Postcard from Bishkek

According to lots of sources, today, (January 16th), is International Beatles Day – and has been ever since it was declared as such by UNESCO back in 2001 … funnily enough, however, the UNESCO site has no mention of it.

I came across this particular oddity quite by chance … a Russian site announced the commemorative day dedicated to “the most popular musical group of all time – the legendary quartet from Liverpool” and it caught my attention as the Beatles were an integral part of my youth.  So, although I had never heard of it before, I clicked on the link and went looking …

As with most of these commemorative days, the date was not chosen at random – January 16th marked the opening of the Cavern Club, in 1957, where the Fab Four made their debut as unknown singers on the road to stardom.

As it happens, January 16th has another important place in the history of Beatlemania … it was on that day in 1964 when the song “I want to hold your hand”, (or should that be: “I wanna hold your hand”), went to Number in the American charts after selling a million copies in just ten days.

Elsewhere in the world, people celebrate the Likely Lads from Liverpool on different dates …

• 27th February – which seems to be associated with the link between the beauty of the music and Spring – the time of new beginnings, (apparently, in the US);
• 25th June – the day in 1967 – The Summer of Love – when they first performed their song All you need is Love on the BBC programme Our World which was the first “global television link”, broadcast to 26 countries by satellite and watched by 400 million people – Known as Global Beatles Day … not a day for “fandom” but a day to commemorate the philosophy encompassed in the song;
• 10th July – the day in 1964 when they returned from their first tour of the US just in time for the premier of the first film, A Hard Day’s Night, and considered to be a landmark in their path for stardom … the chosen day for Liverpool and Hamburg where the group took their first steps on the road to stardom.

 

The group was formed in 1960 and started to accumulate popularity almost immediately on the release of their first single, Love me Do.  It wasn’t always easy going, however, they had their ups and downs.  There is the story, for example, of when they were booked to appear in Aldershot in 1961, because of a problem with the advertising, only 18 people showed up.  I often wonder if those 18 realized later on what had happened … and told that story to their children.

They stayed together for eight years, (although they gave their last concert in August 1966), releasing 13 albums – each one a hit in its own right – and the iconic Music magazine Rolling Stone credits the group with 23 entries in the list of the top 500 greatest songs of all time – and the magazine also listed their Album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is considered the most important Rock and Roll Album of all time.

Their output stretched over many different genres – from the skiffle and rock and roll which formed their background, to ballads, psychedelic rock and incorporating elements of classical, Indian and forms of music.  They not only drew on many different forms of music, they have also acted as an inspiration to many performers and composers that followed in their footsteps.

Indeed, the composer and TV presenter Howard Goodall gives an excellent analysis of their music, their sources and impact in this TV programme, as featured on youtube …

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 It is well worth watching … even if it is 50 minutes long..

 

I said that there were lot of sources that described the day, quoting the UNESCO reference – the interesting thing was that they were all from the former Soviet Union.  In a way that didn’t surprise me as the Beatles are extremely popular here … even the kids know who they are/were … even if they don’t like the music.

I’ve described elsewhere how I was once taken to dinner, where the host was a former champion swimmer, (who was at that time teaching me to swim – or perhaps I should say trying to teach me to swim).  At a break in the meal he said, “Ian I have something to show you,” and took me into another room in the apartment where there was a old reel to reel tape recorder.  He put on a tape and played it.  I stood there askance … all I could hear was static … and when he asked what I made of it, I was at a loss what to say.  He told me the story behind the recording … he had been a student and was, surreptitiously, listening to Radio Luxembourg and recording the music …which was very bravado of him because, at that time, it was illegal.  This was one of those old recordings … of the Beatles.

Here in Bishkek it is almost impossible to get away from them and their influence.  Apart from the fact that we have our own Cavern, a cafe/bar dedicated to the Sixties, almost all of the groups which perform at Bishkek’s Cafes and restaurants include Beatles songs in their repertoires.

On one occasion I was at a Birthday Toi for a gentleman who was retiring and, as is the custom here, people began to sing.  There were songs in Kyrgyz, complete with whoops and yelps, in Russian, French and German … and the Tomada – the MC – caught my eye and winked as if to say “Get ready, you’re next!”  Now, anyone who knows me is well aware that I cannot sing … I was once kicked out of the school choir for “growling” … and I HATE Karaoke – which is a bit of a problem as it is very popular here.  The person sitting next to me said, “Ian, don’t worry.  Sing Yesterday and everyone will join in.”  I didn’t have the heart to admit that I wasn’t sure of all the words … I used to know it, but in the stress of the moment I couldn’t remember the reprise … so I sang Jerusalem instead.  Nobody joined in … but they loved it.  I am told that there’s still a pirate video of it somewhere.

There is a Beatles Festival  held in November – well we we had the second one last year, (2013) … but I’m not sure if it will become an annual event – I suppose it’s a bit early to say.

There even tribute band here in Kyrgyzstan … and they are not bad.  There was a bit of a scandal a year ago because they entered and won a contest when the first prize was tickets to London so that they could travel to the Cavern and attend the Beatles Day celebrations there … but there was a mix up over the tickets and they never made it.

A few years ago there was talk about creating a Beatles Museum up in Issyk Kul, but so far, it hasn’t materialized.

 

So, when I saw the youtube posting from the user Attmay, I was somewhat surprised to see that he said, “I apologize profusely to all Beatles fans everywhere” … I had to go and have a look:

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I was intrigued to see that there have been over a million hits, (the clip has been seen over a million time in the five years it was originally posted).  Having watched it, I do understand why he felt the need to apologize – but I also understand why it’s important … it is a sign of how important and influential the Fab Four were … and still are.  The performance is not only one man’s ego in full swing – and I am sure that he is a good singer in his own genre – it’s also a sign of respect to the Lads from Liverpool and their place in history.

I admit that it seems surreal … a bit like the band of the Coldstream Guards playing the Dr. Who theme tune … but it is also typical.  Yes, typical.  Although I have never experienced anything quite like that, it is reminiscent of some of the concerts I have been to.

After that, I suppose it is only fair to give you the original:

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Tags: Calendar, For_the_Record, History, Music