Ringo Starr Was So Kind To Answer My Question At His Q And A Ringo Starr Was So Kind To Answer My Question At His Q And A
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Ringo Starr Was So Kind To Answer My Question At His Q And A

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Author Andre Gardner

Last Friday, I got a text inviting me to a ZOOM press conference with none other than Ringo Starr. While I was extremely psyched that Ringo Starr was so kind to answer my question at his Q & A, I never spoke a word. I’ll explain.

Ringo Starr flashes peace sign in 2024
Scott Robert Ritchie

Of course, I was more than a little excited at the prospect of chatting with Ringo once again! He and I have had some wonderful conversations over the years, and this ZOOM call would be a cool new way to interact with one my my musical heroes.

Not Your Every Day Press Conference

I clicked the invite to see what it was all about. As it turned out, this was to be one of the more interesting press conferences I’ve attended. When I clicked the invitation, I saw that I was asked to submit my questions in advance (not an uncommon practice) and, if selected, my question would be read aloud by the moderator of the press conference. Ahh, I get it. We are attending the press conference, but are not exactly actively involved. It makes sense from an orderly standpoint. It’s much easier than a bunch of Ringo fans hitting the “raise your hand” button. It also should prevent lame or previously asked questions (although that did happen a few times here!)

Electronics and I have a long time love/hate relationship, so I signed into the meeting a little extra early, just in case there were any issues. I got in with no problem, thankfully. A moment or two after 1:00 ET, on popped Ringo Starr! I tell you, it never gets old when you’re face to face with a Beatle, even if it is virtually! He looked great and was stationed in his studio at his L.A. home.

Ringo Answers My Question!

There was no way of seeing who else was attending, so I had to listen to each question to find out. Lo and behold, the first question came from The Philadelphia Inquirer, and it was a comment about how good he looked (which he did!) Then, MY QUESTION was asked!! Yes the moderator, Ringo’s publicist Elizabeth Freund, switched up our call letters, but I didn’t care. Ringo gave me a long and wonderful answer that went in a few different directions. His answer was so long, he forgot if he even answered my question! It was classic Ringo and I was beyond thrilled:

Ringo also chatted about his love for country music, the newly-re-released Let It Be film, why he likes releasing EPs (though me mentioned he has a full length country album in the can), and his home studio setup. One thing that really surprised me about this ZOOM press conference was how long it lasted. I don’t know why, but I thought Ringo would get bored after about 15 minutes. He was anything but bored, totally engaged, cracking his usual witty lines, and it really looked like he was enjoying himself.

It was nice to hear questions from some Beatle people I know. Mitch Axelrod, from his excellent podcast Fab 4 Free 4 All, got a question in, as did another well known Beatles radio host and podcaster, Ken Michaels. It was the excellent musician and writer Jeff Slate who asked the question about Ringo’s home studio setup. Questions came in from all over the world, which I could see pleased Ringo.

Big thanks to Elizabeth Freund and Patrice Fehlen at Beautiful Day Media for making this Q&A possible, and thanks to my long time friend Ike Richman for getting me in!

Ringo Starr’s latest EP is called Crooked Boy. Click to get the CD or the 12″ vinyl.

Ringo Starr And His All-Starr Band rock the TD Pavilion at The Mann Center on September 24. Get your tickets here.

13 Beautiful Beatles Songs You Need To Show Gen Z

They are the most iconic band in the world with a discography that is 50+ years old. Sometimes we need a refresher. Especially when it comes to the young people in our lives. There are so many Beatles songs you need to show Gen Z.

With a whole new generation coming of age comes a whole new generation that needs to be educated on The Beatles. You may have played them these songs as kids, but now that they’re older, they need to truly appreciate them. The band wrote such profound lyrics that permeate time and still ring true today.

Most of the songs on this list talk about important issues probably facing Gen Z today, such as self discovery and, of course, love. And let’s face it. Bands today may not have existed had it not been for The Beatles. For example, Nirvana, Radiohead, and even Queen have said they were all influenced by the iconic band. If you go back in the history of your favorite band or artist and who they were inspired by, it’s nearly impossible NOT to find The Beatles.

It’s hard to appreciate where music’s roots lie when you were born and live so far in the future of it. That’s why it’s up to those who know to educate the younger ones who don’t. It feels like Gen Z needs The Beatles now more than ever. Not only just for foundational music knowledge, but also for life advice.

The Beatles were in their teens and 20s during the peak of their career. They had angst. So Gen Z, keep in mind that the age you’re hitting now is the age they were in the 60s. Their longevity is due to the fact that they’re just so dang relatable. They wrote these songs while they were going through what you’re going through now! So with that being said,

Here are 13 Beatles songs you need to play for Gen Z:

  • She's Leaving Home

    The age old story of a kid flying the coop. This stunning song not only will make you cry with its orchestral beauty, it will also feel so relevant. The swirling harp will transport you to the song’s world. You can find yourself in every character’s shoes at different points in your life. Gen Z may be on the girl’s side now, but when they become parents, they will understand the parents in the song’s perspective, too. The song is just gorgeous and encapsulates the human experience so well.

  • Nowhere Man

    You ever find yourself looking inward and not liking what you see? That’s kinda what John Lennon did here when he wrote this tune. The song describes a man with no direction in his life and with no genuine worldview. Huh, sounds a lot like what most young people go through. The message is thinly veiled in Lennon’s poetic writing style. If you don’t want to think too deeply about it, it is still a bop, so you can dance around to the classic harmonies.

  • For No One

    “For No One” follows a woman falling out of love with her partner. The French horn is not the only beautiful thing about this song. The lyrics are just so relatable. Whether you’ve fallen out of love, or someone’s fallen out of love with you, this song will hit hard. Mind you, Paul was a mere 23 years old writing this one. The line: “You find that all her words of kindness linger on when she no longer needs you,” was written by a KID. Wow. This is a good song for when you’re in your feels and just want to cry.

  • Two Of Us

    The nod to the Everly Brothers, “Two Of Us”,  is likely talking about getting lost in the country with your love. The song is more stripped down than other Beatles hits, but the sound is definitely there. The soaring harmonies tell a story of being with someone you really enjoy, doing something that makes you both happy. It’s a great sing-along tune.

  • And I Love Her

    This is just one of those classic love songs you can’t NOT like. You know all the typical Beatles love songs, probably, like “She Loves You” and “Something”. And I Love Her is different, but it’s quintessential. It came in contrast to the driving pop that it found itself among on the album A Hard Days Night. The song is perfect slow-dancing material. The lyrics are relatable to anyone who has been in love.

  • Michelle

    “Michelle” is just one of those super unique, gorgeous songs. It’s inspired heavily by French music and talks about loving someone he doesn’t speak the same language as. The best part is that this song marks a departure beyond the confines of rock music at the time. The finger-picking style Paul uses here was not commonly seen back then. Yet, you hear it all the time now. It’s a great listen.

  • Across The Universe

    You just have to hear this one, if you haven’t. There are almost no words to describe the beauty of this song. I was going to try to attempt to talk about it, but seriously, you just have to hear it. I would argue that it is one of the most beautiful songs ever written.

  • I Will

    “I Will” is not one many people mention when listing great Beatles love songs. But, it is great. The song features Paul McCartney mouthing the bass part rather than playing it. The beauty lies in its simplicity. It’s a classic declaration of love that is a staple for any Spotify playlist you want to make for your significant other.

  • In My Life

    Nostalgia at its finest. When looking at your life now, and how it was then, you may want to listen to “In My Life”. It is about how life is constantly changing and evolving. We lose people, we meet people, we fall in love. Life is so complex, and here Lennon attempts to put it all in a song. Or at least the fact that life is bound to change. Gen Z may be seeing a LOT of changes in life right now. This song is a good way to cope and deal with it.

  • Hey Jude

    “Hey Jude” is just one of those songs. It was written by Paul for John Lennon’s kid, Julian. His parents were getting a divorce, so life was pretty hard for little Julian. There are times when you just need to take a sad situation and make the best of it, and that’s what this song reminds us to do. This is another song that tries to tackle how we can and should deal with change.

  • The Long And Winding Road

    It’s all about the unattainable. “The Long and Winding Road” leads to the door you never quite reach. This is the road that you never get to the end of, until you do. It’s really deep if you think about it. It gives some pretty good perspective on life and how it’s all one big journey. You can also watch this one get recorded in the new Let It Be documentary on Disney+. It’s so fascinating to watch their writing and recording process.

  • Golden Slumbers

    This song falls in the midst of one of the best rock medleys ever written. The B-Side of Abbey Road is a true masterpiece. “Golden Slumbers” marks almost the midway point, starting calm and swelling into a grand crescendo. The song, inspired by lullabies, is on the final album The Beatles recorded together. It marks a transition period in the album, and in life.

  • Here Comes The Sun

    What a happy, pretty tune. The Harrison composition reminds us that the sun is always on the horizon. Written after a particularly tumultuous time for the singer, it talks of the sun, with all its brightness and warmth, finally making an appearance again. The sun could be a metaphor for better times, or whatever you’d like it to be. It serves as a joyous reminder that not everything will stay bleak forever. The sun will come back!

Andre is living the dream, rocking your afternoons with amazing Classic Rock on 102.9 MGK! He has been a music lover since age 3 when his brother Alan turned him onto The Beatles. For MGK, Andre writes about his love of music, including production, charts, and of course, the Beatles!

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