Welcome to Beatles Week and we will kick it off in style with this article covering all of the Beatles. So buckle up… We will have over a week with The Beatles. I probably wouldn’t do this with another band…but hey…It’s The Beatles.
This entry is by Lisa from Tao-Talk. I’ve known Lisa since 2018 and the biggest George Harrison fan I’ve ever met. She is a wonderful writer with a wide knowledge of music. Lisa is a mother, grandmother, gardener, retired government worker, observer, reader, writer, cinema lover, learner, bicyclist, woman who runs with the wolves, and last but not least, a lover of music! Go visit Lisa when you can!
To me, being asked to write about The Beatles is like being asked to write about the air or the sky or water. They are like elements of nature, so immersing and vast it is difficult to grab on to a small enough aspect to be able to articulate it in words.
Ever since Max asked me to be a part of this series it’s been clear I want the topic to be balanced between all four of them because it is all four of them mixed together like essential ingredients in a prize-winning recipe that the magic happens.
Right now I’m thinking of a delicious cake and what ingredient each of the guys would be. Paul would for sure be the sugar. Who else looks as dreamy as he does. As a young girl his puppy dog eyes and chubby cheeks and innocent smile won me over. It is his soulful melodies with Cupid’s lyrics that continue to win me over. “She’s Leaving Home” plucks my heart strings every time.
The flour for the cake would be Ringo. There cannot be cake without flour. It is the foundation. Ringo’s steady drumming gave the other three the freedom to create whatever they wanted. They knew Ringo would have their back with the beats, and he stepped in with grace when it was time to sing, acting naturally.
John would be the salt in the cake. His salty comments to the media come to mind. His bold publicity stunts to call attention to important matters come to mind. The depth of his feelings shines through in his leavening lyrics. For example, “In My Life.” When I think of John I think of The Bible verse Matthew 5:13: You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. I think if any of the other three weren’t there, The Beatles would still have existed and they would have been good, but without John there would not have been the essential savor. Without John there would have been no Beatles.
Most everyone knows that George is my favorite Beatle, so you may be wondering by now what part of the cake he is. Easy answer would be the cherry on top, but I’m not going for the easy answer. George would be the spice in the cake, as you see, this is a spice cake. I think of India when I think spices, and George brought an Indian influence to the group. Also spices are subtle, and with George’s contribution, the flavor of his music and lyrics are both subtle and lasting. One of the last ones he wrote for Patti has got to haunt her just a little.
When you mix their ingredients together with other carefully selected musicians, instruments, and producers in the right proportions and cook for just the right amount of time, you come out with the perfect cake. Add a secret ingredient for the icing and you’ve got a cake whose taste stays fresh in your memory forever.
Just like there is no view without a viewer, there is no taste without the Apple Scruffs. Each fan of The Beatles and Their Music effectively immortalizes them and it. I’m happy to be part of that group of individuals. I also hope that once we’re in the afterlife, the party continues with John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
Thank you, Max, for asking me to be a part of this writing challenge. Can’t wait to hear what others will write.
This essay first appeared on Max’ blog, PowerPop… An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture .
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That cake analogy by Lisa was sweet! Gorgeously written. It made me hungry, that’s for certain.
Thanks much, glad it whetted your appetite for the upcoming Beatles posts on the horizon 🙂
Yes indeed! Splendid article. Thanks for responding to my comment.
Well that’s one tasty start to the week! Why not start with dessert? A very unique presentation of the boys, something that doesn’t surprise given Lisa’s talents.
That is why I had to start off with this one…tomorrow is different also…
I’ll be tuning in for the whole extended week!
Thanks Randy! So far…it’s going through to Monday after next lol.
Well it’s not like you picked the greatest of topics LOL!!
LOL…people do connect to the Beatles for sure.
Randy, whether by design or by accident, dessert first, yes! Thanks much, buddy. Looking forward to which aspect of our boys you have decided to write about.
savoy truffle anyone?
<3
But you’ll have to have them all pulled out after that. That is a favorite. I hope someone covers it. Love the horns on that and “Got to Get You into My Life”.
The second one someone does
I love this analogy! You paint a very delicious picture of the Fab Four. What a great way to start this feature!
Thank you very much, Keith, glad you enjoyed the analogy 🙂
Great image! As someone who can’t pick a favorite anything, I appreciate that you recognize that it is the combination of the four that made The Beatles (as each of their post-Beatles careers proved). They balance each other and reel in each other’s excesses for a whole greater than the sum of its parts – even though the parts are pretty tasty.
Thanks much, halffast! (If I knew your first name I’d use that instead of halffast!) Yes it’s like the ancients who sought to alchemize gold (and may still be trying.) With the boys, they achieved it.
Max may be revealing my name before this is over;)
No… unless you say go do it… I won’t.
I did the same as you… I went by badfinger20 but then I noticed… well hell… it’s on my info
Oh!? Does that mean you are writing one of the Beatles features? Very neat! I guess I can wait then 🙂
Yes he is! …and it’s a good one.
Cool!
Very good piece Lisa! I’d never have thought of them in that way but it’s apt and, of course, like most desserts or meals, the finished whole was more than the sum of the parts. Would George Martin have been the chef in your analogy?
Thanks so much, Dave! Glad you enjoyed the writing. I think that the chef is a few pay grades higher than George Martin. I didn’t mention George or Brian or Billy or Stuart by name but they fall into “other ingredients.”
Although we’ll never have that recipe again, we will always have the fab four 😊!
Heck yes. You made me think of this song, thank you.
https://youtu.be/segjCsIacN4
No problem, as long as you don’t leave it out in the rain.
Now the big question: Richard Harris or Donna Summer?
I only know the Richard Harris original. And I hated it at the time. Listening to Donna Summer now. A slight improvement…which is saying a lot for me, no fan of disco.
I remember how much we laughed at the Richard Harris one as kids. I kind of like it now. I also like how Donna Summer disco-ed it up.
Well writ Lisa- trust you to rise to the occasion. I think if you are a music fan and you can’t find something the Beatles brought to the table that’s a perfect treat, perhaps you show a certain lack of taste? (I’ve known of only two people who don’t simply dislike but hate the Beatles, and they proved to be soulless empty vessels in the end.)
I really think some people don’t like the Beatles do so because so many people like them. I could be wrong though.
No, they’re wrong, you’re right.
LMAO on your comment, Ob. I would have to agree with you on that. Sorry for the late comment, I was out at the “Echoes of Pink Floyd” concert and they totally nailed it.
Sounds as if it was a great show. Sometimes tributes can be…
They also had a full laser light show with The Wizard of Oz playing on a screen behind them. Too bad I forgot to bring my LSD tonight 😉
Yeah, but the LSD would probably last a lot longer than the concert. That was the problem with the “Dark Side of the Moon” tour; nothing like “UmmaGumma”.
Lisa, I’m calling your viewpoint ‘organic’ and delicious. I hope that works, for the lovely way you wove their personalities and talents together.
Diane, what a lovely comment and it definitely works <3
Thanks for giving the cake and letting me eat it.
Eat it with jello Bruce!
LOL! I shall eat it with jelly and hockey-pockey ice cream! Or maybe just feijoa ice cream!
LOL… well I had to see… sure enough… Hokey pokey is a flavour of ice cream in New Zealand, consisting of plain vanilla ice cream with small, solid lumps of honeycomb toffee.
I knew you’d look it up!!!
I know Bruce…I can’t help it! I love learning. Plus…that sounds really good!
that sounds tasty!
It does doesn’t it!
Thank you and hope enjoyed every crumb.
I guess when you get to post the 33rd comment, it’s tough to come up with an original. I think the picture you painted of The Beatles as a delicious cake is a great way to communicate that the sum was clearly more than the parts. I enjoyed reading it.
From the songs you highlighted my favorite would be “In My Life”, a tune I’ve always loved and would consider as one of John’s highlights. That said, I picked a different tune. The beauty is there are so many great Beatles songs. It’s nearly impossible to pick just one. It’s also a nice problem to have! 🙂
Lisa wrote a great opener man…glad you liked it Christian…yours is coming Wednesday dude!
Thanks, she sure did! I also appreciate the heads-up.
Thanks again, Christian. Yes it is extremely difficult to choose songs from their catalogue.
Well written, great analogy, thank you!
Great post. Sorry I missed this when it was originally posted. Great spin on using the fab 4 as baking products as I’m sure the four or em were baked at times themselves. lol
Awesome stuff Lisa…