Readers in Council,
The Japan Times,
5-4, Shibaura 4-chome
Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0023
In regard to “Beatles’ luck shows success isn’t pre-ordained” by Cass R. Sunstein (Japan Times, Saturday, November 23) I have long thought that the death of U.S. President John F. Kennedy had a lot to do with the Beatlemania phenomenon. But I have never read anyone in the media explaining this angle, so I hope it’s my own idea. The Beatles arrived in New York City only about eleven weeks after the president’s assassination and I think Americans, especially young Americans, were primed and hungry for something new, something distracting, something exciting and different after the recent national tragedy. The mop top four arrived and they were young and energetic, good looking, talented musicians and just so, so ... so fab. America wanted to be shook up and The Beatles fit the bill. Goo-goo-ga-joob.