Monday, January 4, 2010

Blog Tour and Beatles Rock Band for Nintendo Wii Giveaway: The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

A warm welcome to Author Elizabeth Eulberg, here to tell us about her favorite Beatles song (or make that songs...). Read my review of The Lonely Hearts Club in a separate post.

I had this coming to me. How could I not? When one writes a book influenced by The Beatles and their songs, it only makes sense that I’d be asked about my favorite Beatles song. But the problem is I don’t have a favorite Beatles song. I have many…

Where to begin… Since I always recommend Beatles novices to start with the superb Beatles 1 album that features their numerous #1 hits, I will start with songs on that album. Several of my favorite songs are on this compilation: “Ticket to Ride,” “We Can Work it Out,” “Eleanor Rigby,” and “Something.” The Beatles have so many songs that can take me on an emotional journey (very much like my character Penny in The Lonely Hearts Club).

The first line of “Ticket to Ride” pulls at my heart every time: “I think I’m going to be sad, I think it’s today…” Very simple, very beautiful. I recently learned to play this on the guitar and when I first played the opening guitar line, I said, “Awww…. So sad.” I thought I was going to cry. My poor, poor guitar teacher.

“We Can Work it Out” is a song that makes me want to sing along and dance. The lyrics about well…working things out have a great message, especially the line “life is very short and there’s no time for fussing and fighting my friend.” There was an entire scene in an early draft of The Lonely Hearts Club that was inspired by this song.

While the Beatles were best known in the beginning of their career for their guitar riffs, “Eleanor Rigby” took them in a different direction. Strings replaced the guitar and the gorgeous melody of this song is one of my favorites. The line “I look at all the lonely people…” was originally the opening line of The Lonely Hearts Club, but I decided that might seem a little too depressing.

Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote the majority of the Beatles’ songs, but George Harrison wrote two of my favorites: “Something” and “Here Comes the Sun.” “Something” is one of the purest love songs in the world. When George sings, “You’re asking me if my love will grow? I don’t know, oh I don’t know…” The force and emotion he puts into “I don’t know” gives me chills.

There are so many more songs that I could talk about, especially in relation to my book, but there is one song that I will always think of The Lonely Hearts Club when I hear. And oddly enough it isn’t “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (although I do love that song). Whenever I finished a draft of my manuscript, I would turn on the electric version of “Revolution” and dance around my apartment like a lunatic to celebrate. I smile anytime I hear that song and think about how excited I was when I would play that.

I have no doubt that I’ll be playing that song, and many more Beatles song, for years to come.

Thanks Elizabeth!

Giveaway details:

Not content to just listen to the Beatles? If you want to sing and play along, then the Beatles Rock Band game (Special value edition) for Nintendo Wii is for you. I have (1) game to give away. You must have a mailing address in the US and you must leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite Beatles song is to enter.

+1 entry for posting a link to this contest on your blog (sidebar is fine) and leaving a separate comment telling me you did so

+1 entry for tweeting about the contest (include @lenoreva in your tweet) and leaving a separate comment telling me you did so

The contest will remain open until Monday Jan 11th at 11:59 CST. I will annouce the winner (and the winners of all my other open contests) the next day.

Here is some product information:

The Fab Four take center stage once more in this exclusive Rock Band spin-off. More than a compilation of songs from the Beatles, the game re-creates the band's historic concerts, signature instruments, and changing appearances over the span of a 12-album career. Digital versions of John, Paul, George, and Ringo will not only perform at authentic venues, but also within dreamlike environments inspired by some of the band's more colorful songs.

As with previous entries in the Rock Band franchise, the game involves playing songs by following onscreen cues with one of four peripherals: a microphone, lead guitar, bass guitar, and drums. Vocals now offer three playable parts, a first for the series, including one lead and two harmonies. A built-in vocal trainer will help you get accustomed to singing each melody, as you are able to freely switch between all three parts with a press of a button. Three microphones are required to harmonize with your friends.

Featured on the disc are 45 tracks, including "Back in the U.S.S.R.," "Here Comes the Sun," "I Feel Fine," "Taxman," "Octopus' Garden," "Get Back," "Day Tripper," "I Saw Her Standing There," "I Am the Walrus," and "I Want to Hold Your Hand." Downloadable content is also supported to expand the initial track list, with 1969's Abbey Road the first album scheduled for online distribution.

Hope you enjoyed this installment of The Lonely Hearts Club tour. Check in at Green Bean Teen Queen on Wedesday for the next stop where Elizabeth talks about her favorite road trips. And for all the tour dates as well as more information about the book, visit the author's website.

74 comments:

Deborah said...

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! As a HUGE Beatles fan, picking one favorite Beatles song is like picking a needle in a haystack. I can't choose a favorite album? That'd be easier. Ok one song. This time around I'm going to go with "In My Life". That was the song we used at our wedding for our joint father/daughter - mother/son dance.

scottsgal said...

I like "She Loves You"
msboatgal at aol.com

Anonymous said...

It's really mean to make us choose only one song! I'm a fan of Yesterday. stacybooks at yahoo

Julie P. said...

It's really hard to pick! How about Yesterday?

bookingmama(at)gmail(dot)com

Julie P. said...

I tweeted too!

http://twitter.com/bookingmama/statuses/7367339695

Heather J. @ TLC Book Tours said...

I love almost all of them, but the one that bring back the best memories is Yellow Submarine - it was the song my cousins and I sang over and over again during a trip to Niagara Falls years ago. :)

Heather J. @ TLC Book Tours said...

and I tweeted as well :)

Steve said...

I couldn't miss out on this! ;-) It'd be a great bday present for me and/or Kelly! :) Just saying, hehe. I think my favorite is "Birthday". It's so cheesy, yet is one of those songs that makes you want to get up and dance no matter where you are!

Alysa Stewart said...

my favorite favorite? I couldn't say. But for my favorite, I'll go with I want to Hold your Hand.

Orchid said...

I'm torn between two Beatles songs. Strawberry Fields and Lucy in the Sky. :)

hauntingorchid (at) aol (dot) com

bermudaonion said...

I'm so glad to see this book is good - I should be reading it soon. No need to enter me.

Katie said...

That is a really hard question to answer. I really like Hey Jude and Lucy In The Sky. =]

katieb206@gmail.com

flyxawayxnow said...

I love every single Beatles Song! I don't know which one to pick. But, if I have to pick I would choice "Hey Jude", "Here comes the Sun", and "I wanna hold your hand." :)

Love, Love, Love, the Beatles.

flyxawayxnow@gmail.com

Michelle B. said...

Awesome review! :) The more I read about this book, the more I want to read it. Also a really fun guest post! It's definitely hard picking ONE favorite Beatles song. They have so much good stuff. If I had to pick an absolute favorite, it would be "Eleanor Rigby". It's the song that REALLY got me into them in the first place. So good! (No e-mail address because I can't participate in the contest, haha. Just had to share!)

flyxawayxnow said...

I tweeted too!!

http://twitter.com/PeaceLoveJaelyn/

flyxawayxnow said...

I posted in my blog too! :)

http://jaelynculliford.blogspot.com/2010/01/beatles-rockband-givaway.html

throuthehaze said...

Hey Jude is one of my favorite Beatles songs.

Raelena
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Sue said...

Hey Jude.
Thanks for the giveaway.

s.mickelson at gmail dot com

Khy said...

I don't listen to the Beatles all that often (which is something Chelsea Page Flipper might eliminate me for) but I do like "All My Loving." :D

But if I can cheat and pick covers from Across the Universe (or maybe it's a sin that I like those better? I DUNNO. MUSICALS PWN ALL.) I like Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

Sue Sweeps said...

favorite Beatles song? Depends on the day. I'm feeling nostalgic today so I'll go with Octopus' Garden. My grammar school music teacher was a HUGE Beatles fan, so we'd sing Octopus' Garden when we were little!

Sue Sweeps said...

blogged http://suesweeps.blogspot.com/2010/01/blog-tour-and-beatles-rock-band-for.html

Sue Sweeps said...

tweeted http://twitter.com/scm74/status/7376430699

Lorin said...

I also have many fave Beatles songs but at the moment I'll say Hey Jude, for the na-na-na-na's. Its always so fun to sing along, and yet the song is just a little bit sad. Maybe more like wistful.

brizmus said...

I LOVE the Beatles. It's really impossible to just pick one song. Especially since my favorite changes every time I listen to them.
I'm going to have to go with I wanna hold your hand. Or Lady madonna. Or Here comes the sun. SO HARD! Or all of the others!

+1 it's in my sidebar under the contest list - http://brizmusblogsbooks.blogspot.com

zedster.tbb(at)gmail(DOT)com

Anonymous said...

Ohh, I love Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds!

Jennifer
echs2007@gmail.com

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Emily said...

Oooo - fun contest :)

My favorite Beatles song is Help :)

WilowRaven[at]yahoo[dot]com

AnAddictedBookReader said...

Wow awesome,thanks! My favorite would be Hey Jude and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.
Adrienne
adrienne2093ATcomcastDOTnet

Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooks said...

I asked my husband's opinion; he said "A Day in the Life." The song that comes to my mind first is Lennon's "Beautiful Boy" (which I know isn't what you're looking for ... so I asked J).

Thanks for allowing my rambling entry into the giveaway, Lenore and Elizabeth.

Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooks said...

I tweeted earlier today (actually, RT'd your tweet, Lenore).

I don't know how to show that specific tweet ... trust me, please :)

Mardel said...

I've been listening to the Beatles for years - and sometime didn't even know I was listening to a Beatles song! (I rarely paid attention to minor details like who was singing, or the name of a song, I'm always - "I LOVE that song!")

My favorite song (right Now) is "My Guitar Gently Weeps". That's an example of a song that I didn't know was the Beatles. I just found out last week that they sung this one.

Mardel said...

Your Beatles contest is in my sidebar at http://mardel-rabidreader.blogspot.com/

(gotta Love the Beatles)

Luv2CUSmile said...

This is too hard to choose just one! Really not a fair question! I will choose Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da. Just a real fun song. So many are so great!
Thx for this giveaway! My 18 yr old son even loves the Beatles and has way before this game came out! My son loves "I am the Walrus"- LOL
LuvMoeDog2@ aol dot com

Luv2CUSmile said...

tweet (Luv2CUSmyle is tweet ID)
http://twitter.com/Luv2CUSmyle/statuses/7395866786
LuvMoeDog2@ aol dot com

Stephanie said...

Great giveaway! I just love I Want to Hold Your Hand - it's just so catchy!!

Stephanie said...

I tweeted too: @SWrittenWord Hey guys- @lenoreva is giving away a copy of Beatles Rock Band for Wii! As my new Wii &Wii Fit Plus is currently on it's way I want 2 win!

Meg @ write meg! said...

It's so hard to narrow it down to just one song, but I'm going to have to give it to "Hey Jude." Makes me teary-eyed every time! Close runners-up would have to be "Let It Be" and "Something." The part of the song Elizabeth Eulberg mentions is my favorite, too. Sigh!

+1 I tweeted about the giveaway here (@writemeg)

Thanks! writing.meg [at] gmail.com

Sab H. said...

My favorite would be Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds! I also love I wanna Hold your hand!

yabliss AT gmail DOT com

Sab H. said...

+1 sidebar: www.yabliss.com

Zibilee said...

Great post! I, too, have many favorite songs by the Beatles, but I'd have to say my favorite is A Day In the Life. So sad, but so beautiful. Please do enter me in your great giveaway, I'd love the chance to get to win and play the game. I am also curious to see if anyone else chooses my favorite as theirs too! Off to read the comments, and thanks for the great giveaway!

Anonymous said...

ONLY ONE SONG? Wow. Strawberry Fields Forever would probably be the one.

Molomatic said...

Wow, fabulous giveaway! My favorite song would have to be Lucy In The Sky!

Molomatic said...

I posted about this giveaway on my blog....

http://onegratefulmama.blogspot.com/2010/01/presenting-lenore-hosting-great.html

Ms. Yingling said...

My 11-year-old Beatles fan's favorite is You Like Me Too Much from Help! She's wearing a Beatles Let It Be sweatshirt right now!
msyingling at yahoo dot com

Amy said...

oh cool! I love 8 days a week:)
addictedtobooks1993@yahoo.com

Krista/Tower of Books said...

You have no idea how long I've been wanting Beatles Rock Band! Anyway, my favorite song is Across the Universe!

Krista/Tower of Books said...

I linked this on my sidebar.

http://upthetowerofbooks.blogspot.com/

Krista/Tower of Books said...

I tweeted about this. =)

http://twitter.com/upupupdown/status/7463966448

Unknown said...

Drive My Car of course!!! If I won this the music teacher in my school would be soooooooooo jealouse!

foltzsfantasticbooks at gmail.com

Unknown said...

Tweeted http://twitter.com/justkeepreading/statuses/7467785569

foltzsfantasticbooks at gmail.com

Unknown said...

On sidebar http://owlforya.blogspot.com

foltzsfantasticbooks at gmail.com

3carnations said...

Love Me Do is my favorite Beatles song. I would LOVE to win this for my husband - His birthday is coming up!

mytwogirls said...

My favorite song is 'I Saw Her Standing There'.

cillymoo@gmail.com

mytwogirls said...

Tweeted correctly this time! http://twitter.com/cillymoosh/status/7487663437
cillymoo@gmail.com

Unknown said...

It's really hard to pick only one Beatles song!! Right now I would say "A Day in the Life," but ask me a different day and I might have a different answer.

LiddypooL2(at)aol(dot)com

dogwood said...

Love Me Do.... if I must pick just one

dogwood said...

Love Me Do.... if I must pick just one

dogwood said...

Love Me Do.... if I must pick just one

dogwood said...

Love Me Do.... if I must pick just one

dogwood said...

Love Me Do.... if I must pick just one

Serena said...

OMG! Can I tell you how much of a Beatles Fan I am. I have a copy of the White Album LP in a frame in the house....

I love the Beatles and Lennon! I just found out my boss got this for Christmas and I am so jealous.

OK, favorite Beatles song, that's like asking me to pick a favorite Tori Amos or Tool song, so hard. . . but I will go with Helter Skelter.

savvyverseandwit AT gmail DOT com

Serena said...

Here's my tweet: http://twitter.com/SavvyVerseWit/status/7517447163

Serena said...

Giveaway link is in my sidebar at www.savvyverseandwit.com

under Free books...though this isn't a book!

Reading said...

What a great contest! My fav Beatles song is Yellow Submarine. I used to listent to it over and over as a kid.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

My favorite Beatles song is A Hard Days Night.

rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

Ellen McNeill said...

My favorite song is A Hard Days Night.

This is such a cool giveaway! Thankyou!!!

P.S. I posted it on my blog:

http://www.purplechalk.blogspot.com/

THANKS AGAIN!

-EJ

Shooting Stars Mag said...

What a great post. I love the song "Eleanor Rigby" actually. It would have been awesome if that was the start of the book but it would seem a bit depressing I suppose.

I really like "Something" as well. Go George!!!

Another though would probably be "I've Just Seen a Face"


-Lauren
lauren51990 AT aol DOT com

Michelle Santiago said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Michelle Santiago said...

sorry! i made a mistake on the previous comment (I deleted it).

my favorite beatles song is "michelle" because i was named after that song!

amazing giveaway lenore!!

bookmakeupreview AT gmail DOT com

Michelle Santiago said...

http://twitter.com/chelleyreads/status/7612040653

i tweeted about the giveaway :)

bookmakeupreview AT gmail DOT com

Michelle Santiago said...

i posted a link on my blog's sidebar:
booksandmakeup.blogspot.com


bookmakeupreview AT gmail DOT com

Jodi said...

My favorite Beatles song is 8 days a Week.

purehrt555(at)Yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Lenore Appelhans said...

Oh yeah, by the way, this contest is WAY closed :)