Paul's Americanisms | Fab Forum | The Beatles Bible

Yes, yes. Thank you, mja. Very helpful.

Ah-ha! I just had an epiphany. It is little old me who is getting all bent out of shape over hearing the Beatles and Paul singing American place names and references to American popular culture. I don’t want a British band/singer to regurgitate American ideas to me. I already know my country’s cultural past. I guess I’m wanting a British band/singer to tell me about British places and culture so I can delve more into the collective British historical consciousness (well of at least since the 1950’s). But, as mja has pointed out, a sizeable slice of British pop culture since the 1950’s is wrapped up in American pop culture. So, I’m just going to have to get over myself. I need an attitude adjustment!

mja6758 said

cbatcu said

…I can drive a Cadillac instead of a Bentley or an Aston Martin…

The Cadillac is the car of Rock ‘N’ Roll mythology…

Yes, I have driven past the pink Cadillac in front of Graceland many times.

fabfouremily said
As Mark/mja said upthread, we use miles and all that lot. I think in miles, I’ve always thought that as the ”British” way, rather than using km. Are there Brits who use other measurements? I do know my weight and height in both imperial and metric measures, though. Dunno why.

Does it bother me that he uses Americanisms? No, not really. I’ve never thought about it before. I remember my dad once moaning that he was trying to sound American (I think this was before I was a Beatles fan), but I don’t know if that was because he was trying to or because my dad is a miserable, cynical man who will critize anything or anyone if it makes him happy, particularly if they have been succesful in any way.

If I ever thought that he was trying to hide his accent, then that would bother me a bit, but more because I can’t stand it when people try and turn themselves into something they’re not than because he wanted to sound American.

So do British road signs give distances in miles: for example “London 42 miles” or would it say “London 42 km”? My only experiences over there are Gatwick, Heathrow, train rides, and London itself. When we were in the Cotswolds, we did take a bus between Moreton-in-Marsh and Chipping Camden. I guess I wasn’t paying attention to road signs much. Go figure. There was so much for me to take in. The scenery is so beautiful there. In London, besides all the wonderful buildings and things to behold, I was just trying to remember which direction to look when crossing the street.

My mom and I talked about how un-British the Beatles sound when they are singing (most of the time). When they talk, yes the accent comes through, but not when they are singing. Very strange. OK now Penny Lane is twirling around in my head. There is an American 60’s group called The Association that mom and I think sound more British than some of the British Invasion bands.

Oh, yes, before I forget. I must thank you Brits for sharing the Beatles, THE GREAT ONES, with your American cousins.

Do you all call all of us “Yanks”? Even those of us from the American South?

^ Oh, my. Sorry if came across as sounding like I think they did it intentionally. I wasn’t thinking that at all.

I Me Mine said

cbatcu said
^ Oh, my. Sorry if came across as sounding like I think they did it intentionally. I wasn’t thinking that at all.

You’re forgiven 

Bless you! I like playing in this sandbox with all of you. I don’t want to get myself kicked out.

meanmistermustard said
The UK is miles so its 34 miles to Glasgow, i’ve never seen a roadsign in kilometres in the UK and wouldn’t have a clue how far it referred to. Pounds and ounces are also used and there was a huge fuss when the EU tried to stop greengrocers and butchers from using those and change to kilo’s. Most simply ignored the warnings. Same with heights and weights, most folks still go by feet and inches.

Most of those are what we say over here or very well known so its strange to see them be called Americanisms.

Good information flowing my way. Thanks. Didn’t realize I was so clueless.

Speaking of Glasgow, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art is currently hosting an exhibit of paintings from Glasgow. Guess I’ll have to pop up there and see it.

http://www.okcmoa.com/see/exhi…..w-museums/

meanmistermustard, I like vonbontee’s question “2. Paul, could you maybe hurry up with reissues program already? There’s this guy named meanmistermustard, see, and he’s always…” over on the “Questions you’d ask Paul if you could interview him” thread.

meanmistermustard said

cbatcu said

meanmistermustard, I like vonbontee’s question “2. Paul, could you maybe hurry up with reissues program already? There’s this guy named meanmistermustard, see, and he’s always…” over on the “Questions you’d ask Paul if you could interview him” thread.

I wouldn’t ask Paul that, it would be a very blunt statement that would tell him to get the finger out and hurry up before we are all dead as seriously how flipping long can it take it to put a collection together! I would then be escorted out by a large burly minder.

Go get ’em, tiger. We’ll all watch and cheer you on from a safe distance.

mja6758 said

cbatcu said
So do British road signs give distances in miles: for example “London 42 miles” or would it say “London 42 km”?

I have seen signs that give both. A sign that said “London 42 miles” would not also say “42 km” though, as it would be “67.5 km”!

Yeah, I’m just too lazy to do math very often. That’s interesting that some signs have both.

Speaking of “yeah”, I read somewhere that someone didn’t want the Beatles to use “yeah” in “She Loves You ” because it sounded too Americanized. If I am going to hang with you people, I am going to have to be better at remembering where I read or hear these things. I need to take my game up a notch. I’m not in the minor leagues anymore. You all are professionals!