46 years ago today the Beatles made their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. February 9, 1964, just months after President Kennedy's assassination, Liverpool's mop-tops became the new idols of America's youth. Hundreds of teenage girls swarmed around the entrance of Hammerstein Theater, while 70 police officers tried to hold them back. It was on this day, 46 years ago, that American girls learned just how loud they could scream.
The Beatles performed "She Loves You" and "All My Loving." Over 70 million viewers tuned in to watch the Beatles make their debut. Teenagers loved the Beatles, and their mothers and fathers told their kids, "you love the Beatles; yeah, yeah, yeah." If you were over 30, then you dismissed the Beatles as a novelty act. The musical director for the Ed Sullivan Show, Ray Block, even commented that he'd only "give [the Beatles] a year."
Years later, we're still talking about the Beatles. Paul and Ringo are still going strong. John and George are still thought of with respect. "Across the Universe" is a recent film that remembers the music of America's favorite boys from Liverpool. There is a rumor out that Paul, Ringo, and Bob Dylan will be collaborating on a project this year. Ringo turns 70 on July 7. He wants everyone at noon on July 7 to make the peace sign gesture and say "peace and love." All Ringo is saying is give peace a chance.
It's the beginning of 2010, and it's been a hard day's night or really just a hard 2009. Yet here we are still holding hands with the Beatles, and hoping we can work it out in 2010...with a little help from our friends.
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