It was like stepping into a time machine and going back 62 years.
asserted
It → step → machine
One of the Beatles was singing rock songs, playing two instruments, making jokes and having a grand old time.
asserted
One → sing → time
The Ringo Starr concert here in Washington got me thinking about the impact that he, John, Paul and George had on the music business, the country and the culture — and how Americans are still fascinated by the Fab Four and even their grandchildren are listening to their ancient albums.
asserted
Americans → get → albums
Ringo is 86 and touring again, bringing more energy to his shows than most of his Boomer-heavy audience.
asserted
Ringo → tour → audience
Paul McCartney, who I’ve seen several times in recent years, is 84, still belting out the hits and, hip guy that he is, sharing short videos on social media.
asserted
he → see → media
It’s not about money — the two surviving Beatles became multimillionaires back in the day.
asserted
Beatles → ’ → day
They are still releasing new albums; McCartney’s "Dungeon Lane," about growing up in Liverpool, and with him playing most of the instruments, nearly matches some of his best work.
asserted
him → release → work
Ringo, who played drums and piano at the concert, has been saluted by today’s top drummers as having inspired generations of those behind the kit with his unique, left-handed, play-to-the-song style that doesn’t show off by overwhelming each tune.
asserted
that → play → tune
So what does this say about us as a society?
asserted
this → say → society
It’s partly pure nostalgia, like a soup that reminds you of the way grandma made it.
asserted
grandma → ’ → it
For those who saw the group’s American debut on Ed Sullivan and remember the frenzy of Beatlemania — with screaming girls drowning out the group — it’s a throwback to the days when they were young and groovy and often spaced out.
asserted
they → see → days
The swinging sixties were like that — and now many of those fans now talk about medications and doctors’ visits.
asserted
many → swing → medications
Some of the mystique is about the group’s incredible growth from "I Want to Hold Your Hand" to "Let It Be," with such groundbreaking records as Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, the White Album and Abbey Road.
asserted
It → want → Soul
(In those days, when record players dominated our lives, music reigned because there were no Apple Watches, no TikTok, no group chats, no Netflix, no distractions from vinyl other than mediocre TV.
asserted
music → dominate → TV
And it was the sheer quality launched by McCartney’s partnership with John Lennon, and its amazing variety.
asserted
it → launch → Lennon
If you wanted hard rock, there was "Ticket to Ride," "Helter Skelter," "Come Together" and "Back in the U.S.S.R.," a Beach Boys spoof now geopolitically dated.
asserted
you → want → U.S.S.R.
If you preferred soft ballads, there was Yesterday, Michelle and Norwegian Wood.
asserted
you → prefer → ballads
The Beatles had a song for every mood.
asserted
Beatles → have → mood
This enabled the other Beatles to produce three new songs from old Lennon tapes provided by Yoko.
asserted
This → enable → Yoko
In every Beatles appearance, there was Starr and his drums on a riser behind the three guitarists, his beat driving the song but largely unnoticed by viewers and listeners.
asserted
beat → be → viewers
Ringo, who was hospitalized as a boy and banged on anything that was available, got along with everyone while Paul, John and George were constantly "fussing and fighting, my friends."
Consider this contrast: the Beatles' fixation is the equivalent of a focus when Ringo joined them on music from 1898.
asserted
Ringo → hospitalize → 1898
I mean, seriously?
asserted
I → mean → ?
That, I think, was why I felt surging emotions at the Ringo concert.
asserted
I → think → concert
I knew I’d enjoy it; I didn’t expect to be utterly rocked, so to speak, by the drummer and his All-Star Band.
asserted
I → know → drummer
And let’s be honest: With two octogenarians still cranking it out, we wonder how much longer they’ll be healthy enough to entertain us.
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they → let → us
Over the decades, the only performers who have come close to their onetime popularity are Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.
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who → come → popularity
For now, it was a thrill to hear Ringo belt out "With a little help from my friends."
asserted
Ringo → hear → friends
The surviving Beatles —Ringo and Paul did a duet on the Dungeon Lane album — feel like our friends.
asserted
Ringo → survive → friends
Ringo turned the searing spotlights on the audience, saying he wanted to see those who were cheering him.
asserted
who → turn → him
He jokingly said they could line up for handshakes after the concert.
uncertain
they → say → concert
Our friends — both on our part and the former mop tops — that’s the secret ingredient.
asserted
that → ’ → part
The Aporia
