WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022, BEATLEMANIA

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022 BEATLEMANIA

The Beatles Rock Band went on the Ed Sullivan Show on CBS on February 9, 1964.  (I found it hard to write “Rock Band” - they are “The Beatles” - but maybe some years (decades, centuries) in the future there might not be people who know that group as just “The Beatles”.

I was a junior in high school.  I was in the Band, Choir, Chess Club, and Theater.  I didn’t really listen to the radio - but I did know of the Beatles.  My older sister was a sophomore in college and listened to the Beatles.  She was off at college, so I didn’t watch Beatlemania on Ed Sullivan.  I really can’t remember what I was doing on Sunday, February 9th, 1964.  Homework?  Doing advanced algebra with trigonometry problems?  Reading a play script?  Read a book about chess openings?

It wasn’t until later that summer of 1964 that I got more of an introduction.  My sister was home from college and with her friend, went to the Beatle's first movie “A Hard Day’s Night” at the local drive-in theater.  And, my sister’s friend’s brother and I were in the trunk of a car - sneaking into the drive-in!! (I’m assuming the “statute of limitations” on sneaking into a drive-in theater is long passed!!!)  

I loved the movie - and had heard some of the songs.  But, I still wasn’t quite a Beatle Fan (yet).  I had my senior year in high school ahead of me - with more band, choir, chess club, and theater.  I watched American Bandstand with Dick Clark for a while when I came home from school.  I remember a group of teens on that show rating new songs - like was the song good to dance to.  I think Paul Revere and the Raiders got a show for a while.  It wasn’t until I was a sophomore in college that the Monkees had their television show - with other groups like the Partridge Family!

That changed when I got to college.  I had a radio (and no television) and found a local Winona radio station that played the top 40 songs.  I really became a “rock star” (in terms of listening then).  I remember a night when a group of guys was just talking and somehow I got to act with a DJ for a few nights.  (I should have kept up).

Anyway by the time I was a sophomore I was a Beatle Fan (moving on to “fanatic”). At one of the dances/events on campus was a casino night and with my fraternity friends, we pooled our casino points for the auction at the end of the night and “bought” the Rubber Soul album.  

As always, I was very frugal so buying music wasn’t in my budget.  Listening to the radio was free and that worked for me.  

By 1967 when Sgt Pepper came out, I thought I could spend enough money to buy the album (not a CD!!).  Yes, I can sing all of the songs on that album and most other Beatle Songs.  

Hey, Jude came out in the summer of 1968.  I didn’t need to be on campus for another week but was done with my summer job, so I drove to Iowa State University and spent a couple of days with my cousin.  On that trip, it seemed like Hey Jude was played once an hour - and, if you can picture it - I’m in my parent’s second car (I didn’t have a car until my junior year in college), with my window rolled down singing along (or screaming along)! 

In 1984, I started working on my Ph.D. degree at the University of Nebraska.  I had a Chevy Chevette and the radio wasn’t all that good.  I had a cassette tape player that I could play on my drive to and from Lincoln Nebraska.  My family was still in South Dakota, so on Friday nights, I drove to Madison, South Dakota and on Sunday afternoons I drove back to Lincoln.  [I didn’t like working on the advanced degree.  I was okay with just a master's degree!!!  But, having a doctorate in Management Information Systems opened a lot of avenues for me!!!  I'm glad I persevered.]

 

I remember the day I defended my dissertation to my committee and got approved for the Ph.D. degree.  I drove back to South Dakota - soaring on the clouds mentally - while my little Chevette kept rolling on!!!  I needed something to commemorate that day, so I stopped in a Walmart in South Sioux City Nebraska, and bought a Beatle cassette tape!! When cassette tapes disappeared that tape did as well.  Oh well - time marches on!!

Eventually, many years later with a job and money, I purchased pretty much all of the albums on CD.  When we got a new car about five years ago it came with Sirius XM radio and eventually Sirius added the Beatle Channel - and if you as a fly on the window when I drive you will probably hear that channel!!

So, yes, I now will count myself as “almost” a member of “Beatlemania”.  I have avoided the pop magazines and the books on the Beatles.  I really don’t want to know about their personal lives, their marriages, and their breakup.  It is kind of like politics - keep the garbage in the background - don’t sling the mud.  

One additional aspect of Beatlemania.  Malcolm Gladwell (many books - of which “The Tipping Point” might be the most famous) suggests that 10,000 hours should make a person proficient in their area.  The Beatles spent long hours playing in Hamburg Germany.  They played American Rock Tunes and started writing some of their own (I want to hold your hand/Komm, gib mir deine Hand).  Those hours playing and improvising, adapting the vocals, trying new chords and songs help them to develop into a powerful band.

*****

Okay - so what is the purpose of your blog today, Karen?

My mood can change instantly when I hear a favorite song - be it a Beatles song - or a particular classical piece.  I have a playlist of “Upbeat Classics” on my phone.  I also have a Beatle playlist, a classic rock playlist, and a show tune playlist.  

I have days that are tiring, but walking, listening to music I love can refresh me.  

We are products of our environment as well as our families (“nature and nurture”). I think we all have things that elate us - things that stir something deep inside. And, it is good to periodically open that memory. 

I’d like to think of that as “Passion”.  Exuberance!!! What am I passionate about?  Music for one thing.

What are YOU passionate about?  The environment?  The homeless?  The poor?  Education?  Fighting hate?  Fighting lies and ignorance? Spirituality?  Wholeness?  Your family?

Plus the concept of Gladwell’s 10,000 hours is part of today’s message.  We need to be proficient.  For example, Michael Jordan spent hours and hours playing basketball - trying out new moves, new shots.  Bill Gates spent hours working on computers.  Very few become “overnight successes” without toil and deep learning.    If you want (or need) to be a speaker, stand in front of a mirror for hours orating

Find your passion!!  Find your life!!!  Then work and perfect your actions.

Karen White

February 16, 2022