Songful Style! “Hello, Goodbye”

“Hello, Goodbye”

Yes, I am going to be that blogger who says, “I can’t believe it’s the last Monday in May!” But, since it is the last Monday in May, you get to see how the bloggers of Songful Style have interpreted the song, “Hello, Goodbye” by the Beatles. Each month, on the last Monday, Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, Suzy of The Grey Brunette, Anne of Spy Girl, Michelle of My Bijou Life Online, and I share looks based on a song selected by one of us. You can find them on our blogs and Instagram.  Our ensembles (pun intended) may be inspired by the lyrics of a song, the artwork of the album cover, maybe the MTV video, or even a memory the song evokes.  Plus, we’re throwing a link party!  And, if you check the end or my post, you’ll see June’s song! I hope you’ll visit, Michelle, Anne, Suzy, and Shelbee to see their looks. Check out the linked posts, too! You might discover a new blog.

Why this song?

I chose this month’s song. I thought long and hard about my choice…so many artists, so many songs, only so many months!!! I even texted my youngest son to see what he would choose. At first, he thought I was bonkers, but then he got into the spirit of the thing. He suggested many different songs by many different artists. To be perfectly honest, I almost chose one of his (here’s one from his latest album)! And, I’m not even sure this is my favorite Beatles song. In fact, don’t think I could point to one and say, “That’s my favorite.” I love the Beatles, pure and simple. But, I chose this specific song because this is a fashion challenge, and there is so much to work with here!

A little history…

I grew up in that in between time…I wasn’t old enough to be a hippie or flower child; I wasn’t young enough to be a 50s type bobby soxer. I grew up in the 70s, that time period that saw the VietNam War escalate, Richard Nixon resigned, and the oil crisis which led to lowered speed limits. For a brief period of time, I could drive 65 mph (legally)!!! The most unfortunate part of my childhood was I never saw the Beatles. My daughter-in-law’s mother did, and I’m so jealous! I do remember (at least, I think I do) watching them on the Ed Sullivan Show. My mom even bought the 45 of “Yellow Submarine”. And, I think that was the extent of any Beatles vinyl at our house! I cannot fathom that!

A little more history…

I could not even tell you when I became aware of the Beatles. I remember watching the Saturday morning cartoon. You can find the episodes on YouTube, but the music has been muted to avoid a copyright strike. And, I have to tell you…they’re bad! We listened to their music on a little radio on an AM station because FM was just for classical music then. I had a sleeveless tee shirt that I can see as clear as day in my head! I’ve tried to find one like it on countless occasions. This one is the closest I come to it. Mine was not the Beatles cartoon characters. My shirt featured their legs prominently on the front. Long, skinny black legged Beatles. I don’t really remember what their faces looked like or if they even showed up on the shirt. Do you suppose that’s where my love of stripes originated?

Even more history…

While I loved the Beatles, I’m embarrassed to admit my teen years involved Barry Manilow, John Denver, and the like. In my defense, the Beatles had broken up by this time. I was devastated and thought music would never be the same. But, along came the Eagles, Aerosmith, Madonna, and the big hair bands of the 80s, and my love of rock was renewed. My youngest son, Jordan, was born in 1984. We spent lots of time together in the car because the older two were in school, and we were always taking someone somewhere. A song would play, and I’d ask, “Who’s this?” Now, it was usually the Beatles, but he’d almost always get it right even when it wasn’t the Beatles. At some point, Jordan became the teacher and I the student. He knows the Beatles, their songs, their chronology backward and forward! Give him a lyric, and he can not only tell you who wrote the song, he’ll most likely tell you when it was written, where it was recorded, upon which album it appeared, and its meaning! I’m laughing as I write this because his middle school math teacher would tell me he’d almost always bring the conversation around to the Beatles! Nothing irritates Jordan more (OK, lots irritate him more) than when I ask, “Is that Paul or John singing now?

The song, if you please…

You say, “Yes”, I say, “No”
You say, “Stop” and I say, “Go, go, go”
Oh no You say, “Goodbye” and I say, “Hello, hello, hello”
I don’t know why you say, “Goodbye”, I say, “Hello, hello, hello”
I don’t know why you say, “Goodbye”, I say, “Hello” I say, “High”, you say, “Low”
You say, “Why?” And I say, “I don’t know”
Oh no You say, “Goodbye” and I say, “Hello, hello, hello”
I don’t know why you say, “Goodbye”, I say, “Hello, hello, hello”
I don’t know why you say, “Goodbye”, I say, “Hello” Why, why, why, why, why, why, do you
Say, “Goodbye, goodbye, bye, bye”?
Oh no You say, “Goodbye” and I say, “Hello, hello, hello”
I don’t know why you say, “Goodbye”, I say, “Hello, hello, hello”
I don’t know why you say, “Goodbye”, I say, “Hello” You say, “Yes”, I say, “No” (I say, “Yes”, but I may mean, “No”)
You say, “Stop”, I say, “Go, go, go” (I can stay still it’s time to go)
Oh, oh no You say, “Goodbye” and I say, “Hello, hello, hello”
I don’t know why you say, “Goodbye”, I say, “Hello, hello, hello”
I don’t know why you say, “Goodbye”, I say, “Hello, hello, hello”
I don’t know why you say, “Goodbye”, I say, “Hello-wow, oh, hello” Hela, heba, helloa, hela heba, helloa, hela, heba, helloa
Hela, heba, helloa, (hela) hela, heba, helloa, hela, heba, helloa
Hela, heba, helloa, hela, heba, helloa, hela, heba, helloa…

So, what does it mean?

Paul has said, on several occasions, he wrote the song soon after the passing of Brian Epstein, the Beatles’ manager. Apparently, Alistair Taylor, an aide to the band, had asked Paul how he came to write a song. Paul took him into a room at his home, sat down at a harmonium, and basically played a word association game with him. Paul would say one word and asked Taylor to say an opposite to that word. And, with that “Hello, Goodbye” was born. Taylor mentioned he had no idea if Paul already had the melody in his head or made it up as he went along. The quartet recorded the song while mourning Epstein’s death and laid down some of the tracks after his funeral (source). As with many songs, I think the music is what makes the song. The lyrics to “Hello, Goodbye” are rather nonsensical, but they work. Add in the music, and you’ve got magic.

Fun facts about the Beatles…

John and Paul met for the first time at a church! The two met at a fete at St. Peter’s Church Hall in Woolton, Liverpool on July 6, 1957. John was 16, and Paul was 15. Paul joined John’s group, The Quarrymen, and history began making itself! George joined the group sometime later with Ringo being the last to enter the scene. Some of the early names (after The Quarrymen) were Johnny and the Moondogs, the Silver Beetles, and the Silver Beats (source). Even though both McCartney and Lennon would pen songs individually, they had agreed to share songwriting credit. The Beatles were heavily influenced by Elvis and his rockabilly sound as well as that of Buddy Holly, Little Richard and many Motown artists. Ringo is regularly recognized as one of the best drummers around. Many argue he’s not flashy or technically correct, but his timing is perfection! The B side of “Hello, Goodbye” is “I am the Walrus”. Apparently, John wasn’t terrifically happy about that but came, in time, to recognize the former’s commercial appeal. Paul’s first name is actually James! He said his parents always called him by his middle name, Paul. John legally changed his name to John Ono Lennon in 1969, but official documents still listed him as John Winston Ono Lennon. Ringo’s real name is Richard Starkey; he adopted the name Ringo because of all of his rings. For a very short time, George Harrison was known as Carl Harrison in honor of Carl Perkins.

Interesting covers…

There are numerous covers of this song. Here is one by The Cure. James, Sir Paul’s son, plays keyboards. There are moments when he glances into the camera, you’d swear you were looking at his dad! Here is a really nice, heavy-on-the-orchestra version from the Analogues. A heavy metal(ish) cover from Nicotine comes to us from India, I guess. You need to hang in there to about the 90 second mark for some strange lip work…yep, you read that right! No Doubt covered a few lines when Sir Paul was honored at the Kennedy Center. And, if you want really different, how about Bugs Bunny? Here ya go!

My interpretation…

OK, time for a full confession here! I chose this song thinking it was on the Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover!!! And, if you look closely, you can see that reflected in my outfit! But, most of it comes from my interpretation of the video. Once upon a time, I had the absolute perfect jacket for this look. It was an old one from Coldwater Creek…turquoise, heavily brocaded with cording and epaulets. It would have been perfect!! Look, here it is! Perfect, right? Oh, well! Once again, I turned to my trusty Talbots striped sleeveless tee (here and here). Then, I added these wide leg pants from Loft. Why? Because, for some strange reason, I thought there were rows and rows of green and yellow flowers on the cover of, you guessed it, the Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover! I needed something to mimic those gorgeous jackets the boys are wearing in the video, and so, using that as an excuse, I bought this coverup from where else…April Cornell! It has gorgeous lace insets, a higher collar, and is the perfect completer piece! In fact, I think I had to have this to call it my interpretation, don’t you think?

The Lewk!

I am one of those people who buys the same thing in every color. These sandals? I have them in green, yellow, and black. I have another slightly different version in blue! They are comfortable but not very supportive. Both necklaces and the earrings are from J Jill. The bracelet is an oldy from Brighton…look closely and you’ll see something I swore I’d never wear!

Next month:

Anne selected June’s song: “Behind the Wall of Sleep” by the Smithereens. I will need to do lots of research for this. I’m aware of the Smithereens, but I don’t really know of their music.

Affiliate links and such:

Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. I recently became a Brand Ambassador for Sarah Flint shoes. You can use SARAHFLINT-BAMARSHA for $50 off your first pair. As of right now, I also have an affiliate code for Kantha Bae! Use MarshaintheMiddle in the promo code box for $5 off any order (excluding Bestie restocks)! In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post.

Where you can find me:

Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, My Bijou LIfe, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, Being a Wordsmith, and Mummabstylish. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I’m also a co-host on the Weekend Traffic Jam (here). And, of course, you can now find me here on the last Friday of the month! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. You can link up your favorite songful style as well as any other posts!

Wrap it up, Marsha!

Well, this has been a very long post, but I’m not sure I did justice to the Beatles. I do believe they were one of the major forces on the rock and roll scene. I think the music we listen to today would not be the same if it had not been for those four gents from Liverpool. My favorite Beatle, by far, was John. There was something about his hair, those round glasses, and his cheeky grins. I have seen Paul in concert twice now and would love to see him again. I think George was the cool Beatle, and I think Ringo was the one who had the most fun. So, can we talk? Were you a fan of the Beatles? Who is your favorite? Please visit the other women of Songful Style, link your posts, and think about June’s song! And, I’d love it if you’d comment, and then we can talk! As always, thank you so very much for subscribing to my blog!

And, now the party starts!

Please link up your favorite song posts, fashion posts, creative posts…well, you know what to do!

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