Aside from some Queen and a brief period of IPod shuffling, the weekend has been all about the Beatles. At nearly every big box retail outlet, I was met with various Beatles promotion and on nearly every music website, there is something about the Beatles re-issues.
I could be very cynical about such things-this idea that we need to purchase shit that we already have-but there are a few things about the Beatle reissues that have brought about a bit of a hypocritical aura.
First of all, the do sound awesome. I went the cheap route, purchasing the albums post-Rubber Soul using a strategy devised by my cousin: the individual cds are on sale at the place with the red bulls eye and when you buy two you get a $5 gift card. So buy a pair and repeat. You’ll save a bit of scratch.
It was just the hype talkin’ a few weeks ago when I had an itchy finger for that mono set.
Second of all, I just realized that all of my Beatles shit that I have currently on cd I never paid for. It’s all promo stuff that I got while in radio, except The White Album, which is a first edition serial number that my dad got me for Christmas one year.
So technically, this is the first time that I actually bought any Beatles material on cd.
I devised a strategy when my wife and I were running errands over the weekend, explaining that we needed to stop buy said big box to get some laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, pull-up diapers, Magical Mystery Tour and Revolver.
I also tried to explain to her how I was saving her money, but she didn’t seem to connect with that.
Over the weekend though, I figure out the real significance of this Beatles reissue. It isn’t really about the cds themselves. I’ve heard a lot of younger listeners state how they were going to pick up the music on ITunes, incorrectly thinking that the material would now be available there.
And really, cd sales are down so much now that not even the Beatles can turn around the sinking ship.
The real impact is with The Beatles Rock Band, the video game released on the same day. I saw a pair of brothers-probably aged 9 and 12-fiercly concentrating on “Yellow Submarine” at the Best Buy store. It was adorable, but it was also brilliant. In the process of following Ringo and George and watching animated (and historically incorrect-at one point, the band appeared to be playing the song in Shea Stadium) images of Beatlemania, they were becoming familiarized with the band’s material. Those 9 and 12 year olds may not have a copy from the big brother or parents to be passed down to them. Instead, they have a video game to learn the songs, and they’ll remember them too, long after their Xbox or PS3 or Wii has become obsolete.
Those songs will stay with them.
4 comments:
Are you gonna get all of 'em? (or if it's appropriate, HAVE you bought all of 'em?) And how long is the bullseye store gonna have that gift card dealie?
Until October 2nd I think. I already have the Capitol versions for the early stuff, those were remastered a few years ago, so I'm staying with them and just getting the post-Rubber Soul stuff.
10/10 is the last day of the sale. "Limited Quantity" of gift cards meaning that they could run out of them before sale prices expire.
Cheers, I have reposted a portion of the post. Hope you approve.
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