Last week, with Daughter #1, I saw "Across the Universe." The Gainesville movie theatre had a big deal going on, with folks dressed in 60s garb, and an acoustic band playing hippie music. I figured this was a prelude to a bad movie, but I was absolutely wrong. I haven't enjoyed a movie this much since "American Beauty."
ACU is a simple musical based on Beatles' songs. The plot is the typical boy meets, loses, and regains girl, against a back drop of the turbulent 60s. Still, the movie was visually and musically brilliant. It reminded me of something Kubrick may have directed, if he collaborated with Terry Gilliam, and maybe had some help from Alexander Payne. I came away blown away.
I've loved the Beatles since I was a small child. My sister bought me "Magical Mystery Tour" when I was six, and I memorized every lyric and album photo. The summer of 1969 or 1970 I stayed with her and her husband in a house in Southhampton, and played their copy of "The White Album" probably 200 times. At the end of the summer she and her husband Jeff gave it to me, and I still have it upstairs with my old vinyl colllection.
Still, over the past 10 years, I haven't listened to the Beatles that much. I guess I suffer from the overload of hearing their songs EVERYWHERE, even including commercials. Now, though, after ACU, I've been listening again, and rediscovering the musical and lyrical genius of their work.
Even better, Daughter #2 is completely hooked on Beatles music. She saw the movie with wifey, and has now asked for ALL of the Beatles albums. We finally have something we can sing to together, as oppposed to my making fun of her rap songs, as if I was "down with da gangsta cred." Ha.
Anyway, I was saddened as a child when the Beatles broke up, and hoped against hope for a reunion. I loved the story about how they almost appeared on "Saturday Night Live" in th 70s.
It's nice to listen again, almost like running into an old, cherished friend. Listen on, daughters!
1 comment:
I still remember you playing Norwegian Wood for me in your Wantaugh bedroom when I was 8. It's still my fvorite Beatles tune. Being a child, I thought when Lennon said "so, I lit a fire" that he'd burned her house down. Of course, I'm older now and know that he probably had built it outside, repsonsibly and with a rock barrier around the pit, because John Lennon would never hurt anyone.
It occurs to me now that I may have married Cathryn, a Norwegian girl, because of that very experience. I also almost burned our house down this week when I left the pool pump on even though the motor had burned out.
If that isn't a REAL love song anda testament to the power of the Beatles, I don't know what is!
Post a Comment