Beatlemania

CEBU, Philippines - One of the main reasons why I decided to visit Liverpool, once named the European City of Culture, was to have a more concrete story to tell about the home of a 60s rock and pop band known as The Beatles, with members Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Richard Starkey or Ringo Star as he was also known. Apart from that, I also wanted to explore the rest of the city of Liverpool, especially when I was reminded that this city is known to have a bad reputation due to its poverty and high crime. But you can never judge a book by its cover, so I had to see it for myself to pass my own judgment.

Upon arriving at Liverpool, we headed directly to the historic Albert Dock, where a great story unfolds, a popular visitor attraction of living history, The Beatles Story. Inside the museum (for which you should take 2-3 hours of your time) begins with a display of interesting facts on the lives of each of the band members before they found stardom. It also featured Woolton Village Fete (a suburb in Liverpool), where Paul McCartney first met John Lennon and how The Beatles band was formed.

Some of the most fascinating items on display were John Lennon’s original iconic round spectacles protected by thick glass and absolutely not for sale despite the many million requests! Another one was George Harrison’s first ever guitar as well as the original distinct grey mohair suits worn by the members of the band. It was beautiful to step into the exact same setting (a white room with a white piano and shutters) for the music video of the song Imagine,as the song played before me. Having seen “The Many Faces of John Lennon,” a collection of John Lennon photographs, I would also have to admit that he was probably the best-looking member of the band!

Embarking on the Yellow Submarine experience was an example on the madness of the psychedelic era! I just couldn’t help but laugh having witnessed the younger generation dancing and enjoying music created long before they were born. The Cavern Club (the club where The Beatles first played), an exact replica of the iconic original, created a great atmosphere for those early days in the band’s career. Members of the public remember the Cavern Club as a very crowded and smelly place, but with such lively atmosphere! It’s a fact that all of us would at least know one of the songs sung by The Beatles. You’ve probably lived on another planet if you claim to not know The Beatles or worse, never heard of any of their songs!

An interview with Paul McCartney was yet another feature of the museum’s collections, where he described the band’s grand events and their unfortunate break-up. It was a shame that on the 31stDecember 1970, all good things came to an end, but nevertheless, what a phenomenon on how four young boys who grew up in a rough area surrounded by poverty and crime have left such a great legacy for us all.

I reckon that the museum is such a great visitor attraction especially for ones who have a huge interest in The Beatles. The museum shop also gave me the chance to purchase some merchandise and souvenirs, not forgetting, a magnet to add to my collection as well as a few postcards to send home.

If the museum doesn’t quench your thirst for Beatle knowledge, then a short walk towards the city centre will take you to a 5-star hotel called the Hard Day’s Night Hotel (www.harddaysnighthotel.com), which was opened and named in memory of one of their most popular songs. Outside the hotel, we boarded the tour bus that took us around the city of Liverpool where I witnessed other sights such as The Royal Liver Building (a building of such stunning architecture), the Anglican Liverpool Cathedral, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King (an unusual looking building in the shape of a crown), China Town (the first ever in the United Kingdom), LIPA (currently the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts formerly known as the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys, where three of the band members went to school), Tate Museum, Town Hall, Liverpool Empire Theatre (Liverpool’s largest theatre where ofcourse, The Beatles have performed), Cavern Wall of Fame, John Lennon Statue, Strawberry Field (the former children’s home made famous by the song itself), former homes of McCartney, Lennon, Harrison and Starkey and everything else in connection to the members of The Beatles.

Until today, no one can avoid the fact that Liverpool is Beatlemania. So having not judged a book by its cover, I’d have to admit that a visit to Liverpool was well worth it!