Note: I wrote this a week ago, and set it to publish on Feb. 10th. Now, see the side note at the end. Well, read the piece first, THEN read the note. The timing was merely a happy coincidence.
The Beatles. John, Paul, George, Ringo. Oh! How I adored them. They wanted to hold my hand. They loved me, yeah, yeah, yeah. And they gave me all their lovin’. Paul was my second celebrity crush. Elvis was my first, but we aren’t talking about him right now.
The first time I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, my seven-year-old self was enraptured, while my dad was aghast at their hair. “Freida,” he cried, “Come look at these boys’ hair!”
I watched Mom walk into the living room to investigate what he was fussing over. The Beatles. I’d plopped myself down on the floor in front of our black and white screen tv and instantly fallen head over heels in love. They were all adorable, but Paul was the one. He sang to me. I knew that every word from his mouth was intended for me and me alone.
(That’s not me above, but it could’ve been)
If I’d been a little bit older, I’d likely have had more lustful feelings for Paul, but at seven, I just felt love in its purest form. He was adorably earnest with a mischievous smile. Unobtainable and safe. Every little girl should have such a love.
Was the music a part of it? Certainly. Who could resist Love Me Do?
I fall in love all over again when I hear this song.
Side note: On Feb. 9th 1964, the Beatles played their first television appearance on the Ed Sullivan show.
Peace and love, people!
Praying for Eyebrowz 
Aaaahhh
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Did you ever see them live in concert? It’s one of my biggest sorrows that I never did.
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I didn’t. I didn’t really appreciate them at first.
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The story goes (and I should know as I have re-told it a hundred times) that my mom was nine months pregnant with me when she saw the Beatles play live. Ergo, I was there, too … technically.
And as a side note: thank you, nan, for the kind words on FB.
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You were there! And you’re welcome.
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There is nothing I can add to the Beatles talent except the melodies and chord changes appealed to you at 7 and major musicians alike ….the freshness and magic appealed to the screaming youth and session players alike…….they recorded the first album in one day…it was just their club set……and even the cover songs were magic…..I still can’t sit still when I hear John belt out Twist and Shout….and Isley’s Brothers song….once in a lifetime comet
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They were magical
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WoW. The first time I ever heard them was when my ‘dear’ sister came back from a summer working away in a hotel and she brought a pile of records. And while the mum’s back was turned she said,’ You have to listen to this.’ And she put on Twist and Shout. Talking Elvis, he was banned in our house, it was all Oklahoma and Doris Day and Bali Hi, even poor Billie Holliday had faded by then, well….. before the mum came belting through and tore the Beatles off, I thought ‘Way to go. Who are they?’ You just knew this was the start of something and music would not be the same again. .
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My parents indulged my love of them, and my little brothers were eventually sporting the haircuts. I was pretty lucky that there weren’t many restrictions on my childhood exploration of pop culture. I had friends whose parents were like yours, so I often was the corrupting influence.
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Lol…. I think I hd to become my own corrupting influence!!!!! Someone had to.
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Ha!
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Their hair definitely took the world by storm. At times, I’ve been accused of having “Beatles” hair. Haha. Their impact has been tremendous. Great post!
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Thanks! Have you seen the film, Yesterday?
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I have not. Is it a winner?
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If you like the Beatles you’d enjoy it. It’s very different, and an interesting premise.
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Funny, I don’t remember seeing that first show (I was close to your age and we always watched the Ed Sullivan Show, so I must have) but I do remember being irritated at the screaming girls that seemed to always show up where they played. I wanted them to shut up so I could hear the music.
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😊the screaming girls were awful!
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I’m a bit older than you but I fell in love (my fav was George but I loved them all) with the Beatles at a very young age because my sister was six years older than me (she’s 70 now!). They were mesmerizing! I so enjoyed your comment about “felt love in its purest form”. I appreciate the link. I played it and could sing every single word. We had a hi-fi (not wi-fi) in the basement and my sister and I listened to those records over and over and over again. Thanks for the memories. Have you ever seen the movie “Across the Universe”? If you are a Beatles fan, I think you’d love it.
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Oh, LuAnne! If I’d been a little older it likely would’ve been George for me, too. I didn’t appreciate his charms until I was much, much older. And I adored Across the Universe. Have you seen Yesterday?
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Yes, I have. Loved that too. Look at all the Beatles have inspired! There’s a Vegas show called “Love” with Beatle songs. I have the sound track but never seen the show.
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I’d love to see to see that!
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