The country was still reeling from the death of a president. The youngest president ever had been murdered. As a kid, John Kennedy was a real person. We had seen the pictures of his wife, his young children, his pets, his vacations... he was a person and now he was gone. Along with him, it seemed the country's enthusiasm. Then on a Sunday night in the middle of the cold winter, every kid I knew would be sitting in our parents' living room, trying to not act too excited, as we waited for the Ed Sullivan Show to come on.
Now watching Ed was something that was done every week. While he had a lot of acts most kids couldn't care less about, he also had music. Real music. And on this Sunday night he was going to have The Beatles. For most of us, our parents had already handed down judgement about The Beatles. Long haired hooligans or something to that effect, and they made noise rather than played music. But we knew better.
We knew it was history. They were OURS and nothing would be the same again. We were right. It wasn't. Everyone knows what happened after that night, but as The Beatles first appeared onscreen, we all felt the universe shift. It was the first defining moment in my life, and the one which has brought more joy into in than any other.
Tonight, I will be tuning into CBS just as I did fifty years ago, and remembering what these four kids from Liverpool meant to me, and to the rest of the world. I only wish John and George were still here to look back too.
"She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah"
Yep, she did then, she still does.
Photo by gothopotam
This was one event I wish I had been around for. In nearly every interview that I've done with my favorite musicians, nearly every one of them (without fail) has told me that the reason they got into music was because of what happened 50 years ago tonight. That is some powerful mojo. Glad I'll get to see it all play out again tonight! :)
ReplyDeleteyeah, it was really something, and probably one of the only times where talking about my age isn't depressing. Thanks for the perspective of the other musicians, it truly was one of those moments when time stood still and we all knew it. enjoy the show tonight,
Deletewas not in this country for that one.have seen replays which is NOT the same.wish I had a chance to see it.must have been really cool to talk about it with ones friends the next day.ROCK ON
ReplyDeleteit was very fun.
DeleteI'm glad to hear a little more about them!
ReplyDeleteso glad you stopped by. thank you.
DeleteThis is great. I love The Beatles. I'm not sure if my era has changed music for the better. I grew up in the 80's and though it seems to be making a relevant come back, I think most of the life changing music was already being sung.
ReplyDeleteI think the 60's blew open the doors, the 70's were the most creative, and half of the 80's were worthwhile. Since then it's gone to shit. At least as far as what's most readily available. There's lots of good music, it just takes more effort to find it. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny but my husband always says "remember when" about the Beatles. You guys are the same age and he has all of these amazing memories. Although I wasn't there, I really feel like I have the "inside" perspective.
ReplyDeleteAlso he tells me stories about wanting to dress cool and bring clothes to change into on the way to school! He and his bro got busted once by his mom, they were hiding the clothes in his grandmother's garage!!
haha, I can relate. We used to roll up the waistbands on our skirts so we could wear "mini" skirts. Our mothers would never approve, so we would do it on the way to school.
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