I had the biggest crush on Paul McCartney and would spend hours singing along to the 'Paul' songs whilst staring wistfully into his eyes on various pictures I had about my room. I would fall into imaginary worlds and marvel at how the lyrics were talking about my life. My life, because they couldn't possibly be singing about anyone else, especially not when every word felt like it was telling my story (did all teenagers feel like this?)... I felt sure that the Beatles were Time Lords traveling into the future to get song inspiration (as how else would it work, being that I was not alive when their music was written?).
I knew all the words to all the songs (not just the 'Paul' ones), I could quote the films, I could draw the Yellow Submarine versions of themselves and I could feel my heart speed up at the sound of their music. The Beatles were the first band I ever fell in love with, and I fell hard.
Luckily I am not alone in this obsession of mine. One of my best friends (Emily) is also crazycakes for them. In fact, we became friends because she did an impression of Glove (Yellow Submarine, and if you have no idea what I am talking about...stop what you are doing. Really stop it, and go watch the film...it is hilarious). Anyway, I totally got the impression and the rest is history we have been friends ever since. We even shared a Beatlemania weekend together. Which aside from the dodgy pants (used pants, I may add) that were left in a cupboard in the hotel room we were staying in, the weekend was one of the best trips away I have ever had. We decided to brave the cold and the snow and hit Liverpool up for all it's Beatlely awesomeness. We rode the Magical Mystery Tour, checked out Strawberry Fields, sang Penny Lane whilst driving through Penny Lane and did many other things that only crazy Beatles fans would do...and you know what? I loved it! We also have an annual Christmas tradition of going to see the Bootleg Beatles, where we sing along, clap and swoon - it is all very mad and very fun.
So now that I have cemented in your mind that I am fairly crazy (if the rest of the blog hadn't already) I just wanted to say:
Happy 70th Birthday Paul McCartney! You are a legend.