i’ve always wished that i had been alive in the sixties. i used to write stories about how my life would be if i were. i remember reading an entry from a journal i kept at the age of 13 : how do the Beatles know everything? and even when they don’t know everything, they still do. haha. i am not completely sure what exactly i meant by that, but i do still sort of feel that way.
when i was little, my mums, aunt, and uncle would sit on my uncle’s bed and sing their hearts out to the Beatles, Neil Young, U2, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Supertramp, Simon & Garfunkel, CCR, and a slew of others. i would sit on the floor resting my chin on the bed and look up at them rocking out. it was always a curious sight. i didn’t know how they could remember the lyrics to every song, on every album, of every band. they would use pens, brushes, spoons – whatever was readily available, really, to beat their imaginary drums. and they would sing to me.
i will always remember one particular night when i lay down on the rug in my uncle’s room while he sang on the bed and my aunt and mums danced around the room. Here Comes The Sun, by the Beatles was blasting from the stereo and i started to sing along. i didn’t notice them notice me and i continued to sing with my hands tapping beside me, as i lay on the floor. when the song ended, they were all looking at me and smiling. they made comments that only embarrassed me so i curled up and didn’t sing for the rest of the night. i wasn’t sure where any of that had come from. i didn’t know i knew any lyrics to any songs, i didn’t know who the Beatles were, i didn’t know how i could sing along [in my head] to every song afterwards. all i knew was that i liked that song and i wanted to hear it again and again and again and again. and so began my love for music, dancing in my socks, household-item-instruments, and the Beatles in particular.
there has since been a generous list of songs, by many of those bands, that make me feel at home, warm, and i guess understood in a way. some offer a way back to nice memories, and others, being with me throughout the years, have acquired new and dear meanings. The Beatles make up a large part of that list and if i even tried to start explaining what each song means to me here, i may not ever end.
so of course, during the movie Across the Universe i could not contain my excitement. i don’t care that this movie wasn’t perfect. i don’t care that it was a little long. it made me happy.
the soundtrack is delightful.
downloads:
Strawberry Fields Forever – this is one of my favourite Beatles songs and it will be, bad cover after bad cover, forever! Jim Sturgess’ voice sometimes reminds me of Ewan McGregor’s. this is not one of the best in the film but like i said, one of my favourite originals.
*I Want To Hold Your Hand – fans are complaining that this version is way too slow and drawn out, but i think T.V. Carpio has a cool voice and gives this classic a really nice twist.
Happiness Is A Warm Gun – features Salma Hayek! [i love her]
