Tag: The BEatles

  • Tax Day and Some Other Stuff

    This seems appropriate…

    Really, I’m using this as an excuse to play a Beatles song.

    But taxes are due today, as I am sure everyone is aware. Funny how with everything going on in the world today, and also in a Manhattan courtroom, no one is talking about “Tax Day.”

    Also, and this has nothing to do with anything, as I know only four of you are seeing this, but I think that I want to start branching out with the blog into using different media for expression. I have been putting up more and more videos of late. Though I haven’t done this in a while, I was putting my sketches up on my IG, and now I’m thinking I might move them over to this. I haven’t found the knack of creating memes, but if I could, I think I would put them up here as well.

    I guess what I am saying is that this blog will always be that; a blog – written posts covering my personal observations and reviews of whatever media I take in that garners a reaction from me. But occasionally, I will be adding other things, to add some variety and keep me on my toes.

    Yeah, that sounds good.

  • Because I Can (Beatles Edition)

    I love this song, and this television appearance to promote the song is just silly.

  • The Beatles Movies in 2027

    I just so happen that I have my Let It Be tee-shirt on today. It’s a cold day here in New York, and this shirt is rather thick and goes well with my favorite sweater. Anyway, it was a good day to be a Beatles fan.

    If you haven’t heard, Sam Mendes is to direct four movies, each based from the perspective of John, George, Paul and Ringo, telling the story of The Beatles. It appears that the four movies will be intertwined, and will conclude with the breakup of the band in 1970.

    The second I heard the news, the first thing I thought of was that this was the start of The Beatles Cinematic Universe… only to find out that about a million other Beatles fans, and non-fans alike, were making the same joke. Sadly, I was being serious. I actually want to see a movie, or at least a limited series, based on the life of Mal Evans. (IYKYK) I would love it if you could get all the official Beatles movies (Hard Day’s Night, HELP!, Magical Mystery Tour, Yellow Submarine, Let It Be, Anthology, Eight Days a Week, and Get Back) in one place, as well as additional stuff – like a Mal Evans movie, as well as one about Neil Aspinall, and George Martin. Not to mention how cool it would be to get a series about Brian Epstein.

    If you have read any of my other Beatles posts, then you know I fully admit that I will be first in line with whatever is put out by Apple, Paul, Ringo, John and George’s estates. I am biased in the highest degree with anything Beatle. Even when I’m a little judgmental about something they put out, I still will love the shit out of it.

    So, in that vein; this whole project is about making money, staying relevant, and controlling the narrative. Look, The Beatles have always had an eye on making the most amount of money as possible, and that attitude has served them well. You don’t become a billion-dollar band by giving your music away for free. I think the relevant issue is becoming apparent as time goes on. Baby Boomers are starting for the exit now, and though Gen-X has some pretty die-hard fans, the number of people who remember them from the 60’s is shrinking, and their impact on music is become more of a story than a memory in the collective cultural consciousness. Which leads me to controlling the narrative, and I have been rather critical of Paul for this one. Ringo, god bless him, appears to be cool with how ever he’s remembered, and that’s pretty on brand for him. But Paul – he appears to be the driving force to make sure that The Beatles stay The Beatles after he’s gone. Just looking at Anthology, Eight Days a Week, Get Back, and the final single Now and Then, all projects pushed hard by Paul, the story being sold here is timeless music created by people who were great friends, and loved every minute of it because it was so much fun. Sure, there were ups and downs, but in the end, it was all about love. Not sure if I believe that, but personal nostalgia can be a hard force to fight, especially if it makes you feel good at the end of the day.

    Will I go to these movies? Oh My God, YES! I will be first in line, but I won’t dress up. I’m not that level of fan, but I will be there.

    Because even for me, The Beatles are part of my personal nostalgia as well. Listing to The White Album in my room when I was in 9th grade, over and over again. Trying to figure out if there were deeper meanings to those lyrics, and how I wished love was like the way these songs sounded, and man, it must have been so cool, and fun to be in a band… fifteen year old me was inspired by them, they helped me feel optimistic and hopeful, and that we can work it out and love could solve all problems. That’s a good feeling to have, to be reminded of, to experience.

    So yeah, even if it’s awful, I’ll be there enjoying it.   

  • Sometimes…

    I’d like to be up on a roof singing…

  • ODDS and ENDS: But I Thought It Was Funny, Spotify for the Win, and My Beard

    (I think I want to live the sporting life.)

    Okay, so maybe me and the wife drank a bottle of cheap white wine last night, and maybe we tried to do some online shopping while I was watching the Cowboy game. And maybe we found a semi inappropriate plush cat on Amazon. And maybe I did text out a picture of that plush cat to a friend who I thought would find it extremely hilarious. Look, when me and the wife saw that cat, we laugh/cried for like ten minutes. My friend didn’t find it as funny. Sure, they found it funny, just not that funny. It’s a giant plush cat, with giant plush balls! Just read the reviews! The people who bought this cat are also in awe that a cat of this form exists in the world. C’mon People!

    Seems like everyone is showing off their Spotify Wrapped year in review. I am surprised that my Wrapped does not contain The Beatles in my Top 5. They have always claimed a spot on the list, but not this year. I’m not sharing my list, that’s personal, but I will answer that Peach Pit was my big winner. And when this time of year comes around, I do have to tip my cap and admire the marketing team at Spotify for coming up with this little data stunt. I mean, you get everyone to humble-brag about what the listen to; it dominates the news cycle for a day or two because it’s a fluff story, but it always seems like we need a fluff story; most importantly, it’s easily shared on social media. Bravo, Spotify marketing team, bravo! I hope whomever came up with this idea got promoted and earned a cushy job teaching a class on online marketing at an Ivy League school.

    It’s that time of year when I grow a beard. For the record, my wife and kid hate that I do this, and what they object to is that my face, understandably, becomes course and scratchy. See, there is no logic to why I do this, but the last time I shaved was on Thanksgiving, and then I just grow a beard through New Year’s. Being that it’s a New Year, I’ll shave the beard, but leave a moustache. (And the wife and kid REALLY hate when I have a moustache.) Now, I’ll keep the moustache until the Super Bowl. Why? No reason. Just something to do. The point here is to be back to being clean shaven by Valentine’s Day, because I’m not stupid.