"It was fifty years ago today, Sergeant Pepper told the band to play...." Okay the line really is "..20 years ago...", but it really was 50 years ago that, in February 1964, The Beatles came to America and Beatlemania spread from UK to USA and Canada.  The BeatlesThis is a photo of a beautiful area rug that was on sale in The MIRAGE in Vegas, where I saw "LOVE" by Cirque de Soleil.

I grew up with The Beatles; and their music and story have been a big part of my life.  While the lives of each of John, Paul, George and Ringo have been interesting to follow, it's their music that has always captivated me.  Their music is what my sister and older cousins used to play in London...along with beautiful soul sounds of Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, The Supremes, Jimmy Ruffin and others.  I loved that stuff!!  Then, when I moved to Canada, The Beatles early songs are what I used as I practiced typing on an ancient portable Remington typewriter.  Love Me Do, Help!, Yesterday and all those hits were so ingrained in my mind that it really helped my typing as all I needed to do was look at the keys at first and not any text.

I have this weird ability to remember lyrics to songs I've listened to (some I'd love to forget) and it seems the entire Beatles' library has its own large folder deep in the folds of my brain (insert your own joke here!).  But I don't mind, as there's many a time when I'm walking to work or elsewhere that singing In My Life or Hide Your Love Away to myself makes it even more enjoyable.

One of my favourite memories of my nephew and niece growing up is how, when each was first learning to talk, we would play on the carpet and sing "Ya, Ya, Ya" as She Loves You played on the record player (yes, I played records!).  Then, as they got a little older, we didn't even need the song playing as we'd just say "Ya Ya Ya" whenever I'd see them at my sister's house or they'd come to mum's down the street.  Of course, later on I made sure they graduated to "Na na na nanana na, ..." as they learned Hey Jude :) Love is all you needAnother photo I took of beautiful area rug... There's nothing you can do that can't be done Nothing you can sing that can't be sung Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game It's easy Nothing you can make that can't be made No one you can save that can't be saved Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time It's easy All you need is love All you need is love All you need is love, love Love is all you need

Anyway, when I need an escape, I can put on any Beatles album and drift back to happier times - that's what their music does for a lot of us.  Nowadays, it's usually specifically George's music - either from The Beatles time or when he went alone - that takes me away...whether it's Something (which George Martin calls maybe the best love song of all time) or Here Comes The Sun or My Sweet Lord, they're all brilliant.

So, John, Paul, George and Ringo - thanks for the music and the memories...and Happy Birthday George (next Tuesday), we miss you.

There are places I remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all