Thursday, January 16, 2014

Get Independent Or Die Trying

The world is filled with so called experts whose job it is to judge you.

Very often your life can hinge on decisions people like this make.

Very often these people are idiots.

I read a recent article in Rolling Stone on The Beatles' first trip to America in February 1964.

They had kicked Britain's ass. They were enormous, their records sold in unprecedented numbers, the music industry had never seen anything like it.

The Beatles themselves were apprehensive about coming to this country. Funny to think about now, but true. They felt America was so huge and had so much stuff, what could it possibly want from The Beatles? McCartney actually said on the plane ride over: "They've got their own groups. What are we going to give them that they don't already have?"

When the plane landed their eyes were opened. Humongous crowds. The lads were overwhelmed.

In Britain, The Beatles recorded for EMI. By the end of 1963 they had five singles in Britain's Top Twenty, three of which hit Number One. Their debut album, "Please Please Me" was number one on Britain's album charts for 30 weeks, only to be replaced by their second album, "With The Beatles."

Capitol Records was the American licensee of EMI. Capitol wanted nothing to do with The Beatles.

They rejected "Love Me Do', "Please Please Me" and "She Loves You." Dave Dexter was doing the rejecting. He felt "Love Me Do" was a generally amateurish and unappealing rendition. He bad mouthed it to any company exec who asked.

How can one man be so fucking stupid? It was this guy's job to recognize talent. He was paid as a goddamn expert.

Capitol remained reluctant even after The Beatles kicked ass on Ed Sullivan.

They finally woke up when they realized that in Britain with sales of the singles "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You", and the album "With The Beatles", The Beatles released as many million-selling singles in 1963 as the entire American recording industry.

There is nobody in this world with a better opinion than yours. Only a different one.

You have to be especially wary of people who pass themselves off as experts, because at some point they lose sight of what they are trained to do as their ego blurs their vision.

Think of that in your next job interview. Adopt an attitude of superiority.

You got nothing to lose.

Independence, baby. Proving people wrong.

That's a high that will grease your ride through life.

No comments:

Post a Comment