"We go to ones that the people are so snobby they pretend they don't know us..."

[orangerful]

The Beatles' Defiining Moment (Hint: It's not 'Sgt. Pepper')

I have to say, this article really made me think a lot about the BBC Sessions collection. It has always been one of my favorite un-albums from the boys. For those who are not familiar with it, the Beatles' did a regular special on the BBC in 1963, before they hit it HUGE in the States. They are so fun to listen to because they are all still so young and a bit naive, a bit of that arrogance that you have when you're in your early 20s and think you know it all. Then again, they already had a few years of performing live under their belts so they had a reason to feel that way. And, being the Fab Four, they just come off as totally charming.

As the article points out, they did some really ballsy stuff during that session - like covering Elvis and other American rock and roll and R&B songs that we would probably think of as sacred cows, not meant to be touched. But they didn't care, they were giddy and wanted to try it all. And they pull it off most of the time, showing that they were more than just studio musicians but live performers that knew how to mix their new songs in with some sure-fire hits. While obviously toned down from their German stage days,

Oh look, someone appears to have put the entire thing up on Youtube (shocking, I know). It's worth a listen, though it's almost eerie how clear it all sounds, like they were recorded yesterday instead of 50 years ago...

That reminds me, I was pondering doing a Beatles Anniversary program at the library next year as it will be the 50th Anniversary of their Ed Sullivan appearance. Anyone have suggestions for activities for all ages (besides Beatles Rock Band, which I have).

Comments

[hermionesparkle.livejournal.com]

I love them so much. I love their early stuff the best. It is probably because they were so eager and charming and it just sounded fun.

Hmm. What about Beatles trivia? Or a bingo. Or ask questions about other things that happened the day/year that they were on the Ed Sullivan show?

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely thinking trivia will be a good idea, though I don't know if any kids will know that much! But maybe as a team the families would work together.

[ekaterin24.livejournal.com]

I'll definitely have to check out some of those videos, and point my husband to them too!

About your library program: definitely invite people to come in costume, either as one of the Beatles, as a fan, or a character from a song. And have a costume contest.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

OOOH or maybe have a "guess the song" with pictures, sorta like a rebus or something...

I wish I could get my hands on a photo-op thing, where they could poke their heads through a stand-up and suddenly have a mop top LOL

[skindyedindigo.livejournal.com]

I love the Beatles. Especially the older music. I struggle to connect as much to the music they made in the later years. It feels like when they become international celebrities their music changed some, which I suppose makes sense. You want to expand your fanbase, expand your music.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I have certain moods I have to be in for each of their albums. Definitely a wide range of styles and influences, especially in their later stuff when each Beatle seemed to be obsessed with something different (which is why you get some of the really odd albums, like the "White album").

[tracy7307.livejournal.com]

Oh god YES I love the Beatles. I used to go to Beatlefest every year in Chicago and spend all weekend in a mass sing-a-long under the stairs.

Activities... I'm thinking some sort of arts & crafts type of thing where people can make their own submarine? A station where they can write a letter to their favorite Beatle and then vote for their favorite by placing the letter in a box with that person's face/name on it?