Why are the Beatles so timeless and important?
musicismylife78
Posts: 6,116
I am a huge Beatles fan. I consider all their albums to be basically of biblical importance and they have had a major influence on me.
That said lets face it people, most of their stuff from 1962-1966 and some stuff even beyond is simple, easy songs, simple easy chords, and dare I say childish stuff. They didnt really make complex songs with complex chord progressions. Yet they are in my mind the most important band of all time, and most likely will stay that way.
Why are the beatles the best band that ever lived? They werent really reinventing the wheel and creating Tool or Mars Volta like explorations in sonic experimentation. But their music continues to inspire and be loved by boomers and by our generation and our children as well.
How can something so simple, be so powerful and important?
That said lets face it people, most of their stuff from 1962-1966 and some stuff even beyond is simple, easy songs, simple easy chords, and dare I say childish stuff. They didnt really make complex songs with complex chord progressions. Yet they are in my mind the most important band of all time, and most likely will stay that way.
Why are the beatles the best band that ever lived? They werent really reinventing the wheel and creating Tool or Mars Volta like explorations in sonic experimentation. But their music continues to inspire and be loved by boomers and by our generation and our children as well.
How can something so simple, be so powerful and important?
Post edited by Unknown User on
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You could ask the same thing about George W.:p
Simplicity broadens the appeal I guess, makes it easier to apprehend and be loved.
It's a formula that works in music Nirvana did it, Oasis still do as do many others.
most people are big fans of Lennon.. i actually like Paul more. Helter Skelter is one of the greatest songs ever made...
Peace
Dan
"Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
Attmepts to be "creative and different" could also be seen as trying too hard....especially in the case of Mars Volta! Cmon those guys cannot be serious!
MSG 1
Ringo the next night in Boston
Hartford
Boston 1 & 2
hell's yeah...
1. tool is the most over-rated band on the planet. every song sounds the same.
2. that is why the beatles are so important. sure, tool tries a million weird time signatures... yet every tool song still sounds exactly the same. just being overly complicated does not make a song good. the beatles used very simple music, yet their songs sound so diverse and wide ranging it can be like listening to a different band from track to track. but at its heart is that simple and lovable music that makes it reach millions while still pushing boundaries.
tool is like those... what are those engineering projects colleges have where you have to try to make a hugely complicated machine do something like pour a glass of water? the more unnecessary steps there are, the better your project. that's how i see bands being experimental for the sake of being experimental. it takes tool 15 time changes, 8 minutes of indulgent guitar solos, and 6 minutes of incomprehensible lyrics to do what the beatls accomplish with 3 chords in 3 minutes. sure, the one LOOKS impressive, but that doesn't mean it's worthwhile.
I have another question though. Why is Sgt. Peppers deemed the greatest by the majority? It's very good, but the White Album and Abbey Road bury it by my ears.
I've talked to my parents about the music they listened to when they were growing up and the things they've said about the Beatles closely mirrors your statement.
Songs don't need complicated time signatures or binaural recording techniques in order to be good.
I think I agree with you, at least in regards to Abbey Road. They put out their most sophisticated music with that cd
Compare them to the Who or the Stones, who insist on releasing marginal albums (often repackaged or live) just so they have some product out to promote when they tour.
I love my mom's old Beatle cards, magazines, pictures and newspapers clippings.
MSG 1
Ringo the next night in Boston
Hartford
Boston 1 & 2
hell's yeah...
MSG 1
Ringo the next night in Boston
Hartford
Boston 1 & 2
hell's yeah...
um, yes they were.
Within You Without You
Strawberry Fields
Mr. Kite
I am the Walrus
there's just a few songs that puts Tool's....haha....."sonic experimentation" to shame
Pearl Jam bootlegs:
http://wegotshit.blogspot.com
I would agree...White Album and Abbey Road are much better than SPLHCB. But, it was SPLHCB that REALLY changed the direction of music for The Beatles (and in general) at that time (well, that and The Beach Boys Pet Sounds). Even Ringo thinks that SPLHCB wasn't that good of an album...
The Beatles are so timeless and important because of the range of music that they performed, the catchy hooks, the simplicity of some songs vs. the complexity of others. Almost anything that has been done in music in the past 45 years - The Beatles did it first. They were a TALENTED group of guys who could write wonderful songs - particularly the songwriting duo of Lennon/McCartney. Even during the later years that were filled with fighting and leaving the band and Yoko's prescence - when it came to the music, there was nothing that could stop them - not even Paul's ego or John's addictions.
Plus they had George Martin producing their albums. I think his knowledge of music and his willingness to experiment with whatever they brought to the table only helped to expand their reach to people through the music.
They were the right band at the right time. If a band were to come along today doing what they had done 40 years ago we'd all be bored and say (to quote George Harrison from the Simpsons episode) "Ah...it's been done before".
If you haven't already, watch the Anthology documentary...if you walk away from that not knowing the answer to your question, well, then you just don't get it.
-John Lennon
And also my post probably made it sound like White and Abbey Road get no recognition which is totally untrue. I just don't get the Sgt. Pepper's worship because I wasn't there (doesn't help my parents weren't really heavy into them)