The Beatles are the greatest, most successful, and most influential band that has ever existed. There are no ifs, ands, buts, debates, or arguments about that; it’s just a fact. However, it seems as the years go by their influence and accomplishments become less noticed and appreciated, specifically by our millennial generation. In 2016, pop artists that repeat the same verse five times in a little over three minutes are what dominate the charts. Even music fans who are into the underground indie bands seem to have no grasp of how important The Beatles are. As a big Beatles fan, there are many things I hear from people that make me want to jump out a window, and here they are.
1. “Oh my God I love The Beatles, "Yellow Submarine" is awesome!”
There are two reasons why this statement drives me to drink. First of all, how is it that this is the song people who claim to love The Beatles cite? I could probably think of 20 songs off the top of my head that are better written, catchier, and were more successful than Ringo’s “Yellow Submarine.” Second of all, you don’t love The Beatles when you make this statement. You like the song, there’s a difference. I’m not going to say I’m a Kanye West fan because I love “Gold Digger” and that’s it.
2. “The Beatles weren’t even a rock band.”
So? I’m confused, why does this matter? Yes, for a stereotypical “rock band” The Beatles are definitely on the softer side of the rock n’ roll spectrum. However, this takes nothing away from what they accomplished as a band. This doesn’t change the fact that John Lennon was arguably the most beautiful songwriter music has been graced with. It doesn’t change the fact that Paul McCartney was vocally one of the most talented singers ever. It doesn’t change the fact that George Harrison was able to make sounds with his guitar that people didn’t know existed.
3. “The Beatles are overrated.”
I’ll end with this because it’s clearly the most ridiculous statements of the three. Someone who says this clearly doesn’t have the first clue about music. In all honesty, if someone said this and then was asked to list their favorite singers/bands, I guarantee The Beatles influenced all of them. Even, if for some rare reason, The Beatles didn’t influence their favorite bands, I’ll just end this article with links to a bunch of Beatles song. After listening to them, and if you relatively like/respect music history, then there is no way you’ll come out of this thinking they are overrated.
