WC #16: I'm Back... with memories of the Night that Changed America!

It's been a little while... I became a little bit burned out on my blogging and needed a break, but over the past few weeks without access to my laptop, I began to miss it... especially the night of February 9th as I watched "The Night that Changed America," the special tribute to 50 years of Beatle-mania in America!  

So, why did that show make me miss blogging? My blogs are primarily memories and the impact those memories have had on my life and, sad to say, I DO have memories of that night 50 years ago when I watched the Ed Sullivan Show (just like every other Sunday night), hoping Topo Gigo would be on (he was my favorite part of the show each week) and saw the Beatles for the first time ever!  The link below will tell the story of that performance as well as a short video clip of "All My Lovin'."

http://entertainment.time.com/2014/02/09/the-beatles-invasion-50-years-ago-sunday-feb-9-1964/

So, what are my memories of that night? I seem to recall my initial reaction being to the introduction to beetles! Ugh! Ed Sullivan was putting BEETLES on his show! Next, there's a bunch of dumb girls screaming and then music... like I'd never heard before! I mean to this point, I was in love with Pat Boone, my favorite song was "Love Me Tender" by Elvis and my first record of my own was "Uh-Oh" by The Three Chipmunks! (Yes, Alvin, Simon & Theodore)

As I watched, however, my attitude began to shift. I found I was enjoying the music. The tunes were catchy, they seemed to enjoy entertaining and that one on the left was pretty cute the way he'd wiggle his head and his hair would flop around every time he sang "Woooooo..." Although the haircuts were QUITE scandalous! I mean, their hair was partially covering their ears and they had BANGS!!! What boys wore bangs?!?

http://www.edsullivan.com/the-beatles-on-the-ed-sullivan-show-on-february-9-1964/

As I continued to watch, I saw their names come up on the screen as the TV cameras did a close-up on each one of them. As I saw "John- Sorry girls. He's married," I remember thinking... ewwww... why is he the married one? He looks like he just got off a horse! If I married one of them, it would be the cute one with the big brown eyes who wiggles his head. He has a cute smile.... Perhaps Paul was the first to draw my attention to guys with brown eyes....

Needless to say, as time went on, I grew to love the Beatles and all their songs like the rest of America. Granted, as I became more familiar with popular music as I neared my teens, I preferred the music of Herman's Hermits and then The Monkees, but the Beatles still provided me with many fond memories and the world with wonderful songs. 

At times I've been a little embarrassed that my oldest daughter, Meg, knows way more about The Beatles and their music than I do, but they've always been a part of her life... beginning with "Letter B" on Sesame Street.

Of course with the popularity of Guitar Hero and RockBand a few years ago, when I was working as an Electronics Merchandiser, I had to buy Beatles RockBand for my Wii when it was released! I pull it out every once in awhile when I have company and had to do just that when Andi & Cari visited me two years ago. I was appalled when they both told me that they only knew one song on the playlist (especially Cari, daughter of Meg). 

Cari & Andi dancing by the Space Needle
June, 2012

I couldn't believe that such a vital part of my granddaughters' education had been neglected, that they would not be acquainted with the music of the Beatles! As I tired of listening to them argue about who got to sing lead vocal on the ONE song they both said they knew, I did what any loving grandmother would do. I banned them from singing and told them I would choose the song and I would sing it! Imagine their surprise as I chose song after song and they ended up singing along because they DID know the words!

I enjoy the fact that my kids DO expose their kids to the songs they grew up with and I don't find it surprising that kids today do enjoy their music and recognize their contribution to music today.

Not to be forgotten on the "Night that Changed America," was another performance on Ed Sullivan that I would have paid more attention to had I realized that my future heart throb, Davy Jones was performing one of his scenes from "Oliver" as the Artful Dodger! I heard an interview with Davy awhile back about that night. He said that that night changed his career a bit. As he observed the Beatles and their affect on the audience, that he wanted that too...

The Beatles had such a profound impact on the world in so many ways. Initially it was music and hairstyle. But it grew to political statements, spirituality, fashion (Nehru jackets & wire-rimmed glasses), peace & love. We felt a part of their lives. We didn't know what to think of Yoko Ono and her influence on John. We were stunned at the news of the group's break-up. We cried at the senseless murder of John. We felt sorrow at George's passing and that of Linda, Paul's wife. We cheered Sir Paul's knighting by Queen Elizabeth. And, finally, we applaud the Grammies for creating a great tribute to the Fab Four, to air fifty years to the minute after the original Ed Sullivan show introduced them to America. I hope you were all able to watch it or the encore performance. I know I enjoyed it and truly enjoyed seeing Paul & Ringo perform together again. (Although I could have done without so many shots of Yoko dancing to the music...Still think she's weird...)

As my special tribute here and now, I hope you enjoy listening to these twenty top songs and hope they bring back some fond memories for you too!

Until next time... "Obla Di Obla Da! Life Goes On..."