Absolutely wonderful article from the Times of London where children review the new Beatles re-masters. To crib from another group of classic rockers, looks like these kids are all right:
?¢‚Ǩ?ìIt?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s about ragged tramps in newspapers on the street,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù says Otto, upping the tragic imagery. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìBut the Beatles weren?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t poor. They were famous. Fame leads to riches. Riches lead to a Nintendo DS.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù
?¢‚Ǩ?ìThe Beatles need to buy houses and cars, and a helicopter,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù reflects Isabella. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìBut they still want to make the poor people feel a bit better.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù
?¢‚Ǩ?ìI think they wrote the song when they went into a graveyard,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù concludes Otto.
The conversation appears to have taken a maudlin turn. I try to cheer the panel up with a blast of Sgt. Pepper?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Lonely Hearts Club Band, but the social problems highlighted in Eleanor Rigby are still in everyone?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s minds. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìSgt. Pepper is lonely,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù says Otto. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìHe?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s scared and he?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s got no friends.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù
Pearl, the more pragmatic of our children, explains Sgt. Pepper?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s loneliness thus: ?¢‚Ǩ?ìhe?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s a sergeant and he?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s a pepper. It?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s not nice.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù
—snip—
How about Norwegian Wood (1965)?
George Harrison?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s sitar and John Lennon?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s tale of a failed seduction mark the Beatles?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ burgeoning experimental phase. The children are intrigued.
?¢‚Ǩ?ìThe singing was sad but the music was happy,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù comments Rowan.
?¢‚Ǩ?ìIt?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s about a guy that nobody likes because he?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s really lazy,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù says Otto.
?¢‚Ǩ?ìHe?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s a poor man looking for a zero pound shop,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù adds Fred, elliptically.
—snip—
But the following day Otto?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s friend Willard, an articulate nine-year-old, comes over. I play Norwegian Wood, A Day in the Life, Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds and Helter Skelter to the boys. After careful consideration, Willard explains the Beatles?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ place in society today.
?¢‚Ǩ?ìNow it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s all about the pop and the urban,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù he tells me. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìThis is the time for Lady Gaga and Beyonc?ɬ©. The age of rock has gone, but you can still put on Helter Skelter for the old geezers and enjoy it. Actually, The Beatles?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ songs are much better than the modern songs.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù
?¢‚Ǩ?ìThe Beatles are great,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù concludes Otto, with the conviction of someone who knows about these things. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìThe modern songs are a pile of dog c**p.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù
What Children Think of The Beatles
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
You Never Give Me Your Money: Metzger on the Beatles Remasters
Thank you Michael Simmons!
