Beth’s Music Moment: the Beatles vs. the Rolling Stones

I’m taking a short break from Doctor Sleep to write an entry. I’m trying not to rush through the book super fast—I want to savor it—so I watched more videos today in the History of Rock course. We’re at the point where we’re talking about the British Invasion, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones.

As you can imagine, I’m a happy girl with these lectures!

I’m not going to debate the merits of each band here, or try to come to any sort of conclusion. I think that is a futile exercise, because I don’t think there is any way to convince someone who thinks the Beatles were the best that the Stones really were better, or vice versa. In fact, I came to realize today that it’s not exactly an appropriate comparison. Sure, they both worked on the same musical playing field in the ‘60s, competing for hits and airtime, but they came at it from different approaches, via different influences.

I had always thought that I preferred the Stones because they were the “bad boys” in the equation. That is definitely part of it; I prefer their raunchier sound, their more in-your-face (heh) sexuality, and their somewhat more sinister music. There is more to it than that, though. I was under the assumption that each of their influences were similar, that they both listened to similar American blues music (specifically, Chicago blues) that was all the rage in England at that time. Not so. The Stones, in London, definitely were part of that scene, and that was their major influence. But the Beatles, in Liverpool, were more into American pop than American blues. With Liverpool being a port city, sailors would bring back all these American pop records and sell them in Liverpool. Meanwhile, Keith and Mick and their friends were sending off mail orders for American blues records, and having listening parties where everyone brought their records. Each were steeped in different styles of American music.

I think these influences are obvious in their respective styles. As President Obama says, let me be clear. I love the Beatles, and they were some of the first rock music I remember listening to. But I’ve always been drawn to the Stones much more, and I think it’s because the blues influence is so much more prevalent in their music.

I think my preference also has to do with timing. I’ve read that the music you listen to in your adolescent and young adult years is the music that resonates the most with you for your entire life. My sister Diana, the Beatlemaniac (she’s the one who played their records that I heard when I was maybe 5 or 6 years old), will be forever true to the Beatles, because that is what she was listening to when she was in junior high and high school. By the time I got to that point, the Beatles had broken up, and the Stones were huge throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, which was my musical young adulthood.

So these lectures were a bit of an epiphany for me today. I was like, “A-ha! So THAT’S why I dig them more!” I had honestly thought that the Beatles had that same blues influence that the Stones did. To some extent, they did, but they weren’t as into it as much as Brian, Mick, and Keith. I think that shaped their entire sound, and while both are considered two of the greatest rock bands ever, I believe that comparing them is an apple and oranges endeavor. I stand by my assertion in the past that the Stones are the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band. If the Beatles had continued, would they have that title? Or would a more appropriate title be the World’s Greatest Pop Band?

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Beth’s Music Moment: Meet the Smithereens

I’ve written about The Smithereens before. They’re one of my favorite bands from the '80s and ‘90s, with a great sound, whether it’s a rave-up like “A Girl Like You” or a mellow one like “In A Lonely Place.”

Currently playing in my car is an album they released in 2007, a song-for-song remake of the classic album “Meet the Beatles” called “Meet the Smithereens.” This is simply outstanding summer music, and I highly recommend it.

Every song is included, starting off with “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” and ending with “Not a Second Time.” It is a fairly faithful reproduction, with harmonies, hand claps, and harmonica intact. Lead singer Pat DiNizio sings most of the songs, and his voice (which I’ve always loved) brings further depth to these interpretations.

The album is billed as a “tribute to the Beatles.” It is a very loving tribute, and although it’s a risky endeavor to tackle such iconic songs, it works. It works amazingly well. I think it might work because it IS such a faithful, almost note-for-note remake; rather than changing the songs, some of which many of us know all the words to, they just played them the way the Beatles did. They merely added their heavier guitars and different voices. Even George’s guitar solos are the same.

For someone who remembers playing her Beatlemaniac sister’s “Meet the Beatles” many times (and yes, she still has it...except now it’s framed and on the wall in their basement) and happens to love the Smithereens, this album is an absolute blast. You can’t beat driving down the road in a Mustang on a hot summer day, playing this song loud, singing, and doing a little seat dancing!

I'm Vegased out, Baby!

We're back, and still on Vegas time, so we're working on getting tired enough to go to bed! It's after 4 AM here, but in Vegas, it would still be early, with a few hours before Snoozeville! We'll get back into the swing of things soon enough.

Sheeba was very happy to see us (although his Uncle Shane always takes excellent care of him), and seemed happy with his Vegas bling! We all got tons of coupons, and one of them was for a free medallion at Caesar's Palace, so all four of us got one! It's fairly hefty, and on a gold chain, and after Sheeba modeled for a while, we hung ours on the ceiling fan, along with our New Orleans beads. They look pretty cool hanging up there...we cracked up over the medallions, and I think Ken and Steve need to wear them with their silk shirts with the big collars, opened halfway...isn't that how you're supposed to wear a big honkin' gold medallion?!

I have lots to write about, and plenty of pictures to edit, so I'll split it all up into a few entries. For this entry, the topic is "Love." Feel free to discuss amongst yourselves.

I mentioned in my entry from Vegas about how remarkable the show was. I don't know if I can put it into words, but I'll try. The Beatles and their music is obviously legendary, and although they had already split up before I got really into music, I had always had an interest in them and other 60's bands because of my big sister, Diana. She was a Beatlemaniac--still is, actually--and I remember she had all the 45's of their singles, as well as all their albums. When I was maybe 6 years old, she taught me how to do the Monkey to Beatles songs. Ha ha! So I've listened to British Invasion music since I was a little girl.

There is something special about Beatles music that you tend to forget if you don't hear it for a while. How many times have you heard the songs? Hearing them in this venue brought a whole new dimension to the music (and I believe the songs were remastered for this show). The complexity and variety of the music is amazing, whether it's something as lovely as "Here Comes the Sun" or a flat-out rocker like "Revolution." This Cirque show was all about the music. The performers were amazing, but they complemented the music rather than overshadowing it. The previous Cirque shows that we've seen have been heavy on amazing feats of gymnastics and strength. Those were present in this show as well, but I thought they did a great job in letting the music be the star of the show.

The sound system was incredible, and it was so cool to be in the front row, because we were basically at stage level. I'm including a few videos that I found on the Net (I didn't take any of these), with some of the really cool parts. "Octopus's Garden" has never been one of my favorite songs of theirs, but I loved the choreography and costumes in that one! Very creative and fun. The video with the white parachute cloth was neat to see from above, because at the show...we were under it! It billowed out over the lower level, and we all raised our arms to keep it afloat and hovering over the audience. It was fun! Videos follow at the end of the entry.

I think that's part of why I loved this show. It was just so damn much fun. The music, the groovy 60's garb, the close-to-overload visual stimuli, being able to sing along with some of the songs...it was wonderful, and I'm so glad we went and sprang for the extra $$$ for the front row! (Although it looked like a fairly small theater, and I bet there isn't a bad seat in the house.)

Ken and I got drinks to take into the show: he got A Hard Day's Night and I got a Can't Buy Me Love! Ha ha! Basically a punch-type drink made with vodka, but his had a shot of Cointreau in it, too. Very tasty to sip on during the show, and who knows? Maybe they made the pretty colors a little brighter!

Miss Ginger, we didn't stop in Revolution that evening, but we went back Wednesday night and had a drink there. I had told you that I'm not really a martini gal, but I figured what the hell? I'm a trooper, and I was willing to take a bullet for Miss G! Well, turns out that their special that night was a Blueberry Martini, and I was all over that! It was fairly sweet, and went down as easy as a Vegas Strip workin' girl! Ken had a Lemon Drop, and Kim had one that was just Sapphire gin and olives. We all tried each other's, and I have to say that I like martinis! Although I was calling them martoonis (that seemed appropriate, considering it was the Revolution Bar), which I think I must have gotten from some movie. I don't know, but it was fun to say!

Coming tomorrow later today: Meeting Marty! Stay tuned!

Will it go round in Cirques?

A couple of fun things today....

When I got the mail, I was surprised to see an envelope from a lady I use to work with in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Jann worked in Hematology. When I opened the card, it said, "Bet you're surprised to hear from me!" Ha ha! I WAS surprised, Jann! The deal is that another coworker, Vicki (who ran the front desk of the lab), is leaving. Her and her husband are moving to the Twin Cities to be closer to their kids and granddaughter. So Jann is trying to get a hold of as many people from the past as she can, and she got my address from one of the ladies I still keep in touch with. Jann is putting together a video and a book for Vicki, so asked me for a story and a picture or two. I'll be happy to oblige, and will get it out to Jann pronto.

Just seeing that brought back some good memories for me. Whenever I think of Jann, I think of her story about how her daughter was running a toy lawn mower up and down her Dad's legs and torso, and Jann saying, "And I think he liked it!" I don't know why that sticks in my mind, but I remember we just lost it, and laughed for quite a while about that.

The other cool thing is that I got our tickets for Cirque du Soleil's "Love" show in Vegas, for our January trip with Kim and Steve. Front row seats, baby, woohooo! "Love" is the show that's based on Beatle's music (it's at The Mirage), and I was just reading that it's not as big on the acrobatics as other Cirque shows, but the music is the main thing for this show. The theater is filled with speakers, and there are even speakers in some of the seats. How cool is that? Diana (my sister) and Tom recently went to see it, so I'll have to get her take on it. She's an original Beatlemaniac, so I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that she liked it...A LOT. In fact, I can hear her now: "Ohhhhh! It was SO NEAT!" And I bet she'll have a book and other memorabilia to show us. Ha ha! Yes, I know my sister!

Is everyone watching the stock market tank again? Criminy. I looked up a little bit ago and it was -800. Agh! I hope none of you were planning to retire in the next few months, because what a horrible time for mutual funds, etc. Scary. Oh brother...they're scrolling emails on the bottom of the screen that people are sending in to CNN. One person just wrote that they're a college student and there are several friends who are thinking about moving to Canada because our economy is in shambles, and for the health care. I guess this person hasn't gotten the word that this is GLOBAL, it's not just the U.S. economy.

So gee...what do you think is going to be the big topic of tomorrow night's debate? Are they both going to keep harping about "palling with terrorists" and about the Keating Five scandal, or are they going to address this very real issue? The issue that is consuming the thoughts of the majority of Americans, as they struggle to make their mortgage payments and are scared about being able to pay their heating bills this coming winter. You know...THAT issue.

I'm feeling quite disgusted right now. I want to get back to my happy thoughts.

All you need is love...La-la-la....