When I think back on those days it seems absolutely peculiar that I, as a tween, would fall so head-long into what my peers must have thought so absolutely square, but when I plug in "Great Balls of Fire" or "Johnny B. Goode" or "Rock Around the Clock" I can't help but get lost in the youthful, exuberant bliss that those guys created. Man, I was ahead of my time, even if I was behind those hits by a few decades.
"Help"/"Ultraviolet" - U2
From U2 Live in Dublin
Taken from a bootleg recorded in the '90s, this medley starts with Bono leading a Dublin crowd in this classic Beatles song. It is a lovely moment with thousands of voices united in a solitary song.
When I was living in Strasbourg, France several years ago I can remember sitting in some Irish pub hanging out with some friends when a couple of French girls broke into a spontaneous version of "Love Me Do." They spoke very little English, yet there they were singing in the language like it was perfectly natural. Some time later something very similar happened in Shanghai - a group of Chinese girls jaunted down the road singing “Hey Jude.”
Such is the power, and beauty of good music and the Beatles. How cool is it that four lads of England created a universal language? People the world over know their songs and can sing along even if they have no idea as to what the words actually mean. My wife has a large collection of French music and most of it sounds less than stellar to my ears, but plug in some Edith Piaff or maybe a little Johnny Hallyday and you'll find me entranced. Pour me a drink or two and you might even find that I do a pretty good "La Mer."
"Pale Blue Eyes" - The Velvet Underground
From The Velvet Underground
Listen to the MP3
Being a long-haired, poorly postured, severely acned, semi-heavy metal teenager was a hard thing to be in rural Oklahoma in the early '90s. I made it through mostly due to a girl named Candy (her real name was/is Candice, but her parents seemed to think it was cute to call her "Candy." In the same way they though it was hilarious to name her twin sister Amanda and call her "Mandy.) We met at a camp one summer and immediately hit it off.
Article comments
1 - Candice/Candy
You were the same for me Mat. Facebook is amazing this way. You are one of those friends I always wanted back in my life, but it seemed kind of difficult, but with FB it is so easy! Your wife seems very cool. I adore folks who understand french. I, too, can dig some Edith Piaf.
Merry Christmas to you as well.