The Beatles (I just didn't get it)

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    People went on and on about how great the Beatles were. Even the high school music teachers were incorporating them into their lessons. I thought they were just trying to get the kids to behave and like them. I was into Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith, mostly Zeppelin. I had missed the boat, time-wise, on the whole Beatles phenomenon. I was only 3 when the Beatles came to America. I was 9 when the Beatles broke up. I did have older brothers, and inevitably, they were bringing home their albums. That was my first introduction.

    I have listened to various music, except traditional folk and opera. I was and am very open. I have even delved into hardcore heavy metal, nu-metal, death metal, and hip hop. The years went by, and I scoffed at the continued reverence of the Beatles.

    This morning, however, I watched several YouTube videos with reaction videos—reactions to the Beatles' Abbey Road, Revolver, Magical Mystery Tour, and Rubber Soul. Young twenty-something YouTubers were listening to the Beatles for the first time and then listened and reacted to other Beatles albums. I was able to see through their eyes. They were mind-blown. In each instance, young black Americans, in this case. As I heard the tracks at the same time, and like I had before, it became clear that I had missed just how brilliant and magical they were as songwriters. To this day, there isn't anyone like them. Their harmonies, arrangements, lyrics, and production. Yes, George Martin was a Beatle and an incredible arranger and producer. Rubber Soul is where it all took off, for me, with their authentic band voice.

    After the videos, I was hit like a ton of bricks, so I thank those YouTubers for finally opening my mind to The Beatles. 

    I was late to the party, but I look forward to discovering their genius.

Photo by Robert Freeman. Typeography by Charles Front, 1965

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