Beatles, Memories of My Youth

I'm not shy about admitting my age, recently 70, so you shouldn't be surprised that I loved the Beatles' music. I sang it and danced to it. And I still do.

My first "introduction" was a letter from a British "penpal," who sent an article about them. And then their music began to be heard in New York. I think that one of the reasons the Beatles was so much fun to dance to, in contrast to today's music is because of the live drumming of Ringo Starr. For me the mechanical drumming you hear today is a total turnoff. It's so artificial.

I'm happy that there was a mini-reunion performance with Ringo and Paul McCartney. They're older than me, so I find it inspiring and encouraging that they can still perform.

Elvis in Zion Square, Evening in Jerusalem

Now that we're no longer on Daylight Savings Time, and winter has finally arrived here in the Holy Land, afternoons quickly turn to nighttime. The day, full of light, is so short and sometimes non-existent, since Gd has been blessing us with rain.

A couple of days ago, I had an appointment near Zion Square, which decades ago had been the social and commercial hub of Jerusalem. I was happy to see it full of people. The people were mostly foreign students from the various yeshivot and seminaries. And best of all, there was music, Elvis Presley of all people. Listen.



A minute's walk away was this shop selling drums and other musical instruments. I miss the sound of real drums, Ringo Starr, and the energy he and others added. Nowadays too many bands and "instrumentals" that "accompany" singing and dancing substitute computerized banging for a real human drummer. I can hear the difference. There's an excitement/emotion in human drumming, which does not exist in the machine ones.

Today's music is too artificial/electric.

And no modern, weatherproof mall is as much fun as real streets and stores. What do you think?