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Well here I go. My name is Elisa, but I prefer to use a nickname I invented, Mithveaen.

I’m 40 year old girl from Mexico and the Beatles have always been a part of my life, because my older sisters were fans. Actually I learned English thanks to them, I used to read the lyrics in the inside covers (is that the name?) from their albums (the ones that have them of course) I learned to read at 5 and with a great desire to read anything that was in my hands, so I remember playing the LP and reading the lyrics. That’s how I figure out that English is not read like Spanish and that the words sounded “different”. that really changed my life because although  I studied computer science in college, now I’m an English teacher.

The most precious memory I have from The Beatles is when my sisters took me to a Beatles movie festival, I remember watching one day Help and Sgt. Pepper , the next day Help and A Hard Day’s Night , then Let it Be and in a special matinee Yellow Submarine .I was .. I think 9. 

The saddest memory I have is that I was in the living room doing my homework when my Dad was watching TV, it was American football and there were 3 broadcasters making comments about the game in Spanish (actually you could hear the voices in English in the background), and then , Antonio de Valdez (If my memory doesn’t fail me) who’s still working on Mexican TV, I still remember the words “said Well the US broadcasting is saying a really sad news for all The Beatles fans, it seems that John Lennon was killed in New York this afternoon. Apparently he has passed away” and the other guys reacted like “Oh God “. My sisters didn’t cry, but they were truly sad.

I also remember the next day in the local newspaper there was this editorial comic named “A great one is gone” and it said as a caption “Now we will never have a Beatles reunion” and there was a comic of John Lennon in a cloud with an halo and angel wings playing a guitar smiling and saying “At least not on Earth”. The following weeks my Dad bought my sisters all the magazines that  published old articles and photos, and we made a scrapbook that now is gone. Also, my sister got most of John Lennon ‘s solo work. Those albums (and some Wings) are also part of my pre-teen years. Another really sad moment for me was reading George’s passing in 2001.

When  I grew up I became fan of many other bands I still love, Mr. Mister, Tears for Fears, U2, and I became interested in other kinds of music like Ottmart Liebert and soundtracks, being my favorite Pale 3 (Tom Tykwer, Reinhold Heil and Johnny Klimek). But although I didn’t play The Beatles every day, when someone asked me “What’s your favorite band?” I always said “U2.. and The Beatles”. or “Tears for Fears.. and The Beatles”.

So I never stop considering myself a fan. I remember when the Beatles Anthology was released, I was traveling because of work, I remember learning to set up my VCR so it could tape the shows while I was traveling.. I also remember working very hard all day so I could arrive to the hotel and watch the first episode and turn on the radio to listen Free As A Bird premiere (in Stereorey Ithink). I was jumping on my bed screaming when the episode began.

The funny thing is, I never got their albums after my sister took hers after getting married. I don’t know why. Maybe they were not sold. But as soon as I saw the Blue and Red albums on CD, I bought them spending most of my paycheck that day. Everything changed when I got the Beatles Stereo box set. When I was going through their music, although I hadn’t listened to some of their complete albums in years. I was like “I remember that song.. I think it was when I fell off the bike” or “Oh I remember that one… wasn’t I listening to it when Mom wasn’t home?”

So listening to the Beatles is like listening to my chidhood album. I can close my eyes and picture the very same house where I live now and imagine it 30 years younger, and I can see the old furniture, my Mom, my Dad, the twin beds, the old curtains. That’s why they’re so special to me.

I don’t like to read about their personal lives written by other people. I don’t criticize people doing it at all, I do understand that it’s natural to feel attracted to learn more about their personal heroes. (After all I have spent hours watching The Beatles Anthology or videos in youtube) But with the death of John, or recently Paul personal problems, and what really makes me sad, that attack George had, and the problems he had with the doctor and that autograph… I dunno. I remember George saying “We gave our nervous systems”. I feel like they have given us their talent, their souls, their music, so asking them to give me their privacy it’s like too much. So I don’t know much about their personal lives, just what is mentioned in the news. But that’s just me. Actually I have to admit I watched a few months ago that movie Two of Us feeling like an intruder, but I really enjoyed it a lot! So I don’t say I’ll never read a biography.

My favorite Beatle? It’s hard to tell. If you ask me Lennon  or McCartney I say both! I love Hey Jude as much as I love I Am The Walrus . Everytime I see Ringo shaking his head playing the drums I giggle… and I wish I could learn to play the drums actually I play the drums in Rock Band Beatles.. But I must say I’ve been in love with George Harrison all my life. Everytime I listen to Do You Want To Know A Secret ? I can’t help to sigh and feel totally infatuated. But I also feel infatuated when I hear John in Please Please Me , or Paul with Oh Darling, or even Ringo with I Wanna Be Your Man . But yeah, George is the one that has a soft spot in my heart.

I’d like to add something related with the Beatles : I haven’t heard the work of their children, and well I haven’t had the curiousity to search in youtube a video of Sean Ono Lennon or Dhani Harrison. *But* in 1984 I was in high school and everybody knew Too late for Goodbyes. So Julian Lennon is the only “solo singer” in my list of favorite music. My favorite Julian albums are Help yourself and Smile Photograph, and from his first album, I love Valotte. It feels so natural for me singing his music. The kid has great talent. And I think he’s more handsome than his Dad.(Please don’t kill me, John is really handsome!!)

Well this is me.  Wow, I think this was a long intro. Sorry about that.

skye said:

Welcome Mithveaen! Long intros are fine, and your English is perfect as far as I can tell. Do you use English music in your lessons? It seems like a good way to learn. Did you manage to get tickets to see Paul later this month? I heard they sold out incredibly fast and that he had to add an extra date.

Thanks! Of course I do. Actually a very experienced English teacher told me to use the Beatles songs because it makes English pronunciation easier for students. I love to have them sing Eleanor Rigby , or Help ! I really like using this one because the lyrics are so fast and easy to pronounce for them that when they get it, they feel like learning a lot.

Oh about Paul McCartney concert. Well, it’s kind of difficult to buy the tickets, you see they are only sold to people having a specific credit card, I have it, but my sister asked for a loan and I can’t use it.. so when my niece was gonna buy our tickets with her grandmother’s card… it was rejected. The card didn’t have enough balance, so when we wanted to use another credit card, the tickets were gone. I was absolutely upset those days, as we say in Mexico “not even the sun could warm me up”. Next day my sister and my niece were close to a really life-threatening experience and I forgot about it of course. 

But now I read there’s a new date I’m crossing my fingers to get tickets next May 7th. I hope. I really want to go. I don’t live in Mexico City and my boss knows if I get the tickets I’m not working those days. I’m not making plans before having the tickets, but I really really hope I can go.

skye said:

That’s very cool. I didn’t have that option when I tried to learn Spanish.

 

You don’t have the option of using the pmfan code to avoid using the preferred credit card? That’s what it said in the email I received. But then the company selling tickets there is probably different than here. (And how annoying is that! I forgot to use the fan code and had to use my dad’s card.)

I could but still you need a specific credit card to get the tickets. And yeah it’s kind of annoying. Many people complain about that, but there’s nothing we can do about it.. I just hope I can get a ticket..