Some teachers have a favorite band. Others casually mention a song now and then. And then there is Mrs. DiVincenzo, whose appreciation for The Beatles feels less like a preference and more like a full-time personality trait.
The band itself is made up of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Altogether, they transformed modern music. Formed in Liverpool in 1960, they reshaped pop culture, experimented with groundbreaking recording techniques, and produced albums that are still widely studied today. For her, though, The Beatles are more than a historical phenomenon. They are the gold standard.
Her love for the music of The Beatles began at home. Growing up, their songs were always playing because her parents, especially her dad, were huge fans. She describes him as a “hippie,” so the band’s music filled the house and became a normal part of everyday life. She says the music almost feels “hardwired into [her] pleasure/reward center in [her] brain” because of the constant exposure.
Some of her favorite songs include Let It Be, Hey Jude, and Blackbird. She enjoys them not only because they are catchy, but also because they feel nostalgic and hit close to home. As she got older, she became more interested in the band members themselves and the stories behind their music, which made her appreciate the band even more.
Her favorite members are John Lennon and Paul McCartney. She admires Lennon for being the rebel of the group and respects McCartney for his songwriting genius.
The connection is also personal. Mrs. DiVincenzo is named after the Beatles’ song Michelle, and her dad would often sing part of it, “Michelle, ma belle,” to her out loud while she was growing up. Today, their music still brings her comfort and reminds her of meaningful memories from earlier in her life.
