Fabs Affected by WWII
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Sometimes I wonder how the boys were affected by the huge ominous shadow of WWII cast over England in the years after the war ended, and while it was going on too, of course, during their very early childhoods. Have read things seemed gray in the U.K., dull, hard, humorless in a way until the coming of "Swinging England" and "Swinging London." And that material things still seemed scarce even after rationing ended. I'm pretty sure however that the Brits still retained much of their distinctive idiosyncratic senses of humor and wit even with all the unimaginable carnage and destruction and hatred unleashed by Hitler and his Nazis during and after WWII. Their spirit and life force. What would the Beatles' work have sounded like and been about, had not that hideous unspeakable ghastly second world war transpired--also if WWI hadn't happened. Doubtless they'd still have sung of love as that's the main staple of popular song. Remember the sharpish poignant Beatle anti-war stance depicted in their big home-movie like "Magical Mystery Tour" movie. That scene shows them being affected. John was fond of delivering the Nazi "Hail Hitler" salute in a tongue in cheek gallows humor manner, at times. Then much later on the "weapons of war we despise" line in Pipes of Peace by Paul solo...that entire song was a wonderful sounding and meaningful anti-war anthem. And of course John selected "How I Won the War" as his only non-Beatle movie role. George seemed to immerse himself in Eastern philosophy possibly in part as a reaction against the violence of war he had been exposed too with the bombing of England and Hitler and his minions being a little too close to home with WWII. You think? The song and philosophy "All You Need is Love" indirectly preached against the bloody horrors of warfare, didn't it? Espoused non-violence? As a major part of their world view.
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Peace & Love, Stop the war, etc. was the "anthem" of the '60's.
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Lewisohn made some interesting points about this in Tune In, Vol 1. One idea he put forward, which carried a somewhat positive spin, suggested the Allies profound victory allowed the Beatles and the other young men of their generation to be the first to not have to register for the draft. They were more or less free to develop without experiencing a military indoctrination of any kind. I think there's some truth in that; I was intrigued in any event as I'd never considered that aspect of their sociological context - if that makes any sense!
Certainly the war influenced them as individuals, given Freddie Lennon's absence in John's life, for example. Interesting thread! Thanks! -
There's no way the war couldn't have affected their lives, but musically, they were more inspired by American music. How those American musicians were affected by the war was probably very different. The Germans didn't bomb Chicago all that much.
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HaileyMcComet:
There's no way the war couldn't have affected their lives, but musically, they were more inspired by American music. How those American musicians were affected by the war was probably very different. The Germans didn't bomb Chicago all that much.
Exactly. The Fabs were inspired philosophically by the fact those world wars happened, and started in Europe. That deep dire knowledge of many millions killed was a part of them.
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I imagine they were more directly affected by the Cold War than WWII, which was over when they were still quite small. Of course, WWII affected all of British society, and the Germans bombed the **** out of Britain, but in the fifties, when they were older children and teens, the sense of imminent annhilation between the U.S./NATO on one side and the Soviets/Warsaw Pact on the other loomed over literally everything in a way that's kind of hard to fathom now.
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Also the Beatles got their start and influence in Hamburg just 15 years after the war ended. The Beatles were immersed in a culture where the young first generation of Germans were enjoying the spoils of democracy and a non-war climate for the first time.
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Bruce M.:
I imagine they were more directly affected by the Cold War than WWII, which was over when they were still quite small. Of course, WWII affected all of British society, and the Germans bombed the **** out of Britain, but in the fifties, when they were older children and teens, the sense of imminent annhilation between the U.S./NATO on one side and the Soviets/Warsaw Pact on the other loomed over literally everything in a way that's kind of hard to fathom now.
The Cold War? That did not end until 1991! How were they affected by that? http://www.bing.com/search?q=end+of+the+cold+war&form=PRHPCS&pc=HPDTDFJS&mkt=en-us&refig=fc4adffa0b9444e6b73e4161b1695f1e&qs=AS&pq=end+of+the+cold+&sc=8-16&sp=1&cvid=fc4adffa0b9444e6b73e4161b1695f1e
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Nancy R:
The Cold War? That did not end until 1991! How were they affected by that?
Are you kidding? I don't get it.
Nancy R:
Bing? Now I know you're kidding.
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HaileyMcComet:
Nancy R:
The Cold War? That did not end until 1991! How were they affected by that?
Are you kidding? I don't get it.
Nancy R:
Bing? Now I know you're kidding.
*Totally confused by you* We were talking about how the young Beatles were affected by WWII. The cold war did not end until 1991, so does not apply in this case.
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I think I'm as confused as you are. How could they not be affected by the Cold War? They were in their formative years during the height of MAD and all that nonsense. I'd say it was all worse in Britain than in the United States.
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HaileyMcComet:
I think I'm as confused as you are. How could they not be affected by the Cold War? They were in their formative years during the height of MAD and all that nonsense. I'd say it was all worse in Britain than in the United States.
Don't know what MAD is, but I thought the original poster was talking about the end of the cold war. I guess not. Still don't think it affected them near as much as WWII and the aftermath of that.
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Mutually Assured Destruction was kind of a big deal during the Cold War. It's probably the only thing that kept the USA and USSR from blowing each other up. Britain, and all of Europe, was caught in the middle. That's why teenagers in Britain in the 1950s would notice.
