I haven’t posted anything from the Watcher’s Council in quite some time, and I feel it is high time I get back to it. Whatever happens, it will be an interesting rest of the year. All personal feelings aside, I just hope we can finally get the economy back on track once and for all. It is still the economy stupid.
It’s been a while since I’ve really written here. So here it goes. I want to personally thank all of my wonderful readers out there who stuck with me throughout the April 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge. I can’t imagine having any interest in my blog at all throughout April if not a Beatles fan. It did take over a bit, but the entire experience was well worth it. It reignited my love for the Beatles. As reluctant as I am to admit this, their catalog deeply inspires me and probably always will. By the way, I am not the only one who blogged the Beatles all month long, check out the link below.
This spring hasn’t exactly gone as planned. I was supposed to take a week’s vacation back in April, but that didn’t work out. Instead I have this week off. While my week off hasn’t exactly started off on the right foot, I am hoping to finally get back on track blogging. There is a lot coming up. The problem is this: I started organizing and planning much of the new features of Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde, which are still to come and in the planning stages, a few weeks before the blogging challenge started. Add in work drama in my off-line life and you have a recipe for nothing getting done. Fortunately I’ve already hit the books again (more on that in a minute – and more posts to come) and hope to get things organized before heading back to work next Monday.
Now on to one of my other favorite topics, books! Ah…. I was frustrated for a little bit. My original intent, way back in February or March, was to reread Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen before reading Death Comes To Pemberley by P.D. James, which was a Christmas gift. By April, I was still very much within the first 100 pages or so of Pride And Prejudice. There was too much going on and the beginning was just too slow for me at that particular time. Well, I finally decided to turn my original plan on its head and read Death Comes To Pemberley first.
What a great book! It had the right pacing to get me back into Pride And Prejudice, which I will soon finish. Finally. I’m at the point where I am once again in love with Mr. Darcy. I now remember why he is my favorite male literary character and why I think Miss Elizabeth Bennet is the luckiest of female literary protagonists despite her crazy Mom and silly sisters. One of my favorite parts of the novel is when Lizzy finally comes to her senses and realizes she does love Mr. Darcy, but fears it is too late thanks to her thoughtless sister Lydia. Please keep in mind that in my mind, Colin Firth is and always will be the character of Mr. Darcy, whether inPride And Prejudice orBridget Jones’s Diary. I can’t help it. If you watch the videos below, you’ll understand why.
It’s been interesting rereadingPride And Prejudice as a proper adult who has actually been in love. At 17, while I absolutely loved the book, I really didn’t appreciate just how perfect a romance the entire novel is. I’ve always appreciated the fact that Mr. Darcy told Elizabeth Bennet his true thoughts and feelings, good and bad, in the eye-opening letter he gave her right before leaving Roslings. That letter took some serious guts. I love how completely honest they are with each other. Then I started to think about my relationship with Brian. That is precisely why our relationship works. We are completely honest with each other, warts and all, and implicitly trust each other to continue to be so.
Oh, and I couldn’t help myself. I had to add these Beatle videos. They date from 1995 and make me want to dig out all three parts of the Anthology. I can’t imagine what it took for them to put together that entire project without John. Enjoy.
I’ve tried unsuccessfully over the last few evenings to fully summarize my experience with April 2012 Blogging A to Z. There is that much to say. For a full understanding of why I chose to write about the Beatles, you really have to go way back. I have hundreds of memories of Beatles music from my childhood, just a lot of very fun memories. I even remember when I first became aware of who the Beatles were. I happened to be riding with my parents in my Mom’s car at age 6 or 7 when a Beatles song came on. My parents started talking about the Beatles, almost arguing really – my Dad isn’t exactly a fan, and I was lost. I wanted to take sides, but I had never heard of the Beatles before. I just did what all kids do. I asked.
Back then, in the mid-1980s, I don’t think people fully appreciated the Beatles impact on pop culture yet. I still have no idea how they managed to be so far ahead of everyone else. Decades ahead of their time, I think at least some of their music sounds as though it firmly belongs in the 1980s, or in some cases, the 1990s. By the time the Beatles became popular again in the mid-1990s thanks to the Anthology project, I, as a cynical young teenager, relegated them to my early childhood. I really didn’t think much of them at the time or fully realize just how much of their music impacted everything else that came after it.
By the time I was a freshman at Michigan State 1999-2000, everything changed. At the time there was a lot going on in the “alternative” music scene and in pop music generally. For every White Stripes, there seemed to be two Backstreet Boys or a Britney Spears or two. My freshman year roommate, much to my despair, loved the Backstreet Boys. Fortunately for me I became friends with a girl who lived across the hall who loved good music as much as I did. Her little sister joined us in Snyder-Phillips Hall the very next year. The three of us, occasionally joined by a random friend or two, would spend entirely too much time just wandering around a used music store nearby. Normally each of us would end up with a new used CD or two. We’d then go back and share, acting like total goofballs. Somewhere along the line I realized that my love for the Beatles will never really die.
After my freshman year I made a decision that would eventually shape the rest of my time at Michigan State and my life. I decided to spend a good chunk of the summer studying in London through MSU’s study abroad program. It was the first of five study abroad programs I’d complete by the time I graduated in 2004. London was everything I expected it to be – and more. Oddly enough I didn’t take the time to visit any of the Beatles related sites in London – not even Abbey Road – or visit Liverpool. That will have to wait for another day.
As part of the study abroad program I had to create a final research project relating either to art or literature. The project had to have approval of our Professor before we could even begin. My original idea was to detail the influence of the Beatles on today’s pop music, particularly modern pop music in the UK. It pains me to even write the truth because it just shows you how ignorant I was at age 19. My professor kindly suggested that the subject was way too broad. Of course it was, I just didn’t know it at the time. Keep in mind at this time I wasn’t very familiar with the Beatles best works, nor did I know just how innovative they were as most of their innovations are common practice in the early 21st century (think music videos, concept albums, writing original material, etc.).
In the end I decided to compare five different theatrical performances – and nailed the project. I enjoyed spending time in London’s West End and loved every minute of my study abroad experience. Still, I never truly forgot my original idea for the project. I think it might have been in the back of my mind when I decided on a Beatles theme for April 2012 Blogging A to Z.
So, what did I learn from the experience? Well, I learned a ton about the Beatles. I’ve always been a fan, particularly of Paul. Throughout the entire series what struck me most was just how talented they all were – and in the case of Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, still are. It is so easy to hinge their success on John Lennon/Paul McCartney, but it became so clear to me that you needed the talents of George and Ringo too to truly account for their success. And speaking of their success, it continues to blow me away. In my opinion, it is all rightly deserved.
I also learned a lot about Paul and Linda McCartney’s relationship, Wings, their family, and Linda’s photography. Now I want to learn more and plan a series discussing those topics at a later date. When it came to John Lennon and his relationship with Yoko Ono, I actually wanted to avoid the subject for the most part. I’m not a big fan of Yoko Ono even though I don’t think she deserves the popular blame for breaking up the Beatles. Well, curiosity got the best of me and I happened to check out her entry in Wikipedia. After watching several interviews, reading the Wiki entry for Yoko, and learning a little about John Lennon’s childhood, I actually feel for her – and for John. It seems as though they tried to make the best out of some very bad family situations. Sometimes it is all too easy to place the blame at Yoko Ono’s feet.
Now that April 2012 Blogging A to Z is over, I still find myself wanting to write about the Beatles or at least add a Beatles song to posts. I love the music, I find the topic endlessly fascinating, and there is always something new to learn. I will always be a fan. It’s just sad to think that it’s unlikely another such talent will come along in my lifetime. I hope everyone enjoyed my posts as much as I enjoyed writing and “researching” them.
Taken from vintage everyday: The Beatles (1964) by Robert Whitaker
I just couldn’t end this series without including “The End.” It is the very end of the album Abbey Road – and the last recording of the Beatles together as a band. I seriously doubt the world will see another such talented and successful band in my lifetime. The Beatles is and always will be a subject of endless fascination for me. I hope all of you enjoyed my project as much as I enjoyed putting it all together. And yes, as always with the Beatles, there is more to come. Stay tuned.
V is for vintage everyday. vintage everyday is one of my favorite blogs. It highlights interesting vintage/historic pictures from various periods throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. The Beatles feature prominently, as you can see. Enjoy!
Ok, so I’ve been putting off P for a bit. My original plan was to discuss all four Beatles individually, and I am doing that with John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. It is simple really, there is just too damn much information on Paul McCartney, especially when a fan, like myself, wants to also discuss his band Wings and his solo work. I’m hoping to do a separate series on Paul himself, probably in three parts, Paul/Paul is Dead/Paul is Live, as I also plan to do with the subject of his first wife, Linda, whom I admire as a photographer (her pics of Janis Joplin alone are amazing). I’m just not sure when I will do it. So, back to the original line-up as I forgot to include Paul under P in the first place! I give you “Penny Lane.”
Penny Lane refers to an area of Liverpool, hometown to all of the Beatles, in which several bus lines converged to go to the city center. John Lennon and Paul McCartney used to meet there before heading into the city. Most of the places/things described in the song existed during the time period in which the Beatles grew up. See the Wiki for more detailed information. When first released in February 1967 as a single along with “Strawberry Fields Forever,” it was one of the first Beatles’ singles in the UK to include a photo sleeve. The Beatles created promotional videos for both “Penny Lane” and “Strawberry Fields Forever.” Those “promotional videos” are considered the ancestors of today’s modern music videos. See for yourself!
Ringo Starr - and Paul McCartney introducing The Beatles: Rock Band video game at the 2009 E3 Convention as part of Microsoft's press conference on June 1, 2009. Français : Ringo Starr - et Paul McCartney présentant le jeu vidéo The Beatles: Rock Band au salon E3, lors de la conférence de presse de Microsoft le 1 er juin 2009. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Yet another strange week. Fortunately I finally have my laptop permanently fixed, thanks to my personal IT department, my wonderful boyfriend Brian, and I have my new smart phone. Yep, I’ve been distracted this week between a new toy (smart phone) and tons of stuff going on at work. Now it’s time to get back to blogging. I really need to focus and start prioritizing my plans. Happy Saturday everyone.
Unfortunately my laptop decided to puke on me a few days ago. Fortunately I have a temporary solution in place until it is fixed. I apologize for falling so far behind in the A to Z blogging challenge. I hope to get caught up today! Lots of great stuff planned, as always.
Anyone who is anyone is gearing up for the April 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge. Originally I hadn’t planned a theme. I’m not normally a theme person per se. However, the more I learned about the challenge, and those participating, the more I realized that I did indeed need a theme. So here it goes. After originally considering a tropical theme, I realized it was way too broad. I try to write what I know, so I decided on The Beatles A to Z, including solo works. Love them or hate them, there is a ton of fun material. Here is the tentative list. I’m even going to try to tie it all together à la a concept album, an idea pioneered by the Beatles. Enjoy!
Photograph of The Beatles as they arrive in New York City in 1964 Français : Photographie de The Beatles, lors de leur arrivée à New York City en 1964 Italiano: Fotografia dei Beatles al loro arrivo a New York City nel 1964 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Oh, and by the way, do check out Nickers And Ink, an online friend who will also be participating this year!
