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“I heard the news today” that people could finally download the Beatles music on ITunes. Wow I wonder what The Beatles would say? While I am sure the living have no problem, would John and George roll over in their grave? Well probably not, but they might just laugh and say what took them so long and it got me thinking…

The Beatles have got to be my all time favorite band. Outside the fact that they really changed music, the change in their music was amazing, they went from I Want to Hold Your Hand and Twist and Shout to Hey Jude and Let it Be. They went from pop rock to sort of a psychedelic sort of music. They went from meaningless love songs to meaningful messages to the world.

The Beatles caught my attention when they first hit the air. I was just a kid but knew they were something special and that I would be a fan. As each song came out, so did my guitar as I skillfully tried to learn each lick. I could not get enough of these four chaps.

Every time an album came out, I was there and when the cassettes, 8-tracks and reel to reel came out as I was making sure I had that album in every form of media.  

So I’m not so sure I understand what the big hoopla is with ITunes. I have been listening to The Beatles on my IPod every since I had an IPod. Years ago I found a free mp3 burner and burnt all my albums to the computer. Last year my cousin gave me thirty-five Beatles albums as mp3′s for a Christmas gift. Some were re-mastered, some where greatest hits, not so greatest hit, interviews I mean I have a folder with 35 Beatles albums at my finger tips to listen to on my IPod or computer.

 I did not have to wait for ITunes to offer me the Beatles. Like always even as a child if I wanted something in a specific media, I would find a way. As a kid, we would record our albums onto a cassette and stick it in our Walkman. As an adult, we simply burn the CD that we owned or rented from the library onto the computer and convert it to MP3. 

But Apple is ranting and raving that they have “unveiled” The Beatles on ITunes. Hmmm, I feel sorry for those who really thought they had to wait for Apple to get the Beatles on their IPod. Hey but if you are one of those people who really thought you had to wait, then go for it. You can go to Apple and pay and simply click and the group’s 13 re-mastered studio albums for $12.99, or as double albums for $19.99 can be yours. 

As for me, hmmm I guess I am just ahead of my time, or is Apple a little behind the times? One would have to wonder.

Years ago I was showing a young woman how to play a Beatles song; I believe it was “Ticket to Ride.” As I was showing her the chords, I asked, “Do you know what band did this song?” She smiled with confidence, “Yes, it was Abbey Road.” What I could not get my head around was that she was only about 13-years younger than me; she had to have heard of The Beatles.

 Well, the game makers of America have a new way of introducing people to the Beatles. X-Box, PS3 and Wii will be releasing The Beatles rock band. That’s right folks, take your fake, plastic guitars, bass, and drums, and become a Beatle. For me, I do not care what it takes to introduce people to The Beatles. They deserve an introduction, even this kind of modern day introduction. 

 It might seem strange at first, I will admit, to see 7 and 8 year olds singing She Loves You and Strawberry Fields Forever, but I believe I can live with that. I don’t mind hearing the youth of our time singing real music. Maybe this will introduce them to what music used to be like.

 The Beatles, John, Paul, Ringo, and George landed on American shores in February 7, 1964 and changed the world of music. It was the beginning of the British Invasion. Who better to invade America than The Beatles? The impact of these Liverpool lads cannot be overlooked. They had playful personalities, mop-top hair cuts, and crisp harmonies that added to their musical teamwork.

 I recall the first time I saw The Beatles. It was the Ed Sullivan Show, and there they stood. I put my head close to the TV and shouted to my mother that I wanted to be a Beatle. My parents ran to Mexico and got me a five-dollar guitar, and I started teaching myself Beatles songs. To this day I still play those old Beatles songs, just not on a five-dollar guitar!

 I think the Beatles changed our world. They changed how we looked, how we listened, and how we acted. They taught us to say and believe in anything. They believed we could be defiant and on pitch at that.

When all was said and done, The Beatles had 20 number-one singles, sold over a billion records worldwide. Not bad for four boys that had a dream. The Beatles came to us on a high note and they exited on a high note as well by coming together in the summer of 1969 to record Abbey Road, then on April 10, 1970, Paul announced he was leaving the Beatles.

 I have way too many memories of The Beatles and their songs to share my most memorable Beatles moments. I have too many favorite songs to say I have one favorite song. What I do have is a taste in my mouth that is sweet and filled with memories each time I hear a Beatles song and my heart feels at peace.

 So with that said, what do you like to remember about The Beatles?