I had the absolute pleasure, this weekend, to see “Eight Days A Week”
in the theater. Anytime something like this comes along I’m reminded
how much I love The Beatles. I discovered them when I was about 13 years
old when the Anthology DVDs and CDs were being released. I feel like
since then I’m always looking for that same feeling I had from the I
first time really heard them. I know I’ll never get that *gasp* moment
again, but I try so hard to find that feeling again when it comes to
these four.
Nothing reignited my love for this band
the way this documentary did. It feels silly to say, but it’s true. I
think it may be because of new footage as well as some great interviews
included in the film. One thing that really touched me was hearing
Whoopi Goldberg talk about being introduced to The Beatles music.
Hearing her talk was like hearing my own story. Her speaking about
people accusing her of wanting to be white because she loved them was
like reliving my youth. I got that so much when I was younger and
sometimes even today. I never paid attention to the color of a band. If I
liked the rhythm and the lyrics spoke to me that was all I needed. To
be accused of wanting to be something that I’m not always made me feel
horrible because I never understood how someone would come to that
conclusion just based on a musical preference. It was (is) tough being
an artsy alternative black woman. “The Beatles gave me this idea that
everybody was welcome.” is something that Whoopi said that really hit
home for me. I honestly had to hold back tears. Growing up, before I had
even discovered The Beatles, I was in love with bands like U2,
Aerosmith, Tears For Fears, Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc, and I kept it to
myself. If I overheard a kid say that they liked the music I did I’d
light up and say “Me too!”, but for the most part the things that I
loved I kept to myself to keep from being teased…. that is until The
Beatles came along. They did make me feel welcome. At that point I gave
not one damn about being teased. I didn’t care if anyone thought I was
trying to be white. No one was going to keep me from falling in love
with this band. No one. I attribute The Beatles with helping me find the
courage to step into myself. I haven’t looked back since. They helped
me become an individual. More than their music I’ll always love them for
that.
When I look at my life and all the creative steps
that I have taken it’s all because of this amazing band. I have many
story ideas that have come to mind after hearing a certain song, or
seeing a certain interview, or watching one of their films. There’s one
major story I’m trying to work on that stems from a reoccurring dream
I’ve had ever since I was about 15 that places me in the era at the
height of their fame and in their circle. Listening to their music takes
me places I’ve never been, but that feel so familiar. Not much can
spark my creative energy like The Beatles can.
“Eight Days A
Week” is a well put together doc. Ron Howard really did an amazing job.
It’s nothing over the top, but he made sure to bring something new and
fresh to the story. Yes, if you’re a hardcore Beatles fan a lot of this
stuff you will know and have seen before, but this doc is slightly
different. I’ve seen tons of Beatle docs and most tell the same story
over and over, using the same footage and the same photos. I liked that
Ron Howard got insight from people of different walks of life (although
there aren’t many) to share their own Beatle stories. Seeing this was a
great end to my birthday weekend (the birthday that I also share with
John). It helped to remind me to keep being an individual no matter
what.
-Asia Aneka Anderson, 2016©
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