Difference between revisions of "The Beatles"

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The Beatles were the most influencial rock bands of the 20th centuryThey were the most successful band, selling over 1 billion copies.
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{{Artist (Music)
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|picture        =Beatles,0.jpg
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|picture2      =
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|country        =United Kingdom
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|style         =Rock
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|style2         =Pop
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|style3        =Psychedelic Rock
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|style4         =Pop Rock
 +
|style5         =
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|year  =1960-1970
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|website =http://www.beatles.com
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}}
 +
'''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>
  
[[Beatles TABS for Guitar]]
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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.
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 +
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>
  
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.
  
'''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.
  
I Saw Her Standing There
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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.
  
'''With the Beatles (1963)'''
+
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
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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".
  
'''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
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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
 
  
'''
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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
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== 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)'''
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=="Paul is dead" urban legend==
  
Help!
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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
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* 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)
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* The song "Strawberry Fields Forever" contained Lennon saying the phrase "cranberry sauce" which was interpreted as "I Buried Paul."
You Won't See Me
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* "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
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==Popularity today==
Eleanor Rigby
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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.
  
'''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.
  
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
 
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
 
A Day in the Life
 
  
'''
+
==References==
The Beatles (1968)'''
+
{{reflist}}
  
Back in the USSR
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==External links==
Dear Prudence
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*[http://www.delta.ro/beatles/paudi.html Beatle songs and lyrics]
Glass Onion
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*[http://beatlesnumber9.com/biggerjesus.html Transcript of LES Lennon interview]
Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
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*[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 ("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 Beatles
Beatles,0.jpg
Country United Kingdom
Style Rock
Pop
Psychedelic Rock
Pop Rock
Year 1960-1970
Website http://www.beatles.com

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