The Beatles

[Raz]

Are they really the greatest band ever? What's your favourite beatles song/album? Do you even like their music? Is any music collection right without at least one beatles album? We're they just another pop band (hell no :p).

Discuss...

[randman]

I think they are the greatest band ever. The main reason is they grew with each album. They evolved from a pop band to (at the time) a progressive rock band. I don't know many (if any) groups that can make that claim. Also (unlike the Stones), they knew when to quit.

If you had to have only one Beatles album, I would suggest "Abbey Road". It shows all the Beatles at their best. McCartney's "Oh! Darling", Lennon's "Come Together", Harrison's "Here Comes The Sun", and Starr's "Octopus's Garden". The production values are impeccable. Simply the Beatles at their best.

[Raz]

I definately agree about the evolving, i mean they went from, i want to hold your hand, to sgt peppers and on and on.

I like the 1 collection myself. And the white album, and obviously sgt peppers... argh can't choose.

[Shenlong]

It's beyond my time, so I'm not gonna say anything... ;)

[taylormemer]

My mother likes them. I listen to Yellow Submarine sometimes. I think that they are one of the greatest bands ever, but they are not the greatest.

[ShyShy]

they are one of the greatest, but not THE greatest in my humble opinion. i grew up listening to them, my mom is a HUGE fan. she knows all the background on their lives and songs/albums. i've got the yellow submarine cd, only because my mom had an extra one. i hear enough of their music when i visit the folks. but i've got to admire them as a band for growing and expanding in their musical direction.

[taylormemer]

Coz i sometimes listen to them, the girls are like awwww your soooo cute! I dont know where that comes from. They dont listen to them.:igor:

[papadoc]

To me what makes The Beatles the greatest band of time,
is more than just their music.
It has to do with life itself.
There's an old saying: "Timing is everything".
This holds true for The Beatles.
They appeared on the scene at a time when the world
was listening to 3 chord rock and roll at the sock hops,
country music from pick up trucks, jazz at the bistros where
the beatniks hung out, and old blues in the segregated city blues clubs.
People were stuck in the 50's, both musically and in their lives.
The Beatles changed all that with ONE album.
They changed the way we looked.
They changed the way we thought.
They changed the way we acted.
Not to mention the tremendous change in all music,
not just a particular segment of music, but all music.
They gave a youth that had no real direction or purpose,
a reason to get up in the morning with a new found excitement.
So through time...as The Beatles grew...so did we.
The Beatles were in the right place at the right time.
Not to mention they were incredible songwriters and musicians.

And I agree with randman, their best album was "Abbey Road".
No doubt about it.
It's not necessarily my favorite, but it is their best.

[Mr_007]

I dont like beatles!

[papadoc]

Originally posted by Mr_007
I dont like beatles!
Why not Mr_007?

[Raz]

He probably means the insects papadoc, just leave him be.

[Fickle]

The Beatles are where it's at. Always. My only disagreement is thier best album, which to me will always be the White Album.
Sgt pepper is second, Abbey is third, or tied for second. Yeah, that.

Bungolow Bill
Happiness is a Warm Gun
Honey Pie
BlackBird
While My guitar Gently Weeps
Rocky Racoon
Sexie Sadie
Julia
Helter Skelter.

There are many more I haven't mentioned, but you understand. My personal fav.

[Cylob]

Originally posted by taylormemer
Coz i sometimes listen to them, the girls are like awwww your soooo cute! I dont know where that comes from. They dont listen to them.:igor:

There's a certain amount of kudos associated with them. I rarely listen to the Beatles myself but I have the obligatory albums in my collection (who doesn't).

I'm eternally grateful for the way they changed music.
Papadoc sums it all up.

[Triton4]

I'm not a big Beatles fan, but I like one of their best tracks 'Day Tripper' a lot.

[ripe]

The track I'm listening to has -
big, loud, break beats...
distorted, backwards-sampled instruments...
disorientating sounds and lyrics...

and it's not some modern dance anthem, it's The Beatles' Tomorrow Never Knows, and it was recorded in 1966. :eek: Holy ****.

However,
Just to play devil's advocate, don't you think if the Beatles hadn't pushed pop music forward, someone else would've done it just as well?
People tend to credit the Beatles with every new musical style from the 60s. Isn't it more a case of being in the right place at the right time? Were they just riding on the crest of a bigger cultural wave???


Oh and BTW, The Stones will always be way cooler. :evil laugh:

[Cylob]

Originally posted by ripe
Just to play devil's advocate, don't you think if the Beatles hadn't pushed pop music forward, someone else would've done it just as well?

Nope! The fab 4 really were geniuses.

[Mattress]

I don't really much care for their music but I respect their contribution. I have a couple of their albums (Beatles IV, Abbey Road) on vinyl, rarely listen to them though.

[Xerxes]

The screaming of the adoring fans in "A Hard Days Night" where they all look like they could die of anurysm at any second... has never been equaled by other performance group. So there must have been something there.

[randman]

Originally posted by Xerxes
The screaming of the adoring fans in "A Hard Days Night" where they all look like they could die of anurysm at any second... has never been equaled by other performance group. So there must have been something there.

You're so analytical. Do you ever let loose and have any real fun? I worry about you Alex. ;)

[Xerxes]

Real fun is relative.

As I said in an earlier thread, a glass of wine, friends, a lawn and orchestra is as "real" as I get.

The world would spin off its axis if it wasn't for an elite corps of squares like myself to keep it stable, mark my words.

[randman]

You is mah hero. Can I call you Al? ;)

[Xerxes]

That would be acceptable.

I really am not a robot, honest. I was born to see everything in percentages and ratios. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages 3 to 1, modestly.

Perhaps one day I will learn what everyone else refers to as "attachment". (/me leaks a lone stream of oil out of left eye)

[Mattress]

Originally posted by Xerxes
The screaming of the adoring fans in "A Hard Days Night" where they all look like they could die of anurysm at any second... has never been equaled by other performance group. So there must have been something there.

Didn't Hanson and other boy bands recreate something similar to this?

[randman]

Originally posted by Mattress
Didn't Hanson and other boy bands recreate something similar to this?

For about a year maybe. Nobody is denying the Beatles weren't pop when they started. Hell, they invented pop. The point is, they grew, they experimented, they created, they emerged as something much more than a pop band.

No "boy bands" ever did that.

I will defend the Beatles music and their historical significance to my death. :)

[Fickle]

Originally posted by randman
For about a year maybe. Nobody is denying the Beatles weren't pop when they started. Hell, they invented pop. The point is, they grew, they experimented, they created, they emerged as something much more than a pop band.

No "boy bands" ever did that.

I will defend the Beatles music and their historical significance to my death. :)

I hate it when I read an entire thread, decide what I want to say, and someone has already siad it. I guess that's a thank you, Randman, but it's really an (I hate you) an angry little boy who feels you gipped him a good point.
:D

[anubis2003]

Don't really like them - in fact I can't even stand some of their songs. A couple are ok, but it's not really my kinda music.

[randman]

Originally posted by Fickle
I hate it when I read an entire thread, decide what I want to say, and someone has already siad it. I guess that's a thank you, Randman, but it's really an (I hate you) an angry little boy who feels you gipped him a good point.
:D

I love you too Fickle. :D I'm willing to share the credit with you. ;)

[Pixelcraft]

Heh, this thread brought up a great memory.

My friend Logan absolutely hates the beatles. Cannot stand them at all. Every time someone mentions the beatles, he gets pissed.

What's funny about all this is that Logan is the kind of guy that can take an insult like taking a cookie from a jar. Someone could come up to him and say "Hey Logan, you really suck! You gotta be the dumbest clump of dirt on the planet!" and he'd just say something like "Yeah, I know". He's a total slob, he works as a garbageman, and best of all, he's got a mullet. :D

So we had to watch this movie about the beatles once in school, and they mentioned how the beatles had the biggest recorded song of all time, or something like that, and logan turns to me and says: "Okay. You know what? I don't care. I'm telling you man, someday we'll get that title. We'll beat those guys, those lousy beatles, just you watch! Just you watch Seth, we'll beat them! Watch out for us man! I got a band of my own! Were called the "Flaming Mullets!" :D LMAO

[Xerxes]

Originally posted by Mattress
Didn't Hanson and other boy bands recreate something similar to this?

Similar, although the recorded scenes of the screaming teens in that movie posess a ... visceral, palpable electricity that I don't think I have ever seen in footage of an audience before.

Perhaps because the audience had never been entertained like that before.

Just my observation.

[ripe]

Originally posted by Pixelcraft
Watch out for us man! I got a band of my own! Were called the "Flaming Mullets!" :D LMAO
heh, they should do a cover version of that old Paul McCartney drivel...

"Mullet Of Kintyre"

:blah: :D

[Pixelcraft]

I'll be sure to ask him that! :D

[Mr Jones]

Mullets own... (http://www.mulletsgalore.com/)

[Pixelcraft]

If only I had a picture of him.....the kid just looks funny!

[ShyShy]

Originally posted by Mr Jones
Mullets own... (http://www.mulletsgalore.com/)


:weird: uh, i don't even want to know why you would know about that site:p

[Mr Jones]

I know about lots of things, some of them good, some of them not so good :D

[Cylob]

How do you sleep at night Jones?

[Twilightseer]

I absolutely hate the Beatles. I hate the songs, the sound, the lyrics, I hate crappy messages and anthems like "Love Me Do" or "All you need is love". It just makes me nauseous when I hear any of their songs. And the sad thing is that it is not allowed to hate the beatles because "they're the greatest rock band ever". Pfft :D

[Mr Jones]

Originally posted by Cylob
How do you sleep at night Jones?

Makes you wonder dosn't it....

As for the Beatles, the early stuff dosn't work for me, the later stuff however does, the song writing partnership of Lennon/McCartney is a great combo, and they did write quite possibly the greatest R&R song of all time, Helter Skelter, crank that up on your hifi and you'll see what I mean...

[Semantics]

The White Album and Revolver...two of the best albums ever to grace mankind (a close second is give to Abbey Road, followed by Rubber Soul). The Beatles are, well the Beatles. Simply gods amoung men in terms of music. Ditto to "Helter Skelter" by the way. And damn Charles Manson for marring that song, the bastard.

[randman]

Originally posted by Semantics
The White Album and Revolver...two of the best albums ever to grace mankind (a close second is give to Abbey Road, followed by Rubber Soul). The Beatles are, well the Beatles. Simply gods amoung men in terms of music. Ditto to "Helter Skelter" by the way. And damn Charles Manson for marring that song, the bastard.

I see great genius in you. :) :up:

[Fickle]

Originally posted by Mr Jones
Makes you wonder dosn't it....

As for the Beatles, the early stuff dosn't work for me, the later stuff however does, the song writing partnership of Lennon/McCartney is a great combo, and they did write quite possibly the greatest R&R song of all time, Helter Skelter, crank that up on your hifi and you'll see what I mean...

Yeah, despite hating each other at the times of thier greatest hits.

I love Helter Skelter. It gives my mom the creeps because of Charlie Manson, but I love the fucking song.

[oNaMiSsIo]

I like the Stones better.
http://www.stickyfingersjournal.com/licker.gif

[Fickle]

too bad the Stones don't know when to quit. The world will hate them before any of them die.

George Harrison's comment about being stabbed: "Why doesn't this ever happen to the Stones?"

[Cylob]

Originally posted by Fickle
George Harrison's comment about being stabbed: "Why doesn't this ever happen to the Stones?"

Beacuse they all live on private tropical islands?

[ShyShy]

Originally posted by Fickle
too bad the Stones don't know when to quit. The world will hate them before any of them die.


ahh, my sentiments exactly. i told my mom about this thread, here's her response and i qoute:

"there is NO debate. the beatles were, are, and will be the greatest band EVER. and anyone who disagrees with me, gets bitchslapped."

now, bear in mind, we're talking about a 4ft 11in asian woman walking around threatning to smack y'all upside the head:p soooo intimidating.

[Fickle]

from what I hear, the Stones are now more company than band, they couldn't stop if they wanted to.

[Twilightseer]

Originally posted by ShyShy
now, bear in mind, we're talking about a 4ft 11in asian woman walking around threatning to smack y'all upside the head:p soooo intimidating.

Do you make room for the possibility she may be biased because of Yoko Ono ? ;) :D

[ShyShy]

*gasps* /me whispers: don't mention Yoko to my mom, she'll go apeshit!

[Ghoti]

So's to not go repeating myself, a related post by me in the "Overated Acts" forum:
http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=1058799#post1058799

Each of us formulate our "favorites" because of way too many factors in our lifes that I care to list.
The way of my life has led me to be one of those who very much enjoy the music of The Beatles . . . even performed by other artists ("Sam I Am" soundtrack and others).

(soapboxmode=on)
I would rather hear about who you like and why rather than who you dispise and why, but that's just me (old fart).
(soapboxmode=off)

I would have to include The Beatles as ONE of the greatest bands of rock.
With their musicianship, wordsmithing and adventurous attitude toward their music, they turned heads and ears and minds.
And then others took up the journey and magic was made in many different places and wonderous ways.
We were given so many great new musics along with new voices to older musics we'd have otherwise likely never heard.
Inspirations were born and different paths were carved out of a musical wilderness.

True, some groups I prefer more than others. But you have to admit, once came The Beatles and nothing remained the same . . . not even the song (sorry Zep-sters!).

[laz]

Well, I can not make a comment on if I like the music or not, I have not heard enough of it to tell.
but I agree with most everyone else, they did create a wide range of music to come after it, and alterd what music people like.
I will have to ask my mother, she loves them, well she was the right age when they came out, so it was a giving that she would.

[Cylob]

Favourite tracks anyone??

Last.fm has a decent list... (http://www.last.fm/music/The+Beatles)

Eleanor Rigby nicks it?

[gaekwad2]

Tomorrow Never Knows

[Wham!]

They indeed may be one of the best bands ever-their track record alone is unparellel. My favorite song is 'Long and winding road'. I think that everyone likes at least one Beatles song- they have a range of different sounds- something for everyone.

[old and quite mad]

Originally posted by Raz
Are they really the greatest band ever? What's your favourite beatles song/album? Do you even like their music? Is any music collection right without at least one beatles album? We're they just another pop band (hell no :p).

Discuss...
No.
Abbey Road/The End
Yes.
Yes.
No.

[ScorLibran]

Are they really the greatest band ever?
They were great, but not "the greatest" in my opinion.

The Beatles definitely revolutionized rock music, but for me they didn't have the duration of existence to hold the title of "greatest band ever". Their first album was published in 1963, and they broke up in 1970. That's barely one phase of existence for most rock bands. I love them, but they barely even had time to mature as a group, plus the fact that they had started dividing long before 1970. And just when they started to enter their first real chance to "evolve and survive" as a group, they closed up shop.

They were hugely popular, extremely influential, and clearly revolutionary, and to many people this will be plenty to make them the best band that ever existed. And they wouldn't be wrong, because remember also that musical taste is 100% subjective. But I've also enjoyed the progression that many other bands have made over a much longer period of time.

Bands that are around for 30+ years go through "phases" anywhere from every couple of years up to 8 years or even longer. With each "phase", the band either changes their sound noticably, or completely reinvents themselves. This isn't a travesty, in my opinion, as many others may say, but rather it's necessary. And not to "satisfy the masses" as popular fashion changes (although many bands do change for this reason), but rather this follows the natural evolution of a band as an artistic unit.

Let's use the band I consider to be the greatest of all, Pink Floyd, in an example...here's how I see their "phases" of growth and maturity. Note how their style changed to mark musical "eras", served to reinvent the band over time to give them longevity and to mark points of recovery after a loss of some sort.

1967 - The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
The "official" birth of the band known as Pink Floyd. Heavily experimental psychedelic/space rock with a heavy blues influence. Also of note: The original lead singer/songwriter/guitarist, Syd Barrett, does so much LSD in 1967 that his brain oozes out his ears (well, almost) and is kicked out of the band the next year for repeatedly peeing his pants on stage in front of fans (or something to that effect).

1973 - Dark Side Of The Moon
The completion of their jump from psychedelic rock comprised of singles to art rock comprised of more cohesive, epic albums. This is considered by many to be their best album, and also by many to be the best rock album of all time. Also spawns their first radio hit, "Money" (although that would be a milestone which most PF fans couldn't care less about).

1979 - The Wall
Their first (and only) complete "political and social statement" album (with a "movie-track" to be released three years later), and a shift more heavily into art rock. Many consider this rock opera creation to represent Pink Floyd creativity and talent at their peak.

1983 - The Final Cut
Aptly named...the last album before the (temporary) break-up of the band (mainly due to irreconcilable differences between songwriter/bassist Roger Waters and keyboardist Rick Wright). This one couldn't measure up to The Wall artistically, though (but then again, nothing could have).

1987 - A Momentary Lapse Of Reason
The return of 3/4 of the band (sans Waters) but under the same name. Still very art rock oriented, less political, more mature but more "diluted". A strong release, especially considering they were now without the primary creative talent they had through their heyday in the 70s.

...and they've cruised in "stealth mode" ever since with several live performance recordings, compilations, one other studio album (The Division Bell in 1994), and loads of rumors about a Pink Floyd/Roger Waters reunion. Now you see why their Live 8 appearance was such a thrill. "Check it out: Waters and Wright are on stage together. Whoa! I think they looked at each other!"

For the Beatles there's a similarly "phased" evolution, just on a (much) more compressed timeline. In my opinion these phases would be divided by the following closely-spaced milestones, most seperated by less than one year...

1963 - Please Please Me
First album. #1 in the UK for 30 weeks. Pop rock revolution. This is when the girls started to cry and wet their panties, and all that.

1964 - A Hard Day's Night
First of their several film/soundtrack combos. Coined reference to band as the "Fab Four". This album disproved the naysayers who said The Beatles were only a "passing trend" and would be gone by now. Also, this year The Beatles first land in the US, officially starting the "British invasion". Now American girls are crying and wetting their panties, too.

1965 - Rubber Soul
Significant style shift to something more "druggy" and experimental, but artistically excellent.

1966 - Revolver
More mature, diverse and critically acclaimed. Note that they also gave their last paid concert performance during this year.

1968 - The Beatles (but commonly called "The White Album")
A lot's happening this year, with many forces start to press on the band. In my opinion, 1968 is the year The Beatles began to die. The band returns from India with another change in musical style. Transition from psychedelic back to guitar rock. The album's critically acclaimed. Band creates recording company "Apple Records" (which quickly goes into the red financially). Solo work was increasing during this phase as well, which started to impact their collective work. Ringo Starr quits band, then rejoins. Lennon/Ono relationship grows and starts to influence the band more and more...Is this good or bad? You tell me.

...OK, now it gets confusing...

1969 - Let It Be (is recorded, but not released until 1970)
The band's in turmoil. Arguments are frequent. They all but hate each other. George Harrison quits band, then returns. They record their last live performance as a band on the roof of the Apple Records building, at least until Scotland Yard puts a halt to it.

1969 - Abbey Road
So how was this even possible? They could hardly stand to be in the same room with each other, yet they create one of their best albums of all. I call this one more of a miracle than a milestone...mainly it's in this list because it's their last studio album recorded. Things are still in the shitter between the band members. John Lennon now wants to quit the band, but holds off doing so.

1970 - Let It Be (is released)
Now it's Paul's turn. He releases his first solo album, and tells the world that he was leaving The Beatles for good. It was ironic that Paul was the one who finally dissolved the band, after each of the other three had threatened to do so long before. But Paul didn't really end the band, in my opinion. The Beatles were dissolved even before Paul's 1970 announcement. They hadn't done anything together since the year before, and considering the conditions, likely never would have again.

Some people say that since the Beatles faded out early (especially considering their huge level of fame), they preserved their solid popularity and a uniform body of work without incurring the downhill slides and recoveries that bands of longer duration almost inevitably experience. (Well, their relationships with each other slid downhill, but this wasn't well known to the public until they officially broke up.)

The way I see it, there are two kinds of Beatles fans (and then the heathens outside the fence :p ). (1) "They burned half as long because they were twice as bright, and hence the greatest band of all". (2) "They weren't with us quite long enough to supplant other, longer-lived bands as the greatest; twice as bright doesn't necessarily trump long duration when judging artistic achievement". I'm in camp #2.

What's your favourite beatles song/album?
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds / Sgt. Pepper's
(What can I say?...I love psychedelic rock. :) )

Do you even like their music?
Absolutely. I consider rock fans who don't like The Beatles to be heretics and not true "rock fans". ;)

Is any music collection right without at least one beatles album?
If you're a fan of rock music, then no. (I have 8 of their albums in mine, including a lossless extraction of the very rare mono cut LP of The White Album.)

Were they just another pop band?
Definitely not. They were an inspiration, a revolution, and the definitive British invasion band (to lead many others since). Plus, I wouldn't write this long of a post about "just another pop band". :)

[Twilightseer]

I just hate the Beatles, I dislike everything about them and their music.
Never figured out why, guess it just doesn't "speak" to me.

Smiths forever.

[ScorLibran]

Kill the heretic!


(j/k) :)