The Beatles . . .

jamesd1628 · 03-19-2008, 09:27 AM

SUCK! There, I said it. I’m bracing myself for the onslaught of hockey sticks that I’m sure is headed my way, but I just don’t get it. Yes, there are a few Beatles tunes that I actually like, but the number has to be less than five. Aside from those very few, I just don’t get it. The past two weeks on American Idol (yes, I confess, I watch it – don’t deny it, you do to), the singers have been forced to sing Beatles songs, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard such lame songs in all my life. Bizarre melodies, left-wing messages - pathetic. Some songs have decent lyrics, but the melody is so strange that I just can’t enjoy it (e.g., Blackbird). Others have good melodies, but the message is so far off from my personal beliefs that I find it intolerable. The perfect example of this is Imagine. Good melody, but I have never in my life heard a more atheistic, left wing, new age pile of crap in all my life.

All I can figure is that the Beatles were a product of the times, the 60s, when the peace/free love/hippie movement ruled the music scene. Maybe I’m just too young to understand (I’ll be 37 this year). Some of you ol’ timers help me understand, because I just don’t get the Beatles.

Oh, and by the way, for all of the socialist/communist/left wing propaganda peppered throughout their songs, they sure did (and do) make a damn lot of money, and I don’t see them giving any of that away for the greater good.

**Lexvol** · 03-19-2008, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesd1628

SUCK! There, I said it. I’m bracing myself for the onslaught of hockey sticks that I’m sure is headed my way, but I just don’t get it. Yes, there are a few Beatles tunes that I actually like, but the number has to be less than five. Aside from those very few, I just don’t get it. The past two weeks on American Idol (yes, I confess, I watch it – don’t deny it, you do to), the singers have been forced to sing Beatles songs, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard such lame songs in all my life. Bizarre melodies, left-wing messages - pathetic. Some songs have decent lyrics, but the melody is so strange that I just can’t enjoy it (e.g., Blackbird). Others have good melodies, but the message is so far off from my personal beliefs that I find it intolerable. The perfect example of this is Imagine. Good melody, but I have never in my life heard a more atheistic, left wing, new age pile of crap in all my life.

All I can figure is that the Beatles were a product of the times, the 60s, when the peace/free love/hippie movement ruled the music scene. Maybe I’m just too young to understand (I’ll be 37 this year). Some of you ol’ timers help me understand, because I just don’t get the Beatles.

Oh, and by the way, for all of the socialist/communist/left wing propaganda peppered throughout their songs, they sure did (and do) make a damn lot of money, and I don’t see them giving any of that away for the greater good.

Historically, I have somewhat of an appreciation for the music, but like you, I have never really enjoyed it that much. To avoid the risk of offending the Beatles' fans, or creating a forum to discuss the music I usually leave it at that.

doozer · 03-19-2008, 09:34 AM

If you're basing your opinion of the Beatles on what you have seen on AI, don't.

**orange+white=heaven** · 03-19-2008, 09:36 AM

Idol should never have done Beatles music. These days, even McCartney can't do justice to a Beatles tune. There was the Beatles, in their time, and it can never be repeated.

"I believe, in yesterday..."

KB5252 · 03-19-2008, 09:38 AM

Is it just me or were the Beatles kind of like the Backstreet Boys of their time only talented and with much more longevity.

**orange+white=heaven** · 03-19-2008, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KB5252

Is it just me or were the Beatles kind of like the Backstreet Boys of their time only talented and with much more longevity.

Possibly the craziest sentence I've ever seen.

doozer · 03-19-2008, 09:43 AM

No possibly about it.

KB5252 · 03-19-2008, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orange+white=heaven

Possibly the craziest sentence I've ever seen.

I knew I would stir the pot with that one. A little sarcasm never hurt anyone.

**duckman398686** · 03-19-2008, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KB5252

Is it just me or were the Beatles kind of like the Backstreet Boys of their time only talented and with much more longevity.

egotisticalmoron · 03-19-2008, 09:56 AM

everything the beatles ever did was amazing. especially later in their career.

**kiddiedoc** · 03-19-2008, 09:56 AM

To each his own, and I won't claim the Beatles to be my favorite band to listen to, but discounting their importance and influence on modern music and popular culture is absurd.

**duckman398686** · 03-19-2008, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by egotisticalmoron

everything the beatles ever did was amazing. especially later in their career.

yeah, that's what i'm mostly a fan of. i'm not into too much of their earlier work.

**Lexvol** · 03-19-2008, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiddiedoc

To each his own, and I won't claim the Beatles to be my favorite band to listen to, but discounting their importance and influence on modern music and popular culture is absurd.

That is perfectly stated.

jamesd1628 · 03-19-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiddiedoc

To each his own, and I won't claim the Beatles to be my favorite band to listen to, but discounting their importance and influence on modern music and popular culture is absurd.

Impossible to deny that they were and still are a huge influence on music and culture. I'm just trying to understand why, in light of the fact that I just don't like the vast majority of their songs.

rbroyles · 03-19-2008, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doozer

If you're basing your opinion of the Beatles on what you have seen on AI, don't.

To endure what some have done to the Beatles standards has been tough to listen to.

No doubt the Beatles music of their protest days and much of their psychodelic phase is dated, but as Randy Jackson said, their music overall has stood the test of time and is the most enduring of any group before or since. Many other artists consider "Yesterday" the best song ever written. The influence on current musicians is undeniable. The lyrics of so many of their songs have relevance still today, and for me hearing one of my favorite Beatles songs always makes me feel better. How many other bands have what were at the time, album filler songs, still being played regularly, and now considered great songs?