<p>If I needed to choose one word to describe my taste in music, I would say eclectic. My iTunes library is huge, filled with bands and musicians ranging from Led Zeppelin to the Ink Spots to Pink Floyd. Music is a huge part of my everyday life. I’m in my high school concert and marching band, which gives me the privilege of being surrounded by various individuals with unique tastes in music. Also, my father is a musician which allowed me to listen to tunes in depth from all different eras and of all different genres since I was a baby.
When it comes down to the wire though, the Beatles are my absolute, all time favorite band. My parents are Beatles fanatics who often played their favorite album, Rubber Soul around the house when I was a child. Somewhere in the rubble of my front hall closet, there is an old video camera containing a recording of my sister and me dancing to “Drive My Car” at the ages of six and four, singing every word loudly and proudly, making up dance moves as we went along.
Although it seems shocking due to the quality of music they produced, the Beatles were not an instant success. The fact that average people like Paul McCartney, George Harrison and John Lennon started off in a small, virtually unknown band only to later achieve such great success is so inspiring. When disputes arose, such as the dismissal of their early drummer Pete Best in 1962, instead of falling flat on their faces, the three men in the group just picked up and worked even harder to beat the woes life threw at them. They proved to be completely extraordinary, and the fact that they soared to such great heights in the end makes me realize that with a bit of hard work and perseverance, I can get by (with a little help from my friends, of course!)</p>
<p>The Beatles have personally impacted my life in numerous ways. Everyone has hard times, but the Beatles provide a reason for me to be optimistic. When I hear songs such as “Good Day Sunshine” and “Here Comes The Sun,” I feel as though Paul, John, George and Ringo are personally singing and playing for me, telling me that even when it seems unfair, I have a wonderful life. Their songs hit such a range of emotions; love, anger, happiness and just pure nonsensical silliness at times. I associate the Beatles with the happiest times of my childhood: dancing around the house to the song ‘Norwegian Wood’ with my mother, laughing with my neighborhood friends about the song ‘I Am the Walrus,’ and memorizing the drum solo in ‘The End’ with my sister, playing it with silverware at the dinner table.</p>
<p>In today’s world, so many bands and musicians come and go. But the hearts and minds of myself and millions of others, the Beatles will live forever.</p>