Tess Lets It Be

Yes, I do "love the Beatles". Their oeuvre and history entrance me; I bought a illustrated book of their lyrics used on Amazon; I won't claim that I could listen to their music continuously, but I believe I could listen to it forever.

I love the Beatles like I love their song "Across the Universe", which is relatively new to me (Let It Be was one of the last of their albums for me to listen to completely, which I first did sometime last winter). I was surprised to have gone without hearing the song so long, since it usually pops up amongst the big songs associated with the Beatles. I even watched the movie Across the Universe (more about that later) without ever having heard the original song. Such impertinence! I was pretty convinced that I, as a Beatles fan, was doing something very wrong by not having associated with this particular ditty.

When I first heard the song, I was disappointed: it sounded strange, and I couldn't understand why everyone was so enamored by it, which was disappointing per se. It had been overhyped to the point that disappointment was inevitable. Discouraged, I resigned myself to the "C" grade I deserved as a fan. I heard the song many more times before I noticed that the opening twangs of guitar were lingering in my head; later I would come to crave the moment that the singing starts, the sentimental melody, the potent rhythm of the lyrics, the unearthly ambience. Eventually it was obvious that I was in love, and I was relieved until I realized I had no idea why I was in love. I'd never paid enough attention to the lyrics to actually listen to them, and when I did, I was unimpressed. Clearly I was oblivious to the true meaning of the song and had been seduced on an empty, superficial level, and I became disappointed again.

I decided to give up on my aspirations of sagacity and greatness as a fan, instead simply indulging my id by playing the song over and over again. I found this less stressful and more rewarding... and when I recognized that, the epiphany struck. I wasn't in love with an elaborate philosophy, I was in love with the song because of how it made me feel. The song really has no concrete meaning; in fact, the lyrics are distinctly abstract, connoting fluidity and rapture and illusions. I wasn't missing out on the meaning of the song because of how I loved it - my love encapsulated the song itself.

In the clarity of this enlightenment, I understood my love of the Beatles similarly. The Beatles are a transcendent phenomenon, a timeless source of love and illumination for the people of the world. (I assume this to be fact, and any arguments of that fact should probably be directed to the authors of the encyclopedia.) This limitless undying love shines around me like a million suns, and now I can see no point in trying to intellectualize the situation or straining my eyes to see who else has been captured by the light. My only obligation is to sunbathe.

About Across the Universe: I'm glad I saw it and I'd like to see it again, but I can't fully appreciate it. I respect the ambition and passion that went into it, but it relied on a concrete interpretation of the Beatles' music, which is contrary to my belief of how the Beatles are best experienced. Also, musicals creep me out.