There were millions of kids at the airport, which nobody had expected. We heard about it mid-air. There were journalists on the plane, and the pilot had rang ahead and said "Tell the boys there's a big crowd waiting for them." We thought 'Wow! God, we have really made it.' I remember, for instance, the great moment of getting into the limo and putting on the radio, and hearing a running commentary on us: 'They have just left the airport and are coming towards New York City...' It was like a dream. The greatest fantasy ever." Paul McCartney
Source: The Beatles
February 1964 . . . they had arrived!
For as long as live, I don't think I will ever experience such a happening as the Beatles' first visit to the United States.
As a elementary school aged music lover, all the hype was so exciting. Their music had a different sound, they had a totally different look. Prior to the Beatles, the excitement was all about Elvis Presley . . . but he was of another generation, my parents' generation. The Beatles were all about my generation . . . they belonged to us and we identified with them.
For the first time in my life, I wanted my hair cut in the Beatles mop top style . . . and I got my first haircut. All of a sudden, the boys at school dumped their crew cuts and started letting their hair grow out.
By the time The Beatles arrived, the hype was at a fevered pitch and their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show was all we could talk about with friends. The only things I would spend my allowance on were those associated with The Beatles . . . and I had it all.
My parents watched The Ed Sullivan Show with me . . . in horror . . . they felt the winds of change as I sat directly in front of the television, totally mesmerized . . . a new world was born for my generation.
They are timeless in my opinion . . . their music has stood the test of time and they remain one of my favorite groups of all time.
4 comments:
My mom was horrified by the Beatles. She didn't like their hair, didn't like their music, didn't like the sweeping change that they ushered in. It's hard to imagine parents, educators and clergy becoming so alarmed by the good natured pop music of the Liverpool lads. As I always say, gangsta rap was still light years away!
Wow! that must of been a great experience for you. Their music is and always will be some of the very best out there, Thanks for sharing this video I loved it, it brought me back to my childhood and some of the images I saw on TV :)
Janet
As a teenager in the 70s, I was convinced that I had missed the best and that the world was in terminal decline because the Fab Four had broken up!
@Shady . . . all generations have their own "thing" that horrify parents. I think the thing that really freaked out my parents was their look and the frenzy they knew would result in the big change in pop culture since their generation experienced the Elvis Presley frenzy.
@Janet . . . it was a very exciting time as a child who had a music obsession . . . I still do!!
@Francis . . . I was heartbroken when they broke up. Until John Lennon died, I always hoped they would reunite.
They live on regardless of time . . .
April 5, 2011 5:02 AM
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