On Paul McCartney, and the Memories He Made
I had not planned on writing this blog.
But early last week, I found myself at a benefit where I witnessed at fairly close range the former Beatle paying tribute to his daughter, designer Stella, before presenting her with an award for her long-standing commitment to the environment. Not being a big detail guy, I confess I had no idea that Paul McCartney would be joining us that evening, nor that Stella McCartney was being honored.
Now I am a fairly jaded New Yorker who has attended many events of this type over the years, and seen countless business titans and celebrities speak, either to accept these awards, or introduce other recipients. These experiences now make up the faintest blur in my crowded consciousness.
The other night was different for several reasons. First, hearing Paul speak in person, listening first-hand to that achingly familiar voice I've taken refuge in so often over the years. To me it sounded precisely the same as it always has; I could discern no age-related shifts to a lower register, and for some reason, this floored me.
Second, Paul's tribute to his daughter was completely forthright and surprisingly personal, a one-two punch that also took me aback. What? No ego? No self-congratulation?
Paul volunteered that Stella's name had certainly given her an entrée into the fashion business, but that if she hadn't the talent or work ethic to stand on her own, the industry would have used that same name as a "cudgel" (his word) to deter her progress. A trifle blunt perhaps, but absolutely true.
He also praised her courage in challenging established practices by announcing from the outset she would use no animal skins in any of her products; on the face of it then, not the wisest career move, McCartney or no McCartney.
He then brought up how proud Stella's late mother Linda would be, to see her daughter receiving the award where she (Linda) grew up- in New York. At this point, Sir Paul became slightly emotional, and so did the rest of us.
I thought Stella's acceptance speech showed surpassing grace and humility as well. She fully acknowledged how lucky and blessed she'd been, and she thanked all those who had influenced and encouraged her, including her parents. If there is a heaven, Linda Eastman McCartney must have been looking down.
The positively merry ex-Beatle beamed with pride the entire evening. My own engrained cynicism temporarily thrust aside, I started beaming too. I had to admire that someone who had experienced unparalleled fame and adulation from his early twenties could seem so balanced and self-aware, and also be sufficiently responsible and caring to help raise someone as grounded as Stella.
This unexpected pleasure brought back my two prior sightings of Paul McCartney: once, walking the streets of New York the day before 9/11, the other in Paris circa 1963, when as a five year old, I looked inside a limousine covered with screaming schoolgirls, and saw the cherubic Paul within, smiling and waving at his ever-growing public. I couldn't identify any of the other Beatles- only Paul's face was at the car window. Just several months later, the world experienced a seismic shift when the Beatles first appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show".
In the sixties, most everyone had a favorite Beatle, and since Paul always got the majority of the female votes, I latched on to John. In truth, I found John's anarchic spirit and mischievous persona more appealing then. I had also noted that George, known as the "shy Beatle", had a sizable female contingent in his corner, while court jester Ringo was pretty much universally adored (though few volunteered them as their favorite, as this made an automatic statement about one's musical acumen).
The martyred John, of course, will always occupy a symbolic place in my life: only six days and Central Park separated John's slaying with the death of my own mother from cancer. When my immediate family went out to lunch the day she died, Beatles music was playing everywhere, and I recall this fairly cosmic coincidence felt oddly appropriate, since the Beatles was the first rock band my parents ever listened to in earnest.
Believing in the timelessness of art, not only would my four children be exposed to great films of all types and stripes, but also to the music that met the same high standards. The Beatles were always front and center. Less than a year ago, we took our kids (now grown) to see the jaw-dropping Cirque de Soleil Beatles tribute, "Love", in Las Vegas. For me, there are few experiences more enjoyable than watching young people totally turned on to something you introduced them to. That's just what happened that night.
Like Sir Paul at that benefit, the Beatles themselves never seem to grow old. You may not want to hear their music all the time anymore, but over forty-five years, never have I tired of a Beatles song I loved in the first place. And beyond their enduring songbook, much material exists that keeps the Beatles alive: beyond the literally countless books, you have both the CD and DVD versions of "The Beatles Anthology", arguably best for true fanatics. (Patrick Montgomery's 1984 feature-length documentary "The Compleat Beatles" may be the definitive documentary on the group, but the title remains unavailable on DVD.)
To relive Beatlemania in all its madcap glory, I suggest you sit yourselves down to the following double-feature:
A Hard Day's Night (1964)- The sheer energy and originality of the Beatles made no traditional plot necessary for this, the group's first film. Director Richard Lester felt it would be sufficient to portray a day in the life of the world's most talked about rock band just as they were attaining a stratospheric super-stardom. The result is part narrative, part documentary- and all magic. The explosive talent and natural charisma of the early Beatles commands our full attention, while fine British character actors like Wilfrid Brambell (playing Paul's incorrigible grandfather) are on-hand to provide comic support (not that much is needed). This contagious romp remains the freshest, most breathtaking of musical rides. Highlight: the spontaneous jam session of "I Should Have Known Better" in a train compartment.
Yellow Submarine (1968)- Don't miss this inspired fusion of Beatles music and the Peter Max-inspired, tie-dye color sensibility that became a visual signature for the late sixties. In this trippy animated classic, when the Blue Meanies take over Pepperland and turn its inhabitants to stone, lone survivor Lord Admiral escapes in a yellow submarine to London, hoping to enlist the help of the Beatles. Traveling through strange landscapes, the Fab Four (here voiced by other actors) bring their psychedelic pop and message of love to the beleaguered land. Forty plus years after release, "Submarine" endures as an irresistible fantasy, ideal for younger children and their parents (as well as us aging flower children). Its dazzling visual and aural compositions combine with the Beatles' trademark British humor and endless punning to create a generous and satisfying feast for both eyes and ears.
For close to 2,000 more outstanding movie recommendations, visit www.bestmoviesbyfarr.com.
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The Beatles also represent a phenomenon that we may never see again - yes there are musicians and actors that cause hysteria but they do not have the staying power because they don't have the talent for the duration. What made the Beatles so lovable -they were down to earth and accessible and you felt that they were just singing or talking to you .
Their love of their craft helped them to write and create songs that were unique and universal and no recent band has matched their musical diversity.
I was 7 when they debuted on Ed Sullivan and 40 years later I was inspired to begin a film project entitled "lovely Lily" which took 7 years to complete. Lily is a has been lounge singer on the eve of the Beatles appearance on Ed Sullivan and in 24 little hours the whole world is going to change. Hopefully John -you will get to review it one day soon! I have a trailer on www.thelov
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I will look out for "Lily" and I agree with all your sentiments on the fab four!
I wanted to see Mag. Myst. Tour, but apparently, the bosses decided not to show it in the states, I've still never seen it. of course, the album was great, the new songs.
"There's a fog upon LA...and my friends have lost their way, 'we'll be over soon' they said...now they've lost themselves instead...
musically, probably cr^p, but it's part of my life.
"Please don't be long....pl
I've heard that before.
(That's a joke. nevermind)
d'ja ever see that movie with Aiden Quinn as Paul, meeting John in NYC? Very cool kinda based on some reality flick.
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I've not seen "tour" either but it's often cited as the first beatles venture that did not (at the time) click with the public.
The Aiden Quinn film is "Two Of Us," and imagines what a reunion between Paul and John in the mid 70s might have been like.
It's an interesting, but flawed, fantasy, that has John almost giving in to Paul's desire to perform with him again. In fact, the two (in real life) almost went down to the SNL live show that night, as Lorne Michaels was jokingly offering $1000 for a Beatles reunion on his show. What a memorable event that almost turned into!
I thought the film had some interesting moments, but I thought it was too harsh a portrayal of John. I know John could be a bastard sometimes, but the scenes of him being cruel just didn't ring true.
John is portrayed in a Central Park scene, being nasty to a mounted policeman. The truth is, John had a great relationship with the NYPD, and would never have behaved so disrespectfully.
There's another scene in a diner, where John is really cruel to a fan who timidly approaches him and Paul. My understanding, is that John was pretty approachable at the time. Too approachable it seems in the end.
All in all worth watching, but the negative Lennon portrayal hurts what could have been an interesting "what if?' kind of movie.
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the negative lennon portrayal would doubtless piss me off, given where my own loyalties lie.
Nobody seems to remember "Magical Mystery Tour".
Yes, the Critics hated it, but probably just didn't quite understand what the fab four were up to. Heads bursting with creativity and helpful doses of psychedelics, they could no longer fit their creative ideas into only one medium. Records were fine, but it took more than a 120 gram piece of plastic to convey what was pouring out of their brains.
'M.M.T" didn't need a plot. The Beatles, with the likes of Ivor Cutler, Viv Stanshall and Victor Spinetti along with spectacular musical numbers, managed to produce a slightly chaotic, but ultimately memorable little film.
Watch it with fresh eyes and ears and enjoy.
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I do need to see this again.
remember "your mother should know" came from this.
Paul defends MMT on the grounds, where else can you see a video of "I Am The Walrus?" I tend to agree. When you consider that they weren't really film makers, the results were pretty good, and there truly are some "magic" moments.
One of the fun moments gave a very unusual name to a current group. Know who?
Death Cab For Cutie.
A great moment with the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band as strip club entertainers. Vivian Stanshall beat the scores of Elvis impersonators by ten years with that performance.
The movie has been released on DVD, but is now unfortunately out of print. Poor video transfer quality, but as on all of the MPI releases, it has superlative sound.
It's worth seeking out a second hand copy. Who knows when it will be officially reissued?
Thank you for the post, and also thank you for your site of movie picks. I watched a terrible movie the other night with Anthony Hopkins called "Arch De Triumph" (or something) because my GF had read the book and had the bought the dvd. But I digressss.
I was 9 when The Beatles came to NY and played Ed Sullivan. I have and love a video you mentioned, "The Complete Beatles", with Malcolm McDowell narrating. (ABC TV did a good 4 nighter some years back) in one of the 2 vids I mentioned, The Beatles are seen on Ed Sullivan in the 3rd week here, which was a performance in a Miami hotel. They gather around a mic and play "This Boy". I told my (at the time) GF about it. She said, "Look in the audience, the girl with the polkadot dress in the second row, standing up." And I did. And there was my GF at 12. I paused the vid, shot pics of the TV, paused at the Beatles, with captions indicating date and place, and created a collage for her which showed her in her polkadot dress. Trivia, yes, but I'm the guy who looked in the NY Daily News each day for ANYTHING Beatles related. Ya know, we could see them for 3 minutes every 3 months on TV, and we had to digest, try to remember and be satisfied .
Brian in Connecticu
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great story about the girlfriend
The concert on Saturday night was beyond my expectations. What a show! And all to support the teaching of Transcendental Meditation to 1 million children. Imagine what the atmosphere in the schools would be with that many kids meditating! Well done to all and that to David Lynch for making it happen.
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it was like the sixties all over again!
you can trust too that David Lynch will most always put something interesting on film.
Hey John,
The Beatles changed my life when I was a 15 yr. old in 1964. After hearing the "middle eight" of I Want to Hold Your Hand, I was totally captivated. I loved ALL of the British invasion, even the lighter-weight Mersey groups. Of course, The Beatles were tops. My (lucky) wife saw them in D.C. in 1966 and could hear nothing but screaming. She and I saw Sir Paul in 2002. I've been to thousands of concerts in my 59 years, but NOTHING has ever compared to that one. And, lucky me, I'm going to Vegas later in the month to see Macca at the Hard Rock gig. I also did the Liverpool pilgrimage, plus Hamburg, staying on the famous Reeperbahn. I thought Amsterdam was hot till then, wow! Can't imagine how much fun the lads had back in 1960 and subsequent visits. Real Beatle fans, you must go to Liverpool during the International Beatles week held every August. Finally, just want to comment on the movies -- I love AHDN and Help!, but, for some reason, can't get into Yellow Submarine. I do recommend Backbeat, a very film noire treatment of the Beatles in Hamburg with a focus on Stuart Sutcliffe. It really captures the beginnings. Ciao, Dr. Mikey
I love "Help!" too, but it had the bad luck to follow the classic "A Hard Day's Night." After that film, there was no place to go but down. Still, "Help!" is very funny, and all those great videos of great Beatles songs. What's not to like?
I agree with you on "Backbeat.
Have fun in Vegas! :)
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help is great fun and fabulous songs, but for my taste just a bit too far over the top in comedic terms. leo mckern must have had fun doing it though.
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need to see backbeat..
hamburg was sodom and gomorrah then by all accounts..
If you get the book "The Beatle Book," published by Lancer Books, 1964, there's a few nice pictures of the Beatles in Paris, probably the same time you saw them. I thought that was a very interesting memory you had as a 5 year old!
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I can't remember what I did last week, but that early paris experience will always remain vivid in my brain.
Ahhhhhhh,*sighs* Mr. Farrar, after reading this, I think I might have an idea of what you mean by being in the presence of humbling greatness. Although I've only seen Paul or Ringo from an audience point of view, I was equally overwhelmed by my pilgrimage to Liverpool and London. From the simplicity of a working class Penny Lane, the rain-soaked docks of the Mersey river; to the front gates of Abbey Rd., where I wept in my husband's arms at the realization of all the brilliance that came out of that normal-looking house in that normal-looking neighborho
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I totally understand- and we are kindred spirits in our emotional connection to this group. and by the way, my last name isd spelled "farr".
I loved the blog. You were so lucky to be at that event with Paul and Stella. One thing I have always read was the love that Paul and the children have for Linda. She must have been a remarkable woman. It's nice to hear that he still gets emotional about her. I was introduced to the Beatles through being a fan of Wings, then becoming a big Beatles fan....of course Paul is my favorite. Thanks for sharing!
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by most every account, linda was truly a class act. and thanks for your nice sentiments!
Great post, John! As a life long Beatles fan, it's always a pleasure to read the personal stories of folks who've been lucky enough to experience seeing them in person.
I was ten years old when a strange song called "I Want To Hold Your Hand" exploded out of my radio. It seems odd to say now, but I thought it was a Motown group. Rock 'n roll had long been in disfavor as the "Devil's music," with young white artists being more in the Bobby Vinton vein.
If you heard anything that rocked or was different, you could just about bet it was a black artist. When I finally got to see the actual group, you can imagine my shock, and the Sullivan performance remains one of my fondest memories, as it is for so many Beatles fans.
Every time I listen to their music, I can still recall how fresh and new each record sounded when it was released. I was crushed when they split up, but I eventually got over it and remain a fan of their solo efforts to this day, especially Paul's.
"A Hard Day's Night" is pretty much a perfect film, and I agree with you on "Yellow Submarine" as well.
I would also recommend "Concert For George." A stunning evening of various artist friends of George, performing George's songs in celebration of his life. Paul's performance, with Clapton, of "Something" at the end of the show, is especially moving.
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I will lay my hands on that dvd...than
If you loved George, you will not be disappointed. It's great to hear all those Harrison tunes, which were often overshadowed by the powerhouse that was Lennon/McCartney, being played live at Albert Hall.
All the musicians are in top form, and you can tell this was a true labor of love for them. Also, George's son Dhani, playing along with the other bands, looks so strikingly like the young Harrison from 1964, it just breaks your heart.
John,
a lovely article. I enjoyed it very much. But one thing - in the Yellow Submarine movie Lord Admiral escaped to Liverpool, not London, to find the Beatles and bring them back to Pepperland.
x
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I stand corrected! it would be liverpool, wouldn't it??
Nice piece.
(Coincidentally, just yesterday in the East Village I picked up a used copy of the "remastered" Hard Day's Night for $7. Am going to watch it when I need a pick-me-up. I'm aged enough to have seen it in the theater... on a double-feature with Jailhouse Rock.)
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what a double feature that must have been!! you will love HDN all over again-
but then you probably know that already!
Hi John,
I always click on your movie blogs because you provide endless enjoyable trips down film-memory lanes. If you really love a movie, it's so pleasurable to find someone who shares your love and can lead you to more buried treasure in our common cinema history.
I was 14 when Ed Sullivan had his Beatle night and fell like rock from a tall building. It was years later before I ever heard the dialog from Hard Day's Night; I was among the lusty screamers in the theater. I vividly recall getting off the elevator in my dorm at Boston U and hearing "Within You, Without You" for the first time. I remember listening to all-Beatles weekends on the radio during the time of the Nixon hearings in Washington. And I remember turning on the radio just long enough to hear "Julia" playing in my NYC apt before leaving for work, and finding out from a newstand tabloid that John Lennon had been shot. I recall feeling empathy for Yoko's pain because my father was in his final illness at the time. (He died the following February.) I went to one of Paul's MSG concerts in the late 80s. And yes, he was my favorite Beatle. I'm sorry to say teenaged jealousy prevented me from appreciating Linda until far too late.
So happy you shared so wonderfully, and provided others such a splendid opportunity to revisit an epoch.
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thanks for sharing your own rich and personal memories of this man and this group that touched so many of our lives.
This was an outstanding post. I was a fan of their music, which burst forth in America during my adolescence, and when I went off to school at UW Madison, long hair, T-shirted, and radical--or so I thought--the Beatles were in their post Maharishi decline as a group, Yoko steering John away from the group, and everything going to pot--literally. Even though the Stones will always be my favorite 60s band, musically, with DC5 the a distant 2nd best, (got on my parents' last nerves blasting "Do You Love Me?" and "Anyway You Want It"), the Beatles and their wives/girlfriends were who we all felt we knew, watching them on Ed Sullivan, reading 16 Magazine, seeing everybody copy them.
Paul and Linda were everyday people. My friends worked for Dick Clark and got to know them in later years. They could not say enough about how down to earth both were. I think the evidence is in their legacy of unassuming yet talented children, all with a social conscience like their parents. Hear! Hear! Great story!
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thank you for this. I think when we see celebrities who wear their fame gracefully, we should praise that. It is not easy and all too rare.
What a beautiful article. Paul McCartney is a real down to earth guy, as was Linda. I remember being a high school student out at lunch time at a dive with my girlfriends and there at the booth across from us was Paul and Linda. This must have been back in 1988. Anyway, they seemed like nice, normal and low key people. We were in awe not only over the fact that it was Paul and Linda McCartney sitting there, but also because they seemed so nice and so real.
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this was harder for john to achieve I think because he was less sunny than Paul for sure--a natural rebel. thank you for your kind words!
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