Since then, two more guitars have come to my possession: an acoustic Dean and an electric Fender Stratocaster. My grandfather has helped me to become the guitar player I am today and has greatly influenced my admiration of the Fab Four. Since learning my first song, "Honey Don’t," I have learned "Day Tripper," "Here Comes the Sun," "Blackbird," and my personal favorite, "Let it Be," on my brother’s keyboard. Not only did I become obsessed with the Beatles, but the entire era of 60s/70s classic rock. This includes (but is not limited to) the Doors, the Rolling Stones, Led Zepplin, Fleetwood Mac, America, Credence Clearwater Revival, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tom Petty, Simon and Garfunkel, Santana, the Eagles, and yes… Elvis Presley.
I had the pleasure of speaking with another Beatles fanatic, Audrey Hillman. Her absolute admiration, love, and knowledge of everything Beatles amazed me. Seeing how enthused the Beatles can STILL make a person is simply incredible, especially given the band broke up nearly 50 years ago. However, what sparks my fascination is how the Beatles continue to bring joy to not only their generation but to my generation. As I like to refer to it as… the Beatles: Now and Then.
When speaking with Audrey, she mentioned her first introduction to the Beatles, which was when the Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan Show. I compared this to my introduction where my grandfather was playing "Honey Don’t" on his guitar, and I just so happened to like it. In approximately 50 years’ time, the Beatles still manage to captivate an audience. From both of our introductions to the Beatles, admiration, love, and passion sprouted.
A few years back, my grandfather gifted me all his original Beatles albums, some of which still have the dainty plastic seal around them. I learned how to use a record player just so I could listen to the records how my grandfather used to and get the "full experience." I thought about what a thrill it must have been to get your hands on one of these records when they were first released. The idea of rushing home to play it on the record player and listening to the songs. I wish I had that experience. The closest thing I ever got to something like that was buying CDs at Walmart or receiving them at Christmas and playing them on my CD player at home.
Audrey, unlike me, was able to live this experience. Furthermore, she was able to attend the Drive-Ins when the Beatles movies came out. She spoke excitedly about how for her birthday she and her friends all went to the Drive-In to watch the Beatles movies. It’s disappointing that little things like that hardly exist anymore. This is a difference between the original Beatles fans and my generation of Beatles fans. Audrey was able to experience the Beatles while the Beatles were still the Beatles. Meanwhile, my experience is second-hand admiration. In other words, my experience is through the songs my grandfather plays, the music he shares, and the stories he tells. One generation got to live the Beatles, while the other got to live in the memory of the Beatles.
Another difference I’ve come to terms with is how out of place I am with my generation. I often get comments such as "You’re so old fashioned" or "You aren’t from this time." I am very much aware—hence why I write for the newspaper and not social media. Audrey and my grandfather share the fact that they were a part of their generation. By this I mean, they were able to share and relish what was popular at the time. They were "up to date" with the music and "in the know." In opposition, I have nothing in common with my generation, whatsoever. For instance, I would rather clean all the bathrooms in my house than listen to a single Taylor Swift album. Unfortunately, by me having this opinion, it is very hard to interact with people my age considering my likes and dislikes, especially given how much music is a part of my generation. It’s very rare that I find someone who likes the Beatles, much less knows who they actually are.
Straying from the idea of generational differences in Beatles fanatics, Audrey and I have something in common. Aside from being Beatles fanatics, we can freely share our opinions of songs, albums, and tours. This is something that every Beatles fan has the capability of doing—if you know, you know. Audrey and I spoke in depth about our favorite albums and our favorite songs, hers of which being Rubber Soul, mine of which being the White Album. If I were to approach this subject with someone who is not a Beatles fan, the conversation would die immediately. This is something that connects all Beatles fans, no matter the generation. We can engage in conversations about the Beatles while geeking out all at the same time.
From my conversations with Audrey, I have learned how the Beatles continue to inspire us today. They inspired me to learn to play guitar so I could play the music for myself. They inspired Audrey to seek knowledge on all the Beatles, and further listen to radio shows and podcasts about the Beatles. The Fab Four contribute to friendly conversations, give us a touch of nostalgia, and put a smile on our faces. Through all of this, they help connect us with other Beatles fans… Beatles fans now and then.
Read other articles by Gracie Smith
