RAIN News staff celebrates The Beatles in music services

The Beatles can now be streamed in major music services, and the RAIN editorial office is unreasonably (but seasonally!) giddy about it. Here, with cutting-edge analysis and lyrical insight, Anna Washenko and Brad Hill unabashedly discuss.

Brad

Help! I was up half the night listening to The Beatles! Finally, their stuff can be heard across the universe — the streaming universe, anyway. It’s amazing. Yesterday: Nowhere, man. Today: Here comes the sun. I think it’s a good move, don’t you? You can’t hide your love away forever, and streaming is where the music is.

Anna

Yes, the night before was an exciting new dawn for The Beatles! And I’ll follow the sun of their music through the holiday, too. For me, though, the most exciting thing is that, in my mind’s eye, I’ve just seen a face. It’s the face of a new generation discovering the band and their rock and roll music. I think this could mean a new wave of Beatles fans. (You hear that, young’uns? Don’t let me down.)

Brad

This is not a typical day in the life of a Beats fan, that’s for sure. I’m glad all over to know that you’re excited about this, too. Your mother should know the Beatles, but I wasn’t sure whether their music meant anything to you. When I’m sixty-four I’ll still be listening, but I wonder about upcoming generations.

Anna

I mean, there will always be skeptics who treat the things past generations love like an old brown shoe, and run helter skelter in the other direction. And while my guitar gently weeps (okay, maybe just rolls its eyes) at them, I think enough people will just be curious about the Beatles phenomenon to seek them out. Especially now that they can come together on the new, modern technologies. It puts things on the listener’s terms.

Brad

Their arrival in streaming definitely fixes a hole. Now the music is free as a bird. It feels incredible to call up these songs any time at all. “Come and get it,” the band seems to be saying. After many years of crying, waiting, hoping — this enduring music is here, there, and everywhere.

Anna

You’re definitely speaking words of wisdom. Let it be available to everyone! From Eleanor Rigby to Dizzy Miss Lizzy, from Doctor Robert to Mean Mr. Mustard, there’s something for any listener to enjoy in The Beatles’ library. Even the eggmen and the walruses would be all “goo goo g’joob” about this music!

Brad

Wait. Are you getting loopy on eggnog? Yeah, I’m talking about you. It’s all too much. But we can work it out. I’ve got a feeling about 2016. Happy new year, from me to you!