#ravi shankar

[iamactuallythewalrus]

appreciation post for george's purple velvet jacket

[robertplantdoesitbetter]

oh, to have a bond like george and ravi.

[harrisonarchive]

Onstage at the Olympia Stadium in Detroit, Michigan on August 13, 1966; photo by Bob Bonis (scanned from his book The Lost Beatles Photographs: The Bob Bonis Archive).

“George was first [to be interviewed], with his black shirt and black pants reflecting the serious look on his face. But get George talking about Indian music as he’s perched on a table top with his legs tucked in front of him, and his eyes light up. He looked straight into my eyes and spoke with great intensity. George is interested in the work of Ravi Shankar, the Indian sitar player. George used the sitar on cuts for the Beatles’ ‘Rubber Soul’ and new ‘Revolver’ albums. How did an Englishman get so hung up on Indian music? ‘A whole lot of things got me interested,’ he said. ‘The more I heard it, the more I liked it. It’s very involved music. So involved. That’s why the average listener doesn’t understand. They listen to Western music all their lives. Eastern music is a different concept. ‘The main hang-up for me is Indian classical music. Really groovy, to pardon the expression, as opposed to the hip things in Western classical music… Indian music is hip, yet 3,000 years old. ‘I find it hard to get much of a kick out of Western music. Even out of Western music I used to be interested in a year ago. Most music is still only surface, not very subtle compared to Indian music… Music in general, us included, is still on the surface…’ That last remark is indicative of the Beatles attitude — they are not big-headed stars, they can tear themselves down on occasion. They really come on as artists aware of their talent, but not wrapped up in themselves. ‘You might include this in your article,’ George went on. ‘For anyone who likes music a lot and has a good understanding of it, let me suggest they listen to Indian classical music… I’d like to see more people interested in it, honestly interested. Not just to cash in on the sitar boom. ‘On “Norwegian Wood” on the “Rubber Soul” album I used the sitar like a guitar. On the new album I developed it a little bit. But I’m far from the goal I want to achieve. It will take me 40 years to get there. I’d like to be able to play Indian music as Indian music instead of using Indian music in pop… It takes years of studying, but I’m willing to do that.’ George’s passion for Indian music is so catching he made me want to hear Shankar play right then and there. […] ‘We’re very influenced by others in pop music and others are influenced by us… That’s good. That’s the way life is. You’ve got to be influenced and you try to be influenced by the best.’” - article by Loraine Alterman, Detroit Free Press (August 19, 1966)

[gimmejimmy64]

George Harrison and Ravi Shankar

[thaern]

One of the many reasons to why George is my favourite musician and artist is the fact that even when he was raised in a small town with many closed thoughts he didn't let that or even the fame construct a image of him as utterly masculine and stereotypical, with his friends (different from Paul) for him showing love to everyone being physically close to them or hugging them no matter the gender, was something normal, a simple act of love.

Just like Olivia once said, George had romantic relationships with all of his friends because he was so full of it that it didn't scared him to show it, being making presents or just giving a hug, he did not let the fragile masculinity and conservative speech stop him from being himself.

And that, for a man raised in the late 50s is something to admire

[picture-of-george-every-day]

7/18/26

day 112

ft. Ravi Shankar

[dactylichexameterbce]

Beatles Edition!

[mutable-wings]

life's little, our heads sad. Redeemed and wasting clay this chance. Be of use.

— Ravi Shankar, from "Lines on a Skull"