During the height of Beatlemania, I acted indifferently towards The Fab Four. My indifference was part of my disguise.
I worried that if I showed any interest in The Beatles, people would perceive that as a girly thing. Next thing you know, they would put two and two together and figure out that if I was doing girly things, then I must be girly. The fact that I had feminine speech and mannerisms would just confirm their conclusion.
In my late teens, I abandoned my disguise (because it was not working) and was completely open about my Beatlemania. I bought all their LPs, 45s, EPs, tapes, CDs, DVDs and as many bootlegs as I could find. When I visited the UK in the mid-1980s, I found Abbey Road and had my photo taken crossing the famous crosswalk. And on and on and on.
Anyway, I finally saw The Beatles in person on Saturday night! Well, more like one-quarter of The Beatles or one-half of the surviving Beatles.
Ringo Starr performed at a local concert hall and I had almost a front row seat to see the show. I had a wonderful time and enjoyed the show immensely.
Two things stuck out in my mind about the show.
- Ringo is petite. He is short and amazingly thin. When he came out on the stage, I thought that he looked more like a college kid than a 72-year-old.
- Although most of the audience were my peers, there were a lot of younger people in the crowd who seemed to be big fans. For example, in the row in front of me there were three girls in their late teens or early 20s who twisted and shouted throughout the show and knew all the words to all the songs --- not just the words of The Beatles' tunes that Ringo sang, but his solo hits and non-hits as well!
So, goo goo g'joob.
Wearing Brahmin.
Femulate reader Fiona femulating at Royal Ascot.
If my math is correct I may be about a year younger than you and I was also a big Beatles fan along with liking the Beach Boys, Stones, etc. I never perceived my enjoyment of the music of our time as being a femme tip off. Perhaps my sensitivity level during those years was not there. As a boy growing up I was pretty much a guy's guy with lots of sports and orther male related activities.
ReplyDeleteNext year is when I'm 64.
DeleteI still trail you by 1. I hate to rush the process. If only we can hold up as well as the music of our youth.
ReplyDeleteBTW - I have seen Ringo and he can still bring it. He has made his life and the life of thos around him youthful and fun
Please don't pass me by, Pat.
Deletewe will still need you,
ReplyDeletewe will still feed you (comments)