Difference between revisions of "The Beatles"

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The Beatles were the most influencial rock bands of the 20th century.  They were the most successful band, selling over 1 billion copies.
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{{Artist (Music)
 +
|picture        =Beatles,0.jpg
 +
|picture2      =
 +
|country        =United Kingdom
 +
|style         =Rock
 +
|style2         =Pop
 +
|style3        =Psychedelic Rock
 +
|style4         =Pop Rock
 +
|style5         =
 +
|year  =1960-1970
 +
|website =http://www.beatles.com
 +
}}
 +
'''The Beatles''' ("Fab Four") initially sang upbeat pop songs, but later their music descended into depressed, [[atheist]]ic<ref>The Beatles press officer, Derek Taylor, said that "they're so anti-Christ they shock me, which isn't an easy thing." [https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2021/10/our-best-reporting-the-return-of-the-beatles/ Saturday Evening Post]</ref> and druggie-content<ref>[[John Lennon]] became a heroin addict. [https://www.salon.com/2019/02/15/in-1969-the-fifth-beatle-was-heroin-john-lennons-addiction-took-its-toll-on-the-band/]</ref> [[rock and roll|rock music]]. The Beatles were originally from [[Liverpool]], [[United Kingdom|UK]].  Overpromoted by the [[liberal media]] that disliked [[faith]]-based [[American]] songs, The Beatles sold about a billion records as part of the 1960s [[hippie]] [[counterculture]].  Multiple Beatles songs were based on plagiarism of prior works by others,<ref>https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.music.beatles/5F7JWZTLwz4</ref> while other songs are knock-offs of popular hits (compare "[[Ukraine]] girls" to "California girls" by the [[Beach Boys]]). Like England itself, the Beatles' work was cynical about religion, and many Beatles' lyrics are drugged-out idiocy ("I am the egg man, they are the egg men, I am the Walrus, goo goo g'joob" - ''I Am the Walrus'';<ref>https://genius.com/The-beatles-i-am-the-walrus-lyrics</ref> "One and one and one is three" - ''Come Together''<ref>https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/beatles/cometogether.html</ref>). [[Elvis Presley]] opposed the Beatles' harmful influence on [[American]]s.<ref name="Guardian">https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/oct/14/popandrock2</ref>
  
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[[CLick Here For Beatles TABS fROM ULTIMATEGuitar.com]]
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The refreshing, uplifting creativity of many American and other British bands (such as The Hollies), and remarkable one-hit wonders by [[best of the public]] singers, is unfortunately lacking in many of the over-promoted Beatles tunes. Although the Beatles were overall the top-selling rock band due to hype by [[liberal]]s, the non-druggie, cheery [[Monkees]] outsold the Beatles in 1967,<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/most-popular-band-year-you-were-born-2020-9#the-monkees-outsold-both-the-beatles-and-the-rolling-stones-in-1967-8</ref> as did the drug-free songs of [[Creedence Clearwater Revival]] in 1969.
 +
 +
The four Beatles were [[John Lennon]] (1940-1980), [[George Harrison]] (1943-2001), [[Paul McCartney]] (1942- ), and [[Ringo Starr]] (1940- ). Most of the Beatles' songs were co-written by Lennon and McCartney, though George Harrison penned one of their most critically acclaimed lyrics, "[[Something]]", which is one of the few quality love songs by the group but even it has a cynical tone.  In the latter half of the 1960s the majority of their songs were written individually, but retained the "Lennon/McCartney" (orig. "McCartney/Lennon") writing credit. Lennon's songwriting was harder in nature and often had a political bent, while McCartney primarily wrote lighter love songs. Harrison, who later converted to [[Hinduism]],<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-21938027</ref> frequently utilized the sitar in his songs. Starr rarely wrote music, but would usually sing one song per album except ''A Hard Day`s Night'' and ''Let It Be''. His most famous song is ''Yellow Submarine'', sometimes sung in schools. The Beatles' first concert in [[North America]] was at the Washington Coliseum in northeast [[Washington, D.C.|D.C.]] on Feb. 11, 1964.<ref>https://www.beatlemanianow.com/</ref>
  
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Their Albums are
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Having evolved from the high school band known as The Quarrymen, around 1962 the Beatles began playing in Hamburg, Germany, and became very popular there. A year later, thanks to underground radio, they were the biggest band in their native land of the UK. In 1964, the Beatles made their historic trip to the United States<ref>http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19782/m1/</ref> to perform on ''The Ed Sullivan Show''. This performance is one of the highest-rated television events in history.
  
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'''Please Please Me (1963)'''
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The Lennon/McCartney ballads often displayed a personal vulnerability that was extraordinarily appealing to young teenage girls. For example, "Help" contrasts a man's younger macho attitude ("I never needed anybody's help in any way") with a more grown-up attitude ("I changed my mind, I'll open up the door. Help me if you can"). Some of the more memorable Beatles' lyrics include "All you need is love," or "Let it be," from their respective, titular songs.
  
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I Saw Her Standing There
+
As the years passed, the Beatles' sound grew. From an old-fashioned rock and roll sound similar to the Beach Boys and Carl Perkins, the band put out a much more mature sound on ''Revolver''. They even experimented with folk on ''[[Rubber Soul]]''.<ref>http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19794/m1/</ref> In 1967, the Beatles' album ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]''<ref>http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19810/m1/</ref> changed music as we know it forever. The psychedelic sound reflected what was going on in the world at that time and also displayed brilliant use of new technologies (such as stereo sound and multi-track recording).
−
Misery
 
−
Anna (Go to Him)
 
−
Chains
 
−
Boys
 
−
Ask Me Why
 
−
Please Please Me
 
−
Love Me Do
 
−
P.S. I Love You
 
−
Baby It's You
 
−
Do You Want to Know a Secret
 
−
A Taste of Honey
 
−
There's a Place
 
−
Twist and Shout
 
  
 +
With the  [[The Beatles (album)|''The Beatles'']] (the "White Album"), the Beatles had evolved into hard rockers. The songs had become more personal, and the band was beginning to fall apart. Prior to Lennon hooking up with [[Yoko Ono]], the lads had agreed that only the four of them would be in the recording studio (no lady friends of any type).<ref>When John brought Yoko in to work on songs and insisted that she be treated as an equal, the others resisted the idea, and John and Yoko got the cold shoulder for the rest of the sessions. [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbeatlesbreakup.html]</ref> Also, creative differences were causing tension among the Fab Four.
 +
[[Image:Beatles j.jpg|left]]
 +
Their next project, originally to be titled "Get Back" and intended to "get them back" to recording songs the way they had in the earlier years and also to become a filmed documentary, exposed all the personal chafing and difficulties they were having.  The tapes were shelved since none of the band wanted to deal with them.
  
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'''With the Beatles (1963)'''
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At this point, although the public did not know it, the band had virtually broken up.  However, at McCartney's urging, they assembled in the studio one more time and gave their fans what was to be their swan song, the splendid ''Abbey Road''. The "Get Back" tapes and film were handed over to [[Phil Spector]] to do something with them, and he produced the album that was released as ''Let It Be'', in conjunction with the release of the film, which was more a documentary of a band breaking up than one writing and recording new music in their studio.
  
−
It Won't Be Long
+
It wasn't long before the lawsuits to dissolve the partnership were flying, and the band members were releasing solo albums. Although Lennon had made a few solo projects before the breakup, and Harrison one, they did not receive widespread notice.
−
All I've Got to Do
 
−
All My Loving
 
−
Don't Bother Me
 
−
Little Child
 
−
Till There Was You
 
−
Please Mr. Postman
 
−
Roll Over Beethoven
 
−
Hold Me Tight
 
−
You Really Got a Hold On Me
 
−
I Wanna Be Your Man
 
−
Devil in Her Heart
 
−
Not a Second Time
 
−
Money (That's What I Want)
 
  
 +
In 2006, Cirque du Soleil opened a Beatle-themed show in Las Vegas, the aptly titled ''Love''. The show has been an outstanding success, and so has the album put out of the same name, featuring new remixes of Beatles songs by Beatles producer George Martin and his son Giles. The album also features previously unreleased versions of Beatles classics such as "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Strawberry Fields Forever".
  
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'''A Hard Day's Night (1964)'''
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The Beatles were inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1988. As solo artists, all but Ringo Starr have been inducted (Lennon in 1994, McCartney in 1999, and Harrison in 2004).
  
−
A Hard Day's Night
+
In 2004 ''Rolling Stone'' magazine ranked the Beatles #1 on its list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty]</ref>
−
I Should Have Known Better
 
−
If I Fell
 
−
I'm Happy Just to Dance with You
 
−
And I Love Her
 
−
Tell Me Why
 
−
Can't Buy Me Love
 
−
Any Time At All
 
−
I'll Cry Instead
 
−
Things We Said Today
 
−
When I Get Home
 
−
You Can't Do That
 
−
I'll Be Back
 
  
−
'''
+
Only two Beatles are currently alive - Ringo Starr and Sir Paul McCartney, who both still continue their recording and performing careers. John Lennon was assassinated in 1980 and George Harrison died from lung cancer in 2001.
−
Beatles For Sale (1964)'''
 
  
−
No Reply
+
== Discography ==
−
I'm a Loser
 
−
Baby's in Black
 
−
Rock and Roll Music
 
−
I'll Follow the Sun
 
−
Mr. Moonlight
 
−
Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey
 
−
Eight Days a Week
 
−
Words of Love
 
−
Honey Don't
 
−
Every Little Thing
 
−
I Don't Want to Spoil the Party
 
−
What You're Doing
 
−
Everybody's Trying to be My Baby
 
  
 +
*''[[Please Please Me]]'' (1963)
 +
*''With the Beatles'' (1963)
 +
*''A Hard Day's Night'' (1964)
 +
*''Beatles for Sale'' (1964)
 +
*''Help!'' (1965)
 +
*''[[Rubber Soul]]'' (1965)
 +
*''Revolver'' (1966)
 +
*''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]'' (1967)
 +
*''Magical Mystery Tour'' (1967)
 +
*[[The Beatles (album)|''The Beatles'' (White Album)]] (1968)
 +
*''[[Yellow Submarine]]'' (1968)
 +
*''Abbey Road'' (1969)
 +
*''Let it Be'' (1970)
  
−
'''Help! (1965)'''
+
=="Paul is dead" urban legend==
  
−
Help!
+
A myth, possibly created by the Beatles to boost sales, circulated later in their career regarding a supposed death of Paul McCartney and substitution with an impostor. "Clues" were found in subliminal messages, [[backmasking]], and imagery in their albums and songs.
−
The Night Before
 
−
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
 
−
I Need You
 
−
Another Girl
 
−
You're Going to Lose That Girl
 
−
Ticket to Ride
 
−
Act Naturally
 
−
It's Only Love
 
−
You Like Me Too Much
 
−
Tell Me What You See
 
−
I've Just Seen a Face
 
−
Yesterday
 
−
Dizzy Miss Lizzy
 
  
−
'''
+
Some of the many examples include:
−
Rubber Soul (1965)'''
 
  
−
Drive My Car
+
* When held up to a mirror, their album ''Magical Mystery Tour'' would supposedly reveal the telephone number of a funeral home.
−
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
+
* The song "Strawberry Fields Forever" contained Lennon saying the phrase "cranberry sauce" which was interpreted as "I Buried Paul."
−
You Won't See Me
+
* "Revolution #9", a collage of samples, featured the repeating phrase "Number 9, Number 9..." When played in reverse, "Turn me on, dead man..." is supposedly heard.
−
Nowhere Man
 
−
Think For Yourself
 
−
The Word
 
−
Michelle
 
−
What Goes On
 
−
Girl
 
−
I'm Looking Through You
 
−
In My Life
 
−
Wait
 
−
If I Needed Someone
 
−
Run For Your Life
 
  
−
'''
+
Beatles and their fans were part of the 1960s hippie counterculture, and [[illegal drugs|drug use]] might have influenced these theories.
−
Revolver (1966)'''
 
  
−
Taxman
+
==Popularity today==
−
Eleanor Rigby
+
Americans say Paul (27%) is their favorite Beatle, with John taking a distant second at 16%, and far fewer choosing George Harrison (10%) or Ringo Starr (9%), according to a September 2009 Zogby Interactive poll. However, 22% of Americans do not like the Beatles, and 3% say they are not familiar enough to make a decision.
−
I'm Only Sleeping
 
−
Love You To
 
−
Here, There and Everywhere
 
−
Yellow Submarine
 
−
She Said, She Said
 
−
Good Day Sunshine
 
−
And Your Bird Can Sing
 
−
For No One
 
−
Dr. Robert
 
−
I Want to Tell You
 
−
Got to Get You Into My Life
 
−
Tomorrow Never Knows
 
  
 +
"Americans over 30 and those over 65 love Paul," said John Zogby. "It must be the crazy love songs and Yesterday."  Born Again Christians are three times as likely to say Paul is their favorite Beatle (25%) than John (8%). Paul is also the favorite among Woodstockers (31%) and Nikes (27%), while First Globals (19%) prefer John.
  
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'''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)'''
+
Democrats (25%) are far more likely than Republicans (6%) and independents (15%) to say John is their favorite Beatle, while moderates (32%) are far more likely to prefer Paul. Liberals (14%) are more than twice as likely as moderates (7%) and conservatives (9%) to pick George as their favorite.
  
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Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
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Conservatives (30%) are the most likely to say they don't like the Beatles, followed by moderates (19%) and liberals (9%).<ref>For details see [http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.cfm?ID=1744 Zogby poll]</ref>
−
With a Little Help From My Friends
 
−
Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
 
−
Getting Better
 
−
Fixing a Hole
 
−
She's Leaving Home
 
−
Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite
 
−
Within You, Without You
 
−
When I'm Sixty-Four
 
−
Lovely Rita
 
−
Good Morning, Good Morning
 
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Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
 
−
A Day in the Life
 
  
−
'''
+
==References==
−
The Beatles (1968)'''
+
{{reflist}}
  
−
Back in the USSR
+
==External links==
−
Dear Prudence
+
*[http://www.delta.ro/beatles/paudi.html Beatle songs and lyrics]
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Glass Onion
+
*[http://beatlesnumber9.com/biggerjesus.html Transcript of LES Lennon interview]
−
Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
+
*[http://www.paulisdeadhoax.com Listing of "clues" behind the "Paul Is Dead" hoax]
−
Wild Honey Pie
+
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pub56bQ5zU8 "Imagine" Celebrity Daily Caller Remix Music Video]
−
The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill
+
{{The Beatles}}
−
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
 
−
Happiness is a Warm Gun
 
−
Martha My Dear
 
−
I'm So Tired
 
−
Blackbird
 
−
Piggies
 
−
Rocky Raccoon
 
−
Don't Pass Me By
 
−
Why Don't We Do It In the Road
 
−
I Will
 
−
Julia
 
  
−
 
+
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beatles, The}}
−
Birthday
+
[[Category:Rock Bands]]
−
Yer Blues
+
[[Category:Beatles]]
−
Mother Nature's Son
+
[[Category:Lancashire]]
−
Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey
 
−
Sexy Sadie
 
−
Helter Skelter
 
−
Long, Long, Long
 
−
Revolution 1
 
−
Honey Pie
 
−
Savoy Truffle
 
−
Cry Baby Cry
 
−
Revolution 9 (no definite lyrics)
 
−
Good Night
 
−
 
 
−
'''
 
−
Yellow Submarine (1969)'''
 
−
 
 
−
Yellow Submarine
 
−
Only a Northern Song
 
−
All Together Now
 
−
Hey Bulldog
 
−
It's All Too Much
 
−
All You Need Is Love
 
−
 
 
−
'''
 
−
Abbey Road (1969)'''
 
−
 
 
−
Come Together
 
−
Something
 
−
Maxwell's Silver Hammer
 
−
Oh! Darling
 
−
Octopus's Garden
 
−
I Want You (She's So Heavy)
 
−
Here Comes the Sun
 
−
Because
 
−
You Never Give Me Your Money
 
−
Sun King
 
−
Mean Mr. Mustard
 
−
Polytheme Pam
 
−
She Came in Through the Bathroom Window
 
−
Golden Slumbers
 
−
Carry That Weight
 
−
The End
 
−
Her Majesty
 
−
 
 
−
'''
 
−
Let It Be (1970)'''
 
−
 
 
−
Two Of Us
 
−
I Dig a Pony
 
−
Across the Universe
 
−
I Me Mine
 
−
Dig It
 
−
Let It Be
 
−
Maggie Mae
 
−
I've Got a Feeling
 
−
One After 909
 
−
The Long and Winding Road
 
−
For You Blue
 
−
Get Back
 
−
 
 
−
'''
 
−
 
 
−
The Beatles/1962-1966 (1973)'''
 
−
 
 
−
Love Me Do
 
−
Please Please Me
 
−
From Me To You
 
−
She Loves You
 
−
I Want to Hold Your Hand
 
−
All My Loving
 
−
Can't Buy Me Love
 
−
A Hard Day's Night
 
−
And I Love Her
 
−
Eight Days a Week
 
−
I Feel Fine
 
−
Ticket to Ride
 
−
Yesterday
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
Help!
 
−
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
 
−
We Can Work It Out
 
−
Day Tripper
 
−
Drive My Car
 
−
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
 
−
Nowhere Man
 
−
Michelle
 
−
In My Life
 
−
Girl
 
−
Paperback Writer
 
−
Eleanor Rigby
 
−
Yellow Submarine
 
−
 
 
−
'''
 
−
The Beatles/1967-1970 (1973)'''
 
−
 
 
−
Strawberry Fields Forever
 
−
Penny Lane
 
−
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
 
−
With a Little Help From My Friends
 
−
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
 
−
A Day in the Life
 
−
All You Need is Love
 
−
I Am the Walrus
 
−
Hello Goodbye
 
−
The Fool on the Hill
 
−
Magical Mystery Tour
 
−
Lady Madonna
 
−
Hey Jude
 
−
Revolution
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
Back in the USSR
 
−
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
 
−
Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
 
−
Get Back
 
−
Don't Let Me Down
 
−
The Ballad of John and Yoko
 
−
Old Brown Shoe
 
−
Here Comes the Sun
 
−
Come Together
 
−
Something
 
−
Octopus's Garden
 
−
Let It Be
 
−
Across the Universe
 
−
The Long and Winding Road
 
−
 
 
−
'''
 
−
Hey Jude (1970 - US, 1979 - UK)'''
 
−
 
 
−
Can't Buy Me Love
 
−
I Should Have Known Better
 
−
Paperback Writer
 
−
Rain
 
−
Lady Madonna
 
−
Revolution
 
−
Hey Jude
 
−
Old Brown Shoe
 
−
Don't Let Me Down
 
−
The Ballad of John and Yoko
 
−
 
 
−
'''
 
−
Magical Mystery Tour (1976)'''
 
−
 
 
−
Magical Mystery Tour
 
−
The Fool on the Hill
 
−
Flying (instrumental)
 
−
Blue Jay Way
 
−
Your Mother Should Know
 
−
I Am the Walrus
 
−
Hello Goodbye
 
−
Strawberry Fields Forever
 
−
Penny Lane
 
−
Baby You're a Rich Man
 
−
All You Need is Love
 

Latest revision as of 16:18, July 11, 2025

The Beatles
Beatles,0.jpg
Country United Kingdom
Style Rock
Pop
Psychedelic Rock
Pop Rock
Year 1960-1970
Website http://www.beatles.com

The Beatles ("Fab Four") initially sang upbeat pop songs, but later their music descended into depressed, atheistic[1] and druggie-content[2] rock music. The Beatles were originally from Liverpool, UK. Overpromoted by the liberal media that disliked faith-based American songs, The Beatles sold about a billion records as part of the 1960s hippie counterculture. Multiple Beatles songs were based on plagiarism of prior works by others,[3] while other songs are knock-offs of popular hits (compare "Ukraine girls" to "California girls" by the Beach Boys). Like England itself, the Beatles' work was cynical about religion, and many Beatles' lyrics are drugged-out idiocy ("I am the egg man, they are the egg men, I am the Walrus, goo goo g'joob" - I Am the Walrus;[4] "One and one and one is three" - Come Together[5]). Elvis Presley opposed the Beatles' harmful influence on Americans.[6]

The refreshing, uplifting creativity of many American and other British bands (such as The Hollies), and remarkable one-hit wonders by best of the public singers, is unfortunately lacking in many of the over-promoted Beatles tunes. Although the Beatles were overall the top-selling rock band due to hype by liberals, the non-druggie, cheery Monkees outsold the Beatles in 1967,[7] as did the drug-free songs of Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1969.

The four Beatles were John Lennon (1940-1980), George Harrison (1943-2001), Paul McCartney (1942- ), and Ringo Starr (1940- ). Most of the Beatles' songs were co-written by Lennon and McCartney, though George Harrison penned one of their most critically acclaimed lyrics, "Something", which is one of the few quality love songs by the group but even it has a cynical tone. In the latter half of the 1960s the majority of their songs were written individually, but retained the "Lennon/McCartney" (orig. "McCartney/Lennon") writing credit. Lennon's songwriting was harder in nature and often had a political bent, while McCartney primarily wrote lighter love songs. Harrison, who later converted to Hinduism,[8] frequently utilized the sitar in his songs. Starr rarely wrote music, but would usually sing one song per album except A Hard Day`s Night and Let It Be. His most famous song is Yellow Submarine, sometimes sung in schools. The Beatles' first concert in North America was at the Washington Coliseum in northeast D.C. on Feb. 11, 1964.[9]

Having evolved from the high school band known as The Quarrymen, around 1962 the Beatles began playing in Hamburg, Germany, and became very popular there. A year later, thanks to underground radio, they were the biggest band in their native land of the UK. In 1964, the Beatles made their historic trip to the United States[10] to perform on The Ed Sullivan Show. This performance is one of the highest-rated television events in history.

The Lennon/McCartney ballads often displayed a personal vulnerability that was extraordinarily appealing to young teenage girls. For example, "Help" contrasts a man's younger macho attitude ("I never needed anybody's help in any way") with a more grown-up attitude ("I changed my mind, I'll open up the door. Help me if you can"). Some of the more memorable Beatles' lyrics include "All you need is love," or "Let it be," from their respective, titular songs.

As the years passed, the Beatles' sound grew. From an old-fashioned rock and roll sound similar to the Beach Boys and Carl Perkins, the band put out a much more mature sound on Revolver. They even experimented with folk on Rubber Soul.[11] In 1967, the Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band[12] changed music as we know it forever. The psychedelic sound reflected what was going on in the world at that time and also displayed brilliant use of new technologies (such as stereo sound and multi-track recording).

With the The Beatles (the "White Album"), the Beatles had evolved into hard rockers. The songs had become more personal, and the band was beginning to fall apart. Prior to Lennon hooking up with Yoko Ono, the lads had agreed that only the four of them would be in the recording studio (no lady friends of any type).[13] Also, creative differences were causing tension among the Fab Four.

Beatles j.jpg

Their next project, originally to be titled "Get Back" and intended to "get them back" to recording songs the way they had in the earlier years and also to become a filmed documentary, exposed all the personal chafing and difficulties they were having. The tapes were shelved since none of the band wanted to deal with them.

At this point, although the public did not know it, the band had virtually broken up. However, at McCartney's urging, they assembled in the studio one more time and gave their fans what was to be their swan song, the splendid Abbey Road. The "Get Back" tapes and film were handed over to Phil Spector to do something with them, and he produced the album that was released as Let It Be, in conjunction with the release of the film, which was more a documentary of a band breaking up than one writing and recording new music in their studio.

It wasn't long before the lawsuits to dissolve the partnership were flying, and the band members were releasing solo albums. Although Lennon had made a few solo projects before the breakup, and Harrison one, they did not receive widespread notice.

In 2006, Cirque du Soleil opened a Beatle-themed show in Las Vegas, the aptly titled Love. The show has been an outstanding success, and so has the album put out of the same name, featuring new remixes of Beatles songs by Beatles producer George Martin and his son Giles. The album also features previously unreleased versions of Beatles classics such as "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Strawberry Fields Forever".

The Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. As solo artists, all but Ringo Starr have been inducted (Lennon in 1994, McCartney in 1999, and Harrison in 2004).

In 2004 Rolling Stone magazine ranked the Beatles #1 on its list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[14]

Only two Beatles are currently alive - Ringo Starr and Sir Paul McCartney, who both still continue their recording and performing careers. John Lennon was assassinated in 1980 and George Harrison died from lung cancer in 2001.

Discography

"Paul is dead" urban legend

A myth, possibly created by the Beatles to boost sales, circulated later in their career regarding a supposed death of Paul McCartney and substitution with an impostor. "Clues" were found in subliminal messages, backmasking, and imagery in their albums and songs.

Some of the many examples include:

  • When held up to a mirror, their album Magical Mystery Tour would supposedly reveal the telephone number of a funeral home.
  • The song "Strawberry Fields Forever" contained Lennon saying the phrase "cranberry sauce" which was interpreted as "I Buried Paul."
  • "Revolution #9", a collage of samples, featured the repeating phrase "Number 9, Number 9..." When played in reverse, "Turn me on, dead man..." is supposedly heard.

Beatles and their fans were part of the 1960s hippie counterculture, and drug use might have influenced these theories.

Popularity today

Americans say Paul (27%) is their favorite Beatle, with John taking a distant second at 16%, and far fewer choosing George Harrison (10%) or Ringo Starr (9%), according to a September 2009 Zogby Interactive poll. However, 22% of Americans do not like the Beatles, and 3% say they are not familiar enough to make a decision.

"Americans over 30 and those over 65 love Paul," said John Zogby. "It must be the crazy love songs and Yesterday." Born Again Christians are three times as likely to say Paul is their favorite Beatle (25%) than John (8%). Paul is also the favorite among Woodstockers (31%) and Nikes (27%), while First Globals (19%) prefer John.

Democrats (25%) are far more likely than Republicans (6%) and independents (15%) to say John is their favorite Beatle, while moderates (32%) are far more likely to prefer Paul. Liberals (14%) are more than twice as likely as moderates (7%) and conservatives (9%) to pick George as their favorite.

Conservatives (30%) are the most likely to say they don't like the Beatles, followed by moderates (19%) and liberals (9%).[15]

References

External links

The Beatles
John Lennon • Paul McCartney • George Harrison • Ringo Starr
Pete Best • Stuart Sutcliffe
Discography (Early)
Please Please Me (1963) / With The Beatles (1963) / A Hard Day's Night (1964) / Beatles for Sale (1964) / Help! (1965) / Rubber Soul (1965) / Revolver (1966)
Discography (Late)
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) / Magical Mystery Tour (U.S.-1967/UK-1976) / The Beatles (album) (1968) / Yellow Submarine (1969) / Abbey Road (1969) / Let It Be (1970)
Filmography
A Hard Day's Night (1964) • Help! (1965) • Magical Mystery Tour (1967) • Yellow Submarine (1968) • Let It Be (1970)
http://www.beatles.com