Beatlemania According To Baby-Boomers | PT. 2
On July 28th, 2026, I asked my maternal grandfather several questions about what he remembers about Beatlemania. This is what he said:
Do you remember Beatlemania?
“Uh, well sorta yes and no. I think the Beatles came around here in the 1960s. Somewhere in there I think they came to America and they were on the Ed Sullivan show.”
Who was/is your favorite beatle?
“Oh, uh, I suppose Paul McCartney. ‘Course he’s been around the longest. Ringo Starr was the drummer. I’m sorry I can’t even remember the other two’s names.”
What is your favorite album?
“I have no idea. I never bought one of them”
“I bought mostly orchestra. I was more into instrumental orchestra music. And I liked a lot of the Beatles that was not vocals and was instrumental. I also bought some country albums.”
What is your favorite Beatles song?
“I can’t even really think of one of their songs. I would know them if I heard them but i don’t know the titles. The only one that comes to mind is A Hard Days Night, but I didn’t like that one much.”
Did you watch any of the Beatles movies?
What was your favorite music back then?
“Well like I said most of the instrumental, and some of the other artists that were not rock and roll but were easygoing.”
What did you think when the Beatles went from catchy love songs, to more experimental albums like Sgt. Pepper?
“I didn’t know they did to be honest with you.”
Did the Beatles have a big influence on the people around you? Like your friends or kids at school?
“When I was in school, Abby, I was like yourself, in the band. So in high school particularly it was all instrumental. So I would say all the people I hung out with were more like me. I just don’t remember the Beatles being a big topic of conversation.”
How did you feel when the Beatles broke up?
“I didn’t have any feelings at all.”
How did you feel when John and George died?
“Oh, John Lennon. Well of course that was a big news story because it was a murder- wasn’t he married to Yoko Ono or something? Yeah they were pretty weird. I think George moved back to England but I don’t really remember his death. And I guess Paul and Ringo are still alive.”
theartofmadeline
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
discoholicmusic
turnnoffyourmind
sugurugetos
origamiaround
