The Beatles, one feeling

Elena Herrero says:

Love, love me do 

You know I love you 

I'll always be true 

So please 

Love me do 

Yes, it was 1962 and this is the way a group of four Liverpudlians sounded for the first time in the British radio stations; at that time, they were trying to get into the world of music while people were already starting to think: where the heck did these long-haired boys come from with that sound that had never been listened to before? But what people did not know yet was that those four youngsters were going to change their lives, their state of mind, their way of thinking and dressing, or even the way of combing themselves. After the hardships of the Second World War, The Beatles were going to change everything, to raise a great smile on each face of every inhabitant of the world through their wonderful songs, by penning some excellent lyrics. They were the band who wrote sad love lyrics, like in “For No One”, which doesn't end up sounding completely sappy.

 

I can almost say that they conquered the world without realizing, and the following generations were - and still are - marked by them, since they wrote the new "laws" of music, by revolutionizing it and creating their own style while shaping people’s way of thinking in every corner of our planet. But how? By changing their styles, always experimenting on new things ... other singers and bands went mad whenever The Beatles produced something new. My parents got me into their music, so I daresay that I have loved the famous group since I was three. You may say I´m a dreamer, but I would give anything to travel back in time, just to see and listen to the greatest band live! Songs like Hey Jude, Let It Be, All you need is love or Something mean something very special to me.

I am so pleased to know that this feeling will last a lot longer, I mean, being a fan of the “Fab Four”, transmitting a message of peace and love. All you need is love, this is the best influence they left in our hearts.

No doubt, The Beatles are one of the greatest rock groups in history *; I really believe they are. No music band will manage to reach them … EVER. What they represent only happens once ..., and it already happened.

This is my "Beatles' 50th anniversary" small tribute. I hope you folks enjoy it!

Rosa Cuesta says:

My first memories of The Beatles go back to the late sixties, when I was only a little girl aged five or six. At the time I loved going to the facilities of the telephone company, where some operators sitting in a row answered whoever picked up a phone. I really enjoyed listening to those ladies say “What number, please?” while they played with the telephone wires. At the same time the operators used a radio with The Beatles’ songs and I learned to hum some of them, like “A hard day’s night” or “Yellow submarine”. 

I was fifteen or sixteen when some Beatles’ records were revived. I remember listening to them for most of the day so I became a big enthusiast of the Fab Four. I greatly enjoyed singing the lyrics, even if I did not understand them. I was a teenager, the time of my first love and my romantic feelings arose thanks to their music. My favorite songs were “And I love her”, “Yesterday”,” Michelle” “In my life”…, which, even if you did not understand, made you feel a lot of emotions. 

The Beatles wanted to change the world, firstly by fighting against the conventions of the time, showing a great joie de vivre, and later by declaring themselves against war and for freedom.

Eventually, I lost the habit of listening to their music, but maybe this Beatles’ anniversary and these wonderful memories have made me recover the pleasure of listening to the amazing band again. Not only were The Beatles incredible but also an icon of a generation that wanted to change everything.

Rosa sent this pic: The Beatles in Spain back in '65 ... Ole!

Great stuff, girls! I cannot think of a better way to kind of say goodbye to summer on our blog. Now, I'd just like to add one more thing, a 15-minute excerpt (subtitled in Spanish) of a fantastic DVD collection which I recommend if you're a lifelong Beatlemaniac, called "The Beatles Anthology". This is part 1, how it all began 50 years ago. You know, to me it's just "moving" to listen to their voices (those lovely mild Scouse accents!) reminiscing the early years, especially when you realise that John and George are not around any longer ...

My Advanced students' favourite films (part 4)

Rosa Cuesta says:

My three favourite films are "Out of Africa"," Pride and Prejudice " and the "The lord of the rings" trilogy.

I must say I love all kind of genres but to me the most important thing in a film is the plot, which has to be not only perfectly built but also moving. As the aforementioned are well known, widely discussed movies, I am going to focus on others.

Less famed is "Letter from an unknown woman" (1948), based on the novel by Stefan Zweig and directed by German filmmaker Max Ophüls. It stars Joan Fontain as Lisa and Louis Jourdan as pianist Stefan Brand.

The movie is a flashback report which starts with Lisa writing a letter on her deathbed to the man she loves, Stefan Brand. It’s a secret love, unknown to anyone except her, almost obsessive and faithful to her last breath.

The man in question is a vain famous composer who hardly remembers the woman he met occasionally. Lisa confesses she has loved him since she was a teenager and she tells Stefan they had a son.

"Letter from an unknown woman" impressed me by the strength of Lisa's love, whose life is centered around the pianist despite his cold indifference. It is a touching film with an unexpected ending and I strongly recommend it.

Another film I’ve always kept in my memory as one of my favourite is "The African Queen" directed by John Huston in 1952 and starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. I find this movie completely charming and outstandingly performed by its cast. 

Aboard an old boat, "The African Queen", arises the love between a stiff, sanctimonious, middle-aged woman (Rose) and a rude, piggy-looking, alcohol-addicted sailor (Charlie). They both meet in a village and have to get away from the German soldiers in the second World War. In spite of their differences, they get to understand each other and show what they are actually like.

A marvellous touching film that is a demostration of how love can emerge anywhere and that people aren't what they seem at first sight.

Antonio Avila says:


It's almost impossible to choose just a pair of movies from all those I like. So I'll try to give you some examples of the most significant to me.


The first film I want to remark is Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction". I was 14 when I watched it for the first time, and since then I have seen it like a million times. I love this movie because of the dialogs, the non-linear narrative and its wonderful soundtrack. 

I have to say I like other Tarantino´s movies such as "Reservoir Dogs" or "Four Rooms", which are simply fantastic.

The second movie I have selected is "American History X". It tells the story of two brothers, the elder a neo-Nazi who kills two black men and is sent to jail. When he leaves prison he realizes that his teenage brother is totally influenced by his ideology and actions, so he tries to set him away from that path.

"The Fight Club" is another amazing film, directed by David Fincher in 1999. It's about a man who has a great job for an automobile company and owns a gorgeous flat with expensive furniture, but suffers from insomnia. The only way he can relax and sleep is visiting all kind of support groups. One night he meets Tyler Durden on a flight, and when he arrives home, he finds his house has exploded. Thereafter all his life changes drastically.

Last but not least, I want to briefly highlight three awesome movies written and directed by Guy Ritchie:


"Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels"

"Snatch":

"Rocknrolla". This below is an interview with Guy himself about the film

They are all crazy movies, packed with action and humor as well as featuring plot twists and lots of characters - all of them belonging to the underworld: from gangsters and thieves to gamblers and cheaters. If you dare watch these films, you will have a great time.