Download For some in the crowd, this was an extraordinary event, a reminder of just how much things can change. As the fans sang along to some Beatles classics performed by Cuban musicians, many remembered the days when such an act would have been considered almost counter-revolutionary.CUBAN WOMANIt was prohibited, said this woman, who says she well recalls secretly listening to Beatles recordings in the 1970s.Just how much the times have changed could be seen from the setting of this concert. It was held in Havana's John Lennon Park, in front of a statue to the former musician which was unveiled five years ago. In the crowd was none other than Ricardo Alarcon, president of Cuba's national assembly. He says he's been a lifelong Beatles fan. He insists that the group was never banned in Cuba, just misunderstood by Cuban officials.RICARDO ALARCON:"As time passed by, Lennon's dimension has grown, not only here but everywhere and I think that today, he's a real symbol of a better world."Beatles classicsvery good songs (by the Beatles) which have been popular for a long timeconsidered almost counter-revolutionarythought to be nearly against the government (the party that is in power because of a previous revolution)prohibitednot officially allowed, illegal, bannedwell recallsclearly remembersthe settingthe place (where the concert was held)unveileduncovered in a formal ceremonynone other thanwe use this expression to emphasise that the person involved in something is impressive or surprisingjust only, nothing more than dimensionreputation or imagehe's a real symbol of a better worldhe's someone who very much suggests, or represents, the idea of an improved world
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For some in the crowd, this was an extraordinary event, a reminder of just how much things can change. As the fans sang along to some Beatles classics performed by Cuban musicians, many remembered the days when such an act would have been considered almost counter-revolutionary.
CUBAN WOMAN
It was prohibited, said this woman, who says she well recalls secretly listening to Beatles recordings in the 1970s.
Just how much the times have changed could be seen from the setting of this concert. It was held in Havana's John Lennon Park, in front of a statue to the former musician which was unveiled five years ago. In the crowd was none other than Ricardo Alarcon, president of Cuba's national assembly. He says he's been a lifelong Beatles fan. He insists that the group was never banned in Cuba, just misunderstood by Cuban officials.
RICARDO ALARCON:
"As time passed by, Lennon's dimension has grown, not only here but everywhere and I think that today, he's a real symbol of a better world."
Beatles classicsvery good songs (by the Beatles) which have been popular for a long time
considered almost counter-revolutionarythought to be nearly against the government (the party that is in power because of a previous revolution)
prohibitednot officially allowed, illegal, banned
well recallsclearly remembers
the settingthe place (where the concert was held)
unveileduncovered in a formal ceremony
none other thanwe use this expression to emphasise that the person involved in something is impressive or surprising
just only, nothing more than
dimensionreputation or image
he's a real symbol of a better worldhe's someone who very much suggests, or represents, the idea of an improved world
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