Living With the Beatles

The Beatles are legends, I don't think there's much more to say about that. I couldn't even try to write about the enormous influence they've had on music, history, and culture, but I can try to describe how they've influenced me.

They stopped playing as a group long before I was even capable of appreciating music, but they're still my favorite band. That's one thing that really amazes me; they're loved not just by adults who grew up when the Beatles were making albums, but by kids my age. I won't be surprised if my kids and grandkids have the songs "Eight Days a Week," "A Hard Day's Night," and "Strawberry Fields" on their futuristic ipods built into their brains.

I have more than 200 of their songs, and can listen to them over and over. As a drummer, I can almost sing the drum parts to certain songs better than the melody, and I put on headphones and drum along with Ringo imagining Paul, John, and George standing around me. I can't really say that I have 'favorites,' but when I look up at those Beatles posters on my wall there are certain songs that come to mind. "Yesterday," "A Hard Day's Night," "I am the Walrus," "Penny Lane,""Hello Goodbye," "Let it Be," "Octopus's Garden," "Help," "Glass Onion," and many more.

That last one, "Glass Onion" is one of the few songs I've enjoyed having stuck in my head. The first thing about that song that love, is the drums. Maybe it's just because I play drums, but when I hear that fill in the beginning, perks up my ears, and I can't help but play the air drums. It's playing in the background as I write this, and on top of that driving beat, I hear those memorable lyrics. "Looking through a glass onion -break- " and the fill, "badup badup pshh!" "Strawberry fields" and "the walrus" cleverly refer to other famous Beatles songs. Before long, I'm playing air drums and singing along, and have completely forgotten what was happening before. As the song ends and the next on the legendary White Album : "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" play, I realize how it's yet another song I'd consider one of my 'favorites.'

You can get "Glass Onion" on the White Album and other Beatles albums here on Amazon. Buy them, if you haven't already!

(if you didn't get it before, With the Beatles is the title of a Beatles album)