Y2/D263...Sunday Scaries..

My allergies and peri-menuopause are making me crazy. Been feeling off - off and on today, but now fine. So clearly that.

Also difficulty sleeping due to the above.

Watching the end of School of Chocolate - which has the same problems most US reality series have - contrived competitive conflicts, and nastiness. Also they are wasting a lot of chocolate.
( Read more... )

Finished watching the Beatles Get Back Documentary - and weirdly wanted more afterwards. This is the exact opposite of School of Chocolate. I agree with Peter Jackson - you are watching them problem solve, resolve conflicts, and find a way to make things work. I enjoyed the musicians, their problem solving, their process and their creation of their music. I left it - loving each and every one of them, and their music. It was uplifting, even though I knew they were breaking up, but I was okay with that - because I felt towards the end that it was the best course of action for them - and their individual styles of music.

What's kind of fascinating about the Beatles is they have developed such diverse styles, yet similar process. None of them read or write music, they do it by sound. (Although I think George may write music, not clear on that.) The principle conflict between them is what they all wanted from their careers, who they wanted to work/collaborate with, and focus on, and the differing styles began clash. There was no way they could stay together. They no longer wanted the same things from their music, and they all had enough money that they could do whatever they wanted. Also unlike a lot of bands - they began as pre-adolescents, 13-16 years of age, with John as the eldest, and Ringo the youngest. They hit fame at the age of 17-16 years of age. And made their first million by the age of 20. The Monkeys (a poor man's take on the Beatles - were in their 20s at the time they were put together, and had a while in the business, the Beatles didn't.)

A lot has been written about who caused the breakup. But I honestly think no one did - it would have happened inevitably. Unfortunately, the way they eventually broke up - because they were so young and somewhat immature in how they went about it - caused friction and acrimony that took years to fix. Not aided by some bad music managers out for themselves. John and Yoko did not have the best business sense, nor did Ringo and George. Of the four Paul probably had the best business sense. And after Brian Epstein died, about three years prior to their break up (1967), resulting in Paul taking over the producing role - tensions rose. As Paul put it - his becoming Boss and producer was problematic. He didn't want the role, and the others didn't respect him in it. George felt, and rightly so, that Paul was sidelining him. And George is VERY passive aggressive. Instead of just telling everyone he's unhappy and doesn't want to tour, and just wants to create an album of his own songs - he walks out. He hated conflict, and disliked being photographed or filmed. And did not want to do any more films. Paul wanted to tour, to get out in front of the people, and enjoyed it. Paul also was the least hippie/beatnik of the bunch. He wore tailored suits, and didn't wear fur coats. Had given up smoking, while John and George smoked like chimneys. (I can see why George died of cancer later.)
And Paul has a young kid that he brings to the sessions.

I wandered a bit online listening to interviews and reading articles and determined that the in-fighting between the Beatles had less to do with why they broke up, so much as how.

Why? Paul wanted to perform live, George wanted to create a solo album, Ringo wanted to do films and do his own stuff, John wanted to experiment with a new sound and philosophical songs with Yoko and collaborate with her for a change. It was as simple as that. Paul wanted visuals, the others not so much. They were perfectly fine coming in separately to record albums, and do their own arrangements, they didn't want Paul to do them. Paul had taken that over from Epstein.

Of the musical styles? George is more folk or classic rock similar to Dylan and Clapton. In fact George was close friends with Clapton. (Clapton is a bigoted racist - so not necessarily a good thing. I don't know how they got along, considering George doesn't strike me as conservative or racist at all - George was into Hinduism.) Paul was more into traditional pop music with a mix of classic rock - similar to Michael Jackson, Elvis, Stevie Wonder, and others. Paul also loved to tour - it's why he was the only to set up a band, and toured with it through the 70s. I was introduced to Wings before the Beatles - because I grew up in the 1970s. I got hold of the Beatles stuff in the late 70s/early 80s.

Paul's way of coming up with songs and writing music reminded me a little of Prince, while George fit more Clapton and Dylan. They had competing styles and didn't quite understand each other's take on music at times. Paul also admittedly under-rated George's music, and admits that later. Paul sings "All Things Shall Pass" at George's Tribute Concert and Paul joined Ringo to play various songs with George at his estate. But at 26, he didn't quite see it - he was too full of his own songs and ambition to do so. When he was older - he did. And I think John's death brought them back together - George had a falling out with John in the 1970s, and when John died they were still on bad terms.

Lennon was also more wistful and into experimental music by the time he reached his late twenties - his style is almost performance art. And he jumped away from recording or touring for a bit, after releasing albums in the 70s. John had zero interest in performing live or touring again. And says as much in interviews - "will the Beatles unite? To do another album sure, maybe, but we're not touring again". Unlike the Stones - they didn't enjoy touring - and a lot of it had to do with the fact that they started touring as teens, hit fame at the ripe old age of 18, and got mobbed by fans way too young. Jagger in stark contrast started the Rolling Stones at 19. Lennon started the Beatles at 16 and Lennon was the oldest of the Beatles, Jagger was the youngest of the Stones. And while John and Paul would play together - they refused to collaborate or record or perform together in front of an audience. Paul did get John recording again though.

They got into a bad legal battle over the rights to their song book (which ended up with Michael Jackson - because George, Paul and Ringo trusted Allen Klein and Apple). Paul backed John Eastmen another attorney and his brother in law. The in-fighting resulted in Ringo taking a notice to Paul's house that Paul not release a solo album at the same time a Beatles album was being released. The legal in-fighting and the fact that they were all relatively immature millionaires in a difficult and competitive business - lead to a lot of passive aggressive behavior. George wrote a song about Paul - Run of the Mill. [It's very passive aggressive and not a very good song - I've listened to it twice, and I can't follow it. George has written some very good songs, but this isn't among them.] I reiterate - George is passive aggressive. He was also four years younger than John and a year younger than Paul - which makes a difference when you are 16 years of age. Keep in mind these guys started touring together as a band when they were adolescents.

Paul and John ignored George, and just slung songs at each other. It wasn't George who broke up the band in Paul's opinion it was John, and in John's Paul. Paul wrote a song about John. John wrote a song about Paul. They were basically slinging songs at each other on their albums.

From Far Out Magazine:

With a little bit of digging, it soon became clear that The Beatles couldn’t quite get over being one-quarter of the Fab Four even if they were now out on their own. It meant that on all of their solo efforts, the group took shots at the band. Some were wistful others were filled with pure resentment. For Paul McCartney, a musician who had been more isolated by the break-up than most, the songs about his former band seemed to all revolve around one man — John Lennon.

George Harrison wrote ‘Run of the Mill,’ ‘Wah-Wah’ and ‘Before We Were Fab’ as ‘tributes’ to his former bandmates — most of them focusing on their giant egos. Ringo too dropped in the odd song about his pals, ‘Back Off Boogaloo’ and ‘Early 1970’ being the choice cuts. Of course, Lennon was never shy about throwing a barb or two and his song ‘How Do You Sleep?’ is certainly the most aggressive reference to the band, or at least, Paul McCartney, but even that song was written in response to a Macca original....

[..]

McCartney viciously attacks Lennon and his choice of music, women, and lifestyle, lavishing heaps of resentment on Lennon in McCartney’s most pointed songs. It garnered a response from Lennon who responded with his own aggression and the chastising ‘How Do You Sleep?’. It was clear the duo were still infatuated with one another.

After seeing "Get Back" - I'm amused by these songs slung at each other. I honestly think they were immature, insanely talented musicians, with a platform, who struggled with going solo and resented each other for not being the band or collaborator each wanted them to be.

They did make peace finally. But, as the above article points out, and is underlined in Get Back - John Lennon's style was very different from the others. He was a "hard rocker", and Paul was a "popular artist" and Harrison was more along the lines of folk rock. Most people prefer one over the other, but I've wildly eclectic taste so I like all three for different reasons and don't see them as comparable. But Paul's style was by far the most popular, and his prolific talent made him the richest of the four, and the wealthiest rock star in the world.

And here...this snippet from Far Out, digs deep into the relationship between Harrison and Lennon.
( Harrison's reaction to Lennon's death - and how it brought together those remaining in one last recording experience )

Harrison had a falling out with Lennon, and was not on good terms with him at the time of his death. This shook up Harrison a great deal - and he wrote a song in tribute to Lennon, with help from Ringo, Paul, and Linda McCartney. Who he asked to help him record it. Along with George Martin to produce.

Also what the snippet shows - is I was right - George Harrison hated touring or performing in public. He was a recording artist. It's why he and Paul clashed the most. Paul gets it and states it clearly to John in Get Back.

Paul: George doesn't want to do films, or really perform. I get that. I do. But I want something visual - some goal in mind outside of an album.
John: But that's what we are doing recording an ablum.
Paul: I know, and we could make this whatever this is into a television series, maybe but..
John: This has to be a mutual decision -
Paul: That's why I'm talking to you, we have to make it, not someone else.

Their conversation is interrupted at one point by Michael Lindsey-Hogg, who Paul shoves off, stating to John, that he knows its the band's decision not Hogg's and its why he's talking to John about it. Hogg want's a climatic moment for his film to work. Paul also wants to build to something, but he's also scared of losing the band, which he's desperately holding together. George was pleased to go back to the recording studio and abandon the television series and any live shows, he just wanted to record an album. George joins the conversation, apologizing for being late. Paul and John handwave it, but Paul lets George join in, and explains to him the situation. He also kind of backs off of the whole performance bit - because he doesn't want to lose George at this point. Ringo and John stating they do want to do the performance on the roof shocks Paul, who had kind of given up on it, and had a faint of hope of maybe convincing George tomorrow. But it also turns the tide. When they perform on the roof - the only ones who appear to enjoy it are Paul and Ringo, John is freezing and George is as well. But they are all amazed that they've managed to write fourteen songs, and have an album. On the roof? They only play four, and two of them are played twice - Get Back (2 times) and Don't Let Me Down (2 x).

I honestly think the media made them nuts. They had become a recording band because of the media - and you kind of have to get your music out there.

Anyhow, if you get the chance to see this - and are a music fan or Beatles fan - I highly recommend. I was amazed at how good it was. It really does focus on what worked with the Beatles, and how truly kind and good natured they all were at heart. And I think we all need to see more of that nowadays.

Oh and here's the song that George Harrison wrote in tribute to John Lennon after his death:

Watch on YouTube

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I've not been feeling well today and I don't know why. Allergies, I hope. Since the meds work and they come and go - it's allergies. The hot flashes making it worse.

The Hasidim visited me again - first time since 2019, apparently they decided it was safe to go door to door? Omicron variant - pshaw. They were maskless of course - I think it's because masks don't go with long beards?

Hasidim: Are you Jewish?
Me: No. I'm Christian. [Although it's hard to tell at the moment. I've no decorations up and my Church is celebrating Hanukkah.]
Hasidim: Do you know if anyone around here is Jewish?
Me: No. (I don't go around asking folks what religion they practice, that's their business. My God, these guys make me miss the Jehovah Witnesses. They don't come around, and they were masks and believe in vaccinations.)

They leave. I'm puzzled. Since when were the Orthodox Jews evangelical? I thought that was a Christian thing? Apparently not.

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Anyhow...tomorrow I hope my allergies have dissipated. I've a lot to do.
And I can't afford to get sick right now. Allergy attacks are the worst, have had them periodically during the pandemic. Every time - I panic and think - oh shit COVID, then, nope, frigging allergies.

Wales wants to go out to dinner next week - I want to play it safe until I can see my Mom and Dad. Is this silly?

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Random Photo of the night...