Before them, I was a mere child playing with childish things. But, at the age of 10 my life was transformed. I knew love! I had a purpose! I worshiped, yes worshiped, the Beatles.
My room was a shrine. I cried the night they appeared on Ed Sullivan. They were the topic of all conversations between myself and my equally besotted friends. By extension, we brought Yardley Slicker Lip Gloss and go go boots, ironed our hair and wore poor boy sweaters.
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| I still have my Yardley Slicker: 50 years later |
Today I watched "A Hard Day's Night." I remembered how excited and happy I was to to see it with my friends. All of the songs we loved from our over-played 45s were there:
A Hard Day's Night
I Should Have Known Better
I Wanna Be Your Man
All My Loving
If I Fell
Can't Buy Me Love
And I Love Her
I'm Happy Just To Dance With You
This Boy
Tell Me Why
She Loves You
Of course I remembered the words to every song. Sometimes I can't remember what I ate for breakfast, but those songs - it seems I will never forget them.
I was a John girl. Most of my friends were in love with Paul (the cute Beatle). Those who liked quirky went for Ringo, and those who loved soulful went for George. I guess I always went for the bad boy, but John had my heart form the start. Naturally, I was devastated to learn that he was married to Cynthia, but I got over it when I learned how sweet she was (as per Tiger Beat and Teen Screen).
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| I so wanted to be Cyn |
The film is an introduction to the boys and a preview of the swinging Mod British Invasion that would envelop us for a time. I smiled and then I found myself crying. They were so beautiful, so young, so brilliant, so joyous. We were all so young. Who could know then what the world held for all of us?
6 comments:
FlickChick, I've been a die-hard Beatles fan since my older brother and sister (I was the baby of the family) turned me onto The Beatles, in all their music and movies and joys and sorrows. I loved their films, too, though I admit when I was a kid, HELP! was my favorite because it was so goofy, much like THE GOON SHOW. Thanks for the memories, my friend! :-D
Many of the 50th anniversaries we will be noting over the several years are ghastly, but this at least is a cheerful one.
My local supermarket plays an oldies format as background music. I try not to dwell on the fact that I know the lyrics to the 40 and 50 y.o. songs.
Ohhh, I loved them, too. And still do. Was lucky enough to see them at Balboa Stadium (San Diego) in 1965 (little knowing their touring days would end the next year).
I was a "John girl," too. I loved (adored)them all the same until I read his "In His Own Write" and that was it for me. Not to mention his incredible singing voice and the songs he wrote.
Thanks for sharing your memories, FlickChick, you took me back to such a special time..."those were the days, my friend"...
" ... we brought Yardley Slicker Lip Gloss and go go boots, ironed our hair and wore poor boy sweaters." Now THAT made me cry -- it seems like Yesterday (my favorite Beatles song). You are so right about being young and full of enthusiasm, with no real knowledge of the hardships life can bring. At least, I was lucky enough to have that kind of childhood. That is the charm of youth, isn't it? ... boundless hope and the feeling that you are indestructible.
I started out as a Paul girl, but quickly changed to John. I was also one who was fiercely loyal to the Dave Clark Five, and madly in love with Mike the singer and keyboard player. Oh those wonderful days of loving those boys so much it hurt. You really captured that, Chick.
FlickChick - I was a Beatles fan too, but as a bad boy I favored the Rolling Stones. There was so much good music coming out then you had to love it all. The Beatles opened the floodgates.
Great photos, FC! They were the best. Ringo and Paul still rock! Thanks for another terrific post!
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