sesame Street! Here's to 41 more years! Guess I better upgrade to DVD or BluRay before I sit down and watch with my grandchildren.

IMAGINE

On February 7, 1964, a significant event happened to music in this country. Four young men from Liverpool, England, named John, Paul, George and Ringo arrived in the USA. I was, at the time, just over 3 months old, so I don't really remember the actual arrival or the now, legendary, appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, but The Beatles, as they were known, were a phenomenon. I would venture to say that if you stopped anyone on the street over the age of 10, they would know at least one Beatles song and probably several. I grew up hearing their music, and the one and only time I can remember seeing them on TV was an appearance on The Smothers Brothers show. They performed Let It Be live. You may like them or you may not, but no one can argue that they are pop icons and essential to any historical anthology of music in America. I wasn't an obsessive fan of The Beatles, but I did and still do love so much of their music.
Today, October 9th, is the birthday of one of The Beatles. John Lennon would have turned 70 today if he had lived. Just as I remember so vividly that amazing live performance on The Smothers Brothers Show with happiness, I also remember another event with great sadness. On December 8, 1980, I was up very late doing homework in my bedroom. I was listening to a local radio station, Q-94, when the DJ came on. You could tell by the tone of his voice that something was terribly wrong. He announced that John Lennon had just been shot outside of his apartment building in New York City. Shortly after they announced his death. I was shocked. Of all people, John  Lennon, the man who penned the words, "Give peace a chance." Someone had taken his life. It was senseless. The assassin had planned it, and in one split second he silenced forever John's contribution to our world.  Some of the most profound lyrics he ever wrote, in his death, were also the most ironic. Wherever you are, John, you don't have to "IMAGINE" anymore.