On my birthday bank holiday (the Monday after a Saturday anniversary), I sat watching big flakes of snow drift to earth. I was in a melancholy mood, listening to a Spotify playlist of songs from the emotional drama This Is Us – a beautifully curated soundtrack that perfectly complements the series’ superb storytelling.
After blubbing my way through two more tear-jerking episodes, I sought distraction on Twitter and noticed a meme that resonated with my nostalgic vibe: “The No 1 song on your 10th birthday depicts your 2021.”
So, I indulged myself and checked Wikipedia. Turns out the chart-topper that week was the Monkees’ I’m A Believer. This is perfect in so many ways, primarily because the single reached No 1 a few months before I went to see the Monkees play live – my first ever gig.
I’d fallen in love with this manufactured pop group through their hit sitcom, which was the epitome of quirky American entertainment. It’s ironic that the TV show was about an imaginary band who wanted to be the next Beatles but never made it, yet in the real world the Monkees became one of the most successful pop groups of the late 60s.
So, it was a very big deal that my parents allowed my sister to take me to see them at the Empire Pool in Wembley in the summer of ’67.
My most vivid memory of that day is being surrounded on all sides by screaming girls, starting to scream myself, and having to be taken down into one of the corridors to be treated by the St John’s Ambulance for hyperventilation – before the band even came on stage.
I blame Jimmy Savile. Yes, the late, disgraced DJ was hosting the concert, and deliberately whipped the (very young) audience into a frenzy. That was before the support act – Lulu – had appeared.
The screaming continued all the way through the Monkees’ set, so I barely heard a note they played, and presumably they couldn’t hear themselves play either (NB: this is also the main reason why The Beatles quit gigging). It was my one and only experience of mass hysteria.
Anyway, back to my depiction of 2021. I am a believer. I believe in people’s innate goodness. I believe in hope. I believe in truth. I believe in the power of the written word. I believe in the power of the spoken word. I believe in a higher power. I believe in myself. I believe that 2021 is going to be better than 2020 (OK, not much evidence of that yet, but it’s early days…)
And I believe in love. “Not a trace of doubt in my mind,” according to the lyrics of I’m A Believer.
That’s why I blub every time I watch an episode of This Is Us – because it always celebrates love – especially the way in which love transcends time, distance and even death.
What was at No 1 on your 10th birthday? I hope it brings you as much joy and meaning as I’m A Believer did for me on a snowy birthday bank holiday.
Bye Bye Baby for me!
Hope that’s not ominous David!
What a wonderful memory! Incredibly vivid! Mine was ‘Broken Wings’ by the Stargazers.
Dave and I recently watched the story of the Beatles and they also said they wouldn’t gigging anymore because of the mass hysteria. They wanted their music to be heard.
But best of all, I love your last paragraph. I echo your beliefs from the bottom of my heart, even that 2021 will be much better than 2020 if nothing else because of the vaccine.
And I believe in the power of love or should I say Love!
Thanks Sue – let’s hope you don’t break anything this year! Your optimism will always see you through 🙂