Age and perception
I sometimes feel sorry for the Beatles.
So great was their musical excellence, so all-pervading their impact upon 20th Century culture around the world, that (perhaps alongside Elvis Presley, whom of course did not write his own songs) they occupy such an exalted position in the public consciousness that any attempt to compare them with the outstanding popular musical talents and/or performers that have emerged since their heyday fifty years and more ago is doomed to failure.
Even to draw the analogy that historically they stand as whales amongst an ocean of minnows would be absurdly inadequate. To my mind they rank as a superhuman form of alien life that cannot be judged by normal standards.
Nobody under the age of forty could possibly understand the effect that the Fab Four had upon society, nor the extent to which virtually every form of 21st Century popular music is derived from or has been influenced by their innovation and creativity, whether intentionally or not.
I could be making this up, but I once heard or read somewhere that these days, whilst a sizeable proportion of 18-to-24 year olds are aware that a group called the Beatles once existed, a frightening small percentage are familiar with their songs.
Similarly, whilst youngsters today are aware of Paul McCartney as a once-famous person in his own right, for most of them this is only in the context that he’s going to be 80 next year and occasionally pops up on radio and television shows to say that he’s missing John Lennon (whomever he was).
Thinking on these matters yesterday – and this may sound counter-intuitive to some – there are times when I feel that “old age necessarily carries with it irrelevance”.
Actor James Dean will only ever be 24.
Musicians Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison of The Doors will only ever be 27.
Would any of the above be as worshipped or respected today if they had been still alive and aged somewhere between 70 and 90, whether now long-retired and in obscurity, or making a sad spectacle of themselves by still supplementing their pensions (if any) by turning out to take part in some novelty “reunion of stars from the 60s/70s/80s” package tour?
Answers, please, on a postcard to the usual address …
