Tell me about the beatles

[RCBH928]

I was not born in the 60's , but I can see how this group probably was all the craze back then.
What I do not get is why this group is still popular like 50 years later? last I checked their album sales are still going strong.

i would really like it if someone explain to me whats so amazing about this particular band and why are their albums still selling (especially in a rapping world) today?

[CFFJR]

Why do folks here on Racketboy continue to buy 20-30 year old video games?

Quality stands the test of time.

As for why The Beatles appeal to people, well...have you ever heard them? Here's three songs that represent a drop in the bucket. Notice how radically different they are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWuXmfgX ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJhcGepfG04

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDdI7GhZSQA

[KDub]

Why a band is awesome is completely subjective and I don't think anyone can really tell you why they are good. You'll just have to take some listening suggestions and see if you like them. If you've already done that and don't, you probably won't. I personally don't really dig them outside a few songs and prefer other music from the 60's above the Beatles. But the reason why they go strong is the same as why Queen still does, they appeal to a large number of people who still listen and still pass the music on.

[DinnerX]

I do not know of a similar sounding song by a different band.

[EllertMichael]

Wow. I didn't know I was living in a "rapping world" (The Grey Album?)

The Beatles music is timeless and beyond influential. They were real innovators and pioneers of their time and paved the way for so many other artists. At a time when record companies were forcing artists to release records of cover songs they were releasing originals blah blah blah...

First band to use guitar feedback ("I Feel Fine")
First to introduce backward tracking ("Rain")
First band to incorporate woodwind instruments, violins, and symphony orchestras as well as exotic instuments, such as the sitar, into their music.
First band to make music videos (called Promotional films)
First band to have a stadium concert, biggest crowd at the time (55,000 +)
First band to have all positions in the top five filled with their songs at one time.
First to print lyrics on cover ("Sgt. Pepper")
First heavy metal song ("Helter Skelter")
First rock group to use Moog synthesizer on album ("Abbey Road")
First ever world wide satellite television broadcast ("All you Need is Love")
First band to create their own record company ("Apple Records")

The Beatles, along with their producer, George Martin, did away with the long outdated 4-track
recording techniques and introduced higher track recording than had ever been attempted before.
These recording techniques are still used to this day and were a major development in sound recording. Until then, recording of music was essentially a live performance recorded on tape. The Beatles made it possible to record each sound separately and then combine them on one single format.

Fun Fact: Magical Mystery Tour is my favourite Beatles album.

[Nemoide]

I don't care for The Beatles' music myself but at the time, the "British invasion" sound was pretty different from the established American rock music. When it comes to 60s rock, I'd rather listen to surf/garage bands, but the Beatles definitely has a different appeal that a lot of people like.

I think the biggest problem with The Beatles from a modern perspective is that their innovations have so entered the popular consciousness, so it's tough to see what makes them so special. It's kind of like reading Aristotle - it just seems really familiar because much of his thought has become ingrained in Western culture.

[Nintendork666]

I'm only 21, but the Beatles scratch an itch for me that few other groups can scratch. I prefer their trippier material, and am hence a big fan of the White Album. They have a timeless sound that still manages to influence modern bands today; just like the Velvet Underground or the Beach Boys.

Overall though, I'd take VU or the Beach Boys any day.

[BurningDoom]

You could look up just about anything about the Beatles with great ease on the internet.

[samsonlonghair]

The Beatles forever changed the sound of rock 'n' roll music. If you listen to rock music today, you'll hear every popular musician on the dial belting out Beatles licks. The Beatles are arguably the most influencial rock 'n' roll group in the history of rock.

This brings us to the Beatles' place in rock history. At the begining of the sixties, nearly every major player in rock 'n' roll is out of the business. Jerry Lee Lewis has been blacklisted for his controversial mairrage. Chuck Berry is serving jail time under the Mann act. Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens have died in a plane crash; Alan Freed has lost his airshift in a payola scandal; Elvis is drafted into the army. There is a rock 'n' roll vacuum in America.

This leaves the road open for the British invasion (of which the Beatles are a part). The Beatles early albums in 1964 are mostly imitations of '50s American rock 'n' roll. As the young rock stars grow up, they experiment with new sounds, new beats, and new instruments. Their commercial success allows them the freedom to take risks and break molds. By 1967 the Beatles have a distinctive sound unlike any other rock band, and some of their best work is still ahead of them.

Generations of rock stars have grown up listening to the Beatles. This is why the Beatles are so influential. If you listen closely to popular rock songs today, you'll still hear the Beatles music reverbrating through the history of rock.

[Hobie-wan]

The comment was in another thread, but I'll address here since more on topic. For those that don't care fro the Beatles, one should understand the contributions they have made to popular music in general. My father was big on listening to them and other British Invasion stuff and I kind of liked it growing up and now own some Beatles stuff as well as The Who. I both understand their influence and enjoy their music.

Conversely, I don't care for Jimi Henrix. But I do at least appreciate his use of distorted guitar that is now the standard way to incorporate electric guitars in rock and pop music.